Central Coast General Thread

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no_vaseline_IHB

no_vaseline_IHB

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This thread takes over where <a href="http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/forums/viewthread/2588/">north of Santa Ana</a> left off.



Cambria is North of Santa Ana. Way North!
 
I was very happy to read that you like Bistro Laurent. We went to Paso in January (a lifestyle post I'm still meaning to write) and had dinner there. We had the chef's tasting menu with wine pairing. While not cheap, it was a good value. Awesome food and, the best meal we had while we were there.
 
You know Eva that's exactly what we always say when we go to Bistro or Villa Creek. OC has some good and some great restaurants, but you really pay a hefty price. We always feel that when we order a $24 or $28 entree in those places, we are getting a meal worthy of that price. Here you can pay $36 for an entree that isn't any where near as good as the price it commands. Although, we still love Pescadou in Newport Beach.



We haven't been to Mathew's yet... has anyone else? I know someone here gives it a thumbs up. Could be a nice romantic weekend with a certain fish :)
 
Matthew's downtown was ok, but not nearly as good as Matthew's on the field (i.e., at the airport). I don't know if he kept the airport location open. When we were there in January, not many people were dining downtown and he had all but closed up shop on the field to focus on the downtown location. Nice guy, good food, but a bit overpriced. I really, really wanted to like Artisan, but thought it was only ok - <em>however</em> that may be because we ate there last at the end of a big dining and tasting weekend and ordered a boring dish (flank steak).



You want a really good place? Go to dinner at <a href="http://www.ballardinn.com/restaurant.html">The Ballard Inn</a>. They don't advertise it, but they offer a chef's tasting menu - four courses for $55, with any additional courses for $10 per course. You can get wine pairing for $30 extra, and they don't skimp. Be safe and make reservations, and if you want the chef's tasting menu, let them know when you make the rez (although this isn't required) along with any food allergies. Holy moly, talk about a great value. The food was excellent and the service was great. Chef Kazali came out a couple of times to chat last time we were there (a slow Thursday night). Rather than ordering anything in particular, we told the waiter to let Chef Kazali follow his muse. I don't like foie gras, but my husband does, so he made up an appetizer that is the best thing I've ever eaten in my life. It was asparagus spears, topped with a seared dayboat scallop, topped with crisped pork belly, topped with another dayboat scallop, topped by foie gras, which was topped by an over easy quail egg. Just amazing. As someone on Yelp (or was it Chowhound?) said, "When we got the bill, I wanted to pay more!"
 
Regarding stepping up's comment re: water in Cambria (from north of Santa Ana Thread...)



The water meter system doesn't work like a waiting list. It's actually a lottery, and any water meter number is as likely, or unlikely, to actually get a water meter as any other. The city has not issued any new water rights in the last 3 years, and perhaps not in the last 5. To actually build, you need to buy a lot/building and then get permits to demolish the old to put up your new home. There is also a form of water rationing.... you get an allotment of how much water you can use in a year, and once you go over that amount, the rates get unbelievable. The Cambria laudromat generally closes about August 1, because the owner says he can't make any money once he gets into the higher rates, and the car wash generally cuts hours to 2 - 3 days a week by July.
 
[quote author="centralcoastobserver" date=1215685869]Regarding stepping up's comment re: water in Cambria (from north of Santa Ana Thread...)



The water meter system doesn't work like a waiting list. It's actually a lottery, and any water meter number is as likely, or unlikely, to actually get a water meter as any other. The city has not issued any new water rights in the last 3 years, and perhaps not in the last 5. To actually build, you need to buy a lot/building and then get permits to demolish the old to put up your new home. There is also a form of water rationing.... you get an allotment of how much water you can use in a year, and once you go over that amount, the rates get unbelievable. The Cambria laudromat generally closes about August 1, because the owner says he can't make any money once he gets into the higher rates, and the car wash generally cuts hours to 2 - 3 days a week by July.</blockquote>


Really? So the numbers on the wait list have nothing to do with when it comes up?



Our realtor for the Paso home lived in Cambria and she was ranting about a $300 water bill because she went over her allotment. During droughts we had the same thing in Santa Cruz.. a leaky toilet could cost you $300 in a water bill. We would have a bucket in the shower to catch water while you were waiting for it to get hot and catch some excess. This was used to water the garden. I've always thought SoCal was so wasteful with water and during droughts you just don't hear enough about conservation. Although, I'm seeing a heightened interest in California friendly landscaping and the hip to be green thing taking root.
 
Health Care on the Central Coast is limited, by urban standards. From Santa Barbara north to Salinas, there are 4 hospitals over 100 beds, and 3 licensed for less. If you are a "high risk" OB patient, your only choice is Sierra Vista Regional Med Center in San Luis, no other Neonatal ICU unit on the coast. If your children need pediatric hospital services, the choices are Sierra Vista or Cottage, in Santa Barbara. (Or transfer off the coast to San Francisco or LA). For more typical geriatric issues, only Cottage in SB, French Hospital in SLO, or Sierra Vista do cardiovascular surgery, and if you need high risk surgery, you'll end up in San Francisco or LA. For orthopedic surgeries, hips and total joints, Sierra Vista and Cottage in SB do a lot of elective ortho surgeries. The real problem is after hours, weekends, and holidays. The specialists, including cardiovascular, neurosurgery and orthopedic surgeries generally only have one MD "on call" for the whole county, and the patients get moved to wherever he/she is, not the other way around. In general, that's San Luis, so if you fall and break your hip in Paso Robles, you'll get transferred to San Luis, and then get put on the "to follow" operating room list, and the surgeon will get to you when he/she gets to you. (Of course, falling in San Luis is the same routine, just minus the 30 or 40 mile transfer.)



