Real Estate 2021

JOURNAL MONTECITO VIEW ESTATE

1475 E MOUNTAIN DRIVE, MONTECITO PRICE UPON REQUEST RISKIN PARTNERS | 805.565.8600

ontecito REAL ESTATES 2021

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: A DEEP DIVE INTO REAL ESTATE’S INCREDIBLE FIRST HALF OF 2021, AND THE TRENDS IT HAS KICKSTARTED

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813RomeroCanyonRd.com Architectural Masterpiece 5.51 ± Acres | $20,250,000

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TheRanchoSanMarcos.com A Piece of Paradise Awaits 297.62 ± Acres | $12,000,000

SUZANNEPERKINS.COM +1 805.895.2138 | suzanne.perkins@compass.com | DRE: 01106512 ©2021 Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed.

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BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES CONGRATULATES MARSHA KOTLYAR ESTATE GROUP on Year To Date closed & pending sales in excess of $150 Million!

RANKED TOP 100 BY SALES VOLUME NATIONWIDE IN 2020 FOR SMALL TEAMS BY REAL TRENDS 2021 Closings 743 SAN YSIDRO ROAD

$17,900,000

1255 MESA ROAD

$3,800,000

1015 E MOUNTAIN DRIVE

$16,950,000

145 OLIVE MILL LANE

$3,785,000

788 SAN YSIDRO LANE

$10,900,000

620 FOXEN DRIVE *

$2,995,000

1115 CLOVER LANE

$9,825,000

2556 WHITNEY AVENUE

$2,800,000

810 BUENA VISTA DRIVE *

$8,395,000

276 SANTA MONICA WAY

$2,600,000

830 ROMERO CANYON ROAD

$7,995,000

1647 POSILIPO LANE B

$2,545,000

1525 MIMOSA LANE

$7,200,000

124 W. YANONALI STREET

$2,395,000

850 SAN YSIDRO ROAD

$5,400,000

521 TORO CANYON ROAD

$2,100,000

1770 JELINDA DRIVE

$5,300,000

5471 TREE FARM LANE

$1,099,000

502 PICACHO LANE

$4,495,000

1705 GLEN OAKS DRIVE *

$995,000

497 MOUNTAIN DRIVE

$3,795,000

Prices noted above reflect list price. *Represented both buyer & seller.

MontecitoFineEstates.com Home@MKGroupMontecito.com 805.565.4014 Lic. # 01426886 © 2021 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information.

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The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2021 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company 21RBUM-DC_GLA_7/21 owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

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Inside this Issue P.16

“Buyers are shattering records, paying top prices for ‘done’ homes on the best streets, for oceanfront properties, or fixer opportunities in the best areas”

by Nick Masuda

Mark Ashton Hunt dissects five different seven-figure options as the market shows some semblance of slowing down.

Nothing More P.20 Important than Home

“I didn’t want to waste any time. This gives plenty of window space to show off my antiques.”

Marc Normand Gelinas is well-known for his interior design work and is gaining a name for himself as an antique dealer, now complete with a storefront on East Valley Road.

O

ver the past 18 months, the world has been put on its axis, not knowing which way it would spin due to a health crisis that is not only deadly, but unpredictable.

But it has done one thing — it’s emphasized the importance of having a place to call home. Whether it be a studio apartment or a $10-million home in the Montecito hills, having strong walls around you and your family became key.

In this special issue of the Montecito Journal, we are taking a deep look at the real estate market here in our backyard, one that has seen unfathomable growth during a difficult time in history.

It’s also showed us something we’ve all known for a while — our little slice of paradise is special.

Here is a look at what we’ve cooked up for you:

P.22

“The real estate market in Montecito continues to exceed any and all expectations, creating records in both prices and number of sales”

Kelly Mahan Herrick does some deep diving on 2021’s first six months in real estate — and record after record after record have fallen, some that are quite frankly hard to believe.

P.24

“It was a horrible time to open a bike shop. But we’d looked on Coast Village for over a year and really wanted to be in the community.”

The pandemic wasn’t an ideal time to open a business, but eBikes have become all the rage, leading Jennifer Blevins and her bike business, Mad Dogs and Englishmen, to our rarefied enclave.

P.42

“For the majority of our clients, private clubs are definitely an amenity that they’re looking for”

Gabe Saglie breaks down both private and social clubs along the South Coast, a big draw for homeowners as they choose to settle into Montecito.

P.44

“Considered a wilderness, it only became populated when retiring soldiers of the Presidio, in lieu of pensions, were given land in this hinterland far from the center of town” Montecito’s history is ripe with tremendous growth — and not just during the pandemic, while also featuring many of the issues we face today, including water supply.

P.46

P.12

“The Montecito Association truly has its finger on the pulse of Montecito and if there is an issue, they will respond and jump in to do what’s best for our community”

“The land is spectacular. Gorgeous hills, extended views, with an incredible piece of history – an existing reservoir with turn-of-the-century stonework.”

Well-known architect Howard Backen calls Montecito home, where he marvels at the natural beauty, inspiring him personally and professionally.

Montecito has been through the proverbial ringer over the past four years, but our community was in good hands with the Montecito Association, which became an epicenter for relevant information during crisis.

P.13

“If you want to act like, think like, and be like a local, here are a few starters for spending your day incognito”

Leslie A. Westbrook enjoys traveling the world, but there isn’t anything quite like home, particularly with the local gems that our new neighbors will want to check out when they are out on the town.

P.14

“New to the area? Experiencing an ongoing issue at your home or in your neighborhood? There are people for that.”

Trying to find the right person to contact with Santa Barbara County can be difficult, but the Montecito Journal and County combine forces to provide an extensive guide on key contacts, websites, emails, and for what each department is responsible.

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A D V I C E • C O N S U LTAT I O N • R E S U LT S # 3 B E R K S H I R E H AT H A W AY A G E N T N AT I O N W I D E

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Na n c y Ko gev i n a s | 8 0 5 . 4 5 0 . 6 2 3 3 | Mo n t e c i t oP ro p er t i e s . c o m | DR E : 0 1 2 0 9 5 1 4 ©2021 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC.

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OVER $455 MILLION IN SALES IN 2021 santa barbara’s number one real estate team team@ RiskinPartners.com 805.565.8600

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1395 OAK CREEK CANYON ROAD MONTECITO | $21,500,000

4160 LA LADERA ROAD HOPE RANCH | $21,500,000

T U S C A N Y O A K S E S TAT E SUMMERLAND | $19,800,000

595 PICACHO LANE MONTECITO | $14,900,000

415 MEADOWBROOK DRIVE MONTECITO | $3,700,000

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The Montecito Association:

73 Years Old, Still Fighting Tirelessly, and Standing with YOU

by Sharon Byrne, Executive Director

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came to the Montecito Association in September of 2018, brought over from the Coast Village Association by then-president Charlene Nagel. The Montecito community was hard hit by the first giga-fire in California – Thomas — and resultant Debris Flow. I had disaster recovery experience, from finding my missing parents in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and enormous recovery efforts on Coast Village Road. I had no idea emails I was sending to the Coast Village Association on disaster recovery efforts were being shared widely among the dev-

astated community of Montecito.

On arrival at the Montecito Association, I focused on disaster recovery and resilience efforts.

Enormous strides were made by the Partnership for Resilience, led by Gwyn Lurie, to install six nets in the hills of Montecito to protect life and property. I wanted us to get fully behind that, debris basin expansion, the 101 Project, a Microgrid, the desalinization effort by Montecito Water District, and recycled water by the Montecito Sanitary District.

I knew from Hurricane Maria that resilient infrastructure was key to keeping this community safe from

The Montecito Association has been heavily involved in aiding the homeless population throughout Montecito future extreme weather events.

Our board, and new President Megan Orloff, had the same goal, and fully engaged. We published tools to monitor incoming storms, rainfall, creek flows, and debris basins so that our community could watch in real time. I would surveil the area after every storm, so neighbors knew how we were holding up. We partnered

increasingly with Montecito Fire and Flood Control with Santa Barbara County. Every heavy rain forecast, we partnered with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department to notify everyone of evacuations, and when the orders would be lifted.

I met longtime Montecito resident

Association Page 62 624

L-R: Sabrina and Debra

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JOB INFORMATION 10040902 / 605167194

PROJ. NO.:

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REAL ESTATES TRIM SIZE: FINISHED SIZE: BLEED:

SPECIFICATIONS 4.858" × 6.19" 4.858" × 6.19" NA

NOTES

SUMMER 2021

Insiders’ Guide to Montecito

by Leslie A. Westbrook

How to Experience Montecito Like a True Local

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f you recently moved into the neighborhood and you want to fit right in, these few tips should assist in the transition from city slicker to Montecitan.

Despite almost a half-century of living here under my belt – and summer forays in my youth with my best friend whose grandparents had a second home in Santa Barbara — I am still considered a quasi-local. I do know these highways and byways within our little piece of paradise by heart and I could drive them in my sleep.

Still, there are always new discoveries to be made. If you want to act like, think like, and be like a local, here’s a few starters for spending your day incognito. Any real “old timers” please feel free to write to our editor and

chime in with your favorites.

Oh, and a few basic rules: 1. We don’t honk at other drivers or pedestrians unless it’s a matter of life or death or a friendly “tap” like honk to someone we know.

2.. We walk our doggies at Butterfly and Summerland beaches and ride our horses and hike on Montecito trails with easements generously offered by Montecito landowners.

3. We give time and money to many causes and support myriad nonprofits, including the special ones in our own backyard like Casa del Herrero and the late Madame Ganna Walska’s magical, magnificent gardens and Lotusland estate — which recently held its annual fundraiser.

A Day in the Life of a Local

If we were to give you some advice — and we are — here’s how we’d break down our day in Montecito:

Good Morning, Montecito!

Begin your day on the patio of Pierre Lafond with coffee and a scone. This is the place to people watch, linger, meet friends old and new and strike up conversations with willing participants. You

Insider Page 18 184

Tropical paradise awaits!

Live! Work! Play!

Magnificent 7700 sq foot home nestled on 3± acre bluff with jaw- dropping views.

Listed at $12,000,000

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All information provided is deemed reliable, but has not been verified and we do not guarantee it. We recommend that buyers make their own inquiries.

showsb.com | DRE 01421934

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KEY SANTA BARBARA COUNTY CONTACTS

by Nick Masuda (Montecito Journal) & Gina DePinto (County of Santa Barbara)

A One-Stop Shop for Key Contacts within Santa Barbara County

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ew to the area? Experiencing an ongoing issue at your home or in your neighborhood?

There are people for that.

The County of Santa Barbara has more than 4,000 employees that can help with everything from behavioral wellness to tax collection to County Fire and Sheriff’s operations.

But knowing who to call for what can be a maze for many, so the Montecito Journal and County of Santa Barbara put together an exhaustive list of key contacts, as well as descriptions of what each of the County’s departments does and what questions they might be able to address.

The County also highly recommends joining its newsletter list to get the latest happenings and key information delivered to your email inbox. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/3eJyhAO Each of the following sections contains specific websites, emails, and phone numbers for each County department, as well as a description of what that specific department is responsible for:

AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER/WEIGHTS & MEASURES DEPARTMENT

www.countyofsb.org/agcomm he department’s mission is to protect agriculture, natural resources, and the quality of life in Santa Barbara County.

The Agricultural Commissioner’s Office enforces laws and regulations in our agricultural Weights & Measures programs. Pesticide Use Enforcement and Pest Prevention are the main components of the Agriculture budget program. These programs are designed to ensure the safe and legal use of pesticides and to prevent the introduction of harmful exotic pests. The Department also issues over 5,000 Phytosanitary certificates a year that enable local agricultural products to enter the global marketplace.

The Weights & Measures budget program protects businesses and consumers by ensuring fairness in the marketplace. Inspectors check the accuracy of over 7,000 commercial devices in the County each year and check over 725 stores with point-of-sale (scanner) systems for pricing accuracy.

The Department also provides education and outreach to farmers, farm workers, businesses, and the public on regulatory compliance, integrated pest management, reduced risk pesticide use, and pests of concern.

T

Contacts, by city: Carpinteria 1180 Eugenia Pl. Suite 206 Carpinteria, CA 93013 Phone: (805) 681-5600, Fax: (805) 681-5603 Buellton 185 W. Hwy 246, Suite 101 Buellton, CA 93427 Phone: (805) 688-5331, Fax: (805) 688-5334 Santa Barbara 263 Camino del Remedio, Santa Barbara 93110 Phone: (805) 681-5600, Fax: (805) 681-5603 Santa Maria 624 West Foster Road, Santa Maria 93455 Phone: (805) 934-6200, Fax: (805) 934-6202

AUDITOR-CONTROLLER

The Santa Barbara County Courthouse (Courtesy of Santa Barbara County) Phone: (805) 568-2100, Fax: (805) 568-2016 Email: auditor@co.santa-barbara.ca.us Santa Maria 511 East Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria 93454 Phone: (805) 346-8364, Fax: (805) 346-8278

BEHAVIORAL WELLNESS

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www.countyofsb.org/auditor ts goal is ensuring the financial integrity of the County of Santa Barbara by providing superior financial services, maintaining the public trust, and promoting governmental efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability.

The Department is the leading financial information resource of the County and its long-term vision includes a well-run and financially sound County, an informed public, and a model County department with a knowledgeable and effective staff, governed by the overriding principles of fiscal integrity, objectivity, customer service, and continuous improvement.

I

Santa Barbara 105 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara 93101

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www.countyofsb.org/behavioral-wellness romote the prevention of and recovery from addiction and mental illness among individuals, families, and communities by providing effective leadership and delivering state-ofthe-art, culturally competent services.

