Santa Barbara’s future vitality depends on making space for younger generations who want to build their lives here
— and a walkable, bike-friendly downtown offers immense value for renters, service workers, parents, and young professionals alike.
We cannot rely on big, national retail chains to anchor State Street
Bringing cars back will just bring back cruising, since parking has always been on nearby streets and in garages.
A walkable downtown supported by efficient bus, bike, and trolley routes is the sustainable, long-term transportation solution Santa Barbara actually needs.
The real estate industry understands this.
Radius Insight’s market research report finds that State Street’s
“strategic shift” from “retail-only footprints to mixed-use developments prioritizing education, housing and cultural engagement is exactly the trajectory needed to stabilize the corridor long-term.”
That is why pedestrianizing State Street is so vital.
It offers us a chance to lower transportation emissions, support small businesses, and unlock opportunities for equitable economic growth.
Building a downtown neighborhood that prioritizes civic spaces, walkability, and mixed-use development will not only reduce pressure to build in fire-prone areas,
but also expand affordable housing and revitalize local businesses.
#SantaBarbara #StateStreet
https://www.independent.com/2025/10/20/state-street-should-be-planned-for-the-public-good-not-private-profit/