Banks playing it safe in real estate lending
Steer clear of speculation. That’s the name of the game for banks involved with commercial real estate lending in today’s market Kenneth Jacobsen, vice president and the newly appointed Santa Barbara and Ventura county market manager for Rabobank, N.A., said his company is “being selective and cautious” about the deals it is making right now, Read More →
Wine storage taken seriously at Goleta facility
To do business with Trudi Carey, a visitor has to provide a thumb print, credit card and government-issued ID. Then they will be under the watchful eye of surveillance cameras — after using their personal security code – as they enter the climate-, light- and humidity-controlled building.That’s how it’s done at Goleta-based Santa Barbara Cellars, Read More →
Lead, follow or get out of the way in the Tri-Counties
Lee Iacocca famously said that when it comes to business, you either lead, follow or get out of the way. And in the Tri-Counties these days, there is plenty of evidence that the former Chrysler executive had it just about right. In the lead category, put down Community Memorial Hospital, or CMH, in Ventura. This Read More →
Central Coast commercial stats underscore the economy
It’s official. The regional commercial real estate market is no longer safe from the greater struggle. Radius Group Commercial Real Estate in Santa Barbara recently released a second-quarter report tracking South Coast commercial real estate activity over the last six months, and the numbers aren’t good. Until now, real estate agents have remained relatively upbeat Read More →
Disasters just part of the business landscape
One fatal earthquake. One fatal mudslide. Four major fires. That’s the toll of natural disasters our region has endured during the past five years. Beginning with the Simi Valley fires in the fall of 2003 and the Paso Robles earthquake toward the end of that year, it seems our region entered a new and deadly Read More →
UCSB researchers seek autism answers
Decades ago, cancer was thought of as a single disease. But since then, scientists have learned about hundreds of different types of cancer, each one fundamentally different. Now it’s autism’s turn. “We’re beginning to realize that autism similarly can be broken down into many different forms that have fundamentally different molecular bases,” said Kenneth Kosik, Read More →
Santa Maria building its cultural assets with library
Santa Maria is in the midst of some spiffing up. Not only is the city nearing completion of a new library intended to serve as a defining feature of its downtown area, but it is also reviewing a proposal for what would be Santa Maria’s first lifestyle center. Set for an Aug. 23 grand opening, Read More →