Carpinteria is undergoing a transformative period, sparking concern among residents and local businesses. Several long-standing restaurants and shops have recently closed, including Beach Liquors and Matt Moore Designs. New developments—such as the Carpinteria Public Market and additional housing projects—are bringing an influx of boutique restaurants and upscale apparel stores to Linden Avenue.

These changes are closely tied to regional trends, including population growth in Santa Barbara and the broader effects of statewide economic shifts in California. The rising cost of living, paired with Carpinteria’s increasing popularity among tourists, is creating pressure on small businesses.

Plans are currently in motion to convert the public train station parking lot into a hotel and an expanded transit hub. Additional housing construction on Carpinteria Avenue is underway, while some commercial lots remain vacant in anticipation of future development.

Many of the new ventures appear tailored to out-of-town visitors. Chemistry instructor Katie Pointer, who has lived in Carpinteria since 2007, has witnessed these changes firsthand.

“Since then, there have been a number of new housing projects and condo complexes, as well as pretty significant turnover in the business district,” Pointer said. “Many are for high-income brackets, others have been designed to help low or moderate-income families.”

Local businesses and community figures have expressed mixed reactions to the town’s evolution. Some view the development as a positive sign of growth, while others fear it may lead to an erasure of identity and culture.

It seems to many that the balance of restaurants does not fit the daily, non-vacation Carpinterian. The risk of seasonal businesses failing during the off-season and leaving behind vacant storefronts is an increasing concern.

“Change is complex,” Pointer said. “On the one hand, I am delighted that some of our buildings that were vacant for many years are now occupied. For example, the Public Market is going into a space that was empty for over 15 years. On the other hand, we continue to have quite a few vacant buildings, and when the city proposes new buildings on previously undeveloped land, it seems counterproductive.”

In addition to business closures, residents face rising prices in housing, rent, and utilities.

These shifts suggest that Carpinteria may be following the path of areas like Coast Village Road in Montecito, where upscale development displaced local establishments.

Pointer, who was able to purchase a condo during the last recession, said she has personally been shielded from dramatic rent increases but knows others who have not been as fortunate.

“I have noticed other rises in living costs, including increasing HOA fees, insurance rates, and gas and food prices,” Pointer said.

The ongoing debate raises the question of whether Carpinteria can retain its community roots while adapting to the demands of economic growth. Pointer reflected on what makes Carpinteria feel like home and why preserving that feeling matters.

“We have to think carefully about the types of businesses we encourage and buildings we construct, along with their locations, which is critical to making it feel like home,” Pointer said.

As Carpinteria moves forward, the town faces a difficult balancing act: welcoming change while preserving the essence of what has made it beloved by so many people for such a long time.