Last week's post looked at an upcoming redevelopment project called Pacific Station South, which will border the south side of Maple Alley between Pacific Avenue and Front Street. Across the alley will be another long-and-narrow, multi-use, many-story building, but with a different orientation. The 2017 photo above-right shows the view from the south on Pacific Ave.
Pacific Station North will occupy the entire Pacific Avenue frontage from Maple Alley to the five-story multi-use building at 1010 Pacific, built on the corner of Cathcart Street in 2004. That frontage now includes - south to north - a city parking lot, the Metro Center, and the Greyhound bus parking lot. The developer's rendering (at left) looks at the proposed building from approximately the same angle as the existing conditions (top photo).
Comparing these two views, the most noticeable change is the replacement of blue sky with building facade. That's an unfortunate consequence of all the new developments - taller buildings will make downtown sidewalks a lot shadier. Fortunately, Riverwalk Park is only a block away.
The biggest surprise with Pacific Station North, however, is what's behind it. The Metro bus lanes will be totally redesigned and expanded, with all entry and exit from Front Street.
The bus lanes will be shaded, too - by a forest of solar panel "trees" similar to those at the City Hall Annex parking lot. The blue-tinted solar panels are visible in the aerial-view rendering at right - and you'll never again have to wonder what time it is while waiting for your bus.More information about this project can be found at the City of Santa Cruz website.
