Is Santa Barbara Hot?

Why would an authorized Apple reseller commit to spending $10,000 a month for five years on a space in downtown Santa Barbara (S. Calif.)? That question begs an answer with the discovery that the city’s Historic Landmarks Commission has received an application (pdf) from local architect Doug Keep to modify the entryway of 716 State Street for a “Proposed Mac Retail Store.” The 2,062 square-foot space in the midst of downtown is managed by SIMA Management Corp., who asks for a minimum five-year lease at almost $5 per s.f. The space is only 22 feet wide, but has old-world charm and a huge skylight that brightens up the interior. The façade is considered historic and unchangeable, but Apple has handled similar situations successfully at other stores (Palo Alto and Pasadena).