Supporters say California desperately needs money to fund housing construction and make a dent in its homelessness and affordability crisis. Critics say bond financing isn’t the way to do it.
Housing & Development
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Prop 45 explained: CEQA overhaul could shift who holds power over building
Aiming to streamline reviews under the landmark California Environmental Quality Act, Proposition 45 would shift who’s in charge of building in the Golden State. Supporters say it would also speed it up.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
A housing boom is underway in Santa Cruz. Why is the rest of the county so far behind?
The City of Santa Cruz has issued building housing permits at a pace unmatched anywhere else in the county so far. After talking with planners and housing experts across all five local jurisdictions, Kevin Norton found that zoning alone does not explain the difference. Money, land, market conditions and local expertise can determine whether plans on paper ever become apartments.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
UCSC Chancellor Larive: We are doing our part to build more housing
UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive writes that the university is taking community and student concerns about housing and traffic seriously and outlines UCSC’s efforts to address both persistent community concerns. She highlights new and planned projects that she says will increase student housing by more than 40% within a decade, including a two-year housing guarantee for incoming students. Larive also writes that campus vehicle trips are lower than they were 20 years ago, despite enrollment growth, and says UCSC will continue taking responsibility for its impact on the broader Santa Cruz community.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
New California law aims to stop ‘predatory’ developers from moving in on wildfire-ravaged community
As many as 200 to 300 new structures have been permitted in Altadena, but homeowners who survived the Eaton fire are struggling to rebuild.
Posted inEducation
California colleges don’t have enough housing for students. Will these four new laws help?
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a package of bills to reduce barriers and incentivize building affordable student housing in California. He has also signed a bill giving on-campus housing priority to students experiencing homelessness or who have been in foster care.
Posted inLatest News
A century of sand debt comes due in Malibu
A new study finds the world’s great surf breaks are vulnerable to climate change. In Malibu, the problem is more specific: a coast with few defenses, with a record El Niño winter closing in.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Why Bright Plaza matters for Santa Cruz’s housing future
Bright Plaza has become a talking point in the city of Santa Cruz’s debate over housing, development and neighborhood change. The site could eventually hold more than 200 affordable homes, along with space for local businesses. Here, Workbench owners Jamileh Cannon, Tim Gordin and Sibley Simon explain the reasoning behind the project – and that building here follows a long-standing city plan for denser housing along commercial corridors. They address the concerns surrounding the project, explain why they believe Santa Cruz needs to make room for more housing, and invite the public to join Tuesday’s community meeting about the project.
Posted inHousing & Development
How Airbnb is fighting for its place on California’s coast
Residents of cities like Pacifica want to limit the presence of visitors and corporations. Companies like Airbnb want to keep their lucrative coastal listings. That tension has led to increased attempts to influence a small but powerful committee.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
County housing market remains steady as Federal Reserve hikes interest rates
Santa Cruz County’s housing market stayed the course in August, with more homes coming on the market and sales dipping only slightly. Real estate agents expect plenty of sales through the fall, but mortgage advisors and real estate experts alike are keeping a close eye on the Federal Reserve, which hiked interest rates by a quarter-percent on Wednesday.
