Santa Cruz Local newsletter briefs for the week of Dec. 18:
HOUSING
Three downtown Santa Cruz housing projects to open in 2024
Anton Pacific Apartments at Laurel Street and Pacific Avenue is expected to open in late February 2024. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local)
Three downtown Santa Cruz housing projects are expected to open in 2024.
- Anton Pacific Apartments is a 207-unit, market rate development on Laurel Street, Front Street and Pacific Avenue. Prospective tenants can submit information online for potential occupancy in late February.
- Cedar Street Apartments is a 65-unit affordable housing project at 525 Cedar St. initiated by leaders of Calvary Episcopal Church. A lottery was held for prospective tenants. The complex is expected to open in February.
- Pacific Station South is a 70-unit affordable housing project at 818 Pacific Ave. Leaders from the nonprofit developer For the Future Housing expect the project to finish in late spring 2024. Lease information is expected online in December or January.
—Stephen Baxter
Read Santa Cruz Local’s Housing and Construction page
Construction continues on a 65-unit affordable housing complex next to Calvary Episcopal Church in downtown Santa Cruz in late November. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local)
ENVIRONMENT
Input due Dec. 18 on potential North Coast projects
A dirt parking lot could be replaced with a paved lot at Four Mile Beach at Wilder Ranch State Park. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local)
Public comments are due Monday, Dec. 18 on a North Coast Facilities Management Plan spearheaded by Santa Cruz County staff.
An online map and survey lists 41 potential projects from Wilder Ranch State Park to Waddell Creek along Highway 1.
“Santa Cruz County’s North Coast has limited visitor amenities, infrastructure and law enforcement, and high visitation levels have increasingly overwhelmed the area and threatened natural resources, public safety, and visitor experience,” Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin wrote in a statement. “The intent of the North Coast Facilities Management Plan is to improve management while preserving one of California’s most beautiful stretches of coastline,” Hoppin wrote.
County leaders want respondents to pick their top three projects to pursue. Some potential projects include:
- Restrooms and bridge replacement at Scott Creek.
- Parking and restrooms at Panther Beach and at Shark Fin Cove north of Bonny Doon Beach.
- Paved parking and restrooms at Four Mile Beach.
- “Overnight accommodations” at Greyhound Rock County Park.
Leaders of North Coast land management agencies assembled the plan, including representatives of Santa Cruz County Parks, State Parks, CalTrans, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County and the Trust for Public Land.
After the survey, leaders from the separate agencies will be responsible for pursuing money and approval for separate projects.
—Stephen Baxter
HEALTH
Farmworker families receive gifts at Watsonville Community Hospital
Children receive gifts at Watsonville Community Hospital on Dec. 9. (Nancy Gere — Watsonville Community Hospital)
More than 250 children of farmworkers received gifts at Watsonville Community Hospital on Dec. 9 from hospital staff and physicians.
Hospital staff raised more than $12,000 for the annual event, which exceeded their goal, said Watsonville Community Hospital representative Nancy Gere. Leaders of the Center for Farmworker Families partnered with hospital staff to put on the event.
—Stephen Baxter
Santa Claus talks to children at a Dec. 9 event at Watsonville Community Hospital. (Nancy Gere — Watsonville Community Hospital)
SANTA CRUZ LOCAL
Candidate forum set for Jan. 10
A forum for District 2 Santa Cruz County Supervisor candidates will take place Jan. 10 at the Watsonville Public Library. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)
Santa Cruz Local will host a live forum on Jan. 10 for candidates in the District 2 Santa Cruz County Supervisors race. The candidates will appear on the March 5 ballot.
District 2 includes Aptos, Freedom, Corralitos and parts of Watsonville and Capitola. The seat is now held by Zach Friend, who is not running for reelection. Santa Cruz Local will host the free event and ask the candidates questions from our People’s Agenda.
Event details:
- 5:15-6:30 p.m., Jan. 10. Doors open at 5 p.m.
- Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St., Watsonville.
- Spanish translation will be available.
- Snacks will be provided, as well as a supervised storytime in the library for children of attendees.
Space is limited, so please register to attend. There will not be a live webcast, but a video recording of the event will be made available after the event.
Register here
Questions or comments? Email [email protected]. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.
Stephen Baxter is a co-founder and editor of Santa Cruz Local. He covers Santa Cruz County government.
