sb independent real estate, 11/25/15

realestate.independent.com

Randy and deanna Solakian

For details, see page 5

presented by:

FROM FIRST-TIMERSTO EMPTY-NESTERS

SANTA BARBARA REAL ESTATE MADE EASY

VILLAGESITE.COM

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Somewhere along the line, I’ve heard rules for house hunters whispered to omewhere along the line, I’ve heard rules for house hunters whispered to omewhereme. For instance, you’re supposed to sound savvy, as if you know the pros and cons of, say, 240-volt service versus 120. And you’re not supposed to gush about any house you like. Instead, you’re supposed to say, “Hmm,

roof looks dicey.”So when we go house hunting, we try to sound all Curb Appeal but unforCurb Appeal but unforCurb Appeal -

tunately tend to come across more Curb Your Enthusiasm. For example, the other day in our ongoing quest, we visited a nice place in San Roque, but something didn’t click. So Connie said, “Just lie on the bed for a second, and let’s imagine we live here.” We did, for exactly one second. Then there was a splintering sound, and the bed crashed to the floor. Turns out it was a staged bed, propped up on little plastic garbage bins. Oops.

“They’re called risers,” said Tamara Ruccione of Santa Barbara Staging Solu-tions after enjoying a hearty laugh. “You’re not the first to do that.” It wasn’t her bed, but she said stagers have to do things like that because of the daunting task of providing furnishings for dozens of homes at once. “Imagine if you’re staging 20 or 30 houses. That would be 60 or 70 beds. You’d need a warehouse just for that.”

In fact, Ruccione does have a warehouse or two, necessities for those in the staging game. In them are the many roomfuls of furnishings to make recently emptied homes looked lived-in again for the purpose of selling. What’s more, the stock has to be constantly updated to match trends.

All of this makes it a “very expensive” business to run, Ruccione said, list-ing things I’d never thought of, such as two moving crews, several assistants, seamstresses, art, accent pillows, those warehouses, etc. Most businesses buy furnishings, and they’re good for years. Not so for stagers. “In this business, you’re buying every week,” she said.

Ruccione got started in the business by struggling to sell her own empty house. Someone told her the emptiness would cost her many thousands of dollars, so she went to the expense of buying furniture and did all the staging staples (cleaned house, lit the fireplace, baked cookies, etc.) and sold the place in one weekend.

She was hooked. Using those first furnishings, she started staging for hire, adding more décor along the way and building a business. People sometimes ask for advice on getting into the field. “It’s a wonderful career,” she said. “But it takes a lot of sacrifice and time and money and years to make it happen.”

The biggest change of late is the public’s growing understanding of the need for good staging, Ruccione said. Owners are already spending a lot of money fixing cracks, painting, and what have you to get houses ready for sale. Persuading them to spend more on furnishings used to be difficult. No more. Now, thanks to HGTV and such, owners are completely onboard. And homes in Santa Barbara are selling fast. When she first started eight years ago, houses sometimes languished on the market for as much as a year. “Now we barely get installed, and they’re in escrow,” she said.

As for crashing beds, Ruccione has a solution. Instead of real mattresses, she sometimes uses the inflatable version. Yes, the unsuspecting like us might send them to the ground, but at least they would go quietly. n

The Staging Strategy

HouSe HunTerby Jeff Miller

I knew it was going to happen sooner or later. I just didn’t expect it to hap-pen in the middle of the afternoon on a sunny Thursday in November.

I fell in love again.I’ve lived on the Riviera, the Mesa, and

several neighborhoods in downtown Santa Barbara, but I’ve always had a yearning to live in West Beach. I love its variety of archi-tectural styles: 1920s craftsman bungalows, red-tile-roofed Spanish haciendas, cute classic beach cottages, all within a compact nine square blocks. Chock-full of hotels and vacation rentals, West Beach is vibrant and tourist-friendly, with restaurants, the wharf, and the harbor nearby. It even warrants a page in the history books with palm-lined Burton Mound, the site of an ancient Chu-mash village. And, of course, it’s got the beach. It’s even named after the beach.

However, since West Beach does have so many short-term residents, long-term living situations come about very rarely. Over the years, when I’ve been in the house-hunting market for either a rental or a purchase, opportunities in West Beach have been scarce.

So when I saw the open-house listing for 220 West Yanonali, I had to drive by. Once I drove by, I had to stop and go inside. And once I peeked inside, I was hooked.

The front door opens to a high-ceilinged entryway that invites one upstairs by way of a friendly curved staircase with a swirly wrought-iron railing. This railing was the first of the home’s many distinctive details that caught my eye. Upstairs, the open floor plan combining living room, dining room, and kitchen is at once expansive, comfortable, and beautiful. Stopping at the big kitchen island

to survey the overall scene, I keep finding myself distracted by dazzling details. The light fixtures are custom and unique. The flooring, kitchen cabinetry, and backsplash are all varying shades of hardwood and bam-boo. But I tear myself away to explore the rest of the upstairs, which includes a bedroom, a bathroom, and two balconies, one of which is big enough to feel like an additional outdoor living room. It has a view over the neighbor-ing rooftops, taking in the variety of mature trees lining the street.

I take the outdoor staircase down to see the master bedroom and bathroom, laundry room, and garage on the first floor. When I peek into the garage, I’m told that it is heated. Yes, the garage floor has radiant heating. This is but one of the home’s many energy-saving features, thanks to its biggest claim to fame: LEED platinum certification.

