Two Santa Barbara groups are rallying community support for opposing futures of State Street. One group proposes allowing limited vehicle traffic to support downtown businesses, while the other seeks to keep the street permanently car-free for pedestrians and cyclists.
On one side, the Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association (DSBIA) is advocating for a one-way traffic lane on State Street. The proposal is part of an interim plan that includes retractable barriers and designated areas for pedestrians and cyclists.
Limited vehicle access could help revive foot traffic and bring much-needed visibility to struggling businesses, the group said.
Since State Street was closed to vehicles, it has resulted in a “troubling decline,” DSBIA said in its petition. “Hundreds of thousands fewer people are visiting annually, while other areas of the city have gained visitation and sales,” it stated.
DSBIA’s Proposal
DSBIA has sought to adopt a new State Street design configuration. This includes:
- Installing retractable bollards to allow temporary openings or closures for special events.
- Allowing for one-way vehicular traffic.
- Creating organized, safe, and separate spaces for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Expanding sidewalks for outdoor dining and pedestrians.
This new design will balance the needs of all users while enhancing the “grand paseo” pedestrian feel of the road, DSBIA said.
With the Santa Barbara City Council set to discuss short-term plans for State Street on October 21, 2025, DSBIA hopes its petition will demonstrate public support for the change.
The city is still in the process of developing a long-term State Street Master Plan.
Strong Towns Santa Barbara’s Counter
Prior to DSBIA’s proposal, Strong Towns Santa Barbara launched an initial petition calling for State Street to remain permanently car-free from Haley to Victoria. The group is focused on walkability, livability, and safer urban design.
Citing a City of Santa Barbara survey with more than 5,000 responses, Strong Towns Santa Barbara said 79% of residents support keeping State Street car-free.
Keeping vehicles off the road has also improved safety, the group argued. Since cars were removed from State Street in 2020, the street has become a much safer corridor for pedestrians and cyclists, the group said in its petition.
“Now is a critical moment: as decisions about State Street’s future are being made, it’s vital to remind Council that our community overwhelmingly supports a vibrant, walkable promenade,” the group added.
The Strong Towns petition has already gathered more than 840 signatures. It needs more than 750 to reach its goal of 1,600.
DSBIA is expected to present the results of its own petition and survey during the upcoming City Council meeting.
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Why not just compromise and be done with this mess?
De La Guerra to Gutierrez keep closed to cars and make it nicer – permanent outdoor dining, dedicated bike path (if at all) and maybe some nice art instillations or stages/areas for live music. Go all in and make a few blocks a full on pedestrian only zone.
Then, open Anapamu to DLG to through traffic and be done with it. No one was ever driving up lower State looking to see what bars they should go to. Just make it a safe, clean fun area and let the others sit and huff the toxic fumes of idling cars along the rest of it.
Of course this common sense suggestion would require a few million $$ for a consultant. 🙄
Carrillo to Gutierrez, but yeah
I agree, and add a robust trolley service to move tourists up State street.
Oh Sac, sorry but you have literally spent innumerable hours and countless posts having said you wanted State street closed to cars all along. Ranting about it for years, and harshing on all the “car people” you hate because they have a different viewpoint and want the street restored to being open to cars.
Your own voting record is one of supporting those very same council members that you’re rolling your eyes at. It’s on you.
You clearly don’t get it.
BASICALLYILLITERATE – You’re saying I’m lying about what I support? Do you not understand English? Read it again.
Now, go find where I ever said we should keep all of lower State closed.
You’re even more pathetic and sad than I thought.
Cue up the disturbed MAGA agenda about state street comments (even though some of those commenters live in Lompoc). Previously, the far right nonsense crowd blamed downtown’s woes on Cathy Murillo. But if you bring up Randy Rowse’s name they defend it vehemently and say it is the council’s fault. Oh the hypocrisy and lunacy that are the GOP Maga Mind sheep. Rents are unaffordable unless the store is part of a corporate machine. Trump has stifled the economy in just less than a year. Us tax payers will be bailing out the US farmers soon – even though Trump has us bailing out the soy bean farmers in Argentina – and supporting Qatari pilots. How can this president be focused on our economy when he’s supporting a lunatic HHS director who says circumcisions and Tylenol cause autism. All of it is further proof that Republican’s couldn’t govern a Dairy Queen let alone our entire country.
Cue the looney GT, a true computer warrior.
This has zero to do with the President of the United States. This is a never-ending comedy of errors on the part of the City, which is run by…air for it…a majority of liberals, both on the City Council and voting public. So there ya go GT.
