Category: Central Coast

September 1,2016-

New home construction is down in San Luis Obispo County during the first 8 months of 2016. Commercial building activity has also slowed according to Construction Monitor.
So far this year home builders have received permits to build 295 new single family homes compared to 695 during the first 8 months of 2015. Top builders are Shea Homes who build in the Nipomo area and Coastal Community Builders. In 2015 Shea had 75 new home permits and Coastal 73. But this year Shea has permits for only 19 homes and Coastal only 27.
Of the 295 new home permits issued only 16 are in the City of San Luis Obispo. Instead, new residences are being built in more rural areas like Templeton, Nipomo as well as Paso Robles.
On the commercial front there is clear slowdown to date with valuation at $103 million so far this year vs $301 million during the same period in 2015.

August 26,2016-

Baywood Eatery To Open In November

Property owner and developer Bill Lee of Los Osos says his long awaited new restaurant in Baywood is now expected to open in November having cleared hurdles with the county.”It’s going to be a dinner house, farm-to-table restaurant” he says.The eatery will offer beer and wine. Lee bought the property after trying to work with former property owner on a lease that ended up in court.
In recent weeks the 1600sf building, fully remodeled and landscaped on the outside has been prepped for an inside remodel of the kitchen and dining room according to the county permit.The building is located next to Lee’s hotel,and BB units – The Back Bay Inn – as well as The Back Bay Cafe coffee place. The new eatery will be located in the building that housed the Maya Mexican Food restaurant for years before it closed in 2015. No word yet on the name.

Second St Development Still In Works

Alex Benson continues to work with the county on plans for a mixed use development at the SE corner of 2nd and Santa Maria in Baywood. County planners are working with local hotel owner Benson on minor modifications to his proposed 2-story commercial and residential project that is expected to be approved as a staff decision and then go to construction.

More Places For Food Los Osos

This week three more food places opened in Los Osos. Pagnol Boulanger! bakery at  the old Third St bakery site( 1229 3rd St) is now selling European breads and fresh coffee – hours of operation not set yet.

Martin’s Mexican Restaurant opened after an 8 month remodel of the 2-eatery building located at 905 LOVD next to Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant that has been open for a few days now.

Morro Bay Mayor & Council Candidates Announced

Here is the list of candidates for Mayor in Morro Bay for November 8.The list includes incumbent Jamie Irons,urban planner/teacher Tina Metzger and math tutor Betty Winholtz.
Vying for two seats on the Morro Bay City Council are Laura Cogan – education specialist,Robert “Red” Davis – a retired planner, Marlys McPherson – a retired management consultant, Richard Sadowski, a mechanical engineer.
Los Osos CSD Candidates Announced

Vying for two seats on the Los Osos Community Service District are Steve Best, a green energy consultant,Vicki Milledge, a retired business consultant,Marshall Ochylski, incumbent,Tim Staggers and Julie Tacker,enrichment coordinator. Incumbent Mike Wright is not running.

Cow Parade Coming to San Luis Obispo County

CowParade expected to draw 200,000+ visitors from the U.S. and around the world

 

Photo and Cow art by Larry Kappen

CowParade SLO County is the county’s largest public art display with proceeds benefiting local charities. Since the initial CowParade launched in Chicago in 1999, CowParade Holdings Corp., which owns the brand, has featured the event in 79 cities worldwide, including metropolitan destinations such as Tokyo, Paris, New York City and London.
From Nipomo to San Luis Obispo, Cambria to Atascadero, Pismo Beach, San Simeon, Los Osos/Baywood, Cayucos and Morro Bay, CowParade SLO will feature 101 (as in Highway 101) life-sized cows, painted, decorated or sculpted by sponsored artists.
The hefty herd will be unveiled to the public in the meadow outside the Madonna Inn on September 17, 2016, before the colorful cows are dispersed at high-profile locations across the county, where they will “graze” in style for seven months. Organizers anticipate more than 200,000 tourists and locals will view and take selfies with the beautiful bovines during the exhibition, which will run through April, 2017.
In May 2017, the cows will be auctioned at a gala. Proceeds will benefit The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County, ARTS Obispo, California Mid-State Fair Heritage Foundation and selected sponsor charities.