The home boasts myriad green details such as solar panels, highly efficient lights, flooring, fixtures, and appliances; recycled materials including denim used as insulation; and an irrigation system using gutter runoff that is collected into an underground cistern. The radiant heat flooring is part of a ductless heating system, which is both efficient and green.

This home is technically a condo, part of a five-unit complex called Yanonali Court, designed by Berkus Architects and built by Berkus Construction in 2008. This unit is known as “The Casa,” and it’s appropriate: With no common walls, it feels just like a free-standing home.

As I confessed already, for me it was love at first sight of this West Beach casa. All of its special amenities, certifications, and green features galore just sweetened the deal.

220 West Yanonali Street is currently for sale in Santa Barbara, listed by Ray Benenate of Sotheby’s International Realty. Reach Ray at 448-7988.

Address: 220 West Yanonali Street

Status: On the market

Price: $2,400,000

Make MySelf aT HoMe by Sarah Sinclair

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Charming West Beach Casa

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This one-story wood-frame cottage is enhanced with several architec-tural details that are evident in both

decorative sidings and porch elements. In most circumstances, Victorian homes built in the 1880s were often decorated with fish-scale siding, in which wooden shingles are trimmed with a curvature detail on the bot-tom half and applied as a decorative veneer on the exterior sides of the home.

For this residence, the pattern deviates from the standardized fish-scale design and gravitates toward a hexagon pattern, as observed in and around the attic window. Another unique feature to the property is decorative dual arches along the front porch, which are supported by turned posts with knobs. An additional feature is the railing or balustrade posts that are constructed in a flat, sawn baluster style versus circular, spindle-laden design.

Of all the Victorian-era properties which survived the 1925 earthquake, this property could possibly have the longest chain of own-ership stemming back to the 1850s. Here’s the timeline:

1859: The section of land known as “Block 63,” which encompassed the 1500 block of De la Vina Street and belonged to the City of Santa Barbara, was sold to George Maxwell.1861: The block was acquired by real estate investor Charles Pierce. 1863: The block was purchased by J.E. Goux, a prominent merchant and landowner.1869: Goux sold the block to H.G. Crane, a lawyer and justice of the peace.1873: Crane sold the block to John E. Spencer of Morristown, New Jersey, who died the fol-lowing year, and bequeathed the property to his sister, also a resident of Morristown. She maintained the property for another 13 years. It is believed that she wintered in Santa Bar-bara and invested in many acres of wooded acreage in Montecito from 1870 to 1880. 1887: Elizabeth Noble purchased the land, where she designed and built a home on the site.1897: Peter Rodriguez acquired the residence and lived on the property for the next 43 years. He was the gardener for E.P. Ripley, president of the Santa Fe Railroad.

1940: Manuel Sampson, a nephew of Peter Rodriguez, inherited the residence, where he and his wife lived for approximately the next five decades. Early in his career, Sampson worked as a cowboy actor doing one-reelers for the Flying A Studios on West Mission Street.1989: After Mrs. Sampson died, her caregiver, June Walsh, inherited the home and main-tained the residence for nearly a decade.

1997: The current owners acquired the prop-erty in the spring of 1997, and it has undergone improvements with refined attention to detail during the renovation process.

Fabled Gablesby G. Vince Giovannoni

1515 de la Vina street

Original Owner: Elizabeth NobleEstimated Year of Construction: 1887

Based on information from, among other sources, Survivors; Santa Barbara’s Last Victorians, a publication of the Santa Survivors; Santa Barbara’s Last Victorians, a publication of the Santa Survivors; Santa Barbara’s Last VictoriansBarbara Historical Museum.

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Ocean views, gated, 3bd/2.5ba, rOse garden, Hvac, clOse tO sHOpping, scHOOl, and beacH

$2,050,000

Beautifully appointed ocean view home at Cottages at Summerland with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. This gated community, built in 2001, is close to Summerland shopping, parks and the beach. The home features vaulted

ceilings, bamboo flooring, tankless water heater, view deck and patio. The kitchen has granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and walk-in

pantry. Totally fenced and a corner lot. A special home.

listing details: www.sothebyshomes.com/Santa-Barbara-Real-Estate/sales/0632400

Dick Mires | (805) 689-7771 CalBRE#: 1168430

Fred Bradley | (805) 689-8612 CalBRE#: 522262 The Premiere Estates of Montecito & Santa Barbara

RANDY SOLAKIAN DEANNA SOLAKIAN (805) 565-2208 (805) 565-2264 www.montecitoestates.com www.montecitoestates.com License #00622258 License#01895788

Exclusive Representation for Marketing & AcquisitionAdditional Exceptional Estates Available by Private Consultation

COVER PROPERTYNear Upper VillageMontecito 2+ Acres

$6,150,000

From the coast to the valleySanta BarBara | Montecito | Santa Ynez

more online atvillageSite.coM | 805.969.8900All information provided is deemed reliable, but has not been verified and we do not guarantee it. We recommend that buyers make their own inquiries.

909 Laguna St. | $2,150,000beds 3 baths 3Louise McKaig 805.285.2008

18 W. Victoria St. #310 | $1,999,000beds 1 baths 2Donald/Cecilia 805.895.3833

1319 Plaza De Sonadores | $1,995,000beds 3 baths 2.5Patsy Downing 805.895.3766

19 Seaview Dr. | $2,245,000beds 2 baths 2Riskin Partners 805.565.8600

4569 Via Clarice | $2,190,000beds 3 baths 4Gregg Leach 805.565.8873

888 Cold Springs Rd. | $19,500,000beds 10 baths 6.5Riskin Partners 805.565.8600

4621 Via Roblada | $16,995,0004621ViaRoblada.comRiskin/Kendall 805.565.8600

818 Hot Springs Rd. | $15,000,000beds 6 baths 9Riskin Partners 805.565.8600

27 Butterfly Ln. | $13,900,000beds 5 baths 7Riskin Partners 805.565.8600

660 Hot Springs Rd. | $12,650,000MagnoliaHouseMontecito.comTim Walsh 805.259.8808

764 San Ysidro Ln. | $11,950,000764SanYsidroLane.comRiskin Partners 805.565.8600

2220 Bella Vista Dr. | $7,985,000beds 4 baths 6Pippa Davis 805.886.0174

511 Las Fuentes Dr. | $6,450,000beds 3 baths 4.5Elberta Pate 805.895.0835

2169 Refugio Rd. | $5,200,000beds 3 baths 3Dana Istre 805.451.0033

4555 Avenue Del Mar | $8,995,000beds 4 baths 3Gregg Leach 805.565.8873

424 Meadowbrook Dr. | $8,400,000beds 7 baths 9Riskin Partners 805.565.8600

5152 Foothill Rd. | $2,900,000beds 2 baths 3Lynn Gates 805.705.4942

157 Rametto Rd. | $2,795,000beds 3 baths 2Wendy Warren 805.585.8830

18 W. Victoria St. | $2,600,000beds 2 baths 3Emily Kellenberger 805.252.2773

1464 Bonnymede Dr. | $4,750,000beds 4 baths 4Gayle Lofthus 805.689.9011

835 Puente Dr. | $2,975,000beds 5 baths 4Brian King 805.452.0471

853 Jimeno Rd. | $2,495,000beds 3 baths 4Tim Walsh 805.259.8808

1901 Gibraltar Rd. | $2,395,000beds 3 baths 2suding//murphy 805.455.5736

1712 Anacapa St. | $2,295,000beds 3 baths 3Doré/O’Neill 805.947.0608

1037 Estrella Dr. | $2,600,000beds 4 baths 3Carla Reeves 805.689.7343

401 Chapala St. | $2,550,000beds 1 baths 2Calcagno & Hamilton 805.896.0876

5840-5844 Casitas Pass Rd. | $4,500,000beds 5 baths 6Carey/Gail 805.689.6262

FEATURED PROPERTY

more online atVILLaGESITE.COM | 805.969.8900All information provided is deemed reliable, but has not been verified and we do not guarantee it. We recommend that buyers make their own inquiries.

From the coast to the valleySaNTa BaRBaRa | MONTECITO | SaNTa YNEz

1116 N. Milpas St. | $775,000beds 4 baths 3Jeff/Julie 805.895.9498

2740 Miradero Dr. | $729,000beds 2 baths 2Sheela Hunt 805.698.3767

4039 Primavera Rd. #3 | $619,000beds 2 baths 2Loyd applegate 805.570.4935

7755 Jenna Dr. | $839,000beds 4 baths 2Carla Reeves 805.689.7343

331 Santa Rosalia Way | $799,000beds 3 baths 2Bob Curtis 805.683.7333

612 Calle Granada | $1,595,000beds 3 baths 3Emily Kellenberger 805.252.2773

814 E. Pedregosa St. | $1,850,000TriplexCalcagno & Hamilton 805.896.0876

1836 Hillcrest Rd. | $1,599,000beds 4 baths 3June/Christina 805.689.7036

239 Cordova Dr. | $1,549,000beds 4 baths 2.5Toni Mochi 805.636.9170

150 Eucalyptus Hill Circle | $1,550,000beds 3 baths 3Mary Lu Edick 805.452.3258

421 Seaview Rd. | $1,549,000beds 2 baths 2Grubb Campbell 805.565.8879

3823 Sunset Rd. | $1,395,000beds 3 baths 3Louise/Sam 805.285.2008

754 El Rodeo Rd. | $1,349,000beds 4 baths 3Louise/Sam 805.285.2008

3971 Foothill Rd. | $1,325,000beds 4 baths 3Cara Gamberdella 805.680.3826

52 Olive Mill Rd. | $1,495,000beds 3 baths 2.5Cecilia/Donald 805.895.3834

1526 East Valley Rd. | $1,485,000beds 2 baths 2Mitchell Morehart 805.565.4546

403 Alameda Padre Serra | $1,195,000beds 3 baths 3Emily Kellenberger 805.252.2773

2519 Emerson St. | $1,175,000beds 3 baths 2Jim Witmer 805.448.3921

3703 Dixon St. | $1,099,000beds 3 baths 3Christine Salvetti 805.705.4040

1859 Eucalyptus Hill Rd. | $1,315,000beds 3 baths 2Kevin & Lesley Hall 805.451.9998

1269 Mountain View Rd. | $1,199,000beds 4 baths 2Grubb Campbell 805.565.8879

133/135 Juana Maria Ave. | $929,000Duplex, two 2BD/1BTH unitsKelly Knight 805.895.4406