It’s so foolish that’s it’s laughable, unless of course you’re a business owner who is having trouble trying to make ends meet while the City can’t figure out what the heck they want to do. The “unhoused” and rando fools scootering and free riding every which way aren’t helping one bit.
Here’s an idea. Open it up. Clean it up. It’s turned into a sad free for all.
Cue Basic with defense of the fascist state. With guys like you its like watching the house burn down and not caring, but lamenting on the color of the rug in the living. The country is literally on fire right now due to depraved policies that you voted for. But geez, bikes on State Street are the issue.
No, the country is not “on fire”. lol. Your hair is though. Still a sore loser from the last election. That about sums it up. Just summon your party to get somewhere less left, ID someone sane, and you might have a chance next go round.
Your Edhat comment section in little SB does not represent the average American citizen whatsoever. Hashtag wake up call.
Basic – your posts continually support the MAGA regime that are completing the 14 stages of fascism. You voted for this, and you defend it here daily. Your posts are the perfect example of the enemy within. These are all points you continually defend – which are not canons anyone would see a good human being defending.
Powerful and continuing nationalism: The use of patriotic slogans, mottos, and symbols everywhere to promote extreme national pride.
Disdain for human rights: Due to a perceived need for security, the government and people approve of ignoring or violating human rights.
Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause: Rallying people into a patriotic frenzy by targeting a perceived common enemy, such as racial, ethnic, or religious minorities.
Supremacy of the military: Giving the military a disproportionate amount of government funding, often neglecting domestic problems, and glorifying military service.
Rampant sexism: The governments of fascist nations are almost exclusively male-dominated, and traditional gender roles are made more rigid.
Controlled mass media: Exercising direct or indirect control over the media through regulations or friendly ownership to suppress dissent and manipulate public opinion.
Obsession with national security: Using a climate of fear and threat to justify extreme measures and portray the nation as constantly under attack.
Intertwined religion and government: Using religion to manipulate public opinion and gain support by portraying opposing groups as “ungodly”.
Protection of corporate power: Establishing a mutually beneficial relationship between the government and big business.
Suppression of labor power: Eliminating or suppressing labor unions, which are seen as a threat to national unity.
Disdain for intellectuals and the arts: Promoting anti-intellectualism and discouraging higher education and free expression.
Obsession with crime and punishment: Using harsh punishments to instill fear and control the population.
Rampant cronyism and corruption: Appointing political allies and friends to government positions and enriching them through state contracts.
Fraudulent elections: Manipulating or controlling elections to ensure a specific outcome.
His desperate attempts to “impress” an anonymous online community have really started to catch up with him!
I have an idea. Open State Street. Cheap to do and wait for 12 months and see what happens.
You would only have cars plus what we have now which are rents so high only corporate chains could fill them, and probably still not be profitable. You’d still have bikess and the same number of homeless.
MAX – why? You’ve lived here long enough, I assume, to remember how crappy State was back when it had cars too. Most people enjoy having at least the lower blocks closed for walking and dining outside. Cars do nothing down there. I feel like this is such a simple solution – leave the lower 3-4 blocks as is and beef up the promenade and then open the other blocks north (northwest) of DLG to regular traffic or better yet, single lane one way. Win-win.
Plus, imagine the money local businesses there have spent on sidewalk dining and marketing towards the existing scheme there? Just have them take a total loss on that so you can sit in traffic idling your engine as you creep up a crowded street and then “see what happens?”
There will still be homeless and even worse, there will still be teenagers!
I see alot of the normal arguments here. I get it. Its time though. Time to put aside a pointless and costly failure and reopen the road to traffic. This was promissed as temporary. You have had your fun with it. This has cost the city, tax payers, and businesses on State….hundreds of thousands of $. This has closed more retail than helping it. I’m working on this road 50+ hours a week and I see the reality of it. I’m not coming from the Mesa or Goleta for a quick trip and a beer downtown. I live and work down here. My kids do too. I hear it from tourists, from elderly, from youths….why is this road still closed? I work near the boarded up Chase. That place is an eyesore. The only block that benefits from this is the 500 block and they are essentially holding downtown hostage. I talk with Randy, I talk with Eric, Oscar and others. The council is split. Randy, Eric and two others want it opened. Many of us that work and live down here want it open. The majority of people that I talk to that want it closed live up town, Goleta, Mesa, Montecito. Also, block bike traffic for the 500 block or DLG isn’t going to happen. When I commute on my bike in the morning to get to my office on State, I am commuting with about 100 other people, adults and kids. Chapala is not safe for bikes nor is Anacapa. State has bike safety lanes allowing us to get to work on State, safely. Many businesses have changed their stance on this and have written letters to City Hall wanting the road open. Its going to happen.
