After his research showed huge gaps in the pandemic’s effect on white-owned versus minority-owned businesses, UC Santa Cruz economics professor Rob Fairlie caught the attention of Congress, which used his findings to guide policies on the road to economic recovery. Now, as Santa Cruz pushes to get more small, women- and minority-owned businesses into downtown storefronts, Fairlie sits down with Lookout to discuss options to achieve this goal.
Development
Posted inUncategorized
How much opposition will there be to a senior living facility planned along West Cliff Drive?
A bit different than some of the other recently proposed developments, the city of Santa Cruz initially received a pre-application in 2019 for an assisted living project adjacent to the Shrine of St. Joseph church. After the public raised concerns in 2020, the project’s size was reduced; a presentation is scheduled for the planning commission’s Oct. 6 meeting.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California voters to decide on repeal of anti-public housing measure in 2024
The measure will ask voters to do away with Article 34 of the California Constitution, which requires voter approval before public housing is built in a community. Passed in 1950, the provision stymied low-income housing construction in California for decades and continues today to add to the cost and uncertainty of building affordable housing.
Posted inUncategorized
‘Upgraded Santa Barbara’ vision for La Bahia luxury hotel, aiming for 2024 opening across from Boardwalk
Ensemble Real Estate Investments exec Michael Moskowitz says his company plans to steer away from heavy-handed Spanish Colonial design on the planned 155-room hotel and attempt to “thread the needle” between modern amenities and honoring the site’s history and Santa Cruz’s unique character.
Posted inHousing & Development
Redesigning Santa Cruz into 2030: City begins to tackle major rezoning and new design rules
As the state of California asserts itself in affordability planning, the city of Santa Cruz aims to regain some control over the nature of the projects to be built. At the same time, 387 parcels along Mission Street, Ocean Street and Soquel Avenue are up for rezoning, with the big goal in mind: more housing.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Moving past Measure D: Santa Cruz’s light rail future will finally go beyond speculation
The rail-trail debate didn’t end up killing us, but did it make us stronger? That will probably depend on the results of a feasibility study local leadership hopes can be launched by November. Either way, having fact-based answers to these long-argued existential questions will be a good place to begin the real conversations about the rail corridor’s future.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
As market revival continues, Santa Cruz hospitality industry expects boost from new La Bahia, Cruz hotels
Both new hotels — aiming to open in Santa Cruz in the next few years — will expand the options for visitors. The local hospitality business is now thriving. What difference might the hotels make?
Posted inBusiness & Technology
New luxury hotel at La Bahia, near Boardwalk, finally moves forward; aims to open in 2024
Construction is already underway at the site where the developers, including Santa Cruz Seaside Company and the company that owns the Dream Inn, plan to build an upscale venue with 155 rooms and two restaurants. Late 2024 is the target date for the hotel, as yet unnamed, to open along Beach Street.
Posted inLatest News
Angry protests erupt as UC Berkeley fences off People’s Park for housing construction
The fence went up overnight, and an angry crowd showed up at the historic site Wednesday morning to confront police and work crews.
