Santa Cruz County Local News: Housing


All Local Housing News articles contributed by our local media allies and other local newsrooms.

Image caption: Does California’s signature environmental law protect the state’s scenic beauty, or cause more problems than it solves?
CEQA: The Surprising Story of CA’s Key Environmental Law

The California Environmental Quality Act, CEQA, is both the state’s signature environmental legislation, and is also often named as the villain in the state’s housing shortage. But the story may not be that simple.

Image caption: Zoning laws tell you what you can and can't build on the property you own. How does government get away with that?
How Zoning Laws Shape California and Society

Zoning laws determine what can be built and where. These laws have shaped California, but are they really just tools for social engineering? The history of zoning is closely tied to racial segregation, as well as the state's shortage of …

Image caption: Owning homes is the primary way the middle class builds wealth, and an option no longer available to most Californians.
Is California’s Housing Crisis Making Inequality Worse?

California has some of the worst economic inequality in the United States. Is the housing crisis a cause?

Image caption: Thousands of homeowners have been kicked off their fire insurance policies.
California Fire Insurance Crisis: How the State Helps Homeowners

As California insurance companies have revoked the fire policies of thousands of homeowners, the state has taken steps to get them covered again.

Image caption: Lighthouse Field in Santa Cruz, which might be a huge resort if not for the Coastal Commission.
The Public Shore Protectors

The future of 1,100 miles of spectacular coastline is in the hands of the California Coastal Commission, which is beloved by coastal environmentalists, notorious among those who favor development, and little-known in the inland parts of the state.

The Pajaronian logo From The Pajaronian...

05/03/2024
Image for display with article titled Watsonville Celebrates New Housing Complex

Dozens of people gathered Friday to celebrate the opening of a 53-unit housing complex, the latest in Watsonville’s drive to provide housing for all income levels.

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05/01/2024
Image for display with article titled Updated: The California Exodus: How the Housing Crisis Weakens the State Politically

Unless California solves its housing crisis, the state will lose more congressional seats and could shift the political alignment of the whole country

Santa Cruz Local logo From Santa Cruz Local...

04/30/2024
Image for display with article titled Soquel Drive Housing Complex Proposal Draws Concerns

A Monday night meeting about a proposed five-building housing complex on Soquel Drive drew dozens of residents who lambasted developers about the project’s size, additional traffic and other concerns.

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04/30/2024
in its April 30 meeting, the Santa Cruz City Council postponed a decision on the 59-unit housing development project at the site of the Herb Room on Mission Street amid fierce neighborhood opposition.

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04/26/2024
Image for display with article titled Two Live Oak Apartment Proposals Could Be Approved Without Public Input

Two new housing developments in Santa Cruz County are set to exceed local height limits and could be approved without public input, county officials said this week. 

The Pajaronian logo From The Pajaronian...

04/26/2024
Image for display with article titled Homeless Shelter Project in Watsonville to Break Ground in June

Construction will begin in June on a 34-unit community of small temporary dwellings based at Westview Presbyterian Church in Watsonville, after the Monterey County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved agreements to build and manage the facility.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

04/25/2024
Demolition of the church at the center of the Santa Cruz circles was completed on April 23, making way for construction of a ring of house to be built on the 1.6-acre parcel.

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04/24/2024
Image for display with article titled How Tall Will We Go?

When the Town Clock was dedicated in 1976, it represented Santa Cruzans’ hopes for the future and recalled memories of turn-of-the-century Pacific Avenue when trolleys lumbered by and the clock sat atop the Odd Fellows Building.

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04/24/2024
Santa Cruz City Schools is exploring the development and building below-market rate housing for teachers and other staff priced out of the county rental market.

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04/24/2024
The City of Santa Cruz acquired the Toadal Fitness parcel downtown for $2.5 million as part of the mixed-use library project.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

04/24/2024
A 34-unit tiny home village for people displaced when Pajaro was flooded will begin construction in Watsonville on a church-owned parcel in Watsonville.

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04/23/2024
Image for display with article titled May Is Affordable Housing Month!

Housing challenges across Santa Cruz county are increasing and Housing Santa Cruz County aims to meet this challenge by educating and empowering local residents through special events across the Month of May.

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04/15/2024
An update of meetings held between UCSC staff and Camper Park residents.

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04/12/2024
Image for display with article titled State Certifies Scotts Valley’s Housing Element on First Try

During a report at the April 3 Council meeting, Scotts Valley City Manager Mali LaGoe announced the California Department of Housing and Community Development had certified its Housing Element—on its first try.

KSQD logo From KSQD...

04/11/2024
Image for display with article titled California’s Insurance Crisis: Interview With Deputy Insurance Commissioner Michael Soller

In part II of "Have you Been Canceled?", a look at California's homeowner's insurance crisis, Rachel Anne Goodman talks with Deputy Insurance Commissioner and spokesperson for Commissioner Ricardo Lara, Michael Soller.

KSQD logo From KSQD...

04/05/2024
Image for display with article titled California’s Insurance Crisis Hits Homeowners Hard

In this program, State Senator John Laird and Executive Director of Consumer Watchdog, Carmen Balber discuss California's homeowner's insurance crisis and whether Commissioner Ricardo Lara's proposed fixes will actually help the flight of insurance companies from the state or make it worse.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

04/05/2024
Tenants in many new privately owned, low-income units will be protected from double-digit increases. So will some in existing units, after a state committee on affordable housing imposed a rent cap.

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04/03/2024
Image for display with article titled HCD Certifies Scotts Valley’s Housing Element

During a report at Council today, Scotts Valley City Manager Mali LaGoe announced the California Department of Housing and Community Development had certified its Housing Element—on its first try.

California Local Pin Marker From Lookout Local...

04/03/2024
Plans for an 18 story building 192 feet tall were submitted to the City of Santa Cruz planning department.
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