To obtain services, call the 24-Hour Toll-Free Access Line at (888) 868-1649. Access for hearing impaired individuals is available through the 711 Telecommunications Relay Service.

For a list of locations and services in Santa Barbara, Lompoc, and Santa Maria, go to www. countyofsb.org/behavioral-wellness/contacts.sbc or contact the administration office listed below: 315 Camino del Remedio, Santa Barbara 93110 Phone: (805) 681-5220, Fax: (805) 681-5262

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

www.countyofsb.org/bos oard’s mission is to provide quality public services to the people of Santa Barbara County in response to their need for a safe, healthy, and sustainable environment; and to establish

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My priority is to provide the best possible service while being your supportive partner to fulfill your real estate goals

and maintain a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community.

A five-member Board of Supervisors governs County services for a population of approximately 455,000 residents. Each board member is elected for a four-year term and represents a geographic district. The position of Chairperson is elected annually among the five members.

The Board generally convenes in regular session on three Tuesdays each month. Two of these meetings are held in Santa Barbara and one in Santa Maria. The Board sets policy for County departments, oversees a budget of over $1.1 billion, and adopts ordinances on local matters, as well as land use policies that affect unincorporated areas.

Information and Referral 105 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara 93101 Phone: (805) 568-2190 Email: cao@co.santa-barbara.ca.us

Monte cito | Santa Barbara | G oleta H o p e R a n c h | B e a c h F r o n t | Ve n t u r a Janet Caminite

Associate Manager / Realtor

805.896.7767 JanetCaminite@bhhscal.com www.SantaBarbaraLuxuryRealty.com www.BeachesofVentura.com DRE 01273668

First District Das Williams, Supervisor Phone: (805) 568-2186 Email: dwilliams@countyofsb.org Website: www.countyofsb.org/bos/williams.sbc Second District Gregg Hart, Supervisor Phone: (805) 568-2191 Email: ghart@countyofsb.org Website: www.countyofsb.org/bos/hart.sbc Third District Joan Hartmann, Supervisor Phone: (805) 568-2192 Email: jhartmann@countyofsb.org Website: www.countyofsb.org/bos/hartmann.sbc Fourth District Bob Nelson, Supervisor

Top 1% of all our agents Top 100 for 2020-2021 in Santa Barbara &Ventura

COUNTY CONTACTS Page 52 524

© 2021 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate.

JULIE HAYASHIDA AND JENNIE GRUBE A N N O U N C E T H E I R A F F I L I AT I O N W I T H V I L L AG E P R O P E R T I E S From Santa Barbara to Montecito we pursue excellence and integrity for all your future real estate transactions

JULIE HAYASHIDA 805.453.7676 | julie.hayashida@villagesite.com DRE 02106969

JENNIE GRUBE 213.399.5682 | jenniegrube@villagesite.com DRE 02132436

Exclusive Member of

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Montecito Best Buys

by Mark Ashton Hunt

Mark and his wife, Sheela Hunt, are real estate agents. His family goes back nearly 100 years in the Santa Barbara area. Mark’s grandparents – Bill and Elsie Hunt – were Santa Barbara real estate brokers for 25 years. Mark can be reached at Mark@Villagesite.com or call/text 805-698-2174

The Eight-Figure Market Slows, Leaving More Options for Prospective Buyers

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s we kick summer into high gear and the fog fights with the sun for control of the day, the real estate market in Montecito remains robust, yet leveling off to a more normal number we are used to seeing in past years. Additionally, we are seeing fewer sales recently in the over $10 million range, which can be an indicator that a market might be cooling off — as they say, the market slows first at the top.

The most notable statistic I found this week that indicated we might be looking at a real estate sales slowdown in Montecito is that, from June 1 to July 17, 2021, we only had 21 homes go under contract into escrow in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). A strong June/July might see 30+/- homes go into escrow during a 45-day period in summer. More recently during COVID’s peak (June 2020 to February 2021), we would see 40+/- homes per month going under contract, more than one a day.

Homes that go pending into escrow are the best indicator we have available to us for predicting how many homes will sell and trade hands in the weeks and months ahead. Thus, a slower sales pipeline (homes going into escrow) nearly always means a slower month of closed transactions ahead. I mention this now as this is the second slower month I have seen in a row for Montecito in both new escrows and escrows closed.

Meanwhile, buyers are shattering records, paying top prices for “done” homes on the best streets, for oceanfront properties or fixer opportunities in the best areas. With the price and wait time to accomplish a remodel, many buyers are looking for something they can move into immediately, while others are willing to enjoy now, do work later, etc. So, we see a mix of what brings top dollar, from fixers to done homes depending on the buyer and their needs and desire for the specific property in question.

Additionally, regarding the over $10 million market, we recently had a record shattering 25+/- sales of more than $10 million in Montecito from January 1 to May 31, 2021. This early 2021 high-end activity was approximately double the number of more than $10 million sales that took place in the last half of 2020 even, which itself had been a record setting period in that price range.

However, sales in the more than $10 million market are cooling off and there is only one home over $10 million in escrow as I type this. And there is a healthy selection of homes for more than $10 million still available, so it’s not due to lack of options. The more than $10 million market currently represents about 30% of all homes for sale in Montecito. That’s how few homes priced under $10 million are actually available for purchase right now. The top end of the market that usually represents only about 3% of all sales annually, now represents 30+% of all available housing for sale in the area.

On the bright side, inventory is growing slowly over the past six weeks in all price ranges for the most part, and some homes from recent weeks are still available and looking for new owners. Here are five homes in various price ranges under $10 million and in different neighborhoods for you to consider.

Happy house hunting!

107 Olive Mill Road – $3,700,000

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ewly built in 2019, this open floor plan condominium is centrally located in the heart of Montecito. The Villas at Olive Mill Road offer sophisticated, modern living only steps away from restaurants on Coast Village Road, two short blocks to Butterfly Beach, and all within the Montecito Union School District.

Enjoy the security of a private garage and dual gated entry with this two-bedroom, three-bathroom Villa, consisting of all en-suite bedrooms, featuring an

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expansive primary bedroom boasting a balcony and oversized walk-in closet.

The living area includes a glass flare front fireplace, tall ceilings, and solid French Oak flooring throughout. The chef’s kitchen is equipped with Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances and the enclosed patio-room allows for outdoor lounge space within the comfort of your home.

2815 East Valley Road – $4,425,000

A

true Montecito hideaway awaits, and offering more beds, baths, and square footage than most homes in its price range. This home and property on East Valley Road near Ladera Lane, blends the beauty of nature with everyday conveniences. Tucked down a gated driveway, framed by mature oaks and stone accents, you are welcomed to nearly one acre of lush grounds and mature landscaping.

One of only two homes on the market in Montecito in the competitive $4 to $5 million range right now, this four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bathroom main house was custom built with Brazilian wood, beamed ceilings, and walls of glass, encouraging a seamless communication between the interior and exterior.

Spacious living areas flow into expansive entertaining decks. The property also features a two-bedroom guest house with a living room and kitchen.

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4160 La Ladera Rd | Santa Barbara | 6BD/8BA DRE 01447045 | Offered at $21,500,000 Riskin Partners Estate Group 805.565.8600

1010 Hot Springs Ln | Montecito | 5BD/7BA DRE 01421934 | Offered at $12,000,000 Vivien Alexander 805.689.6683

560 Toro Canyon Park Rd | Montecito | 6BD/10BA DRE 01447045 | Offered at $26,500,000 Riskin Partners Estate Group 805.565.8600

1395 Oak Creek Canyon Rd | Montecito | 4BD/8BA DRE 01447045 | Offered at $21,500,000 Riskin Partners Estate Group 805.565.8600

2709 Vista Oceano Ln | Summerland | 7BD/10BA DRE 01447045 | Offered at $19,800,000 Riskin Partners Estate Group 805.565.8600

595 Picacho Ln | Montecito | 6BD/12BA DRE 01447045 | Offered at $14,900,000 Riskin Partners Estate Group 805.565.8600

1833 Fletcher Way | Santa Ynez | 5BD/6BA DRE 00753349 | Offered at $12,250,000 Carey Kendall 805.689.6262

5200 Foxen Canyon Rd | Los Olivos | 8BD/8BA DRE 00753349 | Offered at $9,900,000 Carey Kendall 805.689.6262

3280 Via Rancheros Rd | Santa Ynez | 10BD/10BA DRE 00753349 | Offered at $8,950,000 Carey Kendall 805.689.6262

430 Hot Springs Rd | Santa Barbara | 10BD/9BA DRE 00852118 | Offered at $7,990,000 Jeff Oien 805.895.2944

PENDING

PENDING

5651 W Camino Cielo | Santa Barbara | 4BD/3BA DRE 01813897 | Offered at $4,795,000 David M Kim 805.296.0662

2975 Calle Bonita | Santa Ynez | 6BD/5BA DRE 00753349 | Offered at $4,495,000 Carey Kendall 805.689.6262

1110 Via Del Rey | Santa Barbara | 5BD/7BA DRE 00947199 | Offered at $4,195,000 Johnson/Johnson 805.455.6570

1897 San Leandro Ln | Montecito | 4BD/3BA DRE 01397913 | Offered at $3,895,000 Emily Kellenberger 805.252.2773

6983 Calle Dia | Camarillo | 6BD/5BA DRE 01712742 | Offered at $3,000,000 Anna Hansen 805.901.0248

730 Alameda Padre Serra | Santa Barbara | 4BD/4BA DRE 02093312 | Offered at $2,795,000 Michael Dickman 805.689.3355

537 Hot Springs Rd | Montecito | 2.10 ± Acres DRE 01447045 | Offered at $5,750,000 Riskin Partners Estate Group 805.565.8600

415 Meadowbrook Dr | Montecito | 1.80 ± Acres DRE 01447045 | Offered at $3,700,000 Riskin Partners Estate Group 805.565.8600

WE REACH A GLOBAL AUDIENCE THROUGH OUR EXCLUSIVE AFFILIATES. GREATER EXPOSURE WITH UNPARALLELED LOCAL EXPERTISE. All information provided is deemed reliable, but has not been verified and we do not guarantee it. We recommend that buyers make their own inquiries.

SUMMER 2021

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Insider (Continued from page 13 13)

never know who you might bump into.

My friend John Edward Heaton met a nice couple – a jazz musician named Kyle Eastwood and his wife who invited him to visit in Paris. When he googled them later, turns out the bass player was Clint’s son. If you want a full-on breakfast, just pop across the street to the Montecito Coffee Shop, next to the pharmacy. It doesn’t get any more local than this place.

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All information provided is deemed reliable, but has not been verified & we do not guarantee it. We recommend that buyers make their own inquiries.

Gardens Are for Living

18

Montecito Journal newspaper.indd 8

Montecito JOURNAL

6/8/17 2:12 PM

There are plenty of places frequented by locals for al fresco lunch in Montecito’s Upper Village. Pane e Vino (love the branzino) and sister restaurant Via Vai (great pizzas and salads) are longtime favorites. If you prefer to picnic, grab a sandwich to go (I get the “half on a whole”) from the second-generation sandwich shop, Montecito Gourmet by Village Cheese + Wine, and picnic in the little park by Pierre’s.

Locals support local businesses, including the wonderful Tecolote Book Shop, where Mary Sheldon and Penny McCall have the best taste in books and can order anything on your list from luscious coffee table tomes to bedside fiction, mysteries, or nonfiction. The Montecito Library is also definitely a locals “in” spot. Locals are well read — and well informed.

Davis + Taft’s Leanne Baker has been selling terrific antiques and fine art in the same spot for 30 years next door to Pane e Vino. She has a great eye and was way ahead of the curve on mid-century furnishing popularity.

I hadn’t been in for some time and was delighted to see that the shop has expanded into the space next door. If you’re into antiques, Michael Haskell (there’s even a beach named after him from his youthful surfing days) is one of the most reputable antique dealers around and is incredibly knowledgeable about Spanish Colonial and Native American artifacts and jewelry.

Around the corner and tucked away in a spot known to those in the know, the Carty twins, Annie and Edward, are the traditionalist antique dealers in town — and have owned and run Carty + Carty Antiques for decades.

This pair also knows where all the bodies are buried!

In case you’re wondering, no one has seen Prince Harry or Meghan in the Upper Village, despite the paparazzi with their long lenses hoping for a sighting. Or if they have, they ain’t talking.

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For the Kids and Kids at Heart

Sweet tooth gotcha for those afternoon slumps? Mosey down to Rori’s Artisanal Creamery in the Montecito Country Mart. There’s also an outpost in Carpinteria where their factory is based. Kids happy hour from 3 to 5 pm daily is “buy one cone, get one free for a child.” If you join the Birthday Club and register your birthday, you’ll even get an email coupon for a free birthday scoop that’s good for 30 days.

And, yes, Meghan Markle has been spotted shopping in the Montecito Country Mart with her bodyguard in tow — pre-birth of their second child.

End of the Day

Sunrise, sunset. The Biltmore wall is the place to savor Mother Nature at her finest. The stone wall has been a place for young and old alike to watch the sunset, local surfers, and stroll the beach at day’s end. The “rail” is a “faux” stone wall intended to look like the original stone masonry wall that was there in the 1930s.

Montecito Nightlife

Cocktails anyone? Some like to frequent the Miramar Bar and reminisce about the “good old days” around the piano bar at the Olive Mill Bistro. Lots of regulars frequent Lucky’s bar. The Nugget on Monday nights in Summerland is where old Montecito gather to eat burgers, the best fries in town, and strong cocktails.

In the summer, we have the Music Academy of the West for concerts and master classes at the Miraflores campus.

Most locals prefer to savor dinners with friends or throw cocktail parties at home or splurge on dinner at the San Ysidro Ranch where it’s hard to beat the atmosphere in the lovely summer patio with twinkling lights and live flamenco guitar greeting guests. I’ve heard that Tuesdays are “locals’ night,” but I don’t have firsthand knowledge of that. Yet. Will keep you posted.

