giving you the scoop on all the things. literally
The SLO International Film Fest (ahem,film-lovers mecca) is March 13-18! Yuge spotlights on ladies in entertainment and significant cultural upheaval helps direct the fest’s lens onto diversity and women’s rights. With a 22 min short about SLO Women’s March 2017 and watching Pam Grier accept the festival’s highest honor to (literally) look forward to, leggo to the lobby to get drunk off surfing, wine, and delicious plot dev because the views will be #totesworthit.
Filed in the category of “let’s get this party started”, the developer of Avila Ranch just committed $408k additional cash monies to reduce noise and safety-ify traffic. That’s on top of re-affirming $270k already earmarked for improvements to a nearby intersection and the $10s of mills for off-site infrastructure improvements required by the City. Thereby and therefore, Avila Ranch hereafter and heretofore hopefully won’t have to jump any more hurdles and can step to it and start building some damn housing. Asking for a friend: can we finally stop worrying about this project and move onto the next potential infill housing project?
With the settlement now a thing of the past, we can look toward the future. Homes may just be ready for occupancy circa 2020-’22 after a few (more) years worth of engineering design, moving dirt, infrastructure, addressing unresolved concerns and finally construction. #socloseyetsofar
Locals who don’t like making the trek over to S.Maria for their kid-at-heart thrills will soon have a Boomers alternative. SLO Supes approved an agreement this week with Poly to invest in revamping the fledgling Dairy Creek Golf Course at El Chorro Regional Park that’s been losing $ for dayz. The existing 18-hole course will be reduced to 9 holes, and a new driving range, 18-hole mini golf course and go-kart track have us giddy to go-go-go! #reallifemariokart
Starting 2/22, you’ll be able to jump into a gilded inflata-port at Cuesta’s Miossi Art Gallery and dialogue, dance or just delight in interacting with Afghanistan, Kenya, Australia or 1 of 20 portals ‘round the world. Equipped with some serious immersive tech, it literally feels like you’re face-to-face full body with them in person. One of the Uptown Funkiest art installations to come to SLO, you know it’s hip bc even Obama’s a fan. This magic’s only around ’til 3/29, so put your pinky rings up to the moon & get out there!
CALLING ALL AESTHETES: You know those blasé utility boxes turned works of art scattered throughout SLO? Time tobeautify another 26 of ‘em and the city is looking for décor designs. More into h2o than electricity? There’s also the Watershed Awareness Through Art, who wants all y’all who are magical with #Adobe to design a storm drain decalthat proves it. Finally show Daddy thatart degree was #worthit & that legacies come in all shapes & functionalities. Submit designs by 3/9.
Young professionals and locals looking for an urban, community-oriented lifestyle may soon have reason to start packing their bags with the possibility of Laurel Creek Village. An awesome example of repurposing underutilized space, this reno could be YUUUGE in addressing local housing woes. This proposed urban village would spawn from the current Atoll Business Center, the behemoth warehouse on Laurel Lane you didn’t know existed and recently was for sale at a cool $29M.
Imagine 600+ of your neighbors stepping out the door to a community garden, pool, tennis courts and walking trails. Paradise? Add in ~30K sf of commercial space (coffee, restaurant, brewpub, maker space) and you may never have to leave this urban utopia. Units would range from 385-1,155 sf and the greatest part (infill at its best for your planning nerds), infrastructure is already on site with more than sufficient parking, bike trails and rec facilities right nearby, and already in a higher density housing area. Check, check, check. Next stop, ARC on 2/12/18. #NIMBYsbegone
A nod to Napa’s Oxbow, SLO Public Market was the hottest haps to So-SLO (South-SLO) since Trader Joe’s (mmm, cookie butter). Yet 3+ years, domestic violence charges and a Tractor Supply later, and still no marketplace. Now thanks to new ownership, the ground’s finally been broken, with a new look and new tenants (bet your Hoppy Poppy Fig. Mountain’s still on board). Slated to open early 2019, here’s hoping So-Hi-T-Farm finally becomes the foodies haven we’ve hoped for.
SLO Parks + Rec is doing a damn fine job at guarding SLO’s open space and natural resources. Sooo 2017: a cute vid of 2017 successes + lots’o trailheadsignage. Comin’ 2018: 60ft pedestrian bridge @ Reservoir Canyon + Waddellpublic access. Speaking of green things, want to grow your own *insert fave veg here*? A new community garden (2nd only in Cali to use recycled H2O) opens in April. Introducing Kiwanis Centennial Garden, making healthy food cool to a community near you Laguna Lake Golf Course.
In the latest edition of “We Swear Affordable Housing is a SLO Major City Goal,” city staff proposed additional impact fees on new housing developments. The math goes something like: new home construction = impact fees for infrastructure improvements. Past years of no new housing = well, you get the picture. Catch 22? More impact fees = higher costs passed on to buyers. Council ain’t thrilled because duh, goal = affordability. Council will discuss the fees in March, so make your voice heard.
