This is a 100% affordable apartment community with 256 homes designed for individuals and families earning up to 80% of the area median income. This development will feature a diverse mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, including three unrestricted two-bedroom units reserved for the on-site property managers.

With a mix of 20 studio units (approximately 432 square feet), 100 one-bedroom units (average of 673 square feet), 71 two bedroom units (average of 846 square feet), and 65 three-bedroom units (approximately 1,140 square feet), 41st & Soquel Apartments will provide affordable housing for individuals and families earning up to 80% of the area median income (AMI) for Santa Cruz County, with an average affordability of just under 60% AMI.

Residents will benefit from a range of thoughtfully designed indoor and outdoor amenities, promoting well-being and encouraging social interaction among residents. 41st and Soquel is committed to fostering a community where all residents can thrive.Item description

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This housing development is located at 2450 Mattison Lane in the County of Santa Cruz. The development consists of 25 townhomes ranging from approximately 1,300 square feet to 2,100 square feet in size and includes four affordable units.

The project will provide a total of 94 parking spaces with 80 spaces in garages and driveways, and 14 parallel spaces provided along the interior roadway at the eastern boundary of the site for guest parking.

A bicycle repair station will be installed in a new park proposed within a common area of the project site to encourage bicycling by residents. The bicycle repair station would provide repair tools and space to use them, which would support the use of bicycles for transportation in and out of the project site.

Learn more here.

Project description

• Total units: 225.

• Affordable units: 39.

• Height: Six stories.

• Parking: 86 parking spaces and 283 bike parking spaces are anticipated.

• Details: Four commercial buildings would be demolished, according to city documents. About 1,400 square feet of ground-floor commercial space is expected. Because the lot is in the floodplain of Branciforte Creek, the developer has proposed to raise the elevation of the site to remove it from the floodplain.

• Area plan: New 15-foot-wide sidewalks and landscaping are proposed. A City of Santa Cruz vision for Ocean Street is for it to become “an attractive, pedestrian-friendly shopping district where local residents can fulfill many of their daily shopping needs without having to drive” by 2030.

Learn More:

https://santacruzlocal.org/housing-and-construction/arthaus-ocean/

The proposed 100 unit affordable housing development is located at 4575 Scotts Valley Drive in the City of Scotts Valley. The development consists of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units that range from 30% - 70% AMI. Amenities onsite include offices for property management and services, community room, bike parking, and a playground area.

99 units will be deed restricted affordable units through a regulatory agreement with the tax credit allocation committee. One unit has been reserved as a managers unit. The units mix is as follows:
21 - 1 bedroom - approx. 450 SF
40 - 2 bedroom - approx. 710 SF
39 - 3 bedroom - approx. 950 SF

Learn More:

https://www.workbenchbuilt.com/4575-scotts-valley#support

Proposal to develop a mixed-use project with 389 housing units; 9,570 sq ft of ground floor commercial space; 415 vehicle parking spaces and 494 bicycle parking spaces and a mid-block pedestrian paseo. 54 units will have legally binding affordability requirements, or 20% of the base density project (273 units)
- 36 Very Low Income (50% AMI) Households 
- 18 Low Income (80% AMI) Households 
4 bdrm - 2 units, avg. 1420 SF 
3 bdrm - 15 units, avg. 1,247 SF
2 bdrm - 120 units, avg. 1,055 SF
1 bdrm - 206 units, avg. 662 SF
Studio - 46 units, avg. 507 SF

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Total units: 59 units.

Affordable units: Eight “very-low income” units have been discussed, based on state-set income limits.

Height: Five stories, 66 feet tall.

Details: The proposal includes ground-floor shops with four stories of housing above them. The Food Bin and Herb Room and a takeout coffee bar are planned for the ground floor with studio apartments above them. Plans include 10 electric vehicle charging stations, two accessible parking spaces, and 92 bicycle parking spaces. Developers have said the hope is for a “car-free community.”

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Located at 900 High Street, the Peace Village housing project proposes one apartment building that would contain 40 dwelling units. Those 40 units include 11 studios, three one-bedroom units, 15 two-bedroom units; four three-bedroom units, six four-bedroom co-living units; and one five-bedroom co-living unit.

Inclusionary units: Four units are proposed to be income restricted as affordable to very low-income households, and five additional units are proposed to be income restricted as affordable to low-income households. These nine affordable units are a mix of studios through 3-bedroom units, comprising 22.5% of the total units in the project and 20% of the bedrooms in the project.

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Located on nearly 1.5 acres, 2838 Park Ave. will be a 36-unit project designed as one new, 3-story building with tuck-under parking in the rear to take advantage of a natural 13-foot grade change. The project will have a community center and space for on-site management and resident services.

It is located near residential uses, urban open space, schools and Cabrillo College. The property is a short walk (0.2mi) to the Soquel Drive & Parke Ave. It's also near the Santa Cruz Metro bus stop that has access to four lines, including the 69W and 71 which take riders to and from Watsonville and Downtown Santa Cruz. This is ideal for intended residents who have a lower rate of car ownership.