The other issue is Medicare reimbursement. The feds consider SLO county "rural" despite the high cost of living, so the reimbursement rate is about 20% - 40% lower than for the same services performed in LA or Orange county. (The government says 20%, the doctors say 40%.) So, many physicians have closed their practices to new Medicare patients. There are no psychiatrists in SLO county that will see Medicare patients. (There are also no psych inpatient services, patients have to go to Santa Barbara for services.)
 
The talk about Lompoc reminds me of the evolution of Santa Barbara's affordable exurbs. In the early 70's, the exurb was Goleta. In the late 70's and early 80's, it was Carpenteria. In the late 80's and early 90's, it moved to Buellton. By the late 90's, it had moved to Lompoc, Santa Maria, and Ventura.



This talk of the central coast also makes me want a Spencer steak from Jocko's. I might have to fire up the grill...
 
Wow, thanks, CCO. I think this, combined with the water issues, are two of the bigger challenges to the region, though perhaps things that inhibit growth aren't seen as necessarily negative by the denizens of our little chunk of paradise.



Do you have any idea how this contrasts with Carmel and/or Monterey county? Is that county similarly considered 'rural' to the feds?
 
[quote author="Hormiguero" date=1216111868]



Do you have any idea how this contrasts with Carmel and/or Monterey county? Is that county similarly considered 'rural' to the feds?</blockquote>


I have a friend who's dad is a MD in Monterey. He recently shut down his practice (after 25 years) and joined the staff of a local hospital because of the Medicare reimbursements. As recently as three years ago, he (the MD) told me it was no problem becuase all of his customers were private pay. Apparently they didn't stay that way. Tough when your patient base becomes geriatric.



I have a friend who's a dermatologist in North SLO county. He does fine.



If I got in an accident in Monterey, I'm giving instructions to drive my butt to Stanford. If I'm In SLO or SB county, drive me to UCLA. The wait will be the same and at least I'll get good care. And if I'm in bad shape, I'm going to wind up there sooner or later anyway.



Don't get me started about Bakersfield, Fresno, or Visalia. People in SoCal have no idea what bad medical care is like.



Hey, you know what? SLO ain't that great either. I know somebody who wrecked his sand car and had to be life flighted out of the Pismo Dunes (beween SLO and Santa Maria). They flew him to Bakersfield. THAT'S scary.
 
The reason LifeFlight took your friend to Bakersfield is because there's no Level III trauma center on the coast, and no hospital has a helipad/heliport. The medics have to go to the closest Level III trauma center, and that's Bakersfield, not LA or SF.



You are right about the limited level of medical services available. That's something that people don't often consider, until they suddenly need help, and then there can be some unpleasant surprises.
 
I understand why they flew him to Bako. The fact they flew him to Bako is the problem. The health care in Bako is sub par. Visalia, Fresno, Modesto are better but still not as good as what they have in the bay area or in SoCal.



My aunt and uncle built a home in AG on that new golf course (well, it was new 10 years ago) that backs up against the Pismo Dunes. Thier next door neighbor (retired, over 75) got hurt and required in home care. The woman who came over came from Bakersfield because there wasn't anyone availible locally.



This is not a great spot to retire to and be old, unless you plan on traveling for medical care, if you decide you want a higher level of care.
 
[quote author="centralcoastobserver" date=1216127698]The reason LifeFlight took your friend to Bakersfield is because there's no Level III trauma center on the coast, and no hospital has a helipad/heliport. The medics have to go to the closest Level III trauma center, and that's Bakersfield, not LA or SF.



You are right about the limited level of medical services available. That's something that people don't often consider, until they suddenly need help, and then there can be some unpleasant surprises.</blockquote>


The lack of trauma centers in the state as a whole is <em>really big</em> problem that has been exacerbated by hospitals not wanting to treat patients who lack insurance. (An economically justifiable position, IMHO.) In all of Riverside County, there are only two trauma centers: Wildomar (near Lake Elsinore) and (I think) Blythe (or somewhere nearby). The whole middle section of the County, including Palm Springs and the mountains, lack a trauma center.



Sorry for threadjacking, but it's a hot button for me. :red:
 
[quote author="EvaLSeraphim" date=1216164387]

Sorry for threadjacking, but it's a hot button for me. :red:</blockquote>


Not threadjacking at all - awareness of infrastructure is a big part of smart real estate investment.
 
<strong><span style="font-size: 14px;">In the Central Valley, the Ruins of the Housing Bust </span></strong> (I know it's not the coast, if you want me to move this story let me know...couldn't figure out where to put it)



<img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/08/24/business/24house.xlarge1.jpg" alt="" />



<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/business/24house.html?pagewanted=1&em;">NYT article on Merced, CA.</a>
 
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