An apartment complex on the Food Bin site approved by the Santa Cruz City Council in May has been stalled by a lawsuit over 11 in-law units. (Workbench)

SANTA CRUZ >> Four projects on Mission Street in Santa Cruz moved forward in November. 

Linda Vista Shopping Center

Construction is nearly finished at a shopping center at 2332 Mission St. that included Arrow Surf & Spot and La Cabaña Taqueria, but it likely won’t reopen until summer 2025, builders said.

Linda Vista Shopping Center was severely damaged in a 2022 fire. Arrow temporarily relocated to Delaware Avenue, and La Cabaña has held pop-up events and online sales, according to its social media. La Cabaña and Arrow are expected to reopen in the renovated center.

The shopping center is expected to reopen to tenants when a new electrical transformer is installed. “The hope is the work is completed within the next two weeks, and then tenants will be able to start on their work,” wrote project developer Erik Barbic, a project developer with SBA  Commercial Inc, in a Nov. 13 email. The renewed shopping center is slightly smaller than the original and includes a courtyard between Arrow and La Cabaña.

Construction continues at 2332 Mission St. in June. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local)

La Reina Fresh Market

La Reina Fresh Market, a Mexican grocery with two locations in Watsonville, is set to open a new location at 1204 Mission St. The store is expected to open in November or December, a La Reina employee said.

The site has been a Twice as Nice discount store and La Esperanza Market in recent years.

1130 Mission St., Food Bin redevelopment

The Food Bin and Herb Room are expected to be redeveloped and remain at 1130 Mission St. below apartments. (Workbench)

In May, the Santa Cruz City Council approved a 48-apartment building at the Food Bin at 1130 Mission St. Now, Workbench is entrenched in a legal battle with the city. 

The suit challenges the city council’s rejection of 11 ADUs proposed alongside the five-story building. The ADUs were technically proposed as storage sheds, but developers said they would later be converted into living spaces.

Food Bin owner Doug Wallace and Workbench sued the city Aug. 26 in Santa Cruz County Superior Court. The complaint states that state law requires the city to approve the ADUs. The city has until Dec. 9 to submit to the court internal records related to the project, including emails and memos, according to court documents.

Read more

• Santa Cruz Local’s Housing and Construction page for 1130 Mission St., Food Bin redevelopment.
• Planning commission approves Food Bin housing project in Santa Cruz — Jan. 19, 2024
• Food Bin housing proposal to be considered by Santa Cruz Planning Commission — Jan. 15, 2024
• Food Bin owners explain Santa Cruz housing proposal — April 21, 2023

How to make your voice heard

Submit comments and questions on the City of Santa Cruz project page for 1130 Mission St.

1815 Mission St. apartments

A six-story apartment building is proposed at Mission and Dufour streets in Santa Cruz. (Workbench)

In July, Mission Studios LLC, an affiliate of Oakland-based Getgo Property Group, and Workbench submitted a preliminary application to replace three single-family homes near Mission and Dufour streets with a six-story apartment building.

The project would include: 

• 68 units, including single- and double-occupancy studios and two-bedroom apartments. The units would average 460 square feet, and would be marketed primarily to college students, according to a Workbench presentation at a Sept. 30 community meeting for the project.
• 10 below-market-rate apartments, including five very-low income units, two low income units, and three moderate income units. Income limits are set annually by state and federal agencies.
• Businesses on the ground floor.
• Partial rooftop access. “These spaces will be quite narrow and have a hefty landscape buffer to prevent residents from being able to look down,” said Jessica Presley, a Workbench project manager, at the Sept. 30 meeting.

Many of the Sept. 30 meeting’s more than 50 attendees said they were concerned about the height of the building relative to the surrounding single-family neighborhood. Many also criticized the footprint of the building, which extends to the back of the property without a setback.

Santa Cruz city staff published answers to frequently asked questions about the proposal on Nov. 4, 2024. It addresses fences, emergency response, parking and other project details.  

Project details may change when the developer submits a complete application. 

Read more

• Santa Cruz Local’s Housing and Construction page for 1815 Mission St. Apartments.
• Architects describe 6-story apartment building on Mission St. in Santa Cruz – Oct. 1, 2024

How to make your voice heard

• Submit comments and questions on the City of Santa Cruz project page for 1811, 1815, 1819 Mission St.

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