If you really want to act like a local properly, buy a copy of Erin Graffy’s tome Society Ladies How to Santa Barbara available from her website. The Santa Barbara native has nailed all the tricks of our town and how to fit right in just like a chameleon to a tee.

SUMMER 2021

Over

850

Million Sold

Real Estate Experience You Can Count On SERVING SANTA BARBARA, MONTECITO, AND CARPINTERIA TOP 5 TOTAL NUMBER OF CLOSED ESCROWS SINCE 2000* TOP 10 IN TOTAL DOLLAR VOLUME SOLD SINCE 2000* #1 AGENT IN CARPINTERIA FOR TOTAL NUMBER OF CLOSED ESCROWS IN 2020*

Gary Goldberg *RANKINGS BASED ON MARKET PENETRATION FOR INDIVIDUAL AGENTS FROM THE SBAOR MLS FROM 01/2000-12/2020

COMING SOON - OCEAN FRONT - CARPINTERIA

Contact Me Today!

(805) 455-8910

www.garygoldberg.net • gary@coastalrealty.com DRE #01172139 SUMMER 2021

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Montecito Storefronts

Marc Normand Gelinas Interior Design has been located in Montecito since 2008

by Nick Masuda

Marc Gelinas, Known for Interior Design, Now has a Store for his Antiques

T

hat look? That’s Marc Gelinas smiling from ear to ear — and he has plenty of windows to check out his pearly whites at his new digs on East Valley Road in the Upper Village.

It’s the perfect space to not only promote his flourishing interior design business, but also his budding career as an antique dealer, a recent addition to his business repertoire.

He moved quickly to land the spot, identifying the space on May 22, leasing it

by June 1, and opening by June 30.

“I didn’t want to waste any time,” Gelinas said. “This gives plenty of window space to show off my antiques.”

A Montecitan since 2008, when he took a chance and moved during the Great Recession, Gelinas has found a stable of clients for his interior design work, allowing his business to grow steadily over the past 13 years.

Nearly two years ago, Gelinas added antiques to his offerings, focused on mostly English and French pieces. He spends time on auction sites, as well as targeted international trips in order to acquire everything from a French Renaissance table to chairs that Louis XVI utilized.

Gelinas enjoys studying the pieces in person, allowing him to truly appreciate the art.

“I find antiques fascinating because they also show the political influence as styles change as well.”

Gelinas’ handiwork in a master bedroom

SHEELA HUNT Providing Professional, Knowledgeable, and Dedicated Representation to Buyers and Sellers in Montecito and Santa Barbara

Gelinas moved quickly to get his new digs on East Valley Road

Gelinas’ storefront on East Valley Road now displays his mostly French and English antiques

Gelinas says he has gained business due to his “open-book” policy, where clients see all invoices

sheela@villagesite.com | www.SheelaHunt.com 805.698.3767 | DRE 01103376 Exclusive Member of

20 Montecito JOURNAL

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A Selection of our 2021 Y TD Sales Over $100Million in Sales | Over 40 Transactions

Olive Street | Montecito | $10,575,000

Stone Meadow Ln | Montecito $5,300,000

Undisclosed | Montecito | $7,350,000

Stone Meadow Ln | Montecito $3,985,000

Paterna Road | SB Riviera | $5,950,000

Hixon Rd | Montecito $3,650,000

Monte Vista Ln | Montecito $3,700,000

Olive Mill Rd | Montecito $3,250,000

Tunnel Rd | Mission Canyon $2,988,000

Norman Ln | Montecito $2,675,000

Miramesa Dr | SB Mesa $2,535,000

Norman Ln | Montecito $2,450,000

Ocean View Ave | Carpinteria $2,400,000

E Padre St | Upper East $2,300,000

Laguna St | Upper East $2,050,000

San Rafael Ave | SB Mesa $2,050,000

Puesta Del Sol | San Roque $1,925,000

Via Roma | Hope Ranch Annex $1,895,000

Calle Noguera | San Roque $1,525,000

E Valley Rd | Montecito $1,495,000

State St | Upper East $1,480,000

Chapala St | Downtown SB $1,375,000

Chapala St | Downtown SB $1,350,000

Chapala St | Downtown SB $1,300,000

S Soledad St | Eastside $1,250,000

Mountain Ave | Westside $1,088,000

Serena Rd | Downtown SB $1,000,000

We sell more homes than anyone else in Santa Barbara and Montecito, year after year.

#1 in 805-565-4000 Info@HomesInSantaBarbara.com

2020*

#1 in 2019*

#1 in 2018*

www.HomesInSantaBarbara.com DRE#01499736 / 01129919 ©2021 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. *Per SB MLS, #1 Team for Number of Units Sold.

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Real Estate Snapshot

by Kelly Mahan Herrick

Kelly is a licensed realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, and a member of the award-winning Calcagno & Hamilton Real Estate Team.

She can be reached at Kelly@homesinsantabarbara.com

T

Mid-Year Montecito Market Update

he real estate market in Montecito continues to exceed any and all expectations, creating records in both prices and number of sales.

The first six months of the year have been incredibly active, with 140 homes* closing since January 1. This is nearly double the amount we saw last year, when 79 homes traded hands in the first half of 2020.

July’s numbers are starting to show a shift in the market: As of this writing, only four homes have closed versus 18 closings in the first two weeks of July last year. This is confirming what many are reporting on the real estate front lines: A sort of cooling off in the market, in various price points and locations. It remains to be seen if the cool down will continue, or if the new surge in COVID-19 cases, as well as newly imposed mask mandates in Los Angeles, will cause buyers once again to flock to our area.

In July 2020, the average number of days on the market was about 100. This year in July, that number is nine. Last year’s inventory was scooped up by buyers — many of whom were from out of town — who were new to our market. This combined with a staggering lack of inventory in the last year caused the sale of many listings that had been on the market for several months, if not years. Now, that inventory is gone, so new listings are moving fast. *For the purposes of comparison, these numbers are based on MLS statistics and include homes in the Cold Spring and MUS School Districts.

Low Supply & High Demand

Montecito’s highest sale of the year thus far: a $45 million beachfront estate on Fernald Point closed in a quiet, off-market deal (Listed by Kathleen Winter of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services) properties with privacy, separate office space, and lots of outdoor space, even if that meant being farther away from the shopping districts and beach.

The remarkable news about the highest end of the market (more than $10 million), is that the average days on market was just 119 days. Half of the homes that sold in this segment were on the market two months or less, which is just incredible. Also notable: we saw the $45 million sale of a home on Fernald Point, which was sold in a quiet, off-market deal. We also saw the sale of 1104 Channel Drive, which was on and off the market for many years before selling for $31 million in March.

Montecito’s Condo Market Heats Up

T

he number of active listings remains low, which was a factor even before the pandemic began in March 2020. As of press time there are 43 active listings in Montecito, with six additional listings in escrow. Last year at this time we had around 125 active listings for buyers to choose from. Last year we also had 17 “coming soon” listings at the mid-year mark, which is a way for sellers and agents to let other agents know that a property is going to hit the market, without being syndicated to websites such as Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, etc. Right now, there are currently zero coming soon listings in Montecito, which tells me that sellers know their properties are going to sell, most likely with multiple offers, and there is no need to test the waters by placing it in the “coming soon” category of the MLS. We are down roughly 75% in inventory from a normal summer selling season in Montecito, which explains why and how our median and average sales price has increased significantly over the past year. The rate at which homes are selling is truly staggering, and our supply simply cannot keep up with the demand. Ask any local and they’ll tell you the demographics in Montecito have changed significantly; there is an influx of younger people and families migrating to Montecito for a number of reasons: the stellar schools, the semi-rural feel, proximity to the beach, and the desire to leave more populated cities.

Property Values Continue to Climb

L

ooking at the mid-year data, the average sales price in Montecito is just over $7 million. The median sales price is $5.3 million. Last year, the average was around $4 million, with the median at $3.8 million. This is due in large part to the staggering number of sales of homes for more than $10 million: a whopping 22 sales in the first six months of the year! Last year, there was one home that sold above $10 million. This is great news for the high-end market, which had seen a stall the last few years as buyers’ needs and desires shifted to smaller, more manageable properties that are in close proximity to the beach, restaurants, and shops.

The pandemic shifted buyer needs, and we saw buyers on the hunt for larger

22 Montecito JOURNAL

A 2/2 condo in Montecito Shores closed in March after being on the market for nearly a year.

This was one of 27 condo sales in Montecito the first half of this year. (Listed by Julie Greener and Maureen McDermut of Sotheby’s)

T

he first half of the year we saw the sale of 27 condos in Montecito, ranging in price from $849,000 to $4.77 million. The breakdown of these sales is as follows: Four in Coast Village Gardens (1220 Coast Village Road), 13 in Montecito Shores and Bonnymede, two in El Montecito Verde (Fairway Road near the Music Academy of the West), six near the Upper Village, one in Olive Mill Plaza (behind The Honor Bar), and one on Depot Road near the beach.

Average number of days on market for these sales is 50 days. Last year, the average number of days for the 15 condo sales that took place the first half of the year was 158 days. It’s safe to say that the luxury condo market in Montecito is as

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SUMMER 2021

strong as ever. This is indicative of many out-of-town buyers scooping up second (or third) homes that are relatively low maintenance; a place to escape near the beach in beautiful Montecito.

To further put the strength of this segment of the market in perspective, only three Bonnymede or Montecito Shores condos sold in the first half of 2019 (pre-pandemic), with no other luxury condo sales to note during the same time frame.

What’s Happening in the Rest of the South County

B

y the end of June, the Santa Barbara South County (which includes Carpinteria to Goleta, and includes Montecito and Hope Ranch), saw the sales of 745 homes and PUDs. In 2020, this number was 452, and in years prior to the pandemic, the number of homes sold in the first half of the year hovered between 530-580. The median sales price is also up significantly: $1,995,000 compared to mid $1.2 million for the previous four years. The median sales price is higher than the median list price ($1,925,000) for the first time ever, which confirms what we already knew: That most homes are selling for well above their asking price, thanks to multiple buyers bidding on the same property. Active listings are up over last year (884 versus 806), and new listings are also up (840 versus 775).

If you omit Hope Ranch and Montecito from the data, the median sales price at the mid-year marker is $1,560,000, compared to $1,140,000 just one year ago. The average sold price without Hope Ranch and Montecito is $1,945,225, which is an all-time high. This is due to several big sales on Sand Point in Carpinteria ($23 million and $12.75 million), and a notable $12.5 million sale in Hollister Ranch. There were also two significant sales on the Mesa: A 4/4.5 new construction on Shoreline for $8.855 million and a 4/2 on Edgewater Way for $6.2 million. Inland, we saw three sales on the Riviera between $4.9 million and $6 million, a Mission Canyon estate for $4.7 million, and a ranch in Goleta for $4.7 million.

“La Vista” on Paterna Road near the El Encanto was one of 25 sales over $4 million in Santa Barbara so far this year (Listed and sold by Calcagno & Hamilton Partners of Berkshire Hathaway) The higher-end market is extremely hot, with 25 sales in Santa Barbara proper over the $4 million mark. Compare this to just seven sales over $4 million last year.

Snapshot Page 564 564

Build Solid

seguroconstruction.com 805.564.7800

SUMMER 2021

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Mad Dogs and Englishmen

The Bluejay eBike is a common sight around Santa Barbara

by Lizzy Fallows

An Electric Trend:

E-Bikes Boom in Montecito

“It was a horrible time to open a bike shop.

But we’d looked on Coast Village for over a year and really wanted to be in the community.”

— Jennifer Blevins

W

Actress Sophia Bush showcases Mad Dogs’ Bluejay eBike

hen Jennifer Blevins opened her first electric bike shop in 2018, she explained, “Everyone thought we were crazy, but they didn’t understand electric bikes yet.” Blevins is the owner, founder, and CEO of Montecito’s new all-electric bike shop, Mad Dogs and Englishmen.

The pandemic has driven dramatic growth in unexpected categories, including electric bicycles. According to Cycling Industry News, electric bike sales in the U.S. grew 143% from 2019 to 2020. The so-called bike boom was initially driven by cyclists who turned to electric bikes to safely solve micro mobility challenges during lockdowns. But as the country has reopened, sales and ridership of electric bikes have continued to grow. Electric bikes are seemingly here to stay.

Mad Dogs and Englishmen is the first all-electric bike store in Santa Barbara.

Its Coast Village shop is the company’s fourth location; the others are in Carmelby-the-Sea, Monterey, and Mill Valley. A women-run business, Blevins created the shop in large part because she never felt welcome in bike shops.

“Most bike shops are run by guys,” she explained, “and they’re focused on competitive riders.”

Blevins saw an opportunity to fill a niche for casual cyclists who weren’t interested in racing. And after riding electric bikes in her hilly hometown of Carmel-by-the-Sea, she found that electric bikes made biking more attractive and approachable.

Mad Dogs and Englishmen opened in 2018 as Carmel-by-the-Sea’s first bike shop. Upon opening, Blevins explained, “Most of the people who came through the store in Carmel had never been on an eBike.”

COVID changed that.

24 Montecito JOURNAL

Mad Dogs Page 41 414

Ayesha and Steph Curry have utilized eBikes from Mad Dogs

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Keith C. Berry With over 50 years of experience as a Santa Barbara real estate agent servicing all areas in Santa Barbara, Keith helps buyers and sellers meet their real estate objectives – from condos to estates.

“Your professional services made the buying process uncomplicated, and we felt your experience was invaluable. You were attentive to our needs and were available for many important appointments at the property. We felt we were given the same time and attention purchasing a condominium as a person purchasing a million-dollar home. You ensured that our best interests were always met.”

