Santa Cruz Changes 113: 2024 downtown commercial

It's been a trying year for businesses in downtown Santa Cruz, especially south of Cathcart Street. Street closures and other disruptions due to several major construction projects have made getting around more difficult, while the anticipated increase in foot traffic from all the new downtown residents is just beginning to arrive. Most of the retail/commercial spaces in those new buildings remain empty.

Business changes include:

Businesses opened, closed and/or replaced.
* Mad Yolks breakfast restaurant opened next to Pleasure Pizza on Pacific. The adjacent spaces, formerly Peet's Coffee and Palace Arts, remain empty.
* Rosie McCann's Irish Pub & Restaurant reopened on Pacific Ave.
* Pretty Good Advice veggie/vegan cafe replaced Pacific Thai on Pacific.
* Gobi Mongolian BBQ opened in the former Marini's confectionery space on Pacific Ave.
* New Leaf Market closed on Pacific at Soquel Ave. (new River Street store to open in 2025, in former Ross clothing store space at Gateway Center).
* Rock 'n Roll Donut Bar closed on Pacific Avenue, after only 6 months in business.
* Alderwood on Pacific restaurant closed - the original Alderwood on Walnut at Cedar remains.
* Phō House Vietnamese restaurant replaced Hōm Korean Kitchen on Pacific.
* Soif Wine Bar on Walnut Avenue replaced by the new seafood-focused restaurant Hook & Line.
* Tarros Mexican Restaurant and Bar replaced Firefly Tavern, in the former 99 Bottles space on Walnut.
* GSC (formerly Cafe Gratitude) closed on Lincoln Street.
* Izzy's Ices opened on Lincoln Street.
* Mariposa Coffee Bar opened at SE corner of Pacific and Cathcart.
* Next door on Cathcart, Oyuki Sushi & Peruvian Cuisine opened.
* Münch cafe closed at SW corner of Pacific and Laurel.
* Bonesio Liquor closed at NW corner of Pacific and Laurel (the entire property is for sale, but Taqueria Jalapeños remains open).
* The Neighbor's Pub opened on Pacific south of Laurel.
* Motion Pacific dance studio closed on Front Street.
* Flower Bar closed on Cedar Street.
* A number of used clothing stores have recently opened on Pacific.

Next week, a look ahead to 2025.

Santa Cruz Changes 112 - Meetings This Week

Two City of Santa Cruz project proposals that have been discussed here previously have public meetings this week, one of them remote-only (thanks to Michael Lewis for the roundup).

1. Monday, Dec. 16, "Clocktower" proposal (Changes 94):

2. Wednesday, Dec. 19, Planning Commission meeting, 7:00 pm. 831 Water Street (Changes 19)

Santa Cruz Changes 111: 2450 Mattison Lane, Live Oak

 

This development was recommended for approval by the Santa Cruz County Planning Commission at its 12-11-2024 meeting. The site is a former chicken ranch in Live Oak. The subdivision will be accessed from the bend of Mattison Lane. It's the right half of the cleared land in the satellite view at right. Here's some of the  agenda description, followed by a detail from the developer's Site Plan (rotated 90 degrees):

2450 Mattison Lane, Santa Cruz , 95062         APNs: 029-391-01, -02, -03 & 029-061-19

  Proposal to demolish two existing residential dwellings and related outbuildings, subdivide the property into 25 residential parcels, and to construct 25 townhomes ranging from approximately 1,300 square feet to 2,100 square feet in size. The project includes a 40-percent Density Bonus in exchange for the provision of four affordable units. Requires the Planning Commission to adopt a Resolution, sending a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors regarding adoption of the Planned Unit Development Ordinance, and for approval of Application No. 221077 including a Subdivision, Residential Development Permit with Density Bonus, Roadway/Roadside Exception, and Preliminary Grading Review and regarding adoption of the Mitigated Negative Declaration per the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA),

Property located on the south side of Mattison Lane (2450 Mattison Lane) approximately 325 feet east of Maciel Avenue, and spans four contiguous Assessor's Parcels (APNs 029-391-01, 029-391-02, 029-391-03 & 029-061-19) in the Live Oak Planning Area.

APPLICANT: Ken Hart for Swift Consulting Services

OWNER: Claudio Locatelli

 

Santa Cruz Changes 110: Graham Hill housing

I try to write about new development proposals before the first public meeting, and was first made aware of this one back in September by a Santa Cruz Local article, but missed the meeting date until seeing a report after the fact (reported in Lookout Santa Cruz) . The image above, a view from the Graham Hill Road side, is from the developer. The site (currently a vacant horse pasture) is adjacent to both the Graham Hill Showgrounds and the Woods Cove housing development (51 luxury homes built in 2003-04). Details of "The Haven" proposal (as reported by Santa Cruz Local) include:

Project description

* Total units: 161.

* Affordable units: 26 townhomes for low-income applicants and seven townhomes for moderate-income applicants. Income limits are set annually by state and federal agencies.

* Height: Variable. Includes single-story homes and three-story townhomes.

* Parking: 691 spaces.