All units in the project will be deed-restricted affordable to 30% of AMI (Average Median Income) or below.

Learn More: https://www.parkhavenplaza.com/overview

Located on the Housing Matters Campus in the city of Santa Cruz, 120 studio units will be used as permanent supportive housing and one manager's unit with a ground floor recuperative care center, behavioral health clinic, and a residential lobby with shared residential space and service provision space. Learn more about the project here.

MidPen Housing is currently working on a significant project in the city of Santa Cruz. This project will be a 100% affordable 50-unit development with units dedicated to those in need of permanent supportive services. You can learn more about the project here.

An applicant for Project Homekey funds, this Victorian office building will be converted into a permanent supportive housing solution offering two studios and five one-bedroom units with services provided by Housing Matters in the city of Santa Cruz.

This proposed four or five story mixed-use building will bring more badly needed affordable housing to the City of Santa Cruz — though its streamlined approval process has yielded backlash from certain community members. Read our letter of support for this project here.

Eden Housing broke ground in May 2022 and is a new apartment community that will serve residents earning between 25 to 50% of the area’s median income, which is equivalent to an annual income of $28,000 to $56,000 for a two-person household. Approximately half of the units are for farmworkers. There will also be 6 units dedicated to households experiencing homelessness. The development is designed as two three-story buildings with 53 apartments, which include a mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom units. Additionally, the ground level of the building includes a management office for the full-time community manager, as well as an office for a resident services coordinator who will provide myriad services – such as wellness, career, education and financial literacy programming – to help ensure residents succeed. There will also be an office for onsite case-management support from Santa Cruz County to assist the households transitioning from homelessness.

In May 2022, MidPen Housing started construction of 57 units of affordable family and supportive housing at 1500 Capitola Road in Live Oak. The second phase of a mixed use housing and health hub, MidPen has partnered with two like-minded non-profit organizations, Dientes Community Dental and Santa Cruz Community Health, to create a campus that co-locates affordable housing with affordable healthcare services, the first of its kind in Santa Cruz County. And in further collaborating with the County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency and the Central California Alliance for Health to house persons who are homeless and have complex mental and physical health conditions.

An applicant for Project Homekey funds, this proposed project would renovate the Rodeway Inn and convert it into 94 permanent supportive housing units in the extremely low income category. Fourteen units would be set aside for individuals with mobility disabilities, and nine for individuals with visual or hearing impairments. The developer, Shangri-La Development Inc. is working with Santa Cruz County Housing for Health Partnership. This is an important project due to its permanent supportive housing component. To date, there has been no organized opposition to the project.

This 65-unit development of 100% affordable apartments broke ground in June 2022. Many of the residents will be individuals and families coming out of homelessness and supportive staffing will be on site.

MidPen Housing is currently working on a significant project in the city of Watsonville. This project will be a 72-unit development with units. Miles Lane will have a preference for agricultural households for 35 of the units. MidPen received an award of 40 project-based Section 8 vouchers from the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz 15 units are expected to have a preference for formerly homeless individuals who will receive intensive case management from the County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency, as well as, support from onsite MidPen Resident Services staff.

You can learn more about the project here.

Pacific Station South is between Pacific Avenue and Front Street south of Maple Alley. It’s a seven-story building with 69 affordable units that include studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. A Santa Cruz Community Health Center and Dientes Community Dental Care offices are expected on the ground floor as well as 3,660 square feet of retail and restaurant space. “This space is located on Pacific Avenue and will open up to the future public paseo on the east side of the building,” Santa Cruz City Manager Matt Huffaker wrote in a Sept. 5 statement. Santa Cruz Development Manager David McCormic is handling retail lease inquiries.

Total units: 69.

Affordable units: All units are expected to be affordable based on state income limits.

Height: Seven stories.

Details: The project does not include on-site parking. State law allows developers of affordable housing projects like these to not build any parking. 

Waitlist: A waitlist for many of the units opened April 17, 2024. To apply, email pacificstationsouth.info@fpimgt.com, call 707-708-3260 or go to 324 Front St., Suite 212, Santa Cruz. Separate from that waitlist, 47 other units will be filled from the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List, according to the housing authority. Potentially eligible households on that list will be mailed a letter from the housing authority.

Click here for more information

Pacific Station North is planned between Pacific Avenue and Front Street north of Maple Alley. It’s expected to be a seven-story building with 128 affordable units with offices, stores and the Santa Cruz Metro office and bus ticket windows. The project also includes up to 22 bus bays and a canopy. Elm Alley would cut through the site.

Total units: 128.

Affordable units: All units are expected to be affordable based on state income limits.

Height: Seven stories for Pacific Station South and Pacific Station North.

Details: The project does not include on-site parking. State law allows developers of affordable housing projects like these to not build parking. 

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An AWARD RECIPIENT of Project Homekey funds, the Santa Cruz Veterans Memorial Building Board of Trustees are working to convert and existing hotel in Ben Lomond into 20 permanent supportive housing units to serve 20 veterans along with nine modular or newly constructed units to supplement existing structures, serving an estimated 20-24 tenants. Units will be studios and one-bedroom units.