Keith Berry, REALTOR ®

Global Luxury Specialist C. 805.689.4240 CalRE #00363833 Keith@KeithBerryRealEstate.com

KeithBerryRealEstate.com

3820 State Street, Ste. G | Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2021 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles 21PJVB-DC_GLA_7/21 of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

26 Montecito JOURNAL

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Villa Olivarius

Premiere Montecito Ocean View Estate 1640EastMountain.com

A once in a generation opportunity to acquire the largest ocean view estate in all of Montecito spanning over 43 acres on 2 separate parcels. Experience this unique setting with its inspirational views that are unquestionably the best ocean, island, and harbor vistas in Montecito. This unique enclave is in a world of its own with unparalleled privacy, yet it is set in the heart of Montecito’s golden quadrangle just steps away from the storied San Ysidro Ranch.

Offered at $33,000,000

Frank Abatemarco

FrankAbatemarco@gmail.com 805.450.7477 FrankAbatemarco.com

Montecito - Coast Village Road Brokerage 1165 Coast Village Road Suite A | Montecito, CA 93108 | sothebysrealty.com

Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s I© 2021 Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. The Sotheby’s International Realty trademark is licensed and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. The Sotheby’s International Realty network fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. All offerings are subject to errors, omissions, changes including price or withdrawal without notice. Frank Abatemarco DRE: 01320375

SUMMER 2021

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ESTATES GROUP

The Premiere Estates of Montecito & Santa Barbara CAL BRE 00622258

805 565/2208

28 Montecito JOURNAL

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Bringing People & Properties Together M O N T E C I T O E S TAT E S. C O M

RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE

SUMMER 2021

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“FAR AFIELD” THE PREEMINENT 10+ ACRE MONTECITO ESTATE FarAfieldEstate.com

DIPRITZITO

670 HOT SPRINGS ROAD, MONTECITO $74,000,000 | 7 bedrooms | 14 baths |

+ _

20,000 Sf |

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10.5 acres | FarAfieldEstate.com

COLDWELL BANKER REALTY | 301 N CANON DRIVE, SUITE E | BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90210

30 Montecito JOURNAL

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SUMMER 2021

TIMOTHY DI PRIZITO | 310.266.2777 | Tdipri@gmail.com CalRE #01433017

JOYCE REY | 310.291.6646 | Joyce@JoyceRey.com CalRE #00465013

The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2021 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

SUMMER 2021

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The Finest Montecito & Santa Barbara Homes Presented by

www.Montecito-Estate.com • 805.886.9378 • Cristal@Montecito-Estate.com • DRE 00968247

Sand Point Beach Villa at Casa Blanca...

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M i r a m a r B e a ch H o u s e MIRAMAR BEACH • MONTECITO 2 Bed, 2 Full/2 Half Bath Residence Exceptional Beach Front Views Upper & Lower Beachside Terraces Located on a Private, Gated Lane Moments from The Rosewood Miramar Offered at $8,750,000

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urements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. *Invidividual agent for Berkshire Hathaway Home Services for 2020 based on sales volume.

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$160M+ SOLD IN THE LAST 12-MONTHS R EC E N T LY S O L D P R O P E RT I E S

BUYER REPRESENTATION

SELLER REPRESENTATION

SELLER REPRESENTATION

1115 Clover Lane, Montecito

2464 East Ojai Avenue, Ojai

1445 East Mountain Drive, Montecito

SOLD FOR | $9,815,000

SOLD OVER-ASKING FOR | $9,000,000

SOLD OVER-ASKING FOR | $8,800,000

SELLER REPRESENTATION

SELLER REPRESENTATION

SELLER REPRESENTATION

1077 Summit Road, Montecito

789 Park Lane, Montecito

81 Chase Drive, Santa Barbara

SOLD OVER-ASKING FOR | $6,750,000

SOLD AT-ASKING FOR | $5,250,000

SOLD OVER-ASKING FOR | $3,400,000

LOCAL EXPERTISE. GLOBAL REACH.

WWW.THEEBBINGROUP.COM | INFO@THEEBBINGROUP.COM | (805) 400-3424 | LUKE EBBIN DRE# 01488213 Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate. If your property is currently listed for sale this is not a solicitation.

34 Montecito JOURNAL

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IMAGINE THE LIFESTYLE . . .

KEN SWITZER

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY LUXURY COLLECTION

SPANISH COLONIAL IN MONTECITO $6,950,000

THE CROWN JEWEL OF SANTA BARBARA’S WATERFRONT $8,800,000

HISTORIC LEGACY COMPOUND $9,950,000

805.680.4622 KenSwitzer1@yahoo.com DRE# 01245644 ©2021 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information.

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Together We Grow

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15 Woodale Lane

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MONTECITO - COAST VILLAGE ROAD BROKERAGE | 1165 COAST VILLAGE RD, SUITE A, MONTECITO, CA | SOTHEBYSREALTY.COM © 2021 Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. The Sotheby’s International Realty trademark is licensed and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. The Sotheby’s International Realty network fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. All offerings are subject to errors, omissions, changes including price or withdrawal without notice

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Best Buys (Continued from page 16 16)

513 Crocker Sperry Drive – $5,795,000

convenience, all within the Cold Spring School District and near hiking trails, Montecito’s villages, and downtown Santa Barbara.

R

enowned architect Jack Warner designed this contemporary Birnam Wood residence in his signature style with a seamless flow throughout. The single-level home is filled with light from glass windows and doors, inviting movement from the interiors to the gardens, showcasing the mountain views.

A recent renovation by Dreams & Designs added luxury finishes and enhanced the open floor plan.

The living spaces center around a spacious kitchen which opens to the family room, dining area, and flows naturally to the living room, with all interior spaces surrounded by walls of windows and doors leading to many outdoor patios and views. Noted landscape architect Isabel Greene designed the gardens, providing each of the three secondary bedroom suites with their own lush patios. Homes in Birnam Wood are within a 24-hour, guard-gated community, and are in the Montecito Union School District.

1885 Jelinda Drive – $7,995,000

S

howcasing rarely-seen square footage and scale in a home priced under $10 million, this estate features ocean views and is within the exclusive, guard-gated community of Ennisbrook. Resting on a commanding 1.77+/- acre site, the 10,800-plus-square-foot home boasts six bedrooms and seven full and four half bathrooms in the main residence. Enjoy generous entertaining spaces, the pool and

797 Ashley Road – $6,390,000

H

ere is a newer, one-acre Montecito residence, that is both grand and comfortable at the same time. With four bedrooms and five bathrooms, the home also has very spacious public rooms with high ceilings and lots of windows and doors opening to the exterior spaces. The multi-level home features a commercial elevator that can bring you from the garage to other levels within the home, with the primary and two other suites on the top level and a ground-level guest suite adjacent to the entertainment/media room.

The high ceiling, main floor living area features a wood-beamed living room, garden view dining room, chef’s kitchen, and a light-filled family room that opens to an expansive wraparound stone patio/entertainment area. Grounds offer room to add amenities and an estate-sized motor court adds value and day-to-day

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cabana, dual gated entry for access, lovely gardens, and more, all within the Montecito Union School District.

Inside, a flexible floor plan offers a great canvas for creating one’s dream home. Details include warm wood floors, numerous fireplaces, multiple living and dining spaces, dual primary suites, with one on the main level, versatile bonus room and a grand foyer.

French doors and windows curate warm, sun-soaked rooms while simultaneously capitalizing on Montecito’s highly sought-after indoor/outdoor lifestyle. Outside, an imperial staircase leads to the expansive grounds, pool, and cabana.

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Mad Dogs (Continued from page 24 24) Mad Dogs founder Jennifer Blevins was inspired to start her line of eBikes after a childhood where she rode on the back of her mother’s bicycle

Mad Dogs and Englishmen is located on Coast Village Road in Montecito “Now most clients who come through our stores have been on an eBike.”

But the bike boom has not come without complications.

Pandemic-related disruption in the bicycle supply chain has caused global bike shortages, making it very difficult to manage inventory. So, when a shop location became available on Coast Village, Blevins was wary but went for it.

“It was a horrible time to open a bike shop. But we’d looked on Coast Village for over a year and really wanted to be in the community.”

Montecito’s affluence, beauty, and established cycling culture made it an ideal extension of the Mad Dogs brand.

Since opening in February, Blevins has discovered a synergy between her Montecito and other California locations.

“When we opened, our clients already knew us because there are a lot of community members who have connections to Carmel or Mill Valley.”

The bulk of her Coast Village customers are Montecito locals, many of whom have long-term vacation rentals here. But Mad Dogs also attracts customers from Los Angeles, who often seek out the shop for its dog-friendly approach to cycling.

“We are excessively dog friendly,” explains Blevins, indicating her shop’s signature item is a bicycle sidecar for dogs (and children) that is available for rent or purchase. “We ship them all over the U.S.” Early memories of riding on the back of her mother’s bicycle, and later riding with her own daughter, help fuel Blevins’ desire to get more women on bikes.

But more importantly, she aspires to use Mad Dogs and Englishmen to “help all people enjoy cycling more.” And in her experience, electric bikes are the way to make that happen.

Mad Dogs and Englishmen is located at 1080 Coast Village Road in Montecito.

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Power of Privacy

The University Club of Santa Barbara

by Gabe Saglie

A Sense of Belonging:

Private Clubs Add to Santa Barbara’s Residential Appeal

A

mong the unexpected silver linings of the pandemic? The fact that the appeal of living in Santa Barbara’s South Coast has surged, and surged in a big way. An enclave like Montecito is not all that far from the urban sprawl of Los Angeles, where a pandemic-inspired exodus continues.

But, as so many residents and visitors know, it is a world away. Indeed, the real estate gods – as inventory shrinks and prices balloon – are smiling.

But living in this treasured corner of the world is more than whether you can afford it, or the way it pretty much guarantees that your investment will grow. It’s about the way that it offers so much more than you thought you needed, the way it never ceases to delight and the way it manages to enhance everyday life, every day.

The private clubs that call communities like Montecito and Santa Barbara home, it can be argued, have a lot to do with that appeal. At their core, they are havens for socialization, that all-important tenet of human interaction that, as another truth revealed by the pandemic, a community both needs and craves. They also aim to elevate their members’ experience, to expand their horizons, through a bevy of innovative programs and curated experiences that range from the culinary and athletic to the creative and intellectual.

“For the majority of our clients, private clubs are definitely an amenity that they’re looking for,” says Natalie Grubb, a realtor with Village Properties’ Grubb Campbell Group, and a resident of Santa Barbara for pretty much her entire life. “We’ll ask them, ‘What do you like? Tennis? Golf? Sailing?’ And we can tell them, ‘Yes, that exists here.’

“That’s why we’ve seen such a huge influx of people wanting to move here fulltime, not just part-time anymore,” she adds. “They want to be part of a community, which has always been part of living in this area. But now there’s even more than before.”

Clubs tend not to make dues and fees public. For serious prospects, though, it’s fair to say that membership is more an investment than an expense.

Up first, a spotlight on some of Santa Barbara’s top social clubs.

The Santa Barbara Club

The oldest social club in Santa Barbara is probably the oldest private hangout of its kind between L.A. and San Francisco. Founded in 1892, the Santa Barbara Club features a clubhouse that holds both state and local historic landmark status and that has hosted distinguished community members and guests for decades.

“Our members are not trust-funders, but academics,” says club manager Linda Spann, who adds that the waiting list for membership, which is by invitation only, has grown so big that the club’s initiation fee recently went up.

There are three tiers of membership here, based on age: Regular (45+), Intermediate (31-44), and Junior (21-30). The foodie offerings have long been a calling card of the Santa Barbara Club; Chef Humberto Perez has helmed the kitchen for more than 20 years and makes everything from pastas to pastries in-house.

“We can serve more than a hundred meals on a Friday night,” adds Spann, which are served either in the elegant Dining Room or the sprawling outdoor lawn.

Members have access to various interest groups, including a Breakfast Club, an Investors Club, and a Wine Group. The Club’s Preservation Foundation allows members to make tax deductible donations to preserve the Clubhouse and other landmark buildings in town. The Club’s Art Foundation aims to support contemporary artists by featuring their work through displays and exhibits. There are dozens of reciprocal clubs across the U.S., as well as globally, in countries like England, Mexico, and Thailand. santabarbaraclub.org.

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The University Club opened in 1919 This has been a premier social club in the heart of Santa Barbara since 1919.

Networking reigns supreme here, via an ongoing schedule of themed parties, mixers, and lectures, including large affairs during major community events like Fiesta. The club hosts various social clubs, too, like the Book Club and regular wine tastings. The property offers members free prime downtown parking, and the manicured gardens feature secluded patios and a firepit. There’s a pool table in the game room, and the club regularly puts works by local artists on exhibit. The club’s executive chef and culinary team have received high marks from discerning foodies for decades.

The University Club is one of the few clubs in town that’s transparent about its fees. There are four membership categories, including the Junior category, for members ages 21 to 39, with a $1,500 initiation fee and $100 monthly dues. The Resident category for those living within 25 miles of the club, has a $3,000 initiation fee and monthly dues of $175. Members get access to more than 200 reciprocal clubs around the U.S. and the world. uclubsb.org.

Miramar Club

This is the members-only extension of the luxurious and elegant Rosewood Miramar Resort, offering members an oceanfront haven with myriad exclusive amenities.

“We like to think of it as laid-back luxury,” says Hannah Rock, the hotel’s social activities director. “You are getting that five-star experience, but it’s more like a beach club than a formal private club.”