August 10,2016-

Plans have been filed for new Hyatt Hotel in Paso Robles. The project is a new four story, 116-room hotel on a 2.03 acre property. The hotel would total 69,821 sf and is 65 ft tall at its highest point. Located near Hwy 46 on Theatre Drive off 101, the site is currently developed with the single story, 22-room River Lodge Motel with a gazebo and pool area, and associated parking. Prior to construction, the existing building and associated structures would be demolished and removed.
A proposed entry drive would provide access from the grand entry onto the site from Alexa Court. A secondary entry drive would provide access to the site from Theatre Dr. In later phases of the project, the temporary driveway would be abandoned for more parking. Contingent upon implementation of the proposed entry drive location, the project proposes between 128 to 130 parking spaces. Proposed site improvements include a pool, spa, variation of seating types and areas, fire pit, and rear patio.
Besides new hotels off Hwy 41 east – plans are in the works for a 2.4-acre lot at Pine and Ninth Streets in Paso Robles –  the former  Hayward Lumber yard – for a 120-room hotel

Towering Stacks Might Stay As Part Of Visitor Complex

August 3,2016-

Morro Bay City Manager David Buckingham says talks between Dynegy, who own the mothballed Morro Bay Power Plant, and an unnamed developer are “progressing” and it could be only a matter of months before there is definitive news.”We may see something happen before the end of the year.”
Buckingham states the buyer would not use the property for power generation but for “public space and tourist facilities.” He adds the city is not involved directly in the talks but is well informed on what could be a huge deal for the future of this coastal community.

Asked about how the three  450-ft  stacks might be taken down Buckingham says they may be left in place and folded into a new design.He adds that “the Tate Modern Museum in London was a former power plant that kept their stack in place.”

Dynegy closed the 107 acre power plant site in 2014 and it has been for sale – on and off the market since. Trident Winds who has a 100MW offshore wind project in the works, says they want to utilize the PG&E owned substation to the rear of the old plant but the two projects do not seem to conflict.

Instead of energy production along their waterfront the city appears to be implementing a new vision for the North Embarcadero to be a mix of public and open space and visitor-related uses, hotels, cabins, restaurants, although the intensity of these uses remains up for debate.
A 2014 CalPoly grad student plan for the North Embarcadero  envisioned keeping the stacks in place on some new complex – a convention center/hotel perhaps? The Cal Poly plan also offered the option of more modest visitor facilities on a smaller scale like cabins and camping areas.

Buckingham says the city also has a 26 acre oceanfront site that will be redeveloped next to the power plant land – the current wastewater treatment site. This acreage on Atascadero Rd will be zoned for visitor uses once the new the new water treatment plant is built inland about 5 years from now predicts Mr Buckingham.

The student plan also envisioned tying the North Embarcadero to a new entrance to town off Hwy 41 including a roundabout where 41 meets Highway 1 – a plan that now has CalTrans blessing.

In other Morro Bay news Buckingham says they are moving forward on a new $15 million aquarium to be built in place of the current 50 year old aquarium. The new complex to be associated with Avila aquarium will be open by 2018. It would be two-story and tie into the docks on the water side.Buckingham says the aquarium will have no marine animals on display.The facility will have an educational component as well as a visitor side in with CalPoly marine science studies located here.

In more development related news Buckingham is excited about the installation of very fast fiber optic lines in parts of Morro Bay as a we speak.HP Communications will be installing fiber optic cable on existing utility poles throughout the City of Morro Bay starting on Tuesday, July 26th until August 8th.The City Manager says Phase 1 of the project  mostly around Downtown involves installation of 1 gigabyte of download capacity as well as 1 gigabyte of upload speed. Additional phases could tie in the rest of the town. Buckingham says the 1 gigabyte of download speed is some 20X faster than available now.The 1 gigabyte of upload speed is more like 200X faster than you can access now in town and is part of the city’s economic development strategy to attract tech companies to Morro Bay.

“We need economically sustainable strategies for Morro Bay”,who has had money troubles like may small towns.

In other business news the city’s TOT receipts ( bed tax monies) are some 6% higher than the same time last year as more visitors stay where we live.

July 9,2016-

French baker Pagnol At 3rd Street Bakery is ready to invite the Los Osos community in for their first taste at a “soft opening” of their enterprise on Saturday  July 16. Owners Mark Stambler and protoge baker Marcus Marren have invited people to stop by their bakery at 1229 3rd St, Los Osos from 4 to 6Pm to sample baked goods and drink a little wine and”meet the bakers.” Mark founded the Los Angles in-home based Pagno Boulanger some years ago and has made a name for himself not only providing authentic French breads and baked goods using the freshest local ingredients and founded a Bakers organization to promote home baking. His website describes some of his history as a “renegade baker.“ “After being busted by the LA County Health Department in 2011 for selling my homemade  bread, I worked with the Sustainable Economies Law Center and Assemblyman Mike Gatto to pass the California Homemade Food Act, which is now California’s cottage food law. As a  result, I now proudly make my  bread in my home kitchen…” Mark says “I use distilled water, sea salt, organic grains and flour, and wild yeast. I mill all my organic whole-grain flour right before I bake with it, the best way to retain the flavor of the grain.” Publicist Leyna Lightman says Mark bought the former 3rd Street Bakery after owner Richard Webb, a master baker himself, passed away. “Mark often visited the Central Coast and knew Richard.” The building houses the bakery and has living quarters upstairs and the bakery store on the ground floor.  Marcus will live upstairs. The reborn 3rd St bakery will open with regular hours in August. The store will offer rustic breads and pastries and fresh coffee from SLO Coffee. Among his awards Mark Stambler was named one of Dessert Professional Magazine’s top ten bread bakers of 2015.

