Santa Cruz Changes: 46 - Wee Kirk

News came this week that the old "Wee Kirk" in Ben Lomond has a new owner who promises to continue the preservation and restoration efforts of the building's previous owner. The Streetview image at right shows the little church in January, 2014. 

The following is from an article in Good Times:

Where the Wee Kirk Church once welcomed parishioners to mend their souls, nonprofit Santa Cruz Community Health will now provide comprehensive primary care services. . .a new health clinic opened at the site of a Ben Lomond historic church on Jan. 24.

The building was previously the home of Dr. Steven Leib’s family medical practice. He and his wife Vivian restored the historic church in 2014, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.

Lisa Robinson, president of the board of the San Lorenzo Valley Historical Society, who was at the opening, told the Press Banner the Leibs did a really good job fixing it up. “They’ve always felt that this building belonged to the community,” she said. “I’m really pleased that they have found the right group to take over.”

She expects it will continue to be a powerful place of healing. “It has just such a special feeling when you come through the door,” she reflected, as people milled through the space for the first time. “You feel better just being in this space.”

Santa Cruz Changes locations can be found on this Google Map.

Santa Cruz Changes: 45 - Aptos library

The venerable Aptos library (shown at right) will soon be replaced, so Changes is jumping out to Aptos this week. According to this Good Times article:

"Plans are moving forward with the Aptos Branch Library project to raze the existing 8,000-square-foot building, near the corner of State Park and Soquel drives, and build a 12,400-square-foot replacement. . .the wrecking ball isn’t expected to swing loose until next summer."

As can be seen in the concept rendering at left, the overall size and shape of the new building won't be too different - a low one-story structure (haven't used the term "one-story" much lately!) We'll check on progress at some future date.

Grab the current issue of Good Times for more details, or go online to Aptos Friends of SCPL.

Santa Cruz Changes locations can be found on this Google Map.

Santa Cruz Changes: 44 - Live Oak Crossing

 

Returning to the Live Oak area to begin 2022, after a two-week holiday break, Changes looks at the corner of Brommer Street and 17th Avenue. An apartment development named "Live Oak Crossing", completed in 2019, now fills that corner where an empty lot sat behind chain-link fences for many years. 

The 2017 view from Brommer Street (above right), did not add to the charm of this central Live Oak intersection. 

The unusual up-sweeping roof design of the new apartment buildings (left) has had its share of detractors. Also, in a reversal of program from earlier decades, the apartments' large parking lot is hidden behind the street-fronting buildings. While it arguably creates a more attractive view for passing motorists, residents would probably prefer a parking lot located between their homes and the street, giving them some buffer from the traffic noise at this busy intersection.

Santa Cruz Changes locations can be found on this Google Map.