Launched in May 2019, it’s the newest social club in the area. Located next to the resort’s signature Caruso’s restaurant, the Club also enjoys a right-on-the-sand location and exclusive seasonal and regional menus crafted by the same Caruso’s team, led by executive chef Massimo Falsini. The dining room touts airy, Art-Deco décor, an extensive private wine cellar, and an adjacent wood-panel piano bar that doles out myriad signature cocktails. Members have access to top-line athletic and spa facilities, as well as personalized concierge services.

“The club offers curated events and programming on a weekly basis that focus on culinary, retail, and family events,” adds Rock.

The beach experience is exclusive, too, with private lounges and members-only food-and-beverage services. clubmiramar.com.

Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club

The famous private club right on Butterfly Beach is part of Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts. Built in 1937, it was purchased by Ty Warner in 2000, in conjunction with his buy of the historic Biltmore hotel across the street. Both properties, shuttered in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, remain closed.

The club’s Signature membership includes access to an elegant waterfront location, complete with a pool complex that has a heated Olympic-size swimming pool, a whirlpool and a kids’ wading pool, all surrounded by more than 200 chaise lounges and chair-side amenities that change hourly. Cabana rentals are available. The fitness center features state-of-the-art equipment, and a private gate gives members their own beach access. The sundeck on the third floor and

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the Living Room is for members only. Food and beverages are available at three locations, with Tydes Restaurant & Bar setting the bar for prime dining at the club. coralcasinoclub.com.

The Club & Guest House at UC Santa Barbara

The Santa Barbara Polo Club hosts games free to the general public on Fridays jacuzzi, and fitness center, which features yoga and fitness classes.

Dining has received new focus, with the recent opening of the Fieldside Grill, which is open to the public every Wednesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner.

“We felt that because of our members and the condos on the grounds and the community around us, establishing a full-scale restaurant would be a welcome addition,” says general manager David Sigman. “And the food is as awesome as the views.”

Folded Hills, owned by former polo pro Andy Busch, is the eatery’s wine sponsor. sbpolo.com.

UCSB’s Guest House features 34 rooms

Privacy Page 61 614

The Club features an extensive patio The COVID-19 pandemic is keeping this unique club closed through the rest of 2021, with most of the staff reassigned to on-campus pandemic efforts. This iconic destination club, though, which was established in 1968, remains known as the “living room” of the UCSB campus. The Guest House, which was renovated in 2014 and features ocean views, emulates a 34-room boutique hotel. Stays are reserved for visiting scholars, families of students, and those on university business, as well as members. Continental breakfast is included. The dining room features gourmet lunch service, with a focus on locally and sustainably sourced food, and it’s open to the public. The facility is governed by a Board of Directors. theclub.ucsb.edu.

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Sports and an active, outdoor lifestyle are also inspirations for some of Santa Barbara’s most sought-after clubs, most of them with an emphasis on golf, tennis, polo, swimming, and sailing.

The Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club

Polo pros from all over the world, including the royal variety, trot to this destination club, one of the oldest of its kind in the U.S. It features the country’s longest polo season, too, with games hosted seasonally from May through mid-October.

Games are free to the general public on Fridays, while Sunday games require tickets. Polo memberships come with exclusive dibs on mid-level and upper boxes, for prime viewing.

The club also operates its own polo school, the Santa Barbara Polo Training Center.

The social membership option comes with complimentary attendance at weekend polo matches, as well as invitations to special events throughout the year.

Tennis memberships, which come with access to the club’s eight courts, six of which are lit, and swim-and-fitness memberships feature use of the heated pool,

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A Brief History of the Development of Montecito

By Hattie Beresford

E

The Domingues family planted this grapevine in the 1780s. By the 1860s it had become known as el parra grande, a tourist attraction in old Spanishtown billed as the largest grapevine in California (Santa Barbara Historical Museum)

rroneously translated as “little mountain,” the name El Montecito is an archaic use of the Spanish word meaning woodland or countryside. It was being used to designate the eastern part of the Pueblo Lands of Santa Barbara as early as the 1780s. Considered a wilderness, it only became populated when retiring soldiers of the Presidio, in lieu of pensions, were given land in this hinterland far from the center of town. By then, the small Indian village by the sea, called Salaguas by the native Chumash and Rancheria de San Bernardino by the Spanish, had ceased to exist.

As the Spanish population increased, clusters of dwellings grew, and a small aldea became established along today’s East Valley Road near Montecito Creek.

Complete with rooming houses, an inn, grocery stores, dance halls, and saloons, the village served the needs of residents.

Spain yielded to Mexico in 1821, and Mexico yielded to the United States in 1848. A trickle of American farmers

John Murray Forbes developed a winter estate he dubbed Mount St. George on land he’d purchased from Judge E.B. Hall in 1881. The estate once stood on the corner of Sycamore Canyon Road (the road at the bottom of the photo) and Pepper Lane, (seen here before pepper trees gave it a name). The photo is from 1882 and shows Forbes’ home and the sparse development of the valley. (Montecito Association History Committee)

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looking for inexpensive arable land joined a trickle of land speculators to take up grants offered by the Common Council of Santa Barbara for a few dollars an acre. Many of the Spanish families living in El Montecito added to their holdings at this time.

Increased population led to increased infrastructure needs.

Prone to drought, fire, and flood, Montecito has a history of struggling to find a reliable water supply. Early on wells were dug, creeks tapped, and water adits drilled, until finally a tunnel through the mountain brought water from a dam on the Santa Ynez River in the 1930s.

Probably the first American farmer in Montecito was Newton M. Coates.

His farm would later become a ranch named Las Fuentes (the springs) owned

by William H. Crocker. William was the son of Charles Crocker, one member of the partnership known as the Big Four, the group that built the western end of the first transcontinental railroad. William’s partner was his mother-in-law, Caroline Sperry, matriarch of a flour empire in Stockton. Crocker planned to develop the ranch as 33 ranchette home sites, but when the real estate boom of 1885-86 went spectacularly bust in 1887, he shifted gears and established a citrus ranch. It would be more than 80 years before the property became a gated residential community and golf club named Birnamwood.

By 1890, Montecito had been discovered by well-to-do Easterners who built elegant Victorian-style homes and estates, mainly as winter residences.

The old Spanish families and American farmers found themselves sharing the land with an increasing number of these part-time residents. Over the years, however, many of them would eventually make El Montecito their permanent address.

Land speculation and subdivision increased, and by 1920, a second wave of newcomers had succumbed to the charms of the area. They favored a new

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William G. and Mehitabel Henshaw purchased Mira Vista in 1913. They added a story to the west wing and replaced the wooden east wing (the old Victorian farmhouse) with one that matched.

(Courtesy Montecito History Committee)

Lemon Label for Las Fuentes, the Crocker-Sperry lemon ranch (Courtesy Montecito Association History Committee) style of architecture, Mediterranean and Spanish Revival, which came to dominate the architectural landscape.

The old adobe homes of the Spanish settlers and the Victorians and wooden farmhouses of the previous wave of Americans began to disappear.

Increased population led to increased infrastructure needs. Prone to drought, fire, and flood, Montecito has a history of struggling to find a reliable water supply. Early on wells were dug, creeks

tapped, and water adits drilled, until finally a tunnel through the mountain brought water from a dam on the Santa Ynez River in the 1930s. The water problem, they believed at the time, was solved. The Montecito Water District, which built the system, had organized in 1920 to unify and serve the water needs of the area. Solving the water problem encouraged new growth; new growth required additional water, and the water problem arose again.

A Case Study: Mira Vista

The story of Mira Vista exemplifies the development of Montecito. In 1891, between Sycamore Canyon and Ashley roads lay a large parcel of farmland with a two-story farmhouse. Though the soil was rich, the market for farm products was slim, and the farmer had sold out to a land speculator, Frank M. Gallaher. That year, 20-year-old Isaac G. Waterman, sole heir of his wealthy Philadelphia family’s estate, purchased

Farmers struggled to make a living, but William Ferl enticed customers to his banana farm by creating “Mountain Nook,” where excursionists and Historical Museum) hikers could buy a hiking stick, an ice-cold drink, and some of his exotic fruit (Courtesy Santa Barbara

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the property for $75,000.

A frail and sensitive lad, he had been brought to the reputed health resort of Santa Barbara in the mid-1880s by his grandmother. At that time, he threw himself into the musical life of the community, taking flute and piano lessons from Professor W.J. McCoy and playing the concerts given by the Amateur Musical Club. There he met his future wife, Jean Alexander, who was 10 years his senior. His friends had misgivings about the liaison, in fact, upon hearing the news Mrs. Robert Bage (Marie) Canfield was heard to utter, “Mon Dieu, c’est une catastrophe!”

In 1894, the Watermans added a two-story sandstone addition to the house described in the newspaper as “a large and picturesque stone castle in the old Spanish style with a court and fountain in the center.” The interior woodwork was made from redwood and every room had an open fireplace.

Electricity lit the rooms and a gas plant was placed on the property. Eventually, a blacksmith’s shop and stable built of stone were added. The lemon orchards produced 800 to 1,000 boxes of lemons a month. The formal terraces and landscaping, designed by Elizabeth Eaton Burton, cost $25,000 and Waterman spent over $200,000 improving the place over the years.

In 1896, the Watermans summered in Philadelphia, and in 1897 Mme. Canfield’s prediction of catastrophe came to pass. Jean took her two girls, moved into her parents’ home in Santa Barbara, and filed for divorce.

Waterman became increasingly solitary, reneged on his debts, and rented the house out for several seasons until he

History Page 50 504 Montecito JOURNAL

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Get Ready Montecito

by Kia McInerny

A Celebrated Architect Makes Montecito his Home

Q

uietly and without fanfare, Montecito recently welcomed a legendary architect to our village. Though long a celebrity figure for his “elegant barn” aesthetic in rustic settings like Sundance and Napa Valley, it was with delight that we caught up with Howard Backen — at his desk overlooking Coast Village Road — hand sketching a new design for Montecito clients.

His new project will be located on a spectacular four-acre site in upper Montecito designated a “place of historic merit.” The land is part of a 47-acre parcel purchased in the 1900s

by William H. Cowles, a local publisher, and one of the early hill-barons of the terrain between Eucalyptus Hill and Barker Pass.

“The clients are very sophisticated,” Backen said. “They want a design with a European character, and they have the correct idea about it. The land is spectacular. Gorgeous hills, extended views, with an incredible piece of his-

Promontory Winery is Backen’s latest work (Photo by Patrik Argast)

Howard Backen has done work for the likes of Jeffrey Katzenberg and Ellen DeGeneres (Photo by Adrian Gregorutti) tory – an existing reservoir with turnof-the-century stonework.”

Southern California is not new territory for the architect. Jeffrey Katzenberg and Ellen DeGeneres are just two of his Southern California

celebrity clients.

Ellen, known for her savvy home renovations, hired Backen in 2014 to design a new, contemporary-style guesthouse for the 1929 Italian farmhouse she then owned. True to the architect’s ethos of complementing the land in his architecture, the magical setting of craggy hills and soaring eucalyptus shares the spotlight with the stone and glass structure.

Backen’s handiwork on a Montecito beach house (Photo by William Abranowicz)

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The architect recently seized national attention with the June 2021 cover of AD, featuring the Los Angeles compound of Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher. Howard was bemused by the attention the story received.

“AD told me in the first days the issue hit the stands it generated 250,000 Tweets – that’s the size of a city,” he observed. “That’s never happened before.”

The excitement may reflect enthusiasm for the luxurious “entertainment barn” he designed for the couple, with nineteen-foot glass sliders and extensive views.

Other design elements the architect is known for are deck showers and meditation spaces. We mused about Santa Barbara’s cooler weather from that of the architect’s Oakville residence.

“I shower outside every day. A journalist once asked me, ‘What about when it rains?’ With the warm water and the cold raindrops, it’s a special freezing-hot sensation.”

The architect’s love affair with rusticity started when he was a boy.

“In Oregon where I grew up, there were a lot of barns. There’s a certain scale of a barn sitting in a field that’s magnificent — it creates drama in the landscape.”

There’s more than barns and rusticity in Howard’s impressive portfolio. His design for a Montecito-adjacent beach house features a 40-foot, column-free

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Backen also does spectacular work on his own home (Photo by John Merkl) expanse of disappearing glass sliders, allowing the ocean to take over.

“I am often asked what style I favor, and my answer is always the same. I promised myself early on I would not have a ‘style,’” he said. “I tend to design what is given. The site, the land, the

Backen’s style is on full display at the Rudd Winery (Photo by Adrian Gregorutti)

clients’ wishes, carbon footprint, and avoid being a bad neighbor. I would not design a palapa for Montecito, as I did for a property in Mexico. Nor would I place a barn in Mexico, but I did in Napa Valley.”

Speaking of his design process,

Howard sketches and draws all day long, using his sketches even for presentations.

“The computer is too slow. I simply don’t want to use it.”

Promontory Winery is the latest in luxe wine estates that Backen designed

for his longtime friend and client Bill Harlan. Their projects together include Harlan’s first-class resort Meadowood, and Napa Valley Reserve, a private wine-making estate for members.

“We had just completed our work on Promontory,” Backen said. “When it won Best New Winery for 2021, we said ‘that will wrap it up, the final one — 30 years, every project together.’ Two days later Meadowood burned in a wildfire.

Bill called and we agreed – one more.”

With the architect’s strong ties to Napa Valley, why is he moving from Northern California?

“The fires in Napa Valley are really scary,” he said. “We had to evacuate three times, and that is a big deal because my wife has a horse. It is very trying to evacuate and save your horse.”

When it’s time for us to leave, Backen shares his enthusiasm for his latest Montecito project.

“The design will arise from the site.

This incredible piece of history, referencing what was there, and reflecting the owners’ tastes and wishes. The land sets the geometry of the project – everything that will influence the design has been there forever.”

