The Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors’ unexpected opposition throws shade over the proposed Workforce Housing Solutions Act, an affordable housing tax measure designed to raise $5 million annually through a parcel tax and a tax on sales of luxury homes in the city of Santa Cruz.
Changing Santa Cruz
Posted inHousing & Development
Environmental review of plan to expand downtown Santa Cruz shows few significant impacts
The environmental impacts of Santa Cruz’s planned expansion of its downtown — a potentially generational change to the look and feel of the city — were outlined in a report published Wednesday by consultant Kimley-Horn.
Posted inLatest News
O’Neill Surf Shop to close downtown Santa Cruz store after 25 years
O’Neill Surf Shop will be closing one of its five Santa Cruz County locations this month. The last day of business for the downtown Santa Cruz store is Jan. 14.
Posted inHousing & Development
Santa Cruz’s new luxury hotel La Bahia slowly taking shape for summer opening
Long in the planning and construction stages, the aspiring luxury hotel La Bahia Hotel & Spa is preparing for a late summer 2025 opening on the Santa Cruz beachfront, with a spa, a couple of restaurants and a membership beach club for hotel guests and locals alike.
Posted inHousing & Development
New-look Clocktower Center is half the height, but still out of scale for some residents
The Clocktower Center proposal in downtown Santa Cruz has been downsized, but tensions remain. While some praise its potential to address a housing shortage, critics argue it’s still too tall, too disruptive, and woefully lacking in parking.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Amid economic uncertainty, downtown Santa Cruz comics store Comicopolis calls for community help
As small businesses struggle to regain foot traffic after the pandemic thanks to the growing popularity of online shopping, downtown Santa Cruz comic store Comicopolis took to social media to issue a plea for help.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz hopes to trade deeply affordable housing for height limits in downtown expansion
The Santa Cruz City Council endorsed a plan on Tuesday that would offer developers incentives to limit building height to 12 stories in the South of Laurel neighborhood, including reducing the number of units developers are required to offer to very low-income renters.
Posted inFood & Drink
New Leaf in downtown Santa Cruz to close Tuesday ahead of move to larger space
New Leaf Community Markets will close its downtown Santa Cruz location on Tuesday at 7 p.m. A new tenant for the Pacific Avenue spot has not yet been identified, but city officials say they hope that another grocery store will open in the space to serve the growing downtown community. New Leaf plans to open a new larger grocery store on River Street next year.
Posted inHousing & Development
Artists’ proposals sought for enormous downtown Santa Cruz mural
The City of Santa Cruz is taking proposals for a potentially giant new downtown mural on the yet-to-be-constructed development on the corner of Soquel Avenue and Front Street. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 31.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Rent cap gets final approval from Santa Cruz City Council
The Santa Cruz City Council unanimously approved a city ordinance to bring government-assisted living facilities with expiring rent restrictions, including the downtown St. George Residences, under the same protections mandated by a state law that limits the size of single-year rent increases. The ordinance will go into effect on Oct. 24, just a week before St. George residents were facing rent hikes as high as 200%.