Santa Cruz’s new downtown library and affordable housing project has hardly been without controversy — but after years of debate, the building is rising, writes affordable housing advocate and former mayor Don Lane. Now the question is less about who supported the project and more about what we want this new civic space to become. With its expanded Life Literacies Center, free resources and room for people to gather, Lane believes the library could become downtown’s living room – and a place to bring a divided community together.
Downtown Santa Cruz library/affordable housing project
Posted inHousing & Development
Road closures, loss of parking during downtown Santa Cruz library construction taking toll on surrounding businesses
Multiple downtown Santa Cruz businesses say foot traffic is down since the city broke ground on the new public library and affordable housing project last August, eliminating a parking lot for customers and visitors.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Requiem: Santa Cruz’s lost public square as the new library breaks ground
In bulldozing Santa Cruz’s de facto town square — Lot 4 and its beloved magnolias — to make way for a parking garage, affordable housing and a new library, activist Rick Longinotti argues that the city not only erased a cherished gathering space but also bent fiscal rules, risking public trust.
Posted inHousing & Development
One arrested as Santa Cruz breaks ground on long-sought downtown library and affordable housing project
Santa Cruz launched construction on its flagship downtown library and affordable housing project Wednesday, though protests erupted as Food Not Bombs founder Keith McHenry disrupted the event before being arrested by police.
Posted inHousing & Development
With construction underway, city invites public to ceremonial groundbreaking for downtown Santa Cruz library mixed-use project
The public is invited to Lot 8, across Lincoln Street from the site of the future downtown Santa Cruz library and affordable housing on Lot 4, for a ceremony marking the occasion at noon next Wednesday, Aug. 20.
Posted inLatest News
Downtown Santa Cruz library to break ground Aug. 20
The downtown library mixed-use project will officially start construction with a groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 20. Shovels were expected to hit the ground in June, but a series of delays pushed the timeline into August.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Construction hasn’t started on Santa Cruz’s downtown library – why isn’t the city answering our questions?
Transparency activist Marv Lewis believes the City of Santa Cruz might have missed a key deadline for the downtown library project, jeopardizing $53 million in tax credits. He raises concerns about transparency and public accountability.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
National Library Week, downtown library festival deliver much to check out
Between the long-awaited groundbreaking of the downtown Santa Cruz library mixed-use project set for this spring and National Library Week coming up on April 6-12, Santa Cruz County bibliophiles have plenty to celebrate this month.
Posted inHousing & Development
Downtown farmers market prepares for May move to temporary location two blocks away
This May, in preparation for the groundbreaking on Santa Cruz’s mixed-use library project, the weekly downtown farmers market will move from its current location to a site two blocks away along Cedar Street and Church Street. The market plans to stay at this temporary spot for two to three years while it looks at options for a permanent home downtown – possibly on the site of the current downtown library.
Posted inHousing & Development
Santa Cruz downtown library mixed-use project to break ground by June with $100 million in state support
The City of Santa Cruz said its downtown library mixed-use project will break ground before June after securing more than $110 million in state funding. The project will include 124 affordable housing units, a new 41,000-square-foot library, a child care center, commercial space and parking for 240 cars and 203 bikes.
