More than 50 residents gathered at London Nelson Community Center last Monday to review and provide feedback on potential projects for the next five years along Santa Cruz’s West Cliff Drive as well as the work that is currently underway. The potential efforts range from strengthening transportation and parking to monitoring and protecting the coastline and its ecosystems.
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A significant story with interest across the county
Posted inLatest News
Lookout’s night at the Pulitzers
On Thursday evening, Lookout Santa Cruz formally received the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News, a recognition of the work done during the catastrophic January 2023 storms in Santa Cruz County. A contingent led by managing editor Tamsin McMahon and CEO Ken Doctor was on hand in New York to accept.
Posted inLatest News
Dolphin Restaurant demolition begins as part of Santa Cruz Wharf repairs
Crews have started demolishing the former Dolphin Restaurant as part of repairs to the Santa Cruz Wharf that are expected to be completed by March. The wharf suffered damage in storms in December 2023.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz hopes to trade deeply affordable housing for height limits in downtown expansion
The Santa Cruz City Council endorsed a plan on Tuesday that would offer developers incentives to limit building height to 12 stories in the South of Laurel neighborhood, including reducing the number of units developers are required to offer to very low-income renters.
Posted inHousing & Development
Clocktower Center shake-up: Workbench submits new vision for controversial Santa Cruz project
The Clocktower Center project in Santa Cruz is back, but as a scaled-down version. Initially planned as a 16-story high-rise, the new proposal features a more modest eight-story building with 221 units and ground-floor commercial space. Developer Workbench hopes to bypass early planning stages and move straight to a city council vote.
Posted inEducation
How will Santa Cruz County school districts be affected, if at all, if Proposition 2 passes?
If approved by California voters, Proposition 2 would allow the state to borrow $10 billion to help schools and colleges to fund repairs and construction. Santa Cruz County superintendents talked to Lookout about what they can expect for their districts.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
County fire district measures seek to secure much-needed funding
Three Santa Cruz County fire protection districts — Central Fire, Scotts Valley and Zayante — are each putting either tax or bond measures out to voters this November aimed at funding aspects of fire response, ranging from vehicle fleet updates to modernizing existing fire stations and even constructing new facilities altogether.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz County under red flag warning Thursday night into Saturday; power shutoffs possible
The National Weather Service has expanded a red flag warning indicating critical fire weather conditions to include all of Santa Cruz County, beginning Thursday night and lasting through Saturday afternoon. With windy conditions forecast throughout Central and Northern California, Pacific Gas & Electric listed Santa Cruz County among areas for precautionary power shutoffs Friday and Saturday, with 132 customers possibly affected.
Posted inHousing & Development
Fall housing market off to slow start, but rate cuts prompt some buyers to jump in
The Santa Cruz County housing market saw slightly less activity than usual in the early fall months, but real estate agents expect that to pick up as October continues. The Federal Reserve’s decision to cut short-term rates in September has brought in some prospective buyers.
Posted inLatest News
Defendants in murder of Tushar Atre will be tried separately
The four men charged in the 2019 kidnapping and murder of tech and cannabis entrepreneur Tushar Atre in Pleasure Point will each have their own trial after a Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge agreed that it was the best way to give each defendant a fair trial. The men are due back in court on Dec. 10.