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The Calle Real Center in Goleta is headed for a dramatic makeover and transformation.
The Towbes Group, which owns the center, wants to create “an upscale and fresh customer experience” and introduce a “modern structure that creates an iconic landmark.”
The proposal went before the Goleta Design Review Board recently for a concept review and received positive feedback.
“I think it’s going to be really great when you get to the end,” Design Review Board member Cecilia Brown said. “People are going to go, ‘Oh my God, what’s happening to our shopping center?’ But they will see the result. It will be a very positive addition to the community.”
The plans call for new facades, with wood replacing the current Mediterranean-style and white stucco. There will be new signage and reduced parking with more open space areas, including parks for play and recreation, and increased connectivity between the two sides of Calle Real.
Outdoor dining and park space would border the former Massage Envy and Outback Steakhouse, eliminating the parking and driveway in the middle.
The idea is to create spaces for outdoor dining, games and recreation, along with nighttime activities that encourage guests to linger, according to the plans.
Across the street, the Nikka Ramen and Trader Joe’s buildings would receive makeovers as well. The Mediterranean tower over the current Kyle’s Kitchen building would go away.
The project also would include the planting of a grove of mature olive trees, a tribute to Ellsworth Cooper, who grew olives for oil in Goleta in the late 19th century.
Design Review Board member Dennis Whelan said he liked the idea and the concept.
“What a concept to remove parking and create public spaces,” Whelan said. “You are to be commended.”
CBC & The Sweeps Purchase Price
Core Spaces purchased the 239-unit CBC & The Sweeps apartments in Isla Vista for $92 million, according to Radius Commercial Real Estate.
It is the most expensive sale of an apartment property so far in 2023, according to Radius.
The properties, at 6711 and 6721 El Colegio Road and 775 Camino Del Sur, are at the center of a firestorm of controversy over the hundreds of eviction notices that Core Spaces sent out to tenants shortly after acquiring the property.
The tenants formed an association and are fighting the evictions. Santa Barbara County Second District Supervisor Laura Capps is also defending the tenants and looking for legal ways to block the evictions.
Core Spaces says the buildings need a major renovation and that the work cannot be done with people living there. Once the renovations are completed, they plan to rent at the market rate, with no offer to current tenants to return at their current rents. The building is occupied by students and families.
High Office Vacancy Rate
Santa Barbara’s office market vacancy rate is at 13.8% during the first quarter, according to Radius.
That includes the former Macy’s building downtown, at 132,500 square feet, and the former Nordstrom at 165,642 square feet. Both buildings are being marketed entirely for office space.
“Many believe neither building will ever be leased as office,” the Radius report states. “If you remove both Paseo Nuevo bookends from the vacancy, the overall vacancy rate drops to about 8%, which is still at the higher end historically.”
Carpinteria has an office vacancy rate of 27.1%, with much of that attributed to ProCore’s recent effort to sublease space. ProCore’s sublease space represents 70% of Carpinteria’s available space.
Goleta has an office vacancy rate of 9.6%, relatively flat to the 9.8% recorded
in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Fresco Celebrates Cinco de Mayo
Fresco Downtown is humming along well since its move from the Five Points Shopping Center.
On Friday, Cinco de Mayo, the restaurant will offer specials from the chefs.
“In honor of our employees and the Mexican community, we will be featuring specials from our chefs’ personal family recipes,” owner Mark Brouillard said in an Instagram post.
On the menu are jumbo shrimp tacos with mango salsa, chicken mole with Spanish rice, Mexican albondigas, ceviche tostadas, and a variety of beers and music.
Hummus Republic Anniversary
Isla Vista restaurant Hummus Republic will celebrate its one-year anniversary on May 20.
The day will feature prizes, special menu items, limited-edition shirts, and a chance to win free food. The event is from noon to 3 p.m.
The restaurant, at 6546 Pardall Road, is “a modern Mediterranean kitchen providing flavorful, convenient, and primarily plant-based meals to the masses,” according to a news release. “We aim to raise the standard of ‘fast food’ nationwide.”
The restaurant has something for meat lovers, vegans, vegetarians and gluten-intolerant customers.
“We are proud to be serving the Isla Vista/Goleta/Santa Barbara area, especially since we are one of the few restaurants offering Mediterranean food,” the release states.