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.
(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz)
Development

Important shovels in the ground: Sights of groundbreaking at Live Oak health care, affordable housing campus

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.

Leslie Conner, CEO of Santa Cruz Community Health Centers, can’t wait to break ground on a new 20,000-sq. ft. clinic in...

“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: