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Hollister Elementary
updated: Sep 12, 2012, 10:26 AM

By Edhat Subscriber

We recently bought near Hollister Elementary. What are edhat readers experiences there?

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 318947	2012-09-12 11:03 AM
I grew up there (1990-2005) My dad still lives there. I loved it. Safe areas and sidewalks! Really close to the bike path that goes to Goleta Beach. When I have a child, I'd move there if I had the chance.
COMMENT 318951	2012-09-12 11:19 AM
I live there now...have owned my home since 2000. Love the neighborhood and all my neighbors. I run with my dog a lot and we have great access to the bike path, Goleta Beach, More Mesa and the backside of Hope Ranch. It's a perfect location between SB and Goleta. I was also a teacher for 10 years and Hollister Elementary is an excellent neighborhood school, if you have kids.
COMMENT 318953	2012-09-12 11:25 AM
Op here, we have kids that will be elementary age soon.
COMMENT 318955	2012-09-12 11:27 AM
Good times at Monty's Sports Bar. Easy walking distance. Thursday Karaoke.
COMMENT 318971	2012-09-12 12:18 PM
I bought a home there in 1966 and it was a wonderful place to have children growing up. Hollister School was a very good school and the children could walk without fear or getting tired. I agree with all the above comments about the ambience of that neighborhood. And it is near two convenient shopping centers and the Lanes Farms . It is also a neighborhood of pride of ownership and in most cases well maintained.
COMMENT 318982	2012-09-12 12:50 PM
I have to go against the grain on this one. I have a friend in the Sheriff's department and based on what I hear from him about that neighborhood (how unsafe it is, and how many calls they get over there), and what I know about the school, I'd never buy a house over there. There's a reason why its one of the more affordable (if you can call anything in SB "affordable") areas of SB.
COMMENT 318988	2012-09-12 12:55 PM
I grew up on Ella Ln and walked to Hollister School everyday safely from 1988-1994. My brother (8 year difference) went there too.
COMMENT 318999	2012-09-12 01:13 PM
It has the appearance of a safe neighborhood but there are problems - the SO and CHP are there a lot - gang activity, drugs, abandoned vehicles etc. Sorry to say it (I'm a renter) but many of the properties there are rentals with very absent landlords. It's not the worst place in the area by any means but be careful - normal careful not crazy careful. Lock your doors, garage your vehicles if you can. There is a lot of law enforcement focus on the area - things could and should improve.
COMMENT 319008	2012-09-12 01:23 PM
The area south of Hollister and east of Walnut Ln. has seen a rapid influx of Mexican families over the past 15 years, as well as a proportional increase in gang violence. I haven't heard many stories recently, but for a while it seemed like Roger was reporting a stabbing a week off of Walnut Lane.
COMMENT 319009	2012-09-12 01:24 PM
971- except for the 3 year old boy that vanished in that area in 1964 and was never seen again. And the 7 year old girl that vanished 2 years prior about a mile or so away. Not sure I would say children could walk without fear. =(
COMMENT 319018	2012-09-12 01:42 PM
Just steer clear of the bike path adjacent neighborhoods and you should be fine.
COMMENT 319021	2012-09-12 01:49 PM
I grew up in that neighborhood and went to Hollister, too! Romona Price and Todd Collett did not vanish from this neighborhood! I hear the the school is excellent! Crime is everywhere now, unfortunately! Use precaution!!!
COMMENT 319027	2012-09-12 02:01 PM
021- actually Todd did vanish from that area (Turnpike & Hollister). His family lived on Zink. All his siblings also went to Hollister School-they walked to school and back everyday. I didn't mean to imply that Ramona vanished from the same neighborhood, only that it was a mile or so away from where Todd disappeared from, that's all. Sorry to ruffle your feathers...
COMMENT 319028	2012-09-12 02:04 PM
Op here again. Thanks everyone. It was one of the more affordable areas, which is how we squeaked in, since we wanted my wife to be able to stay at home to raise our kids. Most on our street appear to be owner occupied but I have seen the sheriff cruise by a few times. I would never let my kids walk around by themselves (hate to admit it) because I'm aware of the low lifes in town (and in every town). At least people aren't dumping shopping carts & old mattresses on my front yard or tagging my fence (yet) like when I rented on the east side. So far, it seems like it's the best we could do in SB/Goleta for the money.
COMMENT 319029	2012-09-12 02:05 PM
Tip # 1 Dont go to EDhate for advice like this.. Because no names are posted I belive alot of people dont give accurate advice and just talk alot of trash.. I grew up in the neighborhood and still live in the area. Yes a little while ago it did seem like Roger was talking about alot of issues in the Walnut Lane area, but that has sense stopped.. I have not seen anymore police activity the usual. Granted the area does seem to be full of more renters then homeowner, but it is still a quiet and friendly place. 9009 - Alot can change in 48 years since the crimes u have mantioned happend... Welcome to the neighborhood !
COMMENT 319038	2012-09-12 02:24 PM
I agree with 982. I live on the other side of Hollister and crime has escalated tremendously in the past 5 years. The CVS shopping center is constantly being robbed. Granny's field behind CVS is a homeless camp and a haven for drug dealers. The Mobil at Turnpike and Hollister is a constant sourse of crime and the thugs seem to always run into the field. There have been 2 stabbings in that area just in the past 6 weeks. Sorry to burst everyone's bubble. I live there. I know what I am talking about.
