Since the building is too old to be renovated into a modern library space, the city has been soliciting ideas for what to put in the space. Two main concepts have emerged: a plaza/park with housing and parking, and a community or commercial space in the repurposed building plus parking.
Housing
Posted inCoast Life
Bikes, cars and safe cohabitation: Santa Cruz is among the most dangerous cycling counties in the state
Santa Cruz County has three times as many people biking to work as the national average in addition to thriving road cycling and mountain biking scenes. It also is among the state’s leaders in cyclist fatalities and injuries.
Posted inHousing & Development
What makes neighborhoods ‘distinctively Santa Cruz’? City solicits input on new development standards
The city of Santa Cruz is asking residents to weigh in on specific standards and scope for new housing developments — and is dangling gift cards for those who respond to a survey.
Posted inHousing & Development
Will June hearing be the end of injunction vs. city in Benchlands homeless lawsuit?
A federal judge could dissolve an injunction keeping the city of Santa Cruz from clearing a homeless encampment in the San Lorenzo Benchlands at a June 29 hearing set Thursday.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
TOLO out, CSSO in: Santa Cruz City Council gives first OK to new homeless camping law
The new ordinance, which needs two approvals to become law, is more cut-and-dried than the TOLO, and more restrictive. If approved, the ordinance would ban outdoor sleeping everywhere in Santa Cruz except at sites specifically designated by the city for overnight camping.
Posted inHousing & Development
Is end to legal clash over the San Lorenzo Park homeless encampment in sight?
There have been signs of progress in the litigation between the homeless union and Santa Cruz officials in advance of a key hearing Thursday, but sticking points remain.
Posted inEnvironment
California proposal embraces all-electric buildings but stops short of gas ban
Environmental advocates had hoped that California would become the first state to require all-electric housing in new construction. Instead, they got an incremental step toward the use of electric heat.
Posted inHousing & Development
From TOLO to CSSO: Revamped camping ordinance heads to Santa Cruz council Tuesday, so what’s changed?
Among the biggest changes of the revised law: Whereas previously proposed rules would’ve left areas with certain zoning open to overnight camping on public property, the updated ordinance essentially prohibits daytime and nighttime camping citywide once certain conditions are met.
Posted inLatest News
Caltrans begins cleanup of Highway 1/9 homeless encampment as eviction notices take effect
Seventy-two hours after notices went up, police and clean-up crews began the final stages of clearing out the homeless encampment at Highways 1 and 9 in Santa Cruz. Most occupants left over the weekend, but with shelters full, it’s unclear where many of them went.
Posted inLatest News
Highway 1 and 9 homeless encampment begins clearing out to make way for construction project
It appeared that the hundreds of campers in coming days will need to find open spaces in city and county shelters or managed encampments in which to stay — or find some other place to sleep. Homeless advocates had begun going to the intersection Friday to try to begin finding places for the displaced campers to relocate.