Ellen DeGeneres’ entertainment pavilion, another piece of Backen’s work (Photo by John Merkl)

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History (Continued from page 45 45)

finally sold it. Nevertheless, it was at Mira Vista that Theodore Roosevelt and cortège stopped to take in the famous view of the channel, the islands, and the mountains during his 1903 visit to Santa Barbara. Unfortunately, the views were deeply enshrouded by “May Gray,” and the party quickly moved on.

In 1905, Howard Ashton Richardson of New York and Montreal paid $85,000 and owned the home for two years.

For the short time they were here, the Richardsons threw themselves into Santa Barbara society. The most famous party the Richardsons gave was a barbeque for the admiral and officers of the Pacific Fleet who visited in December 1906.

Long before Santa Maria barbecue became legendary, Richardson arranged for Spanish costumed waiters to roast two whole beeves and a bull’s head over an open fire in his eucalyptus grove. Long tables, set up on the terraces under sheltering oaks, sported pots of red and yellow chrysanthe-

mums, and red and yellow ribbons festooned the chairs. After the exhibition of bronco busting and a bullfight, a troupe of dancers and musicians from Mexico provided entertainment. In 1907, the Richardsons sold Mira Vista to Alexander Russell, who leased it out when not occupying it.

She removed the unsightly dorm rooms, brought back the rooftop loggia, and completely and meticulously restored the grand old house and its terraces to their former charm and beauty, thereby preserving an incredible piece of Montecito history.

A bedroom in the Waterman house reveals much about how wealthy people lived in the late 1890s (Courtesy Montecito Association History Committee)

Mira Vista circa 1930 is center forefront across Ashley Road from a white single-story home. At the top of the photo is George Owen Knapp’s Arcady estate with its winding roads leading up the hill.

The airplane wing is one leg of the triangle of Tanglewood, which became Cuesta Linda and is now Lotusland. The two roads completing the triangle are Ashley and Sycamore Canyon. (Courtesy Montecito Association History Committee)

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Mira Vista estate house in 2002, after restoration (Courtesy Montecito Association History Committee) After renting the property for two seasons, William G. Henshaw, an entrepreneur from Piedmont, California, and his wife, Mehitabel (Hetty), purchased the estate in 1913 for $130,000.

The Henshaws completed major renovations, adding a story to the west wing of the house and changing the entry door and long arch, creating three arches instead. They replaced the old wood frame portion of the house with a three-story stone structure that

matched the new west wing. They also added a red tile roof and a gatehouse.

The house now had 15 bedrooms and 10 baths. A separate garage could hold 12 automobiles. They added a lake fed by a natural spring and placed a small island in it. The Henshaws became a vital part of Santa Barbara society and their estate was used as a set for the unreleased 1940s film, Brazil.

In 1945, the Devereux Foundation, a boarding facility and school for chil-

A view of the north side of the house shows the rooftop loggia and the porte-cochère with a glimpse of the original wooden home behind it

SUMMER 2021

dren with developmental disabilities, bought the property for $50,000 and planned to use it for its younger students. Deciding to use the Campbell Ranch property that they had purchased in Goleta instead, they sold Mira Vista to Westmont College for $85,000 in 1946.

Westmont called it Emerson Hall and used it as a girls’ dormitory until 1969 when it served as a men’s residence hall for one year. Westmont enclosed the rooftop loggia and turned

the space into dorm rooms. They later sold it to a woman who turned it into a boarding house. The property became rundown and dilapidated, the once grand landscaping replaced by junked cars and refuse. So many complaints were filed that the Montecito Protective Association got into the act, trying to find a solution to “the hippy problem” at 760 Ashley Road.

Eventually, the upper portion of the old Mira Vista estate was parceled into four lots. A plan to divide the lower bulk of the estate into 30 parcels in 1978 came to naught, but Mr. and Mrs. Masin, who had purchased the entire lower acreage, built a Spanish hacienda-style home and were able to split the property into six lots.

In 1993-94, the Gale family purchased the old Mira Vista estate house. Unlike so many new owners of antique estates gone to seed, Mrs. Gale decided to preserve the aged dowager and return her to former glory rather than bring in the undertakers. She removed the unsightly dorm rooms, brought back the rooftop loggia, and completely and meticulously restored the grand old house and its terraces to their former charm and beauty, thereby preserving an incredible piece of Montecito history.

(Sources: Myrick, David. Montecito and Santa Barbara; files of the Montecito Association History Committee, the late Maria Herold, and my previous research from too many sources to list)

The terrace side of the Waterman house (south side) with a view through the trees of the original wooden Victorian house (Courtesy Montecito Association History Committee)

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COUNTY CONTACTS (Continued from page 15 15)

511 E. Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria, CA 93455 (Betteravia Government Center) Phone: (805) 346-8407, Fax: (805) 346-8404 Email: bob.nelson@countyofsb.org Website: www.countyofsb.org/bos/nelson.sbc Fifth District Steve Lavagnino, Supervisor 511 East Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria 93454 (Betteravia Government Center) Phone: (805) 346-8400, Fax: (805) 346-8404 Email: steve.lavagnino@countyofsb.org Website: www.countyofsb.org/bos/lavagnino.sbc

CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES

www.countyofsb.org/css erves children and families by establishing parentage and enforcing support orders in a fair and equitable manner. Child Support services are available to all families, regardless of income or immigration status.

Santa Barbara 260 N San Antonio Rd, Suite C, Santa Barbara 93110 Phone: (805) 568-2451 Santa Maria 201 South Miller, Suite 206, Santa Maria 93454 Phone: (805) 346-1409 and (805) 346-1408 Client Customer Service: (866) 901-3212 Call Center hours: 8-5 Mon-Fri

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Santa Barbara County is home to spectacular beaches (Courtesy of Santa Barbara County)

COUNTY COUNSEL

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CLERK-RECORDER-ASSESSOR (Incl. Elections)

www.countyofsb.org/care Elections: www.sbcvote.com What does this department do and what issues/questions can they answer? onors the public’s trust by assuring honest and open elections; recording, maintaining, and preserving property and vital records; and setting fair and impartial values for tax purposes. The Clerk-Recorder-Assessor Department has three direct service budget programs: Assessor, Clerk-Recorder, and Elections with offices in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria.

Clerk-Recorder Office: (805) 568-2250 Assessor’s Office: (805) 568-2550 Elections Office: (805) 568-2200 Submit written inquiry at https://secure.countyofsb.org/care

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COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT (Parks, Housing, Arts, Library, Sustainability)

www.countyofsb.org/csd rovides community, cultural, recreational, and environmental resources that sustain and enhance quality of life for all who live, work, and play in Santa Barbara County through the divisions of Parks, Library Services, Office of Arts and Culture, Housing and Community Development, and Sustainability.

Administration 123 East Anapamu Street, 2nd Floor, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

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Parks Division: (805) 568-2460 Email: contact@sbparks.org www.countyofsb.org/parks Housing and Community Development: (805) 568-3520 Email: HCD@co.santa-barbara.ca.us www.countyofsb.org/housing Office of Arts and Culture: (805) 568-3990 www.sbac.ca.gov Library Services: (805) 568-2467 www.countyofsb.org/csd/library.sbc Sustainability: (805) 568-3506 Email: sustainability@co.santa-barbara.ca.us www.countyofsb.org/sustainability

52 Montecito JOURNAL

www.countyofsb.org/counsel ounty Counsel defends or prosecutes all civil litigation in which the County, or its officers or employees in their official capacities, are parties. This regularly includes: Federal civil rights and State tort cases; child protection “dependency” actions; property tax assessment appeals; land use actions; statutory financial cases, by or against the Auditor-Controller or Treasurer; defense against State audits; mental health commitments and conservatorships; cases involving contracts; employment cases; and motions and writs for the Sheriff’s Office.

105 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara 93101 Phone: (805) 568-2950, Fax: (805) 568-2982 Email: adebruin@co.santa-barbara.ca.us

COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE

www.countyofsb.org/ceo ounty Executive Office is responsible for implementing the policy directives of the Board of Supervisors as well as achieving the County’s overall mission, goals, and objectives.

The County Executive Office works with all departments to create a County government that embodies trust, ethics, accountability, professionalism, innovation, and customer focused quality public service while following the policy direction of the Board. The County Executive Office is comprised of three budget programs: County Management consists of the Executive Management, Budget & Research, Clerk of the Board, Legislative Advocacy, and Public Information. This program provides leadership, strategic planning, and oversight to the County and implements the Board of Supervisors’ policy directives.

Emergency Management provides leadership, coordination, facilities, equipment, and training in preparing for and administering disaster response and recovery throughout the County.

Risk Management mitigates the County’s risk of financial losses in the areas of medical malpractice, workers’ compensation, and general liability.

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Administration 105 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara 93101 Phone: (805) 568-3400, Fax: (805) 568-3414 Email: cao@co.santa-barbara.ca.us Clerk of the Board: 105 E. Anapamu Street, Room 407, Santa Barbara CA, 93101 Phone: (805) 568-2240, fax: (805) 568-2249 Email: sbcob@co.santa-barbara.ca.us Website: www.countyofsb.org/ceo/cob.sbc Office of Emergency Management: 4408 Cathedral Oaks Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93110 Phone: (805) 681-5526 Email: oem@sbcoem.org Website: www.countyofsb.org/ceo/sbcoem.sbc Public Information: Subscribe to County E-News here: https://bit.ly/3eJyhAO County Social Media (“countyofsb”): twitter.com/countyofsb; twitter.com/csbenespanol; facebook.com/countyofsb; instagram.com/countyofsb CSBTV Channel 20 Website: www.countyofsb.org/ceo/csbtv/home.sbc

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CSBTV20 YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/CSBTV20 Risk Management: 105 East Anapamu St, Room 102, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Phone: (805) 884-6860, Fax: (805) 884-6861 Website: www.countyofsb.org/ceo/riskmanagement.sbc

the mission, goals, and objectives of the various County departments.

1226 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Phone: (805) 568-2800, Fax: (805) 568-2833 Email: hr@co.santa-barbara.ca.us

DISTRICT ATTORNEY

www.countyofsb.org/plndev lans for and promotes reasonable, productive, safe, and sustainable use of land to foster economic, social, cultural, and environmental vitality across the county by providing quality policy development, planning, permitting, and inspection services under the policy direction of the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commissions. The Planning and Development Department has five budget programs: Administration & Support, Permitting, Coastal Mitigation, Code Enforcement, and Long-Range Planning.

Administration/Santa Barbara 123 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2058 Phone: (805) 568-2000 Email: PAD@co.santa-barbara.ca.us North County Office 624 W. Foster Road, Santa Maria, CA 93455-3623 Phone: (805) 934-6250

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

www.countyofsb.org/da ursues truth and justice by employing the highest ethical standards in vigorously prosecuting the guilty, protecting the innocent, and preventing crime.

The District Attorney is responsible for the prosecution of adult and juvenile offenders for felony and misdemeanor crimes or civil violations countywide. The District Attorney team consists of deputy district attorneys, criminal investigators, victim advocates, legal support staff, and administrative and information technology staff housed in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc.

Santa Barbara 1112 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara 93101 Phone: (805) 568-2300, Fax: (805) 568-2398 Lompoc 115 Civic Center Plaza, Lompoc 93436 Phone: (805) 737-7760, Fax: (805) 737-7732 Santa Maria 312 East Cook, Suite D., Santa Maria 93454 Phone: (805) 346-7540, Fax: (805) 346-7588

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FIRE

www.sbcfire.com; www.sbcfire.com/inquire afeguards the community from the impacts of fires, medical emergencies, environmental emergencies, and natural disasters through leadership, planning, education, prevention, code enforcement, and all-hazard emergency response. County Fire responds from 16 fire stations to all types of emergencies, including fire, medical, rescue, and hazardous materials incidents.

Fire Department Headquarters 4410 Cathedral Oaks Road, Santa Barbara CA 93110 Phone: (805) 681-5500, Fax: (805) 681-5563 Email: info@sbcfire.com

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FIRST 5

www.first5santabarbaracounty.org elps all children prepare for kindergarten by supporting families to be healthy and strong and by enhancing the availability of high-quality childcare and preschool. First 5 Santa Barbara County was established in 1999 with the passage of Proposition 10, which imposed a sales tax on tobacco products and designated those funds for programs and services that support the healthy and successful development of children prenatal through age five.

Santa Barbara: 5285 Hollister Ave., Bldg. 10, Suite 110, Santa Barbara, CA 93111 Phone: (805) 884-8085 Santa Maria: 218 West Carmen Lane, Suite 111, Santa Maria, CA 93458 Phone: (805) 803-8740

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GENERAL SERVICES

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PROBATION DEPARTMENT

www.countyofsb.org/probation rotects and serves the community by providing information and recommendations to the Courts; providing safe, secure, and effective juvenile detention and treatment programs; enforcing court orders and supervision and release conditions, requiring responsibility/ accountability, supporting rehabilitation; and supporting victims of crimes by facilitating reparation and restitution collection. The department provides custody, education, vocational, and treatment services for youth detained at the Santa Maria Juvenile Hall and the Los Prietos Boys Camp. The Department also provides assessment, investigation, and supervision services for justice involved individuals, and provides victim assistance through notification services and the collection of restitution.

Administration 117 East Carrillo Street, Santa Barbara 93101 Phone: (805) 882-3700 Email: sbprobation@co.santa-barbara.ca.us

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PUBLIC DEFENDER

www.publicdefendersb.org ulfills the County’s obligation to provide excellent representation to residents who cannot afford an attorney. The law requires the Public Defender to defend adults charged with crimes triable in the Superior Court, including death penalty crimes; defend minors in delinquency proceedings; defend persons charged with contempt of court; protect individuals who can no longer care for themselves for reasons such as physical or developmental disability, mental illness, Alzheimer’s, or dementia; and appear in court on behalf of persons held in mental health facilities.

