Construction continues on the corner of Laurel Street and Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz on Nov. 30, 2023. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local)
Last updated: December 2023
Project name: Anton Pacific Apartments
Location
The entire downtown block between Pacific Avenue, Front and Laurel streets.
Status
The developer continued to collect information from prospective tenants in December 2023 with plans to open in late February 2024. Leasing information is on the developer’s website.
Developer
Devcon Construction and LHH Partners (a trio of Owen Lawlor, Reuben Helick and architect Jan Hochhauser)
Project description
- Total units: This project calls for 207 market-rate housing units with ground-floor shops.
- Affordable units: All the units are market rate. Instead of building affordable units, the developers dedicated nearby land to the city. City leaders plan to use that land for Pacific Station, a planned affordable housing project. City and state law allow developers to dedicate land in lieu of building affordable housing.
- Height: There are expected to be seven stories including a roof deck and two levels of underground parking.
- Details: There is expected to be a fitness center, two community rooms, courtyards with barbecues, dining areas, game tables, fire pits and bike storage.
- Background: The Santa Cruz City Council approved the project in December 2018. Construction began in 2021 and is expected to finish in early 2024.
- Proponents and Opponents: Two residents sued the city in 2019 about the developer’s land deal with the city. City leaders settled that lawsuit in 2019. City leaders agreed to increase the inclusionary rate for rentals and ownership units from 10% to 15% across the city. Inclusionary rates are the percentage of housing units in new projects that developers are required to offer at affordable rents or prices to people with lower incomes.
A rooftop deck is expected at Anton Pacific Apartments at Front Street, Laurel Street and Pacific Avenue. (Hochhauser Blatter Associates Architecture and Planning)
Fire pits and other amenities are expected at Anton Pacific Apartments. (Hochhauser Blatter Associates Architecture and Planning)
Construction continues on Laurel Street and Pacific Avenue on Oct. 19, 2022. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local)
Construction at Laurel Street and Pacific Avenue on Feb. 10, 2022. A Taco Bell stood at Laurel and Pacific prior to redevelopment. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local)
Construction continues on the corner of Front and Laurel streets in Santa Cruz on Aug. 11, 2023. (Nik Altenberg — Santa Cruz Local)
Read more:
- City of Santa Cruz’s project application page
- Santa Cruz Local podcast: The future of downtown Santa Cruz (Aug. 31, 2019)
- Santa Cruz Local podcast: Why you should care about inclusionary rates (Nov. 24, 2019)
- Santa Cruz Local podcast: Santa Cruz eviction law passes (Oct. 30, 2019) (We recap the outcome of the city lawsuit at the end.)
How to make your voice heard: submit comments and questions on the City of Santa Cruz project application page.
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