895 Cheltenham Rd. | $879,000beds 2 baths 2David M. Kim 805.296.0662

161 Por La Mar Cir. | $869,000beds 2 baths 2Phil Shirinian 805.637.8722

5014 Whitney Court | $1,075,000Single Level, 3BD/2.5BTHElberta Pate 805.895.0835

718-720 W. Arrellaga St. | $1,050,000Investment PropertyToby/Lynette 805.570.3573

1746 Prospect Ave. | $1,995,000beds 3 baths 4Jeff/Julie 805.895.9498

FEATURED PROPERTY

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Santa barbara county SaleSarea Seller buyer price date addreSScarpinteria pOrter aLan r SteaDFaSt carpinteria SeniOr $10,750,000 11/10/15 5464 carpinteria aVe

BOrreLLO antOinette trUSt FrencH BarBara trUStee $799,000 11/10/15 5529 caMeO rDartner cHarLeS trUSt FOrD MicHaeL a eU $750,000 11/12/15 5521 canaLinO Dr

gOLeta cOrBani canDace c trUStee aMHerSt eXcHange cOrp $2,000,000 11/12/15 4760 caLLe caMaraDaFeFOS LLc peninSULar reaLtY LLc $4,700,000 11/10/15 5955 caLLe reaLBUtLer JOe W ii trUStee VeLa iSaBeL J ea $850,000 11/10/15 5772 HOLLiSter aVecUnning DeVin M trUStee MarBUrY aLBert Jr $344,000 11/10/15 29 DearBOrn pL 9BartLett StepHen a trUStee crr inVeStOrS LLc $6,940,000 11/10/15 6300 LinDMarFarringtOn MarY JO HerZOg aMY L $339,500 11/10/15 7054 MarYMOUnt WaYcrancer cLYDe L pippin anDreW B eU $745,000 11/13/15 670 arDMOre DrKUSHnerOV VaLerie BODenHaMer JereMY eU $995,000 11/12/15 6544 caMinO VentUrOSOMacKer JOHn a trUStee Henrie MarK c eU $929,000 11/12/15 6430 carOLDaLe Lncrane patricK e trUStee LOng carLa a trUSt $970,000 11/10/15 7956 WincHeSter cir

LOMpOc WOODHeaD Darren HULSeY garY M $80,000 11/12/15 204 n c StirOnS eDna L trUStee aLLen JaY r trUStee $345,000 11/12/15 1112 n F StaDaM FaMiLY trUSt Wine cOUntrY HOSpitaLitY inc $425,000 11/13/15 1200 n H StMeDina JaVier eU HiLL aarOn g eU $270,000 11/09/15 916 W cHerrY aVeSMitH DaViD D trUStee HarriS raYMOnD r eU $250,000 11/10/15 1301 W prUne aVe

MOntecitO LUnDegarD DaViD L trUStee 111414 LLc $13,037,000 11/12/15 27 BUtterFLY LnStUtZ OSKar trUStee WinFOrD JaY a trUSt $1,485,000 11/12/15 23 cHaSe Dr

Santa BarBara StraUB carL c Jr eU ScHULMan MicHaeL D $1,100,000 11/10/15 649 VerDe Mar Dr aKnOWLtOn cHriStOpHer eU DOtY rOSWeLL F Jr $2,900,000 11/12/15 1051 arBOLaDO rDLearMOntH gLYn S eU StranD tiMOtHY a eU $1,015,000 11/09/15 2643 DOrKing pLaarOnSOn JeFFreY eU cLaaSSen MarY e eU $1,850,000 11/13/15 714 MiSSiOn parK DrVining Kent M trUStee graY DarreLL J trUStee $1,520,000 11/13/15 408 LaS rOBLeS LningaLLS W DaViD FrieDMan eDWarD trUStee $926,000 11/09/15 1929 BatH StKOranDa Lee B trUSt gaULtiere Brianne e eU $600,000 11/13/15 323 W peDregOSa StraMOS annaMarie ScHOWe rOBert t trUStee $970,000 11/12/15 424 DOnZe aVerOtH tHOMaS a aLVareZ gaSpar eU $1,650,000 11/13/15 818 e gUtierreZ StLOng carLa a trUSt eZeLL Sean $1,800,000 11/10/15 453 ViSta De La pLaYaSarKOWSKY MarK eU St geOrge eDWarD $1,260,000 11/13/15 618 caStiLLO StrOgerS VernOn trUStee BUDinger SUSan M trUStee $1,250,000 11/10/15 24 W gUtierreZ StScOLeS WaYne D SteVenS DOnaLD ea $418,000 11/13/15 1026 1/2 BatH StcraWFOrD geraLDine M eState BrOWn patricK M eU $1,000,000 11/13/15 120 MeSa LncLaYtOn eVerett M iii trUStee aSHLanD arOn W $1,295,000 11/12/15 2413 caLLe anDaLUciaFULLer LaUren B ea BraDFOrD JeFFeerY L ea $857,000 11/12/15 1906 giLLeSpie StKUeHn KLaUS K a trUStee tantri LLc $1,831,000 11/13/15 208 OceanO aVeiMHOFF HarrY r eU eLLenBerger DaViD J eU $1,800,000 11/12/15 1401 SHOreLine DreSpOSitO Vincent ea KUSHnerOV VaLerie $790,000 11/12/15 293 caLLe eSperanZatUrnBULL paUL a ea gOULD eLiZaBetH ea $872,000 11/10/15 585 LOrraine aVecHapMan geOrge a trUStee LOncKi ScOtt eU $1,550,000 11/13/15 Via trepaDOra

