SIMA Corp. founder Jim Knell called on the City of Santa Barbara to reopen State Street to vehicles because the “uncertainty” is keeping retailers from investing in downtown.

“The best thing to do is open the street, but pursue a long-term direction that is going to work for the city of Santa Barbara,” Knell said in the latest episode of Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina. “If nothing happens right now, we have another five years of uncertainty.”

SIMA is the largest private property owner on State Street. Knell said the city’s policies and lack of action have resulted in stagnation in the downtown corridor.

“All we have is a lot of talk, a lot of money being spent on studies, but no direction and no decision,” Knell said.

Even if the city chose to create a promenade or make the street flat with no curbs, it would take millions of dollars, so the city should reopen the street while that planning process is underway, he argues.

“If a merchant comes in on the street and we decide down the road there’s going to be a lot construction, you are not going to have any tenants, any prospective tenants that want to be downtown because nobody wants to invest in a situation where there is going to be disruption in your business,” Knell said.

Click on the YouTube video above to watch the entire conversation.

Joshua Molina is a journalist and college instructor who interviews a wide variety of people on the issues of education, housing, politics, culture and business. He is a former reporter at the San Jose Mercury News. He also teaches at a community college. Visit SantaBarbaraTalks.com to sign up for his newsletter and make a contribution to this individually owned podcast.