SEATTLE, June 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Alaska Airlines will launch daily, nonstop service between Seattle and San Luis Obispo, California, on April 13, 2017. Located just south of the city of San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport serves travelers from as far north as Southern Monterey County and as far south as Northern Santa Barbara County.

“We are pleased to add nonstop service to San Luis Obispo, our 16th California city and a popular destination for our loyal customers,” said John Kirby, the airline’s vice president of capacity planning. “Whether visiting for business, sunshine, art or wine, our valued travelers will have easy access to the best SLO County and the entire Central Coast has to offer.”

Summary of new service:

City pair	Departs	Arrives	Frequency
Seattle	8 a.m.	10:28 a.m.	Daily
San Luis Obispo	12 p.m.	2:35 p.m.	Daily

All times based on local time zones.

“The community welcomes Alaska Airlines and eagerly anticipates service to Seattle,” said Kevin Bumen, director of airports for San Luis Obispo County. “This new route will provide a vital link between the Pacific Northwest and the Central Coast for business and tourism.”

The year-round service will be operated by SkyWest Airlines using Embraer E175 jets, featuring 12 seats in first class, 12 seats in Preferred Plus and 52 seats in the main cabin. The E175 boasts cabin dimensions on par with a 737. Onboard amenities include Wi-Fi Internet access, free and premium entertainment direct to customer devices, and in first class, 110 volt power at every seat. Food and beverage options will feature complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages along with for-purchase items including hearty snack packs, Washington State wines and craft beers and spirits.

Election Update: Bernie Leads In SLO /Santa Barbara Counties

They are still counting votes at the SLO County elections department with over 4000 provisional ballots remaining. While it appears that Mrs Clinton has enough cushion to win in California, Bernie Sanders has overtaken Clinton in San Luis Obispo County by about 1000 votes,21,333 to 20,379 at the latest count. On election night it appeared Clinton had won the county.Likewise in Santa Barbara County with the latest results showing Bernie ahead 1400 there. As they say – it’s not over till its over.
Statewide there are likely over 4 million ballots yet to be counted with Hillary ahead by around 500,000 votes.Stay tuned.

Heat Spell Could Blister State Starting This Weekend

Weather expert Daniel Swain has tweeted this graphic showing a torrid heat spell covering most of California starting June 21 through early July. Ironically  northern California will be getting wet briefly in the next few days that includes up to 5 inches f snow on Mt Lassen. Graphic below for June 22 shows folks might want to come to the beach in SLO County to escape.

June 6,2016-

In Los Osos Starbucks has closed their existing coffee place and will open its bigger new store Thursday June 9 just down the block. The site is the former Bank of America building all set up with drive-thru in place. The building has two more spaces that have yet to be filled. The Chamber plans a ribbon cutting June 21.

The rest of the LO shopping center is rapidly filling up after years of being  half empty.That portion of the center that fronts on LOVR is full and now the back wing from Round Table all the way to the gym has tenants coming including a large hobby store and a clothing boutique. The new tenants are named “Jul’s Comfy Closet” a women clothing Boutique and Zacster’s Hobbies and More. Both stores are locally owned start-up businesses

Of course we are all waiting for Grocery Outlet to open here but they are taking their time indicating it will be October until they can remodel the store and stock the place with groceries. Sigh.

Meanwhile there is good news in Baywood  where the former Third Street Bakery has been purchased and will reopen in July. The place has the same equipment installed as before with living quarters upstairs.The new owner is a French bakery owner in Los Angeles. Oooh LaLa!  Third Street Bakery was well known for fine artisan breads and very limited hours. But this time they will be open on a more regular basis.We don’t know yet the new name.

Sill more news as Omni Yoga at 2121 10th Street, Los Osos will have a June 18 ribbon cutting. Also a new pooch grooming place is rising in Baywood

Speaking of food don’t miss the Los Osos Festival of Flavor – Food Showcase, June 24 from 5pm to 8pm at the South Bay Community Center where you can sample local restaurant food and beer.

For folks down in Cuesta By the Sea celebrate the departure of that big water tank trailer that has been sitting at Doris and Lupine.It’s soon outa-here.

One more thing Montana De Oro has been recognized as one of country’s remote undiscovered beaches.