Santa Maria reYnOLDS traViS J eU paZ JOSe D eU $474,000 11/13/15 4551 HUMMeL DrDietricH JeraLD a trUStee tHOMaSOn geraLD L eU $452,500 11/10/15 4888 caMeO DrgaYDa tiMOtHY g ea SMitH rUtH a ea $540,000 11/12/15 335 W cLarK aVeSnYDer garY J trUStee HaYeS rOBerrt g eU $328,000 11/12/15 4565 FOXenWOOD LncrOUccH JOanne trUStee rOJO MattHeW D ea $323,000 11/12/15 3717 ZiOn pLFOXLeY FaMiLY trUSt MUSUMeci tracie $390,000 11/13/15 400 HarSin LngUtierreZ JOSie g MOtO Maria ea $340,000 11/13/15 138 rOSS LnBieLY MicHaeL e trUStee FaULKner MarK eU $255,000 11/12/15 420 parKVieW nOrtHOUiMet ranDY L eU JacOBS Dean $401,000 11/10/15 1224 WOODMere rDOrOpeZa ULYSSeS a eU SeXtOn LeOna r $350,000 11/12/15 4196 BreeZY gLen DrcHOi iSaBeLa M rice aarOn J ea $320,000 11/10/15 4162 HarMOnY LncOrrente tUSSY cOLMan triS eU $337,000 11/13/15 280 MOOn Dance DrMann 2006 FaMiLY trUSt Mariani rOBert p $243,000 11/13/15 1918 eLMWOOD DrOgLeeSBY SOnJa M trUSt FLOreS ricarDO eU $565,000 11/13/15 4326 SnOWHiLL ctgaMBriL ricK eU KinirY Brian J eU $1,800,000 11/10/15 525 S BLOSSer rDKreiSS, tiMOtHY e HOFFMan paMeLa J $405,000 11/09/15 1823 S MODeLLO aVecpH HarVeSt gLen LLc MeDina JaVier Z $400,500 11/10/15 903 W eLaine aVecpH HarVeSt gLen LLc DOMingO reXOr a eU $386,000 11/13/15 929 W eLaine aVecpH HarVeSt gLen LLc paDiLLa MicHaeL a eU $371,000 11/10/15 935 W eLaine aVecpH HarVeSt gLen LLc Vea ernie eU $407,500 11/13/15 1846 S OLYMpia DrcpH HarVeSt gLen LLc MenDOZa anDreW eU $394,000 11/09/15 839 SW eLaine aVeaLegre JOSepH M ea MicHeL YeSenia $305,000 11/13/15 1018 n cOLLege DrgOMeZ DaViD W eU BeLtran MarcO a eU $305,000 11/13/15 225 S SUperiOr StBUrrOW Sean UrBanO JOSe O ea $345,000 11/13/15 444 rOBLe St

Santa YneZ MeHraBian rOBert trUStee cOrSO ricHarD F trUStee $1,865,000 11/10/15 5300 BaSeLine aVeUnincOrpOrateD LUgLi rUSSeLL V trUStee LOWer DOnOVan LLc $1,500,000 11/12/15 Santa rOSa rD

Spanne anDra L trUStee 951 San paSQUaL LLc $1,150,000 11/09/15 951 San paSQUaL rD

This data is provided to The Santa Barbara Independent by an outside third-party source and represents a partial list of recorded residential sales in Santa Barbara County on the dates listed. While this information is public record, The Santa Barbara Independent cannot guarantee the accuracy nor the completeness of this list.

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history 101

Area DescriptionNamed after a resort-turned-senior-liv-ing-home that sits at the peak of this hill-top neighborhood, the Samarkand is like a mini-suburbia of mostly single-family homes bordered by Oak Park, Macken-zie Park, the Santa Barbara Golf Course, and Earl Warren Showgrounds. It’s quiet and quaint yet right in the middle of the action, with multiple stores and restau-rants located just a few minutes away.

Area highlightsThe NeighborsFamilies of all shapes and sizes, retired couple, young professionals, and renters.MarketSingle-family homes, often with second units, some duplexes and triplexes, and condos on the fringes.LifestyleGardening in your front yard, barbecues in the back, and attending the various festivals at Earl Warren, Oak Park, and MacKenzie Park.You’ll LoveBeing home base for your friends when the annual Old Spanish Days Fiesta comes to MacKenzie Park and the ethnic fests come to Oak Park and being able to walk to late-night sushi, gourmet Mexi-can, or French bistro casual.Perfect ForYoung families, retired couples, and professionals who want suburban peace amid the city.

Around the AreaThe quaint Samarkand neighborhood, which rises above Mission Creek and Oak Park and extends to the Santa Bar-bara Municipal Golf Course, is named for a white-walled, carefully manicured

property that was originally home to The Samarkand Persian Hotel, which opened in 1920 but had to close by 1937.

Today, the sprawling complex is a home for senior citizens, and the com-munity around it is known as a great place to live away from the hassles of the city and yet within blocks of everything one needs. Most of the properties are single-family homes, but there’s a smattering of condo units, apartment complexes, and duplexes, as well, not to mention a num-ber of rental properties divided up into multiple units with separate entries. Just down the hill is the stretch of De la Vina that locals call The Wishbone for where it connects with State Street, and this com-mercial corridor is home to a surprising array of restaurants, stores, coffee shops, bars, and other offerings.

