My friend Kristi lives in a set of luxury townhomes at the corner of Montecito Street and Calle César Chávez. Called the East Beach Collection, the homes were built in 2011 when the Funk Zone was just becoming a destination, and addresses on Haley Street from State to Milpas were almost all industrial. The neighborhood was filled with auto mechanics and wood shops, and residential living options were rare.
Now, however, the Haley Street corridor is one of the most hopping neighborhoods in town, and the East Beach Collection sits in the center of the action. You've got three breweries and two wineries within a four-block radius and great restaurants to choose from — not to mention it’s a short walk to both the beach and the bustle of State Street.
One of these townhomes is currently on the market, so I thought I’d drop by the open house to take a peek and see if I could catch my friend Kristi, too. I visited on Easter Sunday, and although the sky was cloudy, the garden was lush and green, with lilies blooming right on cue. The entrance to 543 East Montecito Street sits behind a fountain in a fenced corner courtyard area of the East Beach Collection, providing an attractive entrée and a setback from the street.