An eight-story, 245-unit apartment building is proposed on Front Street in downtown Santa Cruz. (Lincoln Property Co.)

San Francisco-based Lincoln Property Co. submitted a pre-application in January to build 245 homes where Ace Hardware and its parking lot now stand at 201 Front St.

The proposal includes:

• 99 one-bedrooms.
• 78 two-bedrooms.
• 40 junior one-bedrooms.
• 16 studios.
• Six three-bedrooms.
• Six large live-work units.
• Below-market-rate unit information is not in the pre-application.

A parking garage is proposed with 256 stalls in the basement and in the center of the first three floors of the building. 

The ground floor is anticipated to have 10,000 square feet of commercial space, a coworking space with a coffee lounge and a pet grooming area. The lower levels would have commercial space, live-work space, parking and some apartments.

The proposal is across the street from a seven-story apartment complex at Pacific Avenue, Front and Laurel streets that opened in 2024.

The Front Street site is within the downtown expansion plan that the Santa Cruz City Council approved this month.

The downtown expansion plan includes: 

• Taller building heights south of Laurel Street with a 29-acre extension of downtown. 
• A goal to build 1,600 new homes to help satisfy state targets. 
• Bike and pedestrian improvements.
• A 3,200-seat, permanent Santa Cruz Warriors arena at Spruce and Front streets.
• A pedestrian plaza along Spruce Street.
• More seating and landscaping along the Riverwalk on the San Lorenzo River levee.
• Better connections between downtown and the river and beach areas, including a revamped Cliff Street stairs and viewpoint.
• Increased tax revenue for the city and new economic opportunities for local businesses and workers.

A second reading of the ordinance is set for the May 27 Santa Cruz City Council meeting.

The 201 Front. St. proposal does not exceed 85 feet, which is within height limits in the downtown expansion plan. 

An apartment complex is proposed at Ace Hardware and its parking lot on the block bounded by Pacific Avenue and Laurel, Front and Spruce streets. (Mike Kolar)

The downtown expansion plan increases building height limits in Downtown Santa Cruz, though those height limits could still be exceeded under state density bonus laws. (City of Santa Cruz)

An eight-story building is shown at Pacific Avenue and Spruce Street. (Lincoln Property Co.)

Front Street could be the sole entry for a 256-stall parking garage at 201 Front St. (Lincoln Property Co.)

A view of the building facing Pacific Avenue from the Laurel Street intersection. (Lincoln Property Co.)

A view of the proposed building at Pacific Avenue and Spruce Street. (Lincoln Property Co.)

Ground floor shops or other commercial space is shown on Laurel Street. (Lincoln Property Co.)

Spruce Street is proposed to be closed to vehicles. (Lincoln Property Co.)

The building is proposed to be eight stories. (Lincoln Property Co.) 

A Santa Cruz Warriors arena could potentially replace the Spruce Street parking lot and pink apartments, across Spruce from the proposed apartments at 201 Front St. (Mike Kolar)

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