The Samarkand is bound on most sides by parks, from Oak Park (where ethnic festivals, barbecues, birthday par-ties, and horseshoes happen all year long) to MacKenzie Park (where Old Spanish Days Fiesta comes in August and lawn bowling can be enjoyed whenever it’s sunny) to the Santa Barbara Municipal Golf Course (which is also home to a driving range and great café called Mul-ligan’s) to Earl Warren Showgrounds (home to concerts, rodeos, and fairs of all sorts).

Eastside santa Barbara

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history 101by Michael Redmon

The years following World War II saw an evolution in the use of Stearns Wharf. Previously, the wharf had served as the city’s

primary commercial shipping center as well as the headquarters of the area fishing industry. In the postwar years, recreation and tourism would play an ever more important role.

For the first two and a half years of the war, the wharf was closed to the public and was under the control of the U.S. Navy and then the Coast Guard. The movements of the area fishing fleet were curtailed due to concerns over sabotage and fifth columnists. Initially, boats could not stay out overnight; by 1943, boats were allowed out five nights.

Stearns Wharf was reopened to the public in the spring of 1944. In Octo-ber 1945, a syndicate that included film actor James Cagney bought the wharf franchise for some $200,000. The group intended to emphasize tourism and rec-reation over commercial activity.

There were problems. The wharf had not been maintained, and the pilings and deck were in disrepair. The new owners were shocked to learn that to bring the wharf back into shape would cost more than the purchase price and would require more than 10 million board feet of lumber. This price tag plus squabbling within the group caused another sale of the wharf in the spring of 1947.

The purchaser was area furniture dealer Leo Saunders. By this time, less than half of the wharf was being used commercially, although three fishing companies still used it as headquarters. The days of the wharf as a primary com-mercial shipping center were virtually at an end. Tenants of the wharf now

included the Harbor Restaurant, the Yacht Club, and a second restaurant.

The era of Saunders’ ownership was a stormy one. Charges flew that sewage from the wharf was polluting the beach and surrounding waters, but Saunders balked at the cost of fixing the problem. Yet in 1948 the city gave a new 25-year operations lease to Saunders. Wrangling over repairs continued, with city and state authorities demanding progress. Saunders did commission some work, but he continued to complain about costs.

In 1955, Saunders relinquished con-trol of the wharf, and a new group pur-chased the franchise. One of the major partners was George Castagnola, whose fishing operation called the wharf home. The new franchise holders realized that major repairs could no longer be delayed. The first new pilings arrived in the spring of 1955, and by 1972 the group had spent some $1 million in upgrades.

Recreation continued to play a growing role. Moby Dick’s Cof-a growing role. Moby Dick’s Cof-a growing role. Moby Dick’s Coffee Shop opened, and the Castagnola group bought the Harbor Restaurant and poured more than $200,000 into improvements. Fishing operations moved from the wharf to the harbor’s Navy Pier in 1961. The oil industry arrived on the wharf; the first offshore oil rigs began operations in 1958.

The 1969 oil spill and the 1973 fire which consumed the Harbor Restaurant together began yet another era in the wharf ’s history. After an eight-year clo-sure, the wharf reopened in 1981 under the auspices of the City of Santa Barbara, its commercial purpose relegated to his-tory. The wharf now became one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city and remains so today.

how was

stearns Wharf used during the second half of the 20th century?

Michael Redmon is the director of research at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum.

OPEN HOUSES Saturday 11/28 & Sunday 11/29

Carpinteria4902 Sandyland Road #241, 1BD/1BA, Sun 11-2, $599,000, Sotheby’s, Carolyn Wood Friedman 805-886-3838

3375 Foothill Road #933, 2BD/2BA, Sat 1-3 Sun 1-3, $850,000, Village Properties, Susie Maybery 805 684-3415

Downtown Santa Barbara1116 North Nopal Street, 3BD/1BA, Sun 1-4, $649,900, Berkshire Hathaway, The Santa Barbara Group, Joe Parker 805-886-5735

18 West Victoria Street #208, 1BD/2BA, BY APPT, $1,180,500, Village Properties, Tim Walsh 805-259-8808

18 West Victoria Street #204, 1BD/2BA, BY APPT, $1,465,000, Village Properties, Tim Walsh 805-259-8808

2109 Chapala Street, 3BD/2.5BA, Sat 2-4 Sun 1-3, $1,495,000, Village Properties, Toni Mochi 805-636-9170 Deb Archambault 805-455-2966

531 Chapala Street #A, 1BD/2BA, Sun 1-4, $1,995,000, Berkshire Hathaway, JoAnn Mermis 805-895-5650

18 West Victoria Street #308, 2BD/3BA, BY APPT $2,600,000, Village Properties, Tim Walsh 805-259-8808

Goleta216 Moreton Bay Lane Unit 5, 2BD/1.5BA, By Appt., $432,000, Sotheby’s, Mike Pearl 805-637-6888 Gail Pearl 805-637-9595

