Santa Cruz Changes 100: Progress Report part 2

Here's the second half of the report. The more recent posts are mostly about developments that are still in early stages of the planning/permitting process, which takes a while, so only those projects that are completed or under construction will be noted here.

Completed:

• 530 Center Street "Mas Paseos"] (Changes 57, February 18, 2023). The walkway from the end of Cathcart Street at Cedar Street through to Center Street, is now open - as shown in the photo above. 

Under Construction:

• 119 Coral Street (Changes 55, February 4, 2023). Groundbreaking ceremony Sep. 17.
• 111 Errett Circle (Changes 60, April 8, 2023). Demolition is complete, site prep underway.
• Pure Water Soquel (Changes 83, March 2, 2024). Construction seems to be nearing completion.
  
• Chanticleer Ave. pedestrian bridge (Changes 82, February 17, 2024). Construction seems to be nearing completion. 
• Capitola Avenue overpass [Highway 1] (Changes 84, March 11, 2024). Under construction; demolition of old bridge complete.
• UCSC East Meadow housing (Changes 95, June 29, 2024). Site prep continues.
• The Park at Rispin Mansion [Capitola] (Changes 96, July 6, 2024). Completion expected in October.

Santa Cruz Changes 99: Progress Report

During the past three years, this blog has reported on a lot of development projects involving large new buildings. It's August, a time of year when projects that are going to break ground this year have already done so. So which ones are completed, which are under construction, and which have not started? Here are the first 50 - remainder to come next week.

Completed:

• Pacific-Laurel-Front (Changes 4, March 6, 2021). All of the construction fencing was removed a few weeks ago, and the on-site leasing office is open.
• 1547 Pacific Avenue (Changes 6, March 22, 2021). Opened in 2021; still no tenants in any of the street-level retail spaces.
• Delaware Addition (Changes 7, March 27, 2021). The two commercial buildings and one apartment building in the back have been completed. What in 2021 looked like the beginning of construction on a larger residential development proposed for the west side of Panetta Lane was apparently just a staging area for the other buildings. That large still-fenced lot now shows no activity, and city records show no active permit application. 
• 350 Ocean Street (Changes 13, May 16, 2021). Completed in 2021.
• Water Street Apartments (Changes 18, June 20, 2021). Completed in 2021.
• Beach Street (Changes 35, October 23, 2021). The Marea Sol hotel opened this year.
• Not Quite Beach Street (Changes 36, October 30, 2021). The Courtyard hotel on Riverside Ave. opened in 2022. La Quinta hotel on Second Street opened in 2023.
• 1500 Capitola Road (Changes 43, December 18, 2021), Completed in 2022.
• Aptos library (Changes 45, January 15, 2022). Opened in 2024.
• 530 Center Street Mixed-Use (Changes 50, June 18, 2022). Just opened.
  
 

Under Construction:

• 418-508 Front Street (Changes 9, April 17, 2021). Now up to the second level, even with the levee top.
• Pacific Station South (Changes 21, July 10, 2021). Nearly complete, should open this year.
• Pacific Station North (Changes 22, July 17, 2021). Broke ground this year.
• Beach Street (Changes 35, October 23, 2021). The La Bahia hotel will probably open next year.
• Rail Trail (Changes 49, February 19, 2022). The California-to-Pacific segment should be completed this year.
  
 

Not started:

• 831 Water Street (Changes 19, June 26, 2021). No activity on permit application since 2021.
• 324 Front Street (Cruz Hotel, Changes 40, November 27, 2021). Still in the planning permit process. Revised plans were submitted in 2023.
• 130 Center Street (Changes 41, December 4, 2021). The Calypso apartments project was approved by the City Council in January, 2022. An application for a 6-month permit to use the property temporarily as a parking lot was approved on July 31.
  

An update on changes in downtown retail tenant changes will follow, sometime later this year.

Santa Cruz Changes 98: 831 Almar

The previous post concerned the proposed development at 850 Almar, in the empty triangular lot formed by Almar Avenue, Rankin Street, and the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail - aka "the rail trail". Across Almar is the site of another proposed development, at 831 Almar. The view above looks at the site from where the rail trail crosses Almar. 

The development proposal, by the local firm called Workbench, began the approval process sooner than 850 Almar, but will probably take longer, because it's larger, mixed-use, and the apartments will not be 100% affordable. The rendering below looks at the development from Almar Avenue, with a bit of the rail trail seen at far left. We'll compare and contrast these two proposals later, as they move through the approvals process. Note that, because of recent state legislation, the process will be much quicker than in the past.