South Coast firms launch statewide hotel building spree with Pismo project
By Elijah Brumback / Friday, June 13th, 2014 / Central Coast, Real Estate, South Coast, Top Stories, Tourism, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on South Coast firms launch statewide hotel building spree with Pismo project

Two Santa Barbara firms are backing a 30-year veteran of the hospitality development market and his plans to build out hotels along the California coast, with the first test project taking shape in Pismo Beach.

South Coast housing demand drives demolition of State Street hotel
By Elijah Brumback / Friday, June 13th, 2014 / Real Estate, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on South Coast housing demand drives demolition of State Street hotel

Plans to bulldoze a profitable hotel on Upper State Street in Santa Barbara are moving forward as pent-up demand for housing means South Coast developers can price middle-market condos in the $1 million range.
Channeling a bold idea: CSUCI embarks on $600M build-out
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, June 13th, 2014 / East Ventura County, Real Estate, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Channeling a bold idea: CSUCI embarks on $600M build-out

With the state of California’s higher education budget in disarray, CSU Channel Islands President Richard Rush has turned to the private sector to complete the dream of a four-year public university to serve Ventura County.

Downtown Ventura retailers bank on BID for another 5 years
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, June 13th, 2014 / Real Estate / Comments Off on Downtown Ventura retailers bank on BID for another 5 years
After a successful first five years, Downtown Ventura Partners, the business improvement district for the city’s retail core, has been renewed through 2019.
Upper State Street office building sells for $10 million
By Staff Report / Thursday, June 12th, 2014 / Real Estate, Top Stories / Comments Off on Upper State Street office building sells for $10 million

The building anchored by Citibank at 3757 State St. in Santa Barbara has been sold for just shy of $10 million, marking the largest sale of an office property on upper State Street since 2005, according to brokers behind the deal. The buyer and seller were not disclosed. The 20,000-square-foot building, which retains a long-term Read More →

Natural Café banks on new locations for growing chain
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, June 6th, 2014 / Columns, Real Estate, Restaurants, South Coast, Tourism / Comments Off on Natural Café banks on new locations for growing chain
Kelly Brown is the first to admit that he let the success of his restaurant empire cloud his judgement. As a free-spirited young chef, Brown lived on a boat in the Santa Barbara harbor so that he could build equity to start his own business. Twenty-one years ago, he launched Natural Café in Santa Barbara, hoping to offer a laidback sit-down restaurant focused on affordable, unpretentious and health-conscious food.

Mission Produce to deliver corporate campus in Oxnard
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, May 30th, 2014 / Agribusiness, Real Estate, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Mission Produce to deliver corporate campus in Oxnard

As sales plump up at Oxnard-based avocado marketer Mission Produce, the company has started construction on a new 20-acre corporate campus.