218 Entrance Road 5, 2BD/2.5BA, Sun 2-4, $505,000, Berkshire Hathaway, Jan Banister 805-455-1194

331 Santa Rosalina Way, 3BD/2BA, Sat 1-4, $799,000, Village Properties, Chris Salvetti 805-705-4040

7608 Newport Drive, 4BD/2BA, Sun 1-3, $969,000, Berkshire Hathaway, Madhu Khemani 805-252-0625

Hope Ranch4178 Creciente Drive, 4BR/3BA, Sun 1-4, $3,995,000, Stones Real Estate, Team Eric and Mary 805-682-6090

The Mesa2112 Cliff Drive, 4BD/3BA, Sun 1-4, $1,375,000, Berkshire Hathaway, Linda & Jeff Havlik 805-451-8020

1642 Shoreline Drive, 3BD/3BA, Sat 1-4 Sun 1-4, $1,995,000, Sotheby’s, Gene Archambault 805-455-1190

Mission Canyon876 Windsor Way, 3BD/2BA, Sun 2-4, $1,075,000, Berkshire Hathaway, Jason S. Ebin 805-364-3070

967 Cheltenham Road, 3BD/2BA, Sun 1-4, $1,125,000, Berkshire Hathaway, Bob Ratliffe 805-448-6642

2985 Glen Albyn Drive, 4BD/3BA, Sun 2-4, $1,195,000, Berkshire Hathaway, Ricardo Munoz 805-895-8725

1836 Hillcrest Road, 4BD/3BA, Sun 2-4, $1,599,000, Village Properties, June Laula 805-689-7036

Montecito1220 Coast Village Road Unit 110, 3BD/2BA, Sat 1-4, $1,069,000, Sotheby’s, Toni Sutherland 805-618-1886

1526 East Valley Road, 2BD/2BA, Sun 1-3, $1,485,000, Village Properties, Mitch Morehart 805-689-7233

2320 Sycamore Canyon Road, 4BD/2BA, Sun 1-3, $1,795,000, Berkshire Hathaway, Joyce Enright 805-570-1360

462 Toro Canyon Road, 4BD/3BA, Sat 2-4, $2,395,000, Berkshire Hathaway, JoAnn Mermis 805-895-5650

352 East Mountain Drive, 3BD/3BA, Sun 1-4, $3,199,000, Sotheby’s, Toni Sutherland 805-618-1886

1424 East Valley Road, 3BD/3BA, Sat 1-4, $3,200,000, Reeves & Associates, Jeff Reeves 805-689-2058

2355 East Valley Road, 5BD/9BA, Sun 1-4, $4,500,000, Berkshire Hathaway, Joe Stubbins 805-729-0778

975 Mariposa Lane, 4BD/4BA, BY APPT, Sun 2-4 PM, $4,995,000, Village Properties, Natalie Grubb 805-895-6226

1709 Overlook Lane, 5BD/4.5BA, Sun 1-4, $5,250,000, Sotheby’s, Frank Abatemarco 805-450-7477

923 Buena Vista Drive, 6BD/6.5BA, Sun By Appt., $5,495,000, Sotheby’s, Frank Abatemarco 805-450-7477

2225 Featherhill Road, 6BD/6.5BA, Sun 1-3, $6,995,000, Sotheby’s, Lauren Stewart 805-618-6007

1522 East Mountain Drive, 5BD/3.5BA, Sun 1-3, $7,495,000, Sotheby’s, Wade Hansen 805-689-9682

Noleta754 El Rodeo Road, 4BD/2.5BA, Sun 2:30-4:30, $1,349,000, Village Properties, Louise Mckaig 805-285-2008

Riviera30 North Santa Ynez Street #D, 4BD/2BA, Sun 1-3, $795,000, Berkshire Hathaway, Mary Whitney 805-689-0915

403 Alameda Padre Serra, 3BD/3BA, Sun 1-4, $1,195,000, Village Properties, Gary Welterlen 805-895-4744

49 Cedar Lane, 3BD/2BA, Sat 1-3 Sun 1-4, $1,250,000, Berkshire Hathaway, Jessica Stovall 805-698-9416 James St. James 949-547-1860

139 Loma Media Road, 2BD/2.5BA, Sat 11-4 Sun 11-4, $1,385,000, Berkshire Hathaway, Isaiah J. Polstra 805-722-5085

3 Las Alturas Road, 4BD/2.5BA, Sat 1-3 Sun 1-3, $1,599,000, Village Properties, John Bahura 805-680-5175

1746 Prospect Avenue, 2BD/3.5BA, Sat 1:30-4 Sun 1:30-4, $1,995,000, Village Properties, Priscilla Bedolla 805-680-7146

1010 Roble Lane, 3BD/2.5BA, Sun 2-4, $2,249,000, Sotheby’s, Linda Brown “Brownie” 805-666-9090

Samarkand440 Stanley Drive, 3BD/2BA, Sun 1-4, $1,447,000, Santa Barbara Brokers, Troy G Hoidal 805 689-6808

San Roque616 Calle De Los Amigos, 3BD/3BA, Sun 1-4, $815,000, Sotheby’s, Krista Vickers 805-453-5117

