A five-building housing complex is proposed at Thurber Lane and Soquel Drive. The lot has been used to sell Christmas trees. (Jesse Kathan — Santa Cruz Local file)
Soquel Drive and Thurber Lane, Live Oak – Anton Solana
A proposal from Anton Devco calls for 173 units across five buildings near Dominican Hospital.
The project would include:
- Buildings 38 to 69 feet tall.
- 257 parking spaces.
- Ground-floor space for offices and shops.
- An outdoor area with a small playground.
Developers anticipate a Santa Cruz County Planning Commission hearing in late August or early September, an Anton Devco representative wrote Thursday.
3500 Paul Sweet Road, Live Oak
An apartment complex is proposed at 3500 Paul Sweet Road in Live Oak. The current proposal is taller than this rendering, but a similar design is expected. (Workbench)
Workbench proposed 105 homes in a six-story building near retirement community Dominican Oaks. The project would include six apartments priced for very-low-income renters. State authorities set income limits annually.
841 Capitola Road, Live Oak
A home at 841 Capitola Road could be replaced by apartments. (Jesse Kathan — Santa Cruz Local)
Santa Cruz-based Workbench has submitted an application for a five-story apartment building at 841 Capitola Road near Grey Seal Road. The Santa Cruz Planning Commission could consider the project in August, a Workbench representative said Thursday.
The most recently submitted version of the project calls for 57 homes, including three units priced for very-low-income renters and one for extremely-low-income renters. State authorities set income limits annually.
An earlier version of the project would have invoked state law SB 35, which would have bypassed public hearings and allowed approval by county staff.
Confused about housing jargon?
Read Santa Cruz Local’s housing glossary to learn common words, phrases and laws.
2091 17th Ave., Live Oak
Apartments are planned at a grassy lot at 2091 17th Ave. (Tyler Maldonado — Santa Cruz Local)
Leaders of the United Methodist Church have proposed a three-story apartment complex near Chanticleer Avenue County Park. Developers submitted a preliminary application in May 2025 with 52 units, including 11 priced for moderate-income renters.
At a May community meeting, church leaders and developers presented a proposal for a complex with at least half of homes offered below market rent.
Read more about 2091 17th Ave.
Soquel Drive and 41st Avenue, Soquel
The land is bound by 41st Avenue and Soquel Drive. (Tyler Maldonado — Santa Cruz Local)
In January, developers submitted a pre-application for a 256-unit development at the southwest corner of Soquel Drive and 41st Avenue in Soquel.
The pre-application calls for:
- 253 below-market-rate apartments and three manager units.
- 20 studios, 100 one-bedroom apartments, 71 two-bedroom apartments and 65 three-bedroom apartments.
- 261 parking spaces.
- Office space on the ground floor.
A full application has not yet been submitted, according to county records.
Read more about 41st and Soquel.
Why so much development?
In the past 10 years, state laws have sought to overturn a decades-long pattern of population growth with little new housing development. Streamlined development rules aim to cure the state’s housing shortage and potentially slow a rise in housing costs.
Each local government has a state-set housing production goal. Areas of Santa Cruz County outside of cities must add 3,736 new housing units by 2032, or lose even more local control. Last year, county officials approved a plan to meet that goal.
Some housing laws allow developers to build homes taller and denser than local laws allow. Local officials legally have little power to change or deny many projects if they are zoned for housing.
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.
Jesse Kathan is a staff reporter for Santa Cruz Local through the California Local News Fellowship. They hold a master's degree in science communications from UC Santa Cruz.
