A Wednesday evening meeting focused on a proposed housing development for 525 Water St., at the corner of Market Street in Santa Cruz, brought out a mix of supporters and opponents. Supporters expressed gratitude for the addition of new affordable housing while opponents raised issues with parking and traffic impacts, as well as building aesthetics.
Housing & Development
Posted inHousing & Development
Santa Cruz will explore conversion of downtown library into housing and permanent farmers market
The Santa Cruz City Council voted unanimously to explore the potential of converting the existing downtown library lot into a mixed-use development with a public plaza for the downtown farmers market.
Posted inCapitola & Soquel
Capitola finished construction on 7 new homes in 2024 – all of them ADUs
Capitola issued 48 building permits for new residential buildings last year as part of its effort to meet state-mandated housing requirements, according to a report by city staff. Just seven housing units finished construction in Capitola last year.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
City of Santa Cruz negotiating settlement with owners of St. George Residences, delaying fair-rate-of-return ordinance
The City of Santa Cruz is trying to reach a settlement with the owner of the downtown St. George Residences and avoid litigation over a city ordinance that would limit rent increases at government-assisted living facilities with expiring rent agreements. The city hopes to know within several weeks whether the parties can reach an agreement.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Why more housing means more money for Santa Cruz schools
Santa Cruz schools don’t have to be dependent on federal funding, writes Kyle Kelley, the vice president of the Santa Cruz City Schools district board. We can take a simple action to get more money to our schools: build more housing. Here, he explains how local schools can benefit from increased property tax revenue: “When local property taxes bring in more money than what the state provides to schools directly, the schools get to keep the additional funds. That extra money – known as ‘basic aid’ – goes directly to our classrooms.”
Posted inHousing & Development
Santa Cruz will regain some local control in deciding fate of unique Westside housing development
A major Westside Santa Cruz development is moving forward — but without a clear plan. For the first time in years, city officials have the power to shape or reject the project, reigniting debates over housing, local control and UC Santa Cruz’s impact on neighborhoods.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the editor: Be careful which housing petition you sign – don’t fall for the realtors
In a letter to the editor, a Santa Cruzan urges fellow residents to support the Workforce Housing Solutions Act rather than a proposed measure from local real estate agents that might look similar.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘A slap in the face’: As local realtors launch a dueling housing measure, Santa Cruz mayor accuses group of dirty play
A political firestorm is brewing in Santa Cruz as realtors launch a rival housing initiative to one put forward earlier this year by Mayor Fred Keeley and housing groups. Keeley and his allies say they were blindsided by the move.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Yes, new housing in the city of Santa Cruz is meeting goals — here’s the proof
Santa Cruz City Manager Matt Huffaker and Economic Development and Housing Director Bonnie Lipscomb want to set the record straight on occupancy rates for affordable housing in Santa Cruz. They admit the city could do a better job reporting occupancy rates of new affordable housing units to the public, but insist the buildings are filling and the city is meeting its state reporting obligations. “While we understand the desire for more transparency, the reality is that these units almost never sit empty,” they write. Filling new buildings, they say, just takes time.
Posted inLatest News
The high cost of fixing Lake Tahoe: Famed alpine lake still murky after decades of efforts
Billions of state and federal dollars are spent on Lake Tahoe. But is all this attention actually protecting this unique treasure? Pollutants pour in, while development continues. Funding has shifted in focus to tourism and traffic projects, while money spent directly on fixing the lake has declined.