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www.countyofsb.org/gs rovides vital, cost-effective, sustainable, and innovative services to ensure that the County accomplishes its goals and objectives for the public good. General Services delivers an array of support services to the other County departments including fiscal and administrative support; full-service planning, design, and construction management of new County facilities; real estate services; fleet operations to meet the transportation needs of County departments by procuring, maintaining and disposing of all light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles and equipment; information and communications technology; and purchasing.

105 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara 93101 Phone: (805) 568-2625, Fax: (805) 568-2663 Email: GeneralServices@CountyofSB.org

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HUMAN RESOURCES

www.countyofsb.org/hr Career Opportunities: www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sbcounty uides County culture where employees can do their best work, so the community can live its best life. HR is responsible for implementing strategic workforce policies and programs that support the directives of the Board of Supervisors, County Executive Office, and

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COUNTY CONTACTS Page 54 544

Successfully Representing Sellers & Buyers Since 1987

Wade Hansen

805-689-9682 Wade@WadeHansen.com www.WadeHansen.com DRE 00511980

© 2021 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate.

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COUNTY CONTACTS (Continued from page 53 53)

Main Office 1100 Anacapa, Santa Barbara 93101 Phone: (805) 568-3470, Fax: (805) 568-3538 Email: webmaster@publicdefendersb.org Lompoc 115 Civic Center Plaza, Lompoc 93436 Phone: (805) 737-7770, Fax: (805) 737-7881 Santa Maria 312 East Cook, Santa Maria 93454 Phone: (805) 346-7500, Fax: (805) 346-7670

PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT – Incl. Health Clinics, Animal Health, Environmental Health

General Website: www.countyofsb.org/phd COVID-19 Website: www.publichealthSBC.org mproves the health of our communities by preventing disease, promoting wellness and health equity, while ensuring access to needed health care, and maintaining a safe and healthy environment. The Public Health Department has six budget programs: Health Care Centers; Community Health Programs; Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; Regulatory Programs and Emergency Preparedness; Administration and Support; and Animal Services.

Administration 300 North San Antonio Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93110 Phone: (805) 681-5102, Fax: (805) 681-5191 Email: phdwebmaster@co.santa-barbara.ca.us

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Health Care Centers Carpinteria Health Care Center: 931 Walnut Avenue, Carpinteria, CA 93013, (805) 560-1050 Santa Barbara Franklin Health Care Center: 1136 E. Montecito Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103, (805) 568-2099 Santa Barbara Health Care Center: 345 Camino del Remedio, Santa Barbara, CA 93110, (805) 681-5488 Lompoc Health Care Center: 301 North R Street, Lompoc, CA 93436, (805) 737-6400 Santa Maria Health Care Center: 2115 Centerpointe Parkway, Santa Maria, CA 93455-1334, (805) 346-7230, phdhcc@sbcphd.org

www.countyofsb.org/phd/animal/home.sbc anta Barbara: 5473 Overpass Road, Goleta, CA 93117, (805) 681-5285 Lompoc: 1501 West Central Avenue, Lompoc, CA 93436, (805) 737-7755 Santa Maria: 548 W. Foster Road, Santa Maria, CA 93455, (805) 934-6119 Environmental Health Website: www.countyofsb.org/phd/ehs/contact-list.sbc Santa Barbara: (805) 681-4900 Santa Maria: (805) 346-8460 Email: phdehsweb@sbcphd.org

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www.countyofsb.org/pwd Email: pwweb@co.santa-barbara.ca.us fficiently provides, operates, and maintains public infrastructure in the unincorporated county. The Public Works Department oversees 42 special purpose funds and is responsible for County-maintained roads, traffic engineering, review and permitting of private land development, design engineering and construction management, land surveying and map processing, water supply planning, storm water permitting activities and flood protection, solid waste planning, engineering and management, inactive landfill management, wastewater systems management, and special districts.

Administration Santa Barbara 123 East Anapamu, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Phone: (805) 568-3000, Fax: (805) 568-3019 Santa Maria 620 West Foster Road, Santa Maria, CA 93455 Phone: (805) 803-8750, Fax: (805) 803-8753 Popular Links: Road Closure Information: www.countyofsb.org/pwd/road.sbc

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SHERIFF-CORONER

www.sbsheriff.org rovides law enforcement services for the unincorporated area of the county, plus the cities of Buellton, Carpinteria, Goleta, and Solvang by contract. The Sheriff’s Office manages the joint Fire/Sheriff Air Support Bureau, county dispatch center, and provides correctional services for the entire county. The Sheriff also serves as the County Coroner. The Coroner’s bureau investigates all suspicious deaths in the county. In addition, the Office contracts with the United States Forest Service, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Santa Maria Joint Union High School, and various other nonprofits.

Administration 4434 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA 93110 Phone: (805) 681-4100, Fax: (805) 681-4322 Email: info@sbsheriff.org Dispatch non-emergency: (805) 683-2724 Anonymous tip email: tips@sbsheriff.org Anonymous tip line: (805) 681-4171 Carpinteria Substation 5775 Carpinteria Avenue, Carpinteria, CA 93013 Phone: (805) 568-3399

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SOCIAL SERVICES

www.countyofsb.org/social_services rovides many protective and supportive services aimed at assisting members of the community in their efforts to be safe, healthy, and empowered as they face the challenges and opportunities of life. DSS is a part of a larger network of providers in the county, working together for the benefit of our community. Service areas include health care, food and cash aid, job services, child welfare, and adult welfare.

Santa Barbara 234 Camino del Remedio, Santa Barbara 93110 Phone: (805) 681-4401, Fax: (805) 681-4402 Santa Maria 2125 S. Centerpointe Parkway, Santa Maria 93454 Phone: (805) 346-7135, Fax: (805) 346-7196 Lompoc 1100 West Laurel Avenue, Lompoc 93436 Phone: (805) 737-7080, Fax: (805) 737-6047

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ANIMAL HEALTH

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

Sandbag Information: www.countyofsb.org/pwd/sandbag.sbc Surveyor Maps & Downloads: www.countyofsb.org/pwd/surveyordownloads.sbc Rainfall Information: www.countyofsb.org/pwd/hydrology.sbc Recycling & Hazardous Waste: https://lessismore.org Water Conservation & Efficiency: www.waterwisesb.org Divisions: Transportation Phone: (805) 568-3064, Fax: (805) 568-3015 Water Resources/Flood Control District Phone: (805) 568-344, Fax: (805) 568-3434 Resource Recovery & Waste Management Phone: (805) 882-3600, Fax: (805) 882-3601 Surveyor Phone: (805) 568-3020, Fax: (805) 568-3318

TREASURER-TAX COLLECTOR-PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR

www.countyofsb.org/ttcpapg Email: ttcpapg@co.santa-barbara.ca.us ills and collects all property taxes, and process all payments; provide banking services; invest revenue received by the County, schools, and special districts; and administer the County’s debt program, deferred compensation plan, decedents’ estates, public conservatorships, and veterans’ services. The functions of the department are organized into the divisions of the Tax Collector, Treasurer, Public Administrator, Public Guardian, Veterans’ Services, and Deferred Compensation.

Santa Barbara 105 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara 93101 Phone: (805) 568-2920 Santa Maria 511 East Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria 93454 Phone: (805) 346-8330

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SUMMER 2021

Market Trends South Santa Barbara County June 2021 Total Resale Transactions

M e d P ri c e $271,500 $279,500 $250,000 $252,750 $265,000 $253,000 $260,000 $265,000 $315,000 $407,500 $489,000 $550,000 $650,000 $714,250 $882,121 $1,026,417 $1,010,063 $1,031,500 $863,167 $739,566 $739,271 $666,417 $659,250 $792,042 $870,833 $883,854 $936,042 $986,000 $982,796 $1,029,000 $1,200,000 $1,529,000

%ChgMedian 3% -11% 1% 5% -5% 3% 2% 19% 29% 20% 12% 18% 10% 24% 16% -2% 2% -16% -14% 0% -10% -1% 20% 10% 1% 6% 5% 0% 5% 17% 27%

Chicago Title & Escrow

South Santa Barbara County 31-Year Average & Median Price $3,000,000

$2,500,000

$2,000,000

Price

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 mtd 2021

Avg Price $286,375 $335,881 $274,051 $279,521 $294,875 $301,005 $297,017 $305,749 $356,432 $480,892 $468,085 $502,424 $558,359 $1,028,464 $1,316,333 $1,614,263 $1,657,277 $1,787,898 $1,399,546 $1,168,269 $1,120,227 $1,074,837 $1,025,906 $1,185,541 $1,283,202 $1,421,840 $1,394,559 $1,431,321 $1,439,635 $1,569,842 $1,955,284 $2,523,670

$1,500,000

$1,000,000

$500,000

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

Med Price

mtd 2021

Avg Price

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

$0

information deemed reliable but not guaranteed

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Snapshot (Continued from page 23 23))

Notable 93108 Listings

Condo Sales & Prices Up, Up, Up

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he number of condo sales in the South County as a whole are up 79%, with 260 units sold this year compared to 145 in 2020. Active listings, new listings, median list and sales prices, average sales prices, and of course, total sold volume, are also up significantly. The median sales price for condos is now $797,000, compared to $681,000 this time last year. Again, the median list price is lower than the median sales price, reflecting the multiple offer situation on the majority of new listings.

The number of days on market in the condo segment is, not surprisingly, down from previous years. The average time on market last year was 38 days, compared to 16 days this year.

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espite a lack of inventory in Montecito — there are just 54 properties currently available — there are still a few gems out there. Here are a handful of picks in multiple price points.

1050 Fairway Road

Santa Ynez Valley

Montecito’s only listing under $1M: a 1/1 El Montecito Verde condo listed for $879K (listed by Thomas Schultheis of Berkshire Hathaway)

A 3/3 home on nearly five acres with panoramic views of the Santa Ynez Valley sold in February for $1.7 million (Listed by Joe Ramos of Berkshire Hathaway)

The only property currently listed in Montecito under $1 million, this one-bedroom El Montecito Verde condo is on the top floor so it boasts vaulted ceilings and great views of the mountains. It’s a perfect place to land for those looking for an affordable spot in Montecito; it’s within close proximity to Butterfly Beach, the Music Academy, Coast Village Road, and Santa Barbara’s East Beach. The property features a sparkling pool for residents.

Listed for $879,000 by Thomas Schultheis of Berkshire Hathaway.

107 Olive Mill

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reas of the Santa Ynez Valley — which includes Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, Solvang, and Buellton — saw the sale of 170 homes, condos, and PUDs in the first half of the year, ranging in price from a 2/2 condo in downtown Solvang for $300,000 to a $7.7 million estate on 18 acres in Santa Ynez. In 2020, there were 114 sales in the same time frame.

Like the rest of the county, and in most areas of the nation, homes are selling much more quickly than in years past. This year, the average number of days on the market was 52, compared to 113 days last year. Many of the buyers in the Valley are migrating from Santa Barbara and Goleta, where the increase in median sales price has priced many entry level buyers out of the market. We are also seeing Los Angeles and Bay Area buyers, seeking refuge on large ranches and estates, both for primary and secondary residences.

We’ve seen a strong turnover in condos in the Valley, including at Vineyard Village, Juliette Walk, Mission Oaks, and in several other, smaller HOAs. Twenty-one condos in the Valley have sold this year, ranging in price from $300,000 to $825,000. Last year at this time we had 16 sales of condos by the mid-year mark. We’ve seen investors flocking to the Valley’s condo developments, as the rental vacancy rate is at less than .5%. Because of this, and the increased rental prices, there are many properties that offer investors a solid return.

The market in the Valley has shown a slight cool down in the last few weeks, with listing agents reporting fewer offers and longer days on market for new listings. This could very well be buyer fatigue at play; many buyers are getting frustrated with being outbid in the Valley and beyond, and have decided to pause their home search. That being said, properties that are priced accurately are moving quickly.

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A luxurious condo in the Villas at Olive Mill is on the market for $3.7 million (Listed by Eric Haskell of The Agency) The only condo still available at the newly-built Villas at Olive Mill on the corner of Olive Mill Road and Coast Village Road, this two-bedroom, three-bath unit has

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PANORAMIC OCEAN VIEW ESTATE

Never-ending Ocean, Island & Coastal views with magnificent sunset colors compliment this secluded gated hillside compound on 3.7 acres with separate guest house, tennis/professional gym pavilion, and complete guest apartment. Main House: 6 Bed, 6.5 Bath, 8,788 SqFt. Estate including Guest House & Tennis Pavilion: 9 Bed, 8.5 Bath. | OceanViewParadise.com

. . . .

Terry Ryken 805.896.6977 BROKER ASSOCIATE | DRE 01107300

TerryJRyken@gmail.com TerryRyken.com Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed.

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Snapshot (Continued from page 56 56))

been finished with high-end appliances, flooring, and fixtures, and is just steps away from the bustling Coast Village Road eateries and shops. With over 2,900 square feet, this luxury condo is a rarity in Montecito, and is located in a gated, exclusive development with a private garage.

Listed for $3.7 million by Eric Haskell of The Agency.

513 Crocker Sperry Drive Behind the gates of Birnam Wood is a contemporary home designed by renowned architect Jack Warner. This single-level, four-bedroom, five-bathroom home is filled with light from the expansive glass windows and doors, which showcase views of the garden and distant mountains. A recent renovation by Dreams & Designs added the latest luxury finishes and enhanced the large, open floor plan. Noted landscape A newly restored estate on Pepper Hill is for sale for $6,500,000 (Listed by Dan Encell of Berkshire Hathaway) Listed for $6.5 million listed by Dan Encell of Berkshire Hathaway.