The proposed state constitution amendment that will allow voters to approve affordable housing bond measures with a 55% yes vote. The current 66.67% requirement for the passage of a Bond Measure to fund the creation of additional affordable homes in our communities has prevented our county – and other counties- from building needed apartments for local residents and workers. This amendment will create greater opportunities for building affordable apartments.

Learn more Here:

Yes on Prop 5

MEASURE M IS A MAJOR MISTAKE FOR OUR COMMUNITY

Measure M will hinder affordable and workforce housing development just when we need more housing for the people who make our community healthy and successful. They made a mistake when they wrote a measure that pays lip service to affordable housing, but actually puts more barriers in the way of meeting the housing needs of our essential workers and their families.

Learn more: https://www.affordablehousingadvocatessc.org/

Vote YES on L for a safer, healthier Santa Cruz.

Measure L generates local funding to help tackle some of our most urgent local problems, and can’t be taken by the State:

-Connecting people experiencing homelessness with services and support

-Cleaning up and addressing the impacts of encampments

-Supporting affordable housing

-Keeping pollution out of local rivers, creeks, and streams

-Ensuring City firefighters have the training and equipment needed to fight wildfires

-Improving parks, open spaces, and beaches

Learn more : https://www.safehealthysantacruz.com/yes-on-l

Vote Yes on Measure K for a safer and stronger Santa Cruz County

We need Measure K to attract and retain frontline workers, provide emergency response services, build a resilient community for all, and continue fixing our roads and potholes throughout Santa Cruz County.

Learn more: https://www.safehealthysantacruz.com/yes-on-k

This bill would fast-track university housing developments at UC, California State Universities and community colleges by getting rid of a secondary review currently required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

A bill already exists that makes it easier for religious institutions to use their land for affordable housing but this bill enables them to have fewer required parking spaces so that affordable housing can be built.

This bill would add more areas in cities (commercially-zoned) for 100% affordable housing projects to be “by right” and have streamlined ministerial processes while also requiring prevailing wages.

This bill allows for fewer required parking spaces if a property is within a half mile of a bus route enabling more residential units to be built.

This bill would add a new provision to the tax credit system (the major financing mechanism for 100% affordable housing projects) to allow the granting of the credits for buying, remodeling, etc. existing developments that have expiring dedicated affordability units to extend their affordability. Many projects have been in existence long enough to fit that category. For instance, the City of Santa Cruz has over a hundred units near their expiration.

Authored by Laura Friedman, to exempt developments from minimum parking requirements that are within a half mile walking distance of public transit (defined as transit with a frequency of no more than 15 minute intervals). In addition to affordability benefits, there is a significant environmental benefit to reducing parking requirements. Reducing parking requirements creates a less auto-dependent community.

This legislation would repeal Article 34 which requires development, construction, or acquisition of publicly-funded low-rent housing projects to be approved by a majority of voters in a city or county. Passage would reduce the red tape that currently makes it harder and more expensive to build much needed affordable housing. This would require a voter-approved Constitutional Amendment.

This legislation would have 5% of the general fund each year be used to address homelessness and fund affordable housing, including housing and services to prevent and end homelessness. This would require a voter-approved Constitutional Amendment.

Is a constitutional amendment that would establish a ten-year funding commitment in the Constitution that dedicates five percent from the state’s general fund, each year, to the state’s affordable housing and homelessness crisis.

The intention of the city council in placing the initiative on the ballot was to fund much needed homeless and housing programs. While the revenue would have gone into the general fund and couldn’t be specifically earmarked in advance, we supported the measure on the expectation that council’s intentions will be carried out. Addressing homelessness and the housing crisis must be the City’s highest priority with Measure F revenue allocations. HSCC encouraged voters to be part of the solution by voting for Measure F on the June 7, 2022 ballot.

The Coastal Commission has not, historically, been sensitive to social equity and affordable housing needs in our coastal communities. By bringing more folks with a social justice lens onto the Commission, we envision greater affordable housing opportunities near the coast for our local residents and workers. Housing Santa Cruz County wrote a letter to Assembly Speaker for District 63, Anthony Rendon, relaying that HSCC has observed that decisions by the Commission, especially in subjectively interpreting ‘community character’ has contributed to housing inequities in the coastal zone and have helped to continue the legacy of redlining. Accessibility to the coast and housing production within has reflected that lack of inclusive consideration. We believe having the Commission members reflect our state’s diversity would begin to reverse that history. We also offered to provide suggestions for candidates, if he didn’t have any.

This year there is an anticipated large revenue surplus that, we hope, could provide additional funding for housing. HSCC has chosen to add its name to the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California’s lobbying efforts, as well as, write letters to Senator John Laird, Assemblymembers Mark Stone and Robert Rivas pushing for budget increases for the Multifamily Housing Program and the Housing Accelerator Program. These programs have a backlog of unfunded applications that include: Project Homekey, Veterans Housing Homelessness Prevention Program and No Place Like Home. Additionally, there is the California Low-Income Tax Credit Program and a disaster relief program.