KNEIN – I get all that, I do. How about just the 400-600 blocks with a dedicated bike lane? Make it nice, keep it nice and allow people to dine in the beautiful weather this town has. No one wants to sit next to a pile of non-moving, idling engines spewing pollution while they eat expensive meals. Why is it so hard to just let a couple blocks, which are full of restaurants and bars anyways, stay a promenade and then re-open the rest of State? Why does this have to be an all or nothing deal?
We don’t need all of lower State closed, I agree. But it sure would be nice to have a legit and maintained promenade in our outdoor town. Denver has some amazing ped-only blocks filled with sculpture, outdoor dining and no cars. It’s great! We have the weather year round to sustain it far better than they do. Why can’t they just compromise?
Hi Sac!
seems pointless. why? so the diner club on the 500 block can have their way? personally, and this is just my own opinion, i’d like to see it wide open, both lanes during the week and fully closed on weekends. IF the city gets off its rear and hires entertainers, puts out some basketball hoops, adds things for kids and has something actually happening other than what we have which is nothing.
Sac, these places did fine for decades without serving over priced food in the gutter. You’re worried about car fumes? Dude…the 500 block is loaded with cigarette smokers from the bars. Id be way more concerned about 2nd hand cig smoke than a wiff from a passing exhaust. I’ve been on state all of my life as a teen to adult and there are no noxious car fumes. It’s not the 405 at 5pm.
I think DLG would be the best bet for a legit promenade. Just DLG. We can’t and should not only cater to the 500 block food club. I work at State and Carrillo. I see no reason nor do the other businesses, to keep it closed.
I still vote for weekend closings and actually have events and things to do, otherwise. let’s get back to business.
when i pass by a place on the 500 block and see an empty restaraunt, but 5 tables outside are full, it kinda gets me upset. To me, and many others, its the 500 block and 3 council members holding all of downtown hostage.
When you’re here in the trenches like I am, it’s not good, not great, it kinda sucks tbh. I hear what you’re saying, I do. I’m not negating anything you’ve said. I just know what I know from being here and witnessing what I do for 50 hours a week, then on weekends i’m down here twice each day getting my daughter to and from her job which is also on State.
Shes 18. Even she and her friends agree, open it up. Give life back to State. Close it on weekends and do fun things, otherwise it’s a waste of time, property and it’s crushing most businesses downtown.
Why would closing it only on weekends (the busiest time for shopping, dining, drinking) work, but permanently closing part of it not work?
Sounds like a logistical nightmare to only have outdoor dining on weekends. I get your concerns, but just still don’t see why we can’t have it both ways.
No.
Just to get this peeve off my chest, it bugs me when people say “open State Street”, as if it’s closed now. Words matter, and language shapes thinking, and it is a clear fact that State street is not closed. It would be more accurate to say that it’s more “open” than it’s ever been. End of verbiage rant.
To me a sensible compromise would be to re-motorize the upper end of the current pedestrian zone. For one thing it might simplify the tricky situation between Victoria and Sola. I think the blocks below Anapamu or Carrillo down to Haley or Gutierrez should remain unmotorized. I also agree that a free or cheap shuttle of some kind would be an asset to everyone. I agree that the eating areas hastily set up by restaurants could/should be standardized and those business should have access to low-interest loans or some kind of financial support to accomplish that.
Cars do not mix well with pedestrians, bikes, and skateboards. Drivers insulated in their metal and glass bubbles tend to lose perspective of their place in a mixed environment like that, and although they are less polluting than they used to be and will continue that trend, the safety issues cannot be ignored. Having a well planned thoroughfare that puts human powered mobility ahead of motorized mobility is an asset to any community, especially one with maybe the most pleasant and clement weather on Earth, and I think it would be a tragic mistake to just toss it out.
I have yet to see anything that establishes a causal relationship between the opening of State street to pedestrians and an increase of business failure. Does anyone else remember what a ghost town State street was was during the Thomas Fire of 2017? Weeks of heavy ashes closed down almost everything right in the middle of the holiday shopping season, which for many shops was a huge blow. Two years later the covid pandemic walloped businesses beyond recovery in many cases, and the increased dependence -beyond a tipping point?- on online shopping has also happened during this whole period. Singling out automobile access to State street as a main disrupter of downtown businesses seems like a big stretch to me.
Very well said, KIRK, as usual. There is no actual causal evidence showing the lack of cars are the cause of the economic decline that has been steady for decades on State St. It is all anecdotal. Sure, one might see more shops in a lesser amount of time if one drives up the street, but then what? They have to remember where it is and then find parking and walk over to it, sometimes blocks away. No one in the last 50 years has been able to drive up and park in front of a business on State. That argument just doesn’t hold water.
