HSCC Supports the Library/Housing Mixed-Use Project

HSCC believes the Library/Housing/Parking Project in Downtown Santa Cruz offers a significant, substantive, and realistic opportunity to address the critical need for affordable housing in our community and we ask the public to join in facilitating that goal. In an affordable housing crisis it is imperative that jurisdictions prioritize resources and expedite projects with significant numbers of affordable units. HSCC would like the public to evaluate this project in that light for the following reasons: 

• Affordable housing should be given priority whenever city owned land is being used. Lot 4 is one of the largest of the city's lots so it is imperative that it be used for affordable housing. The preliminary proposal of up to 107 units, all for individuals and families who earn 30-50% of area median income, reflects that priority.

• The City's initial community discussions about the re-use of the existing library site indicate strong community support for affordable housing on that large site along with other community uses.

• Rising construction costs and the challenges of securing funding for affordable housing are partially mitigated in this mixed-use project through sharing structural expenses, the most efficient use of limited resources.

• This is an excellent example of "smart growth" principles: density in a developed urban area where density has the fewest impacts; location adjacent to a public transit hub; proximity to shopping and amenities that minimize the need for auto use; location in a very walkable area; no displacement of low-income people; re-use of a site that is primarily a paved parking lot.

• The city and library commissions, consultants, study groups, public outreach efforts, and architects, including the Downtown Public Library Committee (DLAC), group producing the Downtown Plan and a one-year Council sub-group have invested eight years to reach this point where the final architectural designs have begun.

With a ticking time limit on the use of the Library's Measure S Funds, and increasing affordable housing needs, impediments to finishing the project should not be supported.  This project would address the housing needs of 107 individuals and families waiting for a safe stable home in our community.  Getting this project built without further delay is critically important and we ask for community support to move the project forward.