3756 Greggory Way 1, 3BD/2BA, Sun 2-4, $875,000, Berkshire Hathaway, Michelle Madril 805-453-0927

3744 Greggory Way Unit 4, 3BD/3BA, Sat 2-4, $885,000, Sotheby’s, Linda Brown “Brownie” 805-666-9090

3823 Sunset Road, 4BD/3BA, Sun 12-2, $1,395,000, Village Properties, Louise Mckaig 805-285-2008

3132 Calle Mariposa, 3BD/2.5BA, Sun 1:30-4, $1,649,000, Berkshire Hathaway, Robert Johnson 805-705-1606

841-861 East Alamar Avenue, 1BA, Sun By Appt., $1,995,000, Sotheby’s, Robert Heckes 805-637-0047 5117

Summerland2210 Calle Culebra, 3BD/3BA, Sun 12-3, $1,850,000, Sotheby’s, Jason Siemens 805-455-1165

Upper East Santa Barbara2621 State Street Unit 3, 2BD/2BA, Sun 2-4, $649,000, Sotheby’s, Robert Heckes 805-637-0047

34 East Pedregosa Street, 3BD/3BA, Sun 1-4, $1,350,000, Berkshire Hathaway, John Comin 805-689-3078

2414 Santa Barbara Street, 3BD/3BA, Sat 2-4, $2,295,000, Berkshire Hathaway, Jan Banister 805-455-1194

Santa Ynez Valley5 Six Flags Circle, 2BD/1BA, Sat 10:30-12, $335,000, Berkshire Hathaway, Karin Aitken 805-252-1205

96 Six Flags Circle, 3BR/2BA, Sun 1-4, $525,000, Ranch & Country RE, Randy Stone 805-252-6087

3640 Willow Street, 3BD/3BA, Sat 2-4, $734,000, Berkshire Hathaway, Rhoda Johnson 805-705-8707

197 Manzanita Drive, 5BR 4BA, Sat 1-3, $775,000, Ranch & Country RE, Randy Stone 805-252-6087

Submit your open house listings to [email protected] Tuesday by 3pm to be included in

this directory.

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Recently I wrote about women in construction and the many high-paying career opportunities that are now available in this field. The positive aspects of construction employment that I listed of construction employment that I listed of construction employment that I listed— seeing tangible results, interest-ing, varied and challenging work, and good pay ing, varied and challenging work, and good pay ing, varied and challenging work, and good pay— apply to men, as well.

Some people worry about the irregular nature of construction employment. There is some truth to this: Construction jobs took a big hit during the recent reces-sion, the biggest since the depression of the 1930s. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, however, projects the annual employment rate in construction to grow by 2.6 percent between 2012 and 2020, a creation of 1.6 million jobs over this eight-year period. This expansion is the most of any sector of the economy, except for the health-care sector, which is projected to grow slightly more. According to the Bureau’s statistics, 290,000 construction jobs were added in 2014 and a similar number will be added this year.

These days, fewer young people are choosing a career in construction as par-ents and school officials promote high-tech careers. Consequently, the construction workforce is getting progressively older. Many of the job openings will be to replace retiring tradespeople. There is already an acute shortage of competent, skilled, motivated workers.

There exists a myth that those who work in a blue-collar industry like construction don’t earn much money. Many, probably most, construction workers in this region earn between $50,000-$120,000 per year, an income often accompanied by a good benefits package, as well. This is frequently higher than what some of the high-tech fields pay, such as computer systems analysts. And the skill gap between these sectors is narrowing. Today, having computer skills, an analytical aptitude, and a problem-solving bent, together with the traditional manual-trade skills, helps one gain a good position in construction and advance up the career ladder rapidly.

It used to be that companies hired from project to project, but now the norm is for companies to hire for the long-term. Increasingly, the term “profession” is being associ-ated with work in construction. And because of the tangible nature of the work, there still exists a strong element of pride in the craftsmanship that workers bring to projects.

A recent survey of 30,000 employees among 12 distinct industries reported that construction workers are the happiest. Good relationships with peers and colleagues turned out to be a big part of trade-worker satisfaction. Santa Barbara offers the added advantage of working outside year-round and most of the time in great weather.

Hammer the nail true, saw the line straight, watch the pieces come together, and enjoy good camaraderie, all the while getting exercise outdoors in the sunshine. What is there not to like?

With a shrinking middle class in America, school officials and parents need to reevaluate the advantages of working in construction and start getting the message out that this is a cool track to the middle class.

green your crib

We invite readers and businesses to send us their water-saving strategies to share by emailing [email protected].

Water-Saving tip of the Week

A residential Hot Water Recirculating Pump can keep water from being wasted while you wait for the tap to run hot. Using the bathroom faucet connections, these pumps circulate water back to the water heater until it reaches the right

temperature (usually 120 degrees). Then the thermostat turns off the pump, and you have nothing but hot water and no waste. —Steven Lefler

construction as path to Middle class

recirculating pump eliminates Water Waste

by Dennis Allen

Dennis Allen is chair of Allen Construction, an employee-owned company committed to building and operating sustainably. He also serves as chair of the Dean’s Council at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at UCSB and as a boardmember of the Community Environmental Council.

THANK YOUto my family, my friends, and my clients for your support over the past 11 years. Being born in Santa Barbara has been a blessing and my husband and I are thankful to be raising our family here too.

Happy Thanksgiving,from Nate, Elizabeth, Wyatt and Crosby Wagner

ElizabethWagnerSanta Barbara Native

ELIZABETH WAGNER805.895.1467 » [email protected] elizabethwagner.com » CalBRE #01440591

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.

ElizabethWagnerSanta Barbara Native

sb independent real estate, 11/25/15

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