Weirdly, there is also a political aspect to this as you see a lot of MAGA folks still crying about COVID shut downs (which may well have saved their lives) and so they demand “re-opening” as some consolation for all their “suffering.” That’s just hogwash, but like all things in this country, even a street has become politicized to a degree.
The all or nothing attitude needs to go. It’s a major problem that stonewalls progress in this country. This is an easy fix for both sides of this issue. Open the street to cars on part of it, leave the rest closed and invest in making it a beautiful and functional promenade.
Simple.
i suppose its easy for both of you to say that when, again, you’re really not down here that much compared to the rest of us that work here. there is loads of evidence, financial data proving what you said can’t be proven with the car traffic and decline of revenue on state. math doesn’t lie guys.
Sac, people drive on state, see what they want, there are curb pull outs for passenger drop offs all over downtown. been here since 1981 and i know this as i was dropped off countless times.
but dude, you cant say there is no evidence proving something when you’re not actively looking at both sides or involved with any business on State in the downtown area. I see the #’s from many businesses on State and businesses here get together and compare notes and numbers. I can attest that I’ve been to these meetings, seen the numbers and evidence and it’s pretty damning. Ours alone lost 25% of foot traffic. numbers are real….five businesses on the block below us have lost up to 35-45% of their foot traffic and are barely above water.
KNEIN – I totally respect your point of view and acknowledge there may be some correlation, but not sure that opening the whole thing will fix all these problems. If there is some causal evidence – evidence that shows a direct cause and effect between cars being allowed to drive on all of State st and the economic problems it has had since long before the shutdown, that would be great, but I haven’t seen anyone put anything forth like that.
I keep talking about a compromise. Why can’t we do that? Why does it have to be all or nothing?
I did not say there was no evidence. I said I have yet to see any. If you can point out a causal relationship, beyond mere correlation I’m all ears, but I know that would take a lot more than just sales data, and it may even be nearly impossible to prove a causal link. You are citing the low hanging fruit numbers of foot traffic as if it’s the whole story, but you’re clearly smart enough to know it isn’t. They don’t answer the “why” question. You have to remove all the compounding variables such as increased online shopping, pandemic and other disasters, rising rents and regulations, bad business decisions, changes in parking availability, changes in fashion and food trends, etc. You’d have to find a way to interview the shoppers who are no longer visiting State Street businesses over a long period of time. Why did they stop? Why did this business close? Why that one? They’ve all got different stories but what are the overall trends? What do the successful ones have in common? What can you generalize? And all of it just to answer the question: did removing auto traffic on State street hurt businesses there. Honestly I doubt we’ll ever really know.
But I do wish you well in your business and I hope you can continue to work there for as long as you want. If I knew what it was I’d make a point of supporting it, like I do many others there.
I know that math doesn’t lie, but inferential statistics isn’t just strings of topline numbers. Until you do the hard work you just don’t have the whole truth.
The usual suspects that never go to State Street weighing in again. Sheeesh. Keep it closed because of the ‘noxious fumes’ Perhaps you could go back to covered wagons on State Street.
Fact is since it was closed for Covid, the deterioration is marked! No vibrancy. No land shark with partiers laughing and having a good time. No people walking because the length is too long and no trolley to jump on and off of. Come every 6 months and more stores for lease, Paseo Nuevo, which was always busy, deserted. More homeless, more insane bikers on e-bikes doing 40 MPH and more doing wheelies. Pedestrians do not even walk in the street anymore. The street was bustling prior to covid and now it is a ghost town. The movie theaters were always busy, now ,dead. Amazing how anyone living there, could not want their main shopping/ eating/ Thorofare to be clean and safe, which it is not.
Amazingly, some here actually made this a Maga/Trump issue….LOL
Look at below the underpass where the street is open. Everyone is eating . There are no vagrants, it is kept clean and the ‘noxious fumes does not seem to be affecting business.
From your comments it would seem that either you haven’t been there in a while, or you’re just adding to the pile of nonsense spewn on this topic. Lots of people walk in the street, although less since the dedicated bike lane was established. Lots of people walk multiple blocks of State St. I agree a trolley would help, no question. The e-bikers are much calmer and more respectful since enforcement has stepped up, although there are still problems, just like bicyclists on the *sidewalk* were a problem when cars were present. The homeless situation hasn’t changed at all in my opinion and has nothing to do with the presence of cars. They live on the freeway, for pete’s sake. The area below the underpass also has two lanes in both directions and a hard end at the fountain, no sidewalk eating, and the most tourists of anywhere in SB so yes it’s much calmer and fun there but it’s an apple:orange comparison to the rest of State St.
