Good morning! It is Monday, April 21, and after some morning fog, it’s shaping up to be a mostly sunny day around Santa Cruz County, with 80 degrees possible in the warmer spots.
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Christopher Neely starts us off in downtown Santa Cruz’s south of Laurel Street neighborhood, the focus of big development plans. An eight-story, 245-unit project on the site of the current Ace Hardware store at Laurel and Front Street could be the first big SoLa landmark.
Max Chun has this week’s Carmageddon feature, leading off with a look at what’s next for the rail trail following last week’s vote by the Capitola City Council against constructing a trail alongside Park Avenue. The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission has an alternate plan in place, and now must figure out how to work through it.
Jasmin Galvan reports from San Vicente Redwoods near Boulder Creek – more than just a great spot to get out in nature, it’s a living, breathing laboratory for both cutting-edge science and traditional Indigenous ecological practices.
It was a busy Saturday in downtown Santa Cruz, and Natasha Leverett was on hand to document both a protest against the Trump administration and the annual Earth Day celebration in a photo essay.
The Monday headlines also include Wallace Baine’s story on Kuumbwa Jazz Center’s nostalgic exhibit looking back on its first 50 years, and Santa Cruz Vice Mayor Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson writing about the city’s housing policies in a Community Voices opinion piece. Keep on reading.
Texas-based developer’s eight-story proposal could kick off Santa Cruz’s downtown expansion
Downtown Santa Cruz is set for big changes in the coming years with a new, expanded downtown envisioned south of Laurel Street. A Texas-based developer wants to be the first one in the new neighborhood. More here from Christopher Neely.
Carmageddon: How does Capitola City Council’s vote change rail trail plan?
Following the Capitola City Council’s vote against constructing a trail alongside Park Avenue, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and county planners will have to pursue a previously approved — but more expensive — trail alignment. Although much remains the same for the trail plans in the Capitola area, county and RTC staff will need to work with city staff to understand the exact implications of the council’s interpretation of city law. Max Chun reports.
DAILY DIGEST
Plenty to sort through as we kick off another workweek, so I’ll let you get to sorting, but with more coming through the day from Lookout, make sure you’re staying current with it all. Download the Lookout Santa Cruz app from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store to get our award-winning local coverage right on your smartphone, and get signed up here for breaking news alerts and our other newsletters – including, coming later Monday, In the Public Interest, Christopher Neely’s weekly look inside Santa Cruz County politics & policy. Lookout is also on social media, of course, so connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.
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Here’s to a smooth Monday all around – thanks for reading.
Will McCahill