The city’s $2.5 million purchase of the Toadal Fitness site marks a significant milestone in the progress of the downtown library mixed-use project; however, hurdles still remain.
Downtown Santa Cruz library/affordable housing project
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Latest funding piece for downtown Santa Cruz library project ‘an enormous step forward’
The $33.5 million awarded by the state brings the Downtown Library and Affordable Housing Project closer to reality, but Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley said the city still has a way to go before all three project components — housing, library and parking — are fully funded.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz County’s library buildout is almost done; here’s a quick guide to where the branches stand
Six years ago, Santa Cruz County voters invested in a total upgrade of the public library system. Now, with the downtown library expected to break ground in 2024, with a hopeful 2026 completion, the new buildings — and programs and services — are almost all done. Take a quick tour.
Posted inUncategorized
A field guide to downtown Santa Cruz’s many in-progress housing developments
Downtown Santa Cruz is humming with construction, and there’s plenty more coming. Here’s Lookout’s update on where things stand as of late April 2023.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz’s downtown library mixed-use project gets final green light from city council
The long-debated downtown library mixed-use project got its day in front of the Santa Cruz City Council and will move forward following overwhelming support from the dais.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Fate of Santa Cruz’s library mixed-use project to be tested at new-look planning commission Thursday
The project at the center of ballot proposition Measure O in Santa Cruz’s November election awaits a recommendation from the city’s planning commission and a possible final approval by the city council on March 14.
Posted inFood & Drink
Santa Cruz farmers market expects to stay on Lot 4 through at least spring 2024
With the library/affordable housing project set to displace the downtown Santa Cruz farmers market from its longtime home on Lot 4, director Nesh Dhillon is targeting year’s end to select its permanent site and aims to choose an interim spot for the market during construction by this summer.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Let’s be real: Local government can’t fix everything, but Santa Cruz’s ‘laser focus’ on housing will benefit us all
Donna Meyers has spent four years on the Santa Cruz City Council and takes issue with a recent Lookout piece by Cyndi Dawson, chair of the city’s planning commission. Dawson misses the point of local government, Meyers writes. She also fails to take a long view or see that this council has raised close to $50 million to support affordable housing. Meyers thinks this council’s “laser focus” on affordable housing will be its legacy. Councilmembers are not “progressive,” “conservative,” Democrats or Republicans, she argues. Such labels are, she insists, counterproductive to the communal work of governing.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
With Measure O decided, expect new downtown Santa Cruz library in 2026
Buildings take time. Though planners did work on the downtown Santa Cruz library/housing/parking structure before the Measure O vote and continued during the campaign, the new construction probably won’t open for four years. Soon, it will enter a “design” phase, followed by a 2024 groundbreaking.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz’s Measure O looks headed for double-digit defeat
Controversial Measure O — which addresses the fate of a new downtown Santa Cruz library and the location of the farmers market, among other things — was behind by a margin of 16 points.