985 Park Lane Tucked quietly within the heart of Montecito, a French Mediterranean-style estate is on the market, boasting five bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and a full guest house. The 20-acre property showcases panoramic ocean, island, mountain, and coastline views, and has an infinity edge pool and spa, outdoor shower, multiple patios, built-in firepit, bocce court, meandering pathways, private well for landscaping, and more.

The spacious and bright residence incorporates designer finishes throughout, and features include an immaculate main floor primary suite with a large walk-in closet, luxurious en-suite dual baths and romantic ocean views, four lavish guest suites, centrally located bar, multiple fireplaces, formal and informal dining spaces, a superior chef’s kitchen, versatile media room, and a four-car garage.

Listed for $12,875,000 by Cristal Clarke of Berkshire Hathaway.

This updated Birnam Wood home was designed by renowned architect Jack Warner (Listed by Nancy Kogevinas of Berkshire Hathaway) architect Isabel Greene designed the gardens using a classic blend of exotic and drought resistant Mediterranean plantings. The spacious, light-filled primary suite enjoys mountain views, a bathroom with steam shower, bubbler tub, and heated marble floors. The floor plan is flexible and can accommodate family members, office space, or caretaker quarters.

Listed for $5,795,000 by Nancy Kogevinas of Berkshire Hathaway.

440 Woodley Road Nestled privately in Montecito’s coveted Pepper Hill enclave, this sophisticated single-level home is a chic blend of quality and design.

An extensive recent renovation offers a fully functional open floor plan flowing effortlessly from room to room and out onto the scenic terraces and charming manicured gardens. A luxurious primary suite provides tranquil seclusion with its exquisitely re-envisioned private bath.

The home boasts a gourmet kitchen and light-filled dining and great room, which all enjoy panoramic vistas of the property’s enchanting landscaping. This property sits on over an acre of A French Mediterranean-style estate on Park Lane boasts panoramic ocean, island, and mountain views (Listed by Cristal Clarke of Berkshire Hathaway) well-manicured grounds.

58 Montecito JOURNAL

REAL ESTATES

SUMMER 2021

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SUMMER 2021

10 Residential Income Properties Totaling 100 Units Offered At $78,500,000 Adjacent To UCSB In The Demand-inelastic Housing Market Of Isla Vista

127-unit residential & commercial asset Offered at $19,800,000

R A D I U S G R O U P. C O M

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SOUTH SANTA BARBARA COUNTY www.fidelitysb.com | www.chicagotitlesb.com

2021

YTD June

RESIDENTIAL STATISTICS

CONDOMINIUM

SINGLE FAMILY

Total Sales

$3,122,243 Average Sales Price $1,930,000 Median Sales Price

1154

$1,035,195 Average Sales Price

(

59%)

$2,523,670 (+%57)

$825,000 Median Sales Price

Average Price

$1,529,000 (+%39)

Median June YTD 2021 v. June YTD 2020

823 Single Family Sold Jan-June 2021

331 Condos Sold Jan-June 2021

Condominium

Jan-June ’21 v Jan-June ’20

SingleFamily

Jan-June ’21 v Jan-June ‘20

60 Montecito JOURNAL

SINGLE FAMILY

CONDOMINIUM

YTD 2021 SALES

YTD 2021 SALES Carpinteria: 72 Sales $785,799 Avg. Price $707,500 Median Goleta 85 Sales $733,518 Avg. Price $703,000 Median Montecito 34 Sales $2,073,235. AvgPrice $1,912,500 Median

Carpinteria 36 Sales: $2,724,639 Avg $1,452,500. Median Goleta 185 Sales $1,493,750 Avg $1,250,000 Median.

Montecito 195 Sales $6,271,353 Avg. $4,650,000 Median Hope Ranch 42 Sales $5,387,976 Avg. $4,598,250 Median Santa Barbara 356 Sales $2,001,663 Avg $1,725,500 Median.

Summerland 9 Sales $3,708,278 Avg $2,450,000 Median.

71%

2021 331 Total Sales 2020 194 Total Sales

21%

2021 $1,035,195 Average 2020 $852,327 Average

66%

55% 2021 823 Total Sales 2020 531 Total Sales

Hope Ranch n/a Santa Barbara 137 Sales $1,095,796 Avg. Price $935,000 Median Summerland 3 $1,050,000 Avg Price $1,150,000 Median

2021 $3,122,243 Average 2020 $1,880,655 Average

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14%

2021 $825,000 Median 2020 $725,000 Median

52% 2021 $1,930,000 Median 2020 $1,270,000 Median

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Privacy (Continued from page 43 43)

The Montecito Club

One of the premier golf clubs in the area recently reopened, following the 100-year-old Spanish-style property’s three-year, $75 million renovation and subsequent COVID closure. The property is part of Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts, which means members get exclusive access and discounts at luxe sister resorts like the San Ysidro Ranch, the Four Seasons New York, and Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Los Cabos.

The par-71 Jack Nicklaus Signature Course was designed around the property’s natural undulating elevation and boasts sweeping views of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. There’s a bowling alley in the all-ages clubhouse known as The Hideout, as well as a 21-seat Dolby Atmos movie theater with a 16-foot CinemaScope screen and concession area. The state-of-the-art fitness facility features Peloton machines and private training. The 25,000-square-foot pool complex has two lap pools, a kids’ pool, a whirlpool, and bar service.

Members can host special events, like weddings, in the ballroom, the Great Room, with its 12 Baccarat crystal chandeliers, or the sprawling 20,000 square

foot lawn. Fine dining is available in the clubhouse, which also features a library and wine rooms, and is helmed by new chef Alex Bollinger, a Montecito native whose three decades of experience includes collaborations with names like Tyler Florence and Charlie Palmer. The Signature Membership comes with full club access, while the Connoisseur Membership also includes privileges at the Coral Casino. montecitoclub1918.com.

The Valley Club of Montecito

Opened in 1929, the Valley Club features a deluxe 18-hole, par-72 golf course.

Designed like an hourglass, the course, along with bunkers, have undergone extensive renovation after the 2018 mudslides. Other amenities include tennis courts and prime onsite dining. The clubhouse features a living room and inner courtyard. Elegance and privacy rank high here, as well as a strict dress code for anyone ages 12 and up. valleyclub.org.

Birnam Wood

There are more than 140 private homes inside this exclusive, gated property along East Valley Road, the oldest ones dating back to the early 1970s.

Membership to the Birnam Wood Golf Club gives access to the par-70 course, which was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., opened in 1968 and features Bermuda grass. The clubhouse hosts rotating members-only social events as well as daily gourmet dining options. There are six tennis courts here, too. bwgc.net.

La Cumbre Country Club

Set on the outer edges of Hope Ranch, La Cumbre Country Club dates back to 1916. It would go on to close for 10 years after World War II, due to waning membership, but it has remained an exclusive haven ever since its reopening in 1957. The 150 shady acres feature a celebrated 18-hole golf course, with various uphill and downhill targets, as well as six championship tennis courts. The social offerings range from card games and tournaments to seasonal parties. Lunch and dinner are offered, with an emphasis on to-go menus during COVID; Sunday champagne buffets have long been popular. The club features multiple membership options. lacumbrecc.org.

Santa Barbara Yacht Club The Montecito Club has reopened, including its signature golf club

It’s all about preserving maritime tradition at this club, which, founded in 1872, is the second oldest yacht club on the West Coast. This is a popular spot on Wet Wednesdays, when dozens of boats take part in several races. Kite boarding draws crowds on Fridays. Food and beverage services are available, including the popular Monday Luncheon Forum, which draws members and their invited guests.

Club members are also stewards of the Breakwater Flag Project, which showcases the flags of many of Santa Barbara’s nonprofit groups. Prospective members do not need to own a boat, but they do need endorsement from multiple sponsors. sbyc.org.

Knowlwood Tennis Club

Located in the heart of Montecito, this club for tennis lovers dates back to 1970.

The programs are family oriented, with a bevy of private and group lessons for kids as young as four, and they’re open to non-members, too, though at higher pricing. The club features 10 courts, including two clay courts, as well as a swimming pool. www.knowlwood.club.

Santa Barbara Tennis Club

The Montecito Club features sporting opportunities of all kinds

SUMMER 2021

Open since 1971, this sports club features 12 tennis courts and various training sessions for adults and juniors. There’s an aquatics program, too, with a 25-yard regulation pool that’s kept at 82 degrees, and a 10-person jacuzzi. The fitness center features yoga and Pilates studios, and the café offers a varied menu and caters various events throughout the year. Local artist receptions are presented the second Friday of every month. “At this point, we have a pretty long waitlist for membership,” says managing partner Amber Bottelsen. santabarbaratennis club.com.

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Association (Continued from page 12 12)

communities in the county. We also shared registration notifications with friends in other communities, expanding the reach of information on this key resource.

Land Use and Transportation

These teams are cornerstones of the Montecito Association. In recent years, they’ve had to significantly scale in scope and breadth. With roundabouts, the 101 widening, debris basins, road and bridge repairs, they’ve had their hands full. Meetings are open to the public, and discussions are meaty and substantial. It’s an all-volunteer effort,

and they ask questions that help shape large projects to be better and less impactful to the community. With so many massive infrastructure projects, as part of disaster recovery and resilience, the team has scaled impressively in capabilities.

Legislative Effort

All the Land Use policies carefully put in place by the Montecito Community Plan can be wiped out overnight by the California legislature. Beginning in 2018, the rhetoric coming out of Sacramento increasingly asserted that single-family zoning is racist in nature and must be disman-

“The present Montecito Association communication of information and outreach for input is superb. This has not always been the case.

At present, it appears the organizational priority is to disseminate information on important, timely topics so that the discussion surrounding the various issues is the most informed and therefore intelligent, and most likely to lead to sound policy recommendations.

The tone of these communiques and the organization of the data and information in them is likely the best I have ever seen. And I’ve lived in some really smart places!”

– Robin Kneubuhl The Montecito Association has aided in re-housing the homeless community, as well as extensive cleanup Curtis Skene and knew his idea for the Randall Road Debris Basin was solid. We held hearings, solicited community donations, and supported the effort all the way to the federal level.

Mega fires and drought are in the headlines for the Western United States.

Montecito is now in far better shape to navigate these challenges than it was pre-2017. The recent Loma Alta fire in Santa Barbara prompted us to offer our expertise to help the city prepare for the winter ahead. We know what comes after a hillside is denuded by fire, and then meets rain. Unlike Montecito, they have no warning system in place, no organized community in that area, and no understanding that they will be under threat of debris flows for up to five years minimum.

Building Community

Disaster recovery necessitates serious community building, a sense that we are in this and stronger together. We already

62 Montecito JOURNAL

produce community-building events like the July 4th Parade and Beautification Day. In the pandemic, we pivoted in early March 2020 right back into disaster communications, keeping on top of how the pandemic was moving, how to best protect oneself, and we built a tightly-knit community in a virtual world. Unlike the natural disasters, the pandemic required staying at home. Our community, now hardened from disaster and evacuations, happily sheltered in place.

In this, we were way ahead of the rest of the world. Our population skews older, so our community was more vulnerable to COVID-19. When the vaccine distribution began, we found every available vaccine site and urged our community to get an appointment, even if it meant driving an hour or more. Registrations often shut down within an hour, and required tech skills, especially with smartphones, so we made appointments for members struggling with this. Montecito is one of the most heavily vaccinated

REAL ESTATES

SUMMER 2021

tled. Senators have introduced bills allowing duplexes by-right, meaning no permits or oversight. They passed the sweeping ADU law that is being widely deployed in Montecito, sometimes to produce vacation rentals, block views, and abut a neighbor’s fence, destroying privacy. The ADU law allows all of this. We’re in the fight of our lives against bills allow up to 10-unit apartment buildings on a single-family lot, for example.

We formed a local team and joined statewide teams to fight off these bills.

We’ve coached cities on holding town halls to push their legislators, and we’re in a Twitter war to pressure the governor. We hired our former state senator Hannah-Beth Jackson to help us navigate this terrain. We never thought we’d have to lead at the state level, but here we are. Our community has funded and supported this effort, and when we ask them to reach out to legislators to vote against these bills, they’re not shy.

Sen. Monique Limón’s office received 3,000 public comments on these bills.

Montecitans led that charge.

Hands Across Montecito

We created a humanitarian effort to help people living unsheltered in Montecito. Starting from 31 unsheltered people in September 2020, we’re down to four. A dedicated team of hands-on Montecitans is a huge rea-

The Montecito Association is proactive with communication, including about our resident black bear in Montecito son this project has been successful.

We have solid working relationships with Behavioral Wellness, Sheriff’s Department, and City Net to provide solutions. The community financially supports this project, so we can “skip the county queue” to provide fast

solutions, like travel home to mom, a hotel room, a sober-living placement, and more.

Our remaining four cases take 80% of the team’s bandwidth, revealing that 10-15% of the unsheltered population will consume most of our

resources. Their mental health and addiction problems could perhaps be solved, if they were willing to seek treatment. The law does not allow forcing them into treatment.

We’ve met the Boise decision criteria in offering shelter and resources, and could legally now evict them from the community, but we continue to encourage them to accept treatment and come indoors.

This project is, like the infrastructure projects, on the forefront. Other communities are taking note of it.

History

This community has an incredibly rich history, and our History Committee has artifacts and the backstory on about anything you ever wanted to know.

You can see the outlines of our future, but it’s always good to get in touch with how you got here, and the evolution of this area.

It’s All About Community

The Montecito Association has been vocal about its position on Accessory Dwelling Units, which can block views for neighbors

SUMMER 2021

REAL ESTATES

We know we have something special and beautiful here, and when the community gets engaged, well, amazing things can happen. We welcome you to join the Montecito Association and be part of all this incredible community has to offer at www.montecitoassocia tion.org.

Montecito JOURNAL

63

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