
Fungus ruckus: Ventura mushroom farm in escrow to international buyer
By Christine De La Cruz / Friday, January 24th, 2014 / Agribusiness, Law & Goverment, Real Estate, Top Stories, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Fungus ruckus: Ventura mushroom farm in escrow to international buyer

What was once the country’s third-largest mushroom producer is facing a complaint filed by the city seeking nearly $200,000, and a civil suit by Shell Energy North America for an unpaid line of credit.

$98M office campus sale sets new high-water mark for county
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, January 24th, 2014 / Columns, East Ventura County, Real Estate, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on $98M office campus sale sets new high-water mark for county
The eye-popping price signals that a turnaround is taking hold in the Ventura County office market, which has suffered from high vacancy rates in a depressed job market, industry insiders say.

Armstrong lands construction contract for Children’s Museum
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, January 17th, 2014 / Columns, Real Estate, South Coast, Tourism / Comments Off on Armstrong lands construction contract for Children’s Museum

Construction on a 17,000-square-foot Children’s Museum in Santa Barbara kicks off this summer. Area general contractor Armstrong Associates has been tapped to build the new museum at 125 State St., adjacent to the train station.
$114M slated to fuel Santa Maria Energy operations
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, January 10th, 2014 / Central Coast, Real Estate, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, Tri-County Public Companies / Comments Off on $114M slated to fuel Santa Maria Energy operations
Santa Maria Energy has disclosed plans to pump up to $114 million into Santa Barbara County this year as it pursues its $1.2 billion in oil reserves and more than 7,700 potential drilling locations.

Investors plan to boost apartment portfolios despite GSE cutback
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, January 10th, 2014 / Columns, Real Estate / Comments Off on Investors plan to boost apartment portfolios despite GSE cutback
Even as the Obama administration reins in the massive government-sponsored entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, tri-county real estate investors say the shift will likely have a nominal effect on the region’s robust apartment investment market.
Sonos snags 100K square feet in Santa Barbara’s downtown
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, January 3rd, 2014 / Columns, Real Estate, Technology / Comments Off on Sonos snags 100K square feet in Santa Barbara’s downtown
The company signed leases collectively valued at more than $21 million in 2013, according to Hayes Commercial Group, and is now downtown Santa Barbara’s largest private-sector tenant.
Led by Parker inn, hotels to make headway in 2014
By Christine De La Cruz / Monday, December 23rd, 2013 / Real Estate, South Coast, Top Stories, Tourism, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Led by Parker inn, hotels to make headway in 2014

After several false starts over the years, the Fess Parker family is moving forward with revised plans for its second waterfront hotel in Santa Barbara, one of a few hotel developments in the city that could see progress in the New Year.