Kirk, i’d love to meet you downtown ANY day and do a head count.
I’m here every day, right on State street. What you posted above is such a fantasy. Lots of people walk in the street? Nope. They walk on the sidewalks. Why would they do that Kirk? Oh yeah…businesses are on the sidewalks. I’m staring at the road as I type. I just counted about 15 heads on the sidewalk. None in the street. Maybe you saw that briefly one time and it stuck, but it’s not the day to day reality downtown. Not even close.
People walk a few blocks not the entire joke of a promenade.
Ebikers and enforcement? You really do not ever go to State street do you? There is no enforcement happening. Not one cop downtown on State.
They live on the freeway for petes sake. You lost 100% credibility with that
you sir, really have no idea what you’re talking about and to have seemingly made up a bunch of nonsense trying to get your message across.
Dude, I think you’re missing a huge point here. MANY people like the ped/bike only part. What we have now is incomplete, but imagine if they stopped fussing with this and invested some money into making a few blocks a nice, artsy, more inviting area? Tourists and locals would love it even more than they love it as it is now.
Tossing everything aside and reopening the whole street to cars would be tragic. We have an opportunity here to make lower State a nice place to hang out. Remember, in retail, the customer is always right. People want this. It’s time to compromise and let both sides get a win here.
You are incorrect, and it puzzles me why you’d make such a blanket statement about my experiences. I don’t work downtown so yes I’m not there every day like you, but I am a frequent visitor, at least once a week for many years, because my wife and I enjoy walking on State Street, and we always see others doing the same. Maybe you’re just in one block and have a great view of that spot but not so much other places. I’m stating what I’ve seen with my own eyes because I am a frequent visitor and shopper in multiple blocks.
On pedestrians: Yes of course most people walk on sidewalks, especially since the new bike lane was added, but it’s simply not true to say that no one walks on the street like Chalf did. No doubt you can do a quick snapshot and not see anyone walking on the asphalt, but that’s only a snapshot of one spot.
On Ebikes: Yes I have seen enforcement taking place by SBPD and I have noticed fewer kids riding aggressively. They handed out 80 citations to ebikes on state street between May and July this year, according to their own stats. It’s not a huge difference but as a frequent visitor I have noticed it.
On homeless: upon re reading, yes my comment missed the mark. Shoulda been *near the freeway. It was in response to Chalf’s comment seeming to link more prevalence of homeless people on State with of a lack of cars, and I was trying to get across the point that they really don’t care one way or another about sleeping near automobiles. I have lived in SB since 1980, before they removed the traffic lights on 101 and there have always in that time been vagabonds and homeless people here. The giant fig tree on Montecito street was a frequent meeting spot and they had to chain it off to keep ppl from sleeping there. It’s not new, it’s not worse, and it doesn’t have anything to do with cars driving on State Street. Thank you for indulging my clarification.
Like I said earlier I think the upper portions could be returned to car traffic, as well as other modifications. It’s far from perfect and I don’t consider it even a completed project. But I love the increased walkability and the open, calm vibe of the area. I would hate to see it all given back to auto drivers. I don’t miss them one little bit. But even if it did go back I’d still visit the area as long my legs will carry me there. I love my town.
Like I said many times. I am on State Street, for R&R every 6 months usually 4 days at a time.
The people saying there is enforcement of any kind are proof that they never frequent State St. In 4 trips, we saw police twice. Once we were at the Starbucks at State and Cota a police van pulled up. Other time the police were called to remove a person face planted out cold in the middle of the 700 block. This same person had been screaming at passerby’s the previous day. threatening them. The police came and removed that person. He was there 4 hours later shadow boxing in the street, being egged on by other vagrants. Kirk is seeing things if he says there are people walking in the street. The street has been totally taken over by bikes and e-bikes.
An example . We love to walk from the hotel to the Harbour. We used to then plan a lunch at Olio on Victoria. Take the trolley by the Dolphins up State. Now it is a hassle. The Trolley was always busy with people jumping on and off all the way up state.
The 500 block is busy always, but after the 700 blocks the street is dead. We like going up to Andersons for Pastries. Its a long walk without the Trolley. We do it because fortunately, we can, but what about the elderly that cannot?
I have seen the Hofbrau sausage spot that was always busy, close up. The Starbuck up that way close. The Riteway, the CVS, etc etc. The closing of the street for outdoor dining was a great idea when the Covid situation stopped indoor dining, BUT that is over. open the street to vehicles or that street will continue to deteriorate. Also, by closing the street, it created a vacuum that has been partially filled with an undesirable element. I warned in a letter to the editor in Noozhawk that there would be an increase in violence saying someone would get hurt or worse. That was in 2023. What has transpired since??
