The Santa Cruz Planning Commission in January approved a proposed apartment building above retail space for the Food Bin and Herb Room Mission Street in Santa Cruz. (Workbench)

Last updated: January 2024

Project name: Food Bin redevelopment

Location: 1130 and 1132 Mission St.

The proposed project is the current site of the Food Bin and Herb Room at the corner of Laurel and Mission streets.

A map of showing 1130 Mission St., the site of a proposed housing development.

Status

  • The Santa Cruz Planning Commission approved the project on Jan. 18, 2024 after a crowded, four-hour meeting. The decision is expected to be appealed to the Santa Cruz City Council because of some neighbors’ opposition.
  • A preliminary application was submitted in January 2023 and a formal application was submitted in June 2023.

Developer

The Santa Cruz-based Workbench is the developer. Doug Wallace is co-owner of the Food Bin and Herb Room with his wife, Peggy Eulensen. “Mission Street is going to be built up. We keep hearing it and seeing it,” Eulensen said in April 2023

“We need a new space. We’re trying to make it look good, and to fit in with the design standards and Santa Cruz values,” Eulensen said. “We don’t want to be a giant Santa Monica, but some of that is going to happen and Mission Street is one of the best places for that to happen.”

Project description

  • Total units: 59 studios.
  • Affordable units: 8 “very-low income” units, based on state-set income limits.
  • Height: Five stories, 66 feet tall.
  • Details: The proposal includes ground-floor shops with four stories of housing above. The Food Bin and Herb Room and a takeout coffee bar are planned for the ground floor and 50 market-rate studios, eight affordable studios and one manager’s unit above. Plans include 10 electric vehicle charging stations, two accessible parking spaces, and 92 bicycle parking spaces. Developers have said the hope is for a “car-free community.”

The Food Bin is at 1130 Mission St. at Laurel Street in Santa Cruz. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local)

A rendering shows four floors of homes above retail at 1130 Mission St. (Workbench)

Stay on top of these housing projects and more.

Sign up free to get Santa Cruz Local in your inbox twice a week. We dig into Santa Cruz County's biggest issues.

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.

Learn about membership
Santa Cruz Local’s news is free. We believe that high-quality local news is crucial to democracy. We depend on locals like you to make a meaningful contribution so everyone can access our news.
Learn about membership