New Developments Around Santa Cruz County

While downtown Santa Cruz is known for its established neighborhoods and historic properties, there are a number of exciting new developments popping up around the city and the county. For those in the market for a new construction condo or detached home, there are a few developments to keep an eye on. 

Amid rising housing costs and increasing requirements for housing goals (as dictated by the state of California