All this because of some climate anti car environmental types that refuse to acknowledge once and for all that vehicles on State Street are needed for commerce to thrive. Just the two cents of a streetwise tourist.
CHUNT – So you are on State less than almost everyone here. That means nothing.
You didn’t grow up here. There’s been homeless people, gangs and drunken brawls since I hung out at the arcade in the late 80s and was cruising the street in the 90s with my buddies on the weekends. This is nothing new.
You still haven’t proved that nothing else has caused the business failures.
Keep dreaming that you matter here.
Chalf, Rite Aid is bankrupt, it no longer exists. CVS closed 900 stores between 2022 and 2024. Guys like you support end stage capitalism which caused this. Thank Bezos and online pharmacies if you are sad about the disappearance of brick and mortar businesses. Other than that, your post is a novel and an epic word salad. It doesn’t sound d like you are from here, or that you spend much time downtown. So why should I care about your opinion?
Chalf = Not a local = Tourist. Enough with the manufactured outrage.
Rite AId = Bankrupt, no longer in existence anywhere.
CVS = Closed 900 stores between 2022 and 2024 – Closed 200+ more in 2025
Starbucks closed 29 stores in California in 2025 alone
“Take the trolley by the Dolphins up State. Now it is a hassle. The Trolley was always busy with people jumping on and off all the way up state.” So I’m confused – you seem like businesses are closing on State because they don’t get enough traffic – now you’re complaining about the shuttle being full.
“Also, by closing the street, it created a vacuum that has been partially filled with an undesirable element.” You obviously aren’t from here. It’s much better than in the 90’s and early 2000’s as it was really bad and depressed then – but there’s admittedly still work to be done.
” We do it because fortunately, we can, but what about the elderly that cannot?” Are that many elderly really wandering State Street?
“I have seen the Hofbrau sausage spot that was always busy, close up. ” Yes, and replaced with housing. Personally I would have preferred Hoffman Brauhaus.
May I suggest that instead of visiting Santa Barbara, that you start visiting Solvang or Morro Bay? We’d be happy to have less unneeded and unwelcome traffic.
Go home, kook.
From someone who doesn’t even live in this state, that’s a humorous accent on your usual thoughtless rant.
Chalf gets it 100%.
That comment deeply discredits you.
The notion that vibrancy of a street is measured by whether the Land Shark happens to be on it at the moment is beyond idiotic.
As for your other claims, they are as usual false.
State Street was in immense decline prior to Covid-19. Of course the pandemic did not help. Now, the US economy is #$*# thanks to Donald Tarriff, skyrocketing unemployment and a huge downturn in consumer confidence. Mix that all with corporations who would rather let a property rot than reduce rent so a business might actually be able to succeed.
A wave of retail store closures on State Street in Santa Barbara preceded the COVID-19 pandemic, signaling a long-term decline that the pandemic accelerated. For several years before 2020, downtown Santa Barbara was struggling with a rising number of storefront vacancies.
Major pre-pandemic store closures
Nordstrom: One of the last major department stores downtown, Nordstrom was already struggling and, in May 2020, announced the permanent closure of its Paseo Nuevo store after 30 years in business. While the announcement was just after the pandemic hit, corporate leadership confirmed that COVID-19 accelerated its decision to close underperforming locations nationwide.
Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue: These stores had closed their downtown Santa Barbara locations in the years prior to 2020, contributing to the high vacancy rates.
Forever 21: The popular apparel retailer closed its State Street location just as the pandemic began in early 2020. It had already been impacted by a consumer decline in the years before the pandemic.
Plum Goods: This artisan and home goods shop on the 900 block of State Street closed in May 2020. The owner stated that while the pandemic was the final blow, the store’s closure was indicative of a prolonged economic slump.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: The closure of this popular chain on State Street was noted as early as July 2020 on a Reddit thread that was discussing closures that happened before and just as the pandemic started.
The closure of these and other retailers was caused by a combination of issues present long before the pandemic:
Shift in consumer habits: The rise of e-commerce and a nationwide decline in brick-and-mortar retail traffic weakened the State Street shopping corridor.
Stagnant downtown: Before the pandemic-related street closure for the promenade, the downtown area was experiencing increasing vacancies and a perception of a lack of city leadership to address its problems.
High rent: Declining foot traffic and sales made it difficult for many businesses, especially smaller ones, to afford rent on State Street.
By the time the pandemic began, State Street’s retail core was already in a fragile state, and many businesses were not in a strong position to weather the economic downturn.
