Bonnie Lipscomb, City of Santa Cruz economic development and housing director, is moving into a new role as deputy city manager. She will focus on citywide initiatives, policy development and organizational leadership.
Development
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Here’s what they don’t tell you about the Housing for People ballot initiative
“Not a single leading affordable housing group in our area has indicated support for this initiative,” write longtime Santa Cruz housing advocates Diana Alfaro, Don Lane and Elizabeth Madrigal. “To put it bluntly, the Housing for People name is just a political deception – especially egregious at a time when we need genuine affordable housing efforts.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Santa Cruz doesn’t need taller buildings; it needs a vision for sustainable affordable housing
Longtime Santa Cruz resident Laura Lee believes the Santa Cruz downtown expansion plan “moves us in the wrong direction.” She thinks the boom will impair views, cause traffic congestion, overwhelm public services and detract from the small-town way of life she cherishes. The expansion plan, she writes, has caused “a substantial portion of city residents” to lose confidence in city leaders: “We see them placing corporate profits above resident priorities.”
Posted inHousing & Development
Santa Cruz County’s state-mandated housing plan opens new doors to development
Last year, Santa Cruz County learned it would need to permit more than 4,600 new, state-mandated housing units by 2031 — an unprecedented boost in housing supply. Last week, the county approved its plan to make room for that new housing.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘Japanese woodblock’ mural suggests waves as new Cedar Street family apartments get ready to open
Painted by noted Santa Cruz County muralist Taylor Reinhold, the artwork on the development between Cedar and Center streets gives us a sense of what downtown’s new paseos might look like.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
I don’t want to lose my south of Laurel home and hotel to a new Warriors stadium — here’s my solution
Joe Quigg owns the Pacific Blue Inn south of Laurel Street in downtown Santa Cruz and was horrified to see a model of his hotel and attached condo demolished in a city plan to build a new Warriors arena. He shares his thoughts on his neighborhood, his frustration with the city for not contacting him about the plan, and offers his idea for building housing and an arena.
Posted inCity Life
What would a new downtown arena mean for Santa Cruz audiences?
With Kaiser Permanente Arena extended beyond its intended lifespan, the Santa Cruz Warriors want a multipurpose downtown venue that could host events beyond basketball year-round, with a capacity of 3,000-4,000. That would be an alluring upgrade from the Civic Auditorium in terms of attracting big-name musical acts and speakers, but whether a new venue would suit mainstay Civic tenants like the Santa Cruz Symphony is a concern — and in any case, it’s no slam dunk that a bigger new venue would be filled regularly, either.
Posted inHousing & Development
Inside Santa Cruz’s ambitious downtown expansion plans: 12-story towers and a new multipurpose Warriors arena
A new arena for the Santa Cruz Warriors. Lots of new housing in tall buildings. Street reconfiguration. These factors are all in play as Santa Cruz officials prepare to update the public on where things stand with the neighborhood south of Laurel Street downtown — and a ballot measure governing building heights and affordability could yet change the calculus.
Posted inHousing & Development
What will the new Santa Cruz look like? Readers sound off
Wallace Baine asked what Lookout readers thought Santa Cruz’s vibe was and how public art should communicate that as the city undergoes its big makeover. From murals to a riverside sculpture garden to hanging art in alleyways, the response showed that there is no dearth of interest, ideas and energy when it comes to bringing a sense of personality and identification to a new downtown.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Community workshop brings residents, officials together to examine West Cliff Drive’s future
For the first time outside of a Santa Cruz City Council meeting, city leaders and consultants met with community members Tuesday to discuss a 50-year vision for the future of West Cliff Drive. Attendees widely agreed that safeguarding coastal resources should be prioritized, and that the city should think twice about restoring the road to its original form.