As iconic (and still existing) Santa Cruz institutions go, it would be hard to top The Catalyst. In 1974, Randall Kane converted the former bowling alley into a music venue that became the premier popular music venue in Santa Cruz.
Way back in 2021, I noted in this blog that a building permit had been issued for a condo-conversion rebuild of the narrow L-shaped building that abuts The Catalyst on the north, but construction never began. Several events since then have changed the picture. The death of Catalyst owner Randall Kane left his heirs with both the property and the business. They leased the business to a third party, then put the property up for sale in July of this year.
What happened next is unclear, but now a new development proposal has been submitted. It combines and expands the previous condo project with replacing the building currently housing The Catalyst. At this point, the plans propose to continue the music venue business in a ground-floor space about the same size and shape as now.
The rendering at right above is from the developers plan set, and shows the corner of Pacific and Cathcart. The 1-story building on the corner is Old School Shoes, with its familiar mural extending along Cathcart to the right. That property is not included in the redevelopment proposal.
Here's the City webpage info. No public meeting has yet been scheduled:
Project Description
Project Size: Large Development Project
City of Santa Cruz Project Number: CP25-0133
Addresses: 1009, 1011, 1015 Pacific Avenue
SB330 and Preapplication Review to demolish nonresidential buildings, combine three lots into one, and construct a 7-story mixed-use building located in the CBD (Central Business District) zone district and in the Pacific Avenue Retail District and Cedar Street Village Corridor of the Downtown Plan.