COMMENT 319055	2012-09-12 03:05 PM
@9038 I live there too and u are making it out to be a lot worse then it is..
COMMENT 319074	2012-09-12 03:44 PM
I live near Walnut. There hasn't been any gang activity on my street in particular, but like others, I've heard of incidents in and around Walnut and near Turnpike and Hollister. However, when I think of the most dangerous areas in town, I usually think of the region near Milpas or the region south of the 101 near San Andres. It seems like there's gang activity everywhere tho. I've heard of incidents in the Rite Aid parking lot near Bed Bath and Beyond and often wondered why that Rite Aid needed such a prominent security guard in the store.
DILLYDALLY	2012-09-12 03:47 PM
I grew up there and live near by. I went to Hollister school a loooong time ago and people told my parents they were wrong for sending me to a school so "diverse". This area has always been home to a lot of minorities, not much has changed. I enjoyed the school a lot, got a great education, went to a great college and have a great job. Dont be concerned. The bike bath and the area behind the new CVS have always been frequented by people up to no good. Dont go to the field behind CVS ever (just no point) and the bike path is fine during the day (supervised).
COMMENT 319115	2012-09-12 05:02 PM
SO glad my kids aren't at Hollister anymore.... Not very fond of the principal and his weird rules....
COMMENT 319126	2012-09-12 05:18 PM
what weird rules?
COMMENT 319150	2012-09-12 06:36 PM
We bought in this neighborhood in 1993. Our child did NOT attend Hollister school (we chose a Charter school) Back in the days of when we were out and about with our little one things were much more family friendly. It has changed in past 5 years and there is a lot more unpleasant activity that requires Sheriff interaction. The bike path and More Mesa areas are fun to explore, the creek is also a fun outing (for crawdads and pollywogs) Child did attend SMHS and that was a good experience.Get to know your neighbors. Get a dog! Get out and walk! We will not retire in this neighborhood.
COMMENT 319152	2012-09-12 06:42 PM
I wonder if the decline in the past 5 years people are mentioning is due to the recession?
COMMENT 319172	2012-09-12 08:01 PM
There are enough dogs in this neighborhood :)
COMMENT 319187	2012-09-12 08:44 PM
Mine too 172!
COMMENT 319213	2012-09-13 06:40 AM
Maybe this question should have been posed pre-purchase...?
COMMENT 319221	2012-09-13 07:19 AM
213, OP here. Your comment doesn't give me any info on the school or the area so thanks for not being very helpful. We were on an extremely tight budget and had to buy when we did. Inventory was extremely low, and any house that came up had multiple offers on it. We didn't exactly have our pick of the litter, although we are happy with what we got. I simply wanted some additional perspective on the area and the elementary school.
COMMENT 319267	2012-09-13 09:09 AM
OP why did you HAVE to buy at that time? Not that I'm trying to nitpick your decision, but you say you had to buy when you did, why wasn't renting an option? I'm just curious as to why you had to buy when you did, 1031 exchange?
COMMENT 319269	2012-09-13 09:12 AM
no, they won't be joining any gangs. Good, involved parenting is a #1 priority for us. They won't be left alone to roam the streets. We will be too busy spending time with them and making sure they know they are loved and belong to OUR family to have any interest in the gang life.
COMMENT 319295	2012-09-13 09:45 AM
267, you’re right, we rarely do things because we absolutely HAVE to. The full answer is complicated and one that I won’t fully describe here (not a tax reason, but a job reason). We have been renting in town for 11 years and were tired of filling Mr. Towbes coffers. Our new cost of living is only $400/mo more than what we were paying for a 2 bedroom apartment with zero storage or yard. The fact for us was that in our situation we had to jump on the opportunity we were given. But, again, you’re right. We could’ve kept renting, or moved out of town if we didn’t really want a piece of paradise and something to show for it in 30 years.
COMMENT 319332	2012-09-13 10:52 AM
A bit dicey.. Oops, stabby I mean
COMMENT 319358P	2012-09-13 11:44 AM
Ignore the haters that still cant afford a house even in a depressed housing market. Kudos for working for a living and being able to afford a house on one income in SB. You are in a fine part of town and Hollister School will give your children a great education. As someone who lived on the other side of Hollister and went to school there, you will be happy and have fun there. You can find bad apples in any neighborhood, including some very expensive neighborhoods I lived in in Manhattan.
COMMENT 319365	2012-09-13 12:05 PM
358P, thanks :-)
COMMENT 319640	2012-09-13 08:32 PM
Hollister school is a great school. I work for GUSD and I had the opportunity to work at any school in the district. I chose Hollister because of the dedication of the teachers and staff to all children. They are truly an inspiration!
COMMENT 320495	2012-09-15 02:03 PM
I am a proud Hollister alumni. While the area around the school may not be as nice as say the foothill or mountain view areas, it is a very safe place for kids and having the bike path, goleta beach and More Mesa nearby is the best playground a kid could ask for. Kids can pretty much roam freely without worry. There is some very, very small time gang activity, but you won't have to worry about it unless you yourself are in a gang. Also, crime has not dramatically escalated within the past five years as some people are saying, I'm not sure where they are getting those statistics.

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