Read Santa Cruz Local’s story: Election Guide, Nov. 8, 2022: Measure O and the Downtown Santa Cruz Library project.
Last updated: January 2024
Project name: Library Mixed-Use Project
- Location: The Downtown Farmers Market parking lot at Cedar and Cathcart streets.
- Status: Building permits are expected to be considered in April 2024. Construction could start by the end of 2024, City Manager Matt Huffaker wrote in late January 2024.
- The Santa Cruz City Council approved the project in June 2020. Construction could take two years. In May 2022, the architect and project team presented new floor plans and cost estimates for the library.
- Developer: Affordable housing developers: Eden Housing and For the Future of Housing Inc. Owner’s representative: Griffin Structures will lead selection of the rest of the developer team.
Updated site plans were released at a Santa Cruz City Council meeting. (Renderings by Jayson Architecture)
A sketch shows a mixed-use library, affordable housing, and parking garage planned at Cedar and Cathcart streets. (Jayson Architecture)
A draft rendering of the mid-block Cedar Street entrance of the planned Downtown Santa Cruz library shows textured glass windows and a rooftop garden. (Jayson Architecture)
Another draft rendering of the Cedar Street entrance of the planned Downtown Santa Cruz library shows housing above and behind the rooftop garden. (Jayson Architecture)
A city parking lot stands at the corner of Cedar and Cathcart streets in Santa Cruz. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)
A rendering shows an interior design of a new downtown library. Find more renderings here and here. (Jayson Architecture)
Project description
- Details: The library project includes 124 affordable housing units and a garage. Updated plans have expanded the library from 35,000 to 38,000 square feet, said Santa Cruz Economic Development Director Bonnie Lipscomb. The plans include:
- A living roof planted with native grasses.
- Rooftop solar panels that will generate as much energy as the building uses.
- A children’s section and daycare.
- A roof deck for library patrons and events.
- A 9,600-square-foot commercial space.
- Locked enclosures and racks for 258 bicycles.
- A three-story, 243-space parking garage.
- Farmers Market location: On Oct. 14, 2022, city and farmers market leaders said they signed a memorandum of understanding that expressed that they are “jointly committed to identifying and securing a permanent home for the market in Downtown Santa Cruz,” city spokeswoman Eileen Cross wrote in a statement. The city has allocated more than $1.7 million for the construction of a new farmers market facility with an overhead structure for year-round use.
- Existing library site: City leaders have begun a public process to consider options for the existing library at 224 Church St. Based on public feedback, a consultant team recommended:
- Affordable housing
- Community-oriented (not commercial) ground-floor options
- A civic plaza or park focused on daily uses for downtown residents, such as a dog park
- Potential to host the downtown farmers market
Measure O on the November 2022 ballot
Measure O on the November 2022 ballot would halt the library, garage and housing project. The measure would force renovation of the current Downtown Santa Cruz library on Church Street. The group has said the farmers market should not be displaced. Farmers market leaders have said they are not opposed to a new location.
Opponents of the planned library complex envision a public square where the city parking lot stands at Cathcart and Cedar streets.
Read more:
- Downtown Santa Cruz library plans updated (May 11, 2022)
- Downtown Santa Cruz library renderings released (March 23, 2022)
- Santa Cruz council approves downtown library project (June 24, 2020)
- Santa Cruz Local podcast: Santa Cruz library decision looms (June 19, 2020)
- Santa Cruz downtown library decision slated for June 23 (June 2, 2020)
- New cost estimates, renderings shared for Santa Cruz downtown library plan (May 7, 2020)
- Santa Cruz to weigh compromises in downtown library plan (Dec. 15, 2019)
- City of Santa Cruz Library Mixed Use Project page
How to make your voice heard: Submit comments and questions to the city’s Economic Development Director Bonnie Lipscomb [email protected]
Read about other notable housing and construction projects in Santa Cruz County.
Another draft rendering of the Cedar Street entrance of the planned Downtown Santa Cruz library shows housing above and behind the rooftop garden. (Jayson Architecture)
A city parking lot stands at the corner of Cedar and Cathcart streets in Santa Cruz. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)
A rendering shows an interior design of a new downtown library. Find more renderings here and here. (Jayson Architecture)
Project description
- Details: The library project includes 124 affordable housing units and a garage. Updated plans have expanded the library from 35,000 to 38,000 square feet, said Santa Cruz Economic Development Director Bonnie Lipscomb. The plans include:
- A living roof planted with native grasses.
- Rooftop solar panels that will generate as much energy as the building uses.
- A children’s section and daycare.
- A roof deck for library patrons and events.
- A 9,600-square-foot commercial space.
- Locked enclosures and racks for 258 bicycles.
- A three-story, 243-space parking garage.
- Farmers Market location: City leaders will resume discussions to permanently move the farmers market to another location, possibly a parking lot at Front and Cathcart streets.
- Existing library site: City leaders have begun a public process to consider options for the existing library at 224 Church St. Based on public feedback, a consultant team recommended:
- Affordable housing
- Community-oriented (not commercial) ground-floor options
- A civic plaza or park focused on daily uses for downtown residents, such as a dog park
- Potential to host the downtown farmers market
Our Downtown Our Future
The group Our Downtown Our Future is promoted a city ballot measure in November 2022 that would halt the library, garage and housing project. The group instead wanted to renovate the current Downtown Santa Cruz library on Church Street. The group has said the farmers market should not be displaced. Farmers market leaders have said they are not opposed to a new location.
Opponents of the planned library complex envision a public square where the city parking lot stands at Cathcart and Cedar streets.
Read more:
- Downtown Santa Cruz library plans updated (May 11, 2022)
- Downtown Santa Cruz library renderings released (March 23, 2022)
- Santa Cruz council approves downtown library project (June 24, 2020)
- Santa Cruz Local podcast: Santa Cruz library decision looms (June 19, 2020)
- Santa Cruz downtown library decision slated for June 23 (June 2, 2020)
- New cost estimates, renderings shared for Santa Cruz downtown library plan (May 7, 2020)
- Santa Cruz to weigh compromises in downtown library plan (Dec. 15, 2019)
- City of Santa Cruz Library Mixed Use Project page
How to make your voice heard: Submit comments and questions to the city’s Economic Development Director Bonnie Lipscomb [email protected]
Read about other notable housing and construction projects in Santa Cruz County.