Clear Construction & Clear Millwork Lends its Expertise and Craftsmanship to Montecito Community Through Street Sign Restoration
Montecito’s street signs have been rehabilitated and reinstalled thanks to a new partnership between the Montecito Community Foundation and Clear Group.
Dedicated to supporting the community, the Montecito Community Foundation serves as a resource for philanthropy while investing in projects that preserve and enhance the city’s unique beauty. As part of this effort, the Foundation improves public parks, provides funding for public safety projects, provides resources for families, and funds special community events. In addition to these impactful support initiatives, the Foundation maintains the 200+ rustic signs that have served as the community’s sense of place, marking streets and intersections throughout Montecito. Since the Montecito Community Foundation’s incorporation in 1966, they have coordinated the construction and maintenance of the handcrafted signs, working with various local artisans, sign craftspeople, and woodworking experts. Now, the Foundation has a new Santa Barbara-based partner in this restoration project: Clear Group. With a unique roster of design-driven, detail-oriented talent—and plenty of experience restoring some of the county’s most coveted properties—we were delighted to be a natural choice for the project.
“These street signs are quintessential to the city’s charm,” says Bailey Hochhalter, our President and Founder—and Central Coast native. “They are a unique, handcrafted, and immediately recognizable element of Montecito’s history. Our team really respects the preservation of this tradition, and we’re honored to use our expertise to continue restoring the signs.”
The beloved signs require repairment or replacement when damaged through wood rot, termites, theft, or car accidents. And due to the historic nature of the project, restoring these signs is not always a simple endeavor: without a standardized font, each sign is uniquely hand carved and one-of-a-kind; sign paddles are built and distressed to style; lettering is covered in hand-cut reflective material; and finally, the sign is attached to a signpost and staked deep into the ground. The Montecito Community Foundation carefully monitors the rustic signs for deterioration. Additionally, citizens can conveniently report a damaged sign via the form on the Foundation’s website (www.montecitofoundation.org) and with help from Clear Construction and Clear Millwork, any sign will be swiftly returned to its noble position in Montecito history.
ABOUT THE MONTECITO FOUNDATION
For more than 50 years, the Montecito Community Foundation has supported the community by funding projects that help preserve the uniqueness, elegance, and safety of the city’s surroundings. Past and ongoing projects include: the construction, installation, and maintenance of Montecito’s rustic wooden road signs; the purchase and transformation of the Corner Green at the intersection of East Valley and San Ysidro roads from a gas station to the lovely park we all enjoy today; and the replacement and beautification of local bus stops. If you wish to join with MCF in support of current or future community projects and activities, visit the MCF website at www.montecitofoundation.org for further information.