Quick Take:

Health care and affordable housing organizations came together with Santa Cruz County politicians, donors and community members Saturday to celebrate the groundbreaking at the campus at 1500 Capitola Road in Live Oak.

Residents of Live Oak have been pushing for years for more health care and dental services in the area, as well as affordable housing, and those efforts are a little closer to reality after a groundbreaking Saturday for a new wellness complex.

Santa Cruz Community Health, Dientes Community Dental Care and MidPen Housing are partnering at the complex coming up at 1500 Capitola Road, which aims to deliver a 20,000-square foot pediatrics-focused facility and an 11-chair dental clinic in 2022 and 57 affordable residential units in 2023.

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“This will positively impact the community,” said Diana Valadez, Santa Cruz County Health Clinic patient and mother. “And I’m sure there will be no more social injustice. Since we all have the right to decent care and easier access.”

Lookout’s Kevin Painchaud was on hand Saturday as Santa Cruz County health care leaders, politicians and community members took part in a ceremony.

Here’s what he saw:

  • Groundbreaking ceremony for health care and housing campus at 1500 Capitola Road in Live Oak on May 22, 2021.
    Santa Cruz Community Health, Dientes Community Dental Care and MidPen Housing are partners in the health care and housing campus under construction at 1500 Capitola Road in Live Oak following the groundbreaking ceremony May 22, 2021. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Rep. Jimmy Panetta speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for a health care and affordable housing campus
    Rep. Jimmy Panetta speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for a health care and affordable housing campus at 1500 Capitola Road in Live Oak on May 22, 2021. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Diana Valadez speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the health care and affordable housing campus
    Diana Valadez speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the health care and affordable housing campus at 1500 Capitola Road in Live Oak on May 22, 2021. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • An onlooker take a photograph of a rendering of the health care and affordable housing campus now under construction
    An onlooker take a photograph of a rendering of the health care and affordable housing campus now under construction at 1500 Capitola Road in Live Oak after the groundbreaking ceremony May 22, 2021. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • First District Supervisor Manu Koenig speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony
    First District Supervisor Manu Koenig speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the 1500 Capitola Road health care and affordable housing campus in Live Oak on May 22, 2021. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • A young boy looks on during he groundbreaking ceremony
    The groundbreaking ceremony at the 1500 Capitola Road health care and housing campus in Live Oak drew plenty of curious onlookers May 22, 2021. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Gloria Nieto of Santa Cruz Community Health is all smiles during the groundbreaking ceremony
    Gloria Nieto of Santa Cruz Community Health is all smiles during the groundbreaking ceremony for the 1500 Capitola Road health and housing campus in Live Oak on May 22, 2021. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Santa Cruz County Health Office Dr. Gail Newel was among those on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony
    Santa Cruz County Health Office Dr. Gail Newel was among those on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony for the 1500 Capitola Road health and housing campus in Live Oak on May 22, 2021. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • The golden shovels were out at the the groundbreaking ceremony
    The golden shovels were out at the the groundbreaking ceremony for the 1500 Capitola Road health care and housing campus on May 22, 2021, in Live Oak. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Santa Cruz's Anthony Arya performs during the groundbreaking ceremony
    Santa Cruz’s Anthony Arya performs during the groundbreaking ceremony for the 1500 Capitola Road health care and housing campus in Live Oak on May 22, 2021. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Health and dental facilities are slated to open at the 1500 Capitola Road campus in 2022
    Health and dental facilities are slated to open at the 1500 Capitola Road campus in 2022, with housing units planned for 2023 in Live Oak, where a groundbreaking ceremony took place May 22, 2021. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Members of the Santa Cruz Community Health leadership team were on hand May 22, 2021
    Members of the Santa Cruz Community Health leadership team were on hand May 22, 2021, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the 1500 Capitola Road health and housing campus in Live Oak. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Community members got a look at renderings of the health care and dental facilities and affordable housing units
    Community members got a look at renderings of and more information about the health care and dental facilities and affordable housing units planned for the 1500 Capitola Road campus during the groundbreaking ceremony May 22, 2021, in Live Oak. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Construction on a health care and affordable housing campus is underway
    Construction on a health care and affordable housing campus is underway at 1500 Capitola Road in Live Oak after a groundbreaking ceremony May 22, 2021. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

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