No doubt that there has been a “troubling decline” since State Street was essentially shut down. It is incredible how many empty storefronts are between Sola and Gutierrez. No more CVS? No more Rite Aid? Unbelievable that one of the solutions is to hide these shuttered-up places with art in some sort of attempt to hide our collective shame. Imagine shutting down Hollister in Old Town. Imagine shutting down Linden Ave. in Carpinteria. Make Isla Vista a car-free zone. The reason why so many are against opening State up to vehicle traffic is that it just might work. And if it works, then the shut down State forever folks will be proven wrong, but that’s something that they just cannot accept. Open it up for a year…if it don’t work, close it back down to vehicle traffic. Why are people afraid of this is beyond me.
It wasn’t good long BEFORE State Street closed to traffic. MAGA mind sheep want to traverse to a former utopia that never existed. Time for some boomers to let go.
Also BEES, you seem a bit out of touch on the mention of Rite Aid and CVS. Rite Aid shuttered all of its stores and is no longer in business. It hadn’t been having good business for years. CVS plans to close 270 to 271 stores in 2025, in addition to the 900 stores that have already closed between 2022 and 2024. It is another business model that is failing. Perhaps you should write a letter to Jeff Bezos and Costco for their downfall.
Fantasyland, as they say. Let’s get on the same page and talk about the current situation and not the situation from 8 or 9 years ago. As I said, just imagine shutting down Hollister in Old Town or Linden Ave. in Carpinteria or make Isla Vista a car-free zone. Santa Barbara, Mountain View, and San Francisco are a few places that shut down their main streets to vehicle traffice to accommodate some strange policy, but business in each of those places is dead/dead/gone/gone and street crime is through the roof…very, very, VERY sad. Being fearful that returning State Street to its former glory is ridiculous. Great place to display artwork….over the windows of closed storefronts (how progressive).
Bees – you sound a bit confused. You were the one who brought up Rite Aid and CVS – Those businesses didn’t close because State Street doesn’t have motorists. You are contradicting your initial argument – on purpose perhaps. Not sure what you are accusing about being fearful of State Street’s former glory – it really hasn’t been vibrant since the 80’s probably. You were taking about the glory days – but now are saying that we can only talk about State Street in the present – well guess what, you aren’t the arbiter of free speech lady. You continue to say open up State Street but it didn’t work before, so why would it work now? Perhaps re-think end stage capitalism if you want to go back to the days of the mom and pop shops. Who do you think can succeed on State Street with the exorbitant rents? At this point, only corporate store fronts might be able to compete.
GeneralTree: At least we’re partly in agreement, which is a good start as opposed to butting heads. When State Street will open up is anyone’s guess, but each day and store closure brings us closer to that time. The downtown business districts of Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Paula, Carpinteria, Goleta, Lompoc, Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Pismo/Shell Beach, Oceano, Arroyo Grande, and so on, are all vibrant and doing well. Then we have sad downtown Santa Barbara where you can walk/ride on the main street and count the For Lease and Available signs. Again, how progressive or is it….progressive?
All of those places you listed aren’t thriving? Have you been out to these areas lately? Not sure why you somehow keep trying to insult.me with a progressive label. Mut I guess that is what MAGATS do. Lie and name call.
Also BEES, what exactly are we agreeing on? As far as I can tell you are uttering complete nonsense and each of your last 3 posts contradict one another, and I dont agree with anything you have said. Im signing off from this conversation, too weird for me.
“Keeping vehicles off the road has also improved safety, the group argued. Since cars were removed from State Street in 2020, the street has become a much safer corridor for pedestrians and cyclists, the group said in its petition.”
I would LOVE to see some factual data backing this up. Oh yeah…there is none. This is just someone making up things. According to SBPD and the city itself, it’s been the complete opposite and I for one, once again, seem to spend way more time on State than most of you…not a bragging point trust me, but it’s my reality. 75% of people walk on the sidewalks. I’m staring at the road as I type this. There are more problems on the road without cars than there were with cars. Safer? Maybe if someone decides to run out in the middle of traffic? I’ve seen more collisions with bikes, clueless tourists, idiots walking in the bike paths, and people skateboarding on the sidewalks then I ever saw or heard of car accidents and car vs pedestrian collisions on state street.
Its not safer for cyclists! It was way safer with cars and bikes being forced/stuck in the bike lanes. Pedestrians stuck on the sidewalks, keeps them safer. ALot of this is just basic common sense which it appears this city seems to lack in large quantities.
KNEIN – sorry, but if there are no cars, then there are necessarily and absolutely less car accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians, which means safer for pedestrians and cyclists overall. No data needed.
Back and forth, this and that, cars or no cars, pedlets, parklets, different striping, and spending countless dollars on studies, meetings, and out of towner consultants. And they still can’t make a call. Sh-t or get off the pot City Council. Only in Santa Barbara! It’s pure comedy, except taxpayers and businesses suffer.
