A housing project at 2838 Park Ave. in Soquel is supposed to finish in early 2025. (Tyler Maldonado — Santa Cruz Local file)

SOQUEL >> Construction appeared to stall for several weeks this summer at a 36-unit permanent supportive housing complex at 2838 Park Ave. in Soquel, but a representative for the developer said the project remains on track to finish next year.

Several neighbors and Santa Cruz Local readers said they had not seen much progress on the site this summer.

“The project has experienced some delays due to winter storms” and procurement of electrical systems, a Novin Development representative wrote in an Aug. 29 email. “No activity on site does not mean no construction progress.” The project is supposed to finish by the end of March 2025.

The project, called Park Haven Plaza, is funded through the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s Project Homekey. The project aims to fund housing for people who are unhoused or at risk of homelessness. In June 2022, Project Homekey awarded Santa Cruz County $10.7 million for the project. 

Construction began October 2022. Most Project Homekey developments must complete construction within one year, but that deadline has been pushed back multiple times because of storms and electrical system delays. The new deadline is April 2025. If there are no further delays, the project is expected to meet that deadline, a Novin Development representative said.

Permanent supportive housing is expected to open at 2838 Park Ave., Soquel in spring 2025. (Novin Development)

The complex is set to be permanent supportive housing for veterans, formerly homeless families and young adults who have aged out of the foster-care system. Permanent supportive housing provides residents social services such as child care or job training.

The complex is being built with modular construction, meaning portions of the building are assembled elsewhere and put together on the site. The method has been used to build affordable housing more quickly and less expensively. 

Park Haven Plaza is expected to be one of the first modular, multifamily permanent supportive housing communities in Santa Cruz County. 

An apartment complex is under construction at 2838 Park Ave., Soquel. (County of Santa Cruz)

Read more

• 2838 Park Ave., Soquel, Park Haven Plaza — Last updated August 2024
• Santa Cruz County housing projects for homeless advance — Jan. 25, 2022

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