As I’ve said before, BASIC, despite you constantly lying about it for some absurd reason, I agree with you here. It’s time to settle this and be done.
There’s an easy win-win situation: half and half (or close). Simple. Done. Do it.
A couple blocks of outdoor dining, music, art and heck, even a fountain or something fun for the kids. Open the rest back up to traffic and be done. Easy.
Cool. I’m for opening it back up to cars, completely.
They like out of town consultants so much, I would have told them what to do for Dinner at Holdrens….LOL
Reopen State St to cars! The way it was originally intended. Those of you who say “State St was always crappy” have no idea of what it used to be. I grew up in Santa Barbara in the 1970s, ’80s and it was a paradise. Downtown blocks comprised a real town filled with everything: bookstores, clothing stores, drugstores, restaurants & bars, sporting goods, plus free parking! Cars cruising by made it convenient and gave the area life and exposure. Make it hard to get there, like now, and people will go elsewhere… and that also means the businesses will suffer and close. The negative result of closing the street was entirely predictable. I hate seeing my downtown being a Frankenstein mess of bad ideas that’s literally killing it.
1980’s? Bookstores? Sporting goods? Times have changed. Maybe just make downtown an Amazon warehouse and a Costco.
PANSYGAL – I spent the late 80s and early 90s hanging out on State quite a bit and then worked in different businesses on State for years after. I know what I’m talking about. You’re right, it wasn’t always crappy and I don’t think anyone is really saying that. What I and others are saying is that businesses have been suffering there for years before 2020 when they shut it down to cars. Online shopping, high rents and many more outside market factors contributed to that. COVID in general hurt businesses all over. To blame the economic struggles solely on the lack of cars driving up and down a street is just becoming ridiculous.
The street is NOT CLOSED except to traffic. It’s not hard to get to the shops on State. No harder than it ever was. Remember, there hasn’t been on street parking on State since the 60s.
The excuses are running thin.
I’ll ask again though since none of the all or nothing crowd will respond: why not compromise and allow traffic back on most of State while leaving the lower couple blocks closed to traffic and then improve them into a legit promenade? Why?
JFC, stop the bleeding, bleating, bully bicyclists and blubbering…. OPEN STATE ST. NOW!!! The #1 cheapest option, by a mile. There was NOTHING wrong with State Street for how many decades? Why is this town and city council so idiotic? If SB can spend 150 million $$$$$ on a new police bldg., surely we can come up with a better solution to a non-problem like State St.
(cruising State St. via car, bike, foot, etc. should be a fundamental right, c’mon!!!)
AQUAHOLIC – Don’t get so riled up over it.
“There was NOTHING wrong with State Street for how many decades?”
Sure there was. Businesses have been failing and going vacant at an alarming rate long before 2020. The homeless have tarnished much of it for even longer. More importantly though, MANY people LIKE the ped only aspect.
There is a simple solution: compromise. Open part of it, leave the rest (lower few blocks) closed to car traffic and make it a permanent and well maintained promenade for bikes and pedestrians. Everybody’s happy. Well, except for the all or nothing crowd who have no argument against compromise other than “cruising” should be a “fundamental right.”
Argue all you want. Bikes, cars, e-bikes, walkers, homeless, etc. The main issue is that the City Council is simply wasting YOUR money spending tax dollars on one consultant study after another for the past decade. They can’t figure it out. Vote ‘em out next time. Just like if you’re a person angry at our president, next time vote him out. Rally your party to do better. Right now the progressives run downtown.
you’re from Goleta, dude, talk about Goleta.
Wrong. I’m from SB, Mr. bluey. But it’s funny that you have to try to be such an angry localist, anlways online, hassling as if you were competing for a wave at a “secret” surf spot everytime. What up?
We all spend time around here, from Carp to Goleta. It’s a community.
“it’s funny that you have to try to be such an angry localist, always online,”
Basic – you talk trash day in and day out. Now you are sounding soft as Charmin.
lol, nope. You’re from Goleta, you yap about it often enough. And no, we are not one community, I’m not from Carp or Cito or Leta, I’m
from the city of Saint Barbara.
BASIC – Us progressives (in your mind that means anyone not MAGA) are tired of the consultants too. It’s time to make a decision and get started.
Basic – Right now end stage capitalism, Amazon and online shopping, a broken economy with the job market in the toilet, and big box stores run downtown.
On this topic, I want to state from deep in my heart and soul; I literally don’t give a single f*** if it stays the same opens to cars.
Just frickin’ get it done City Council. Pick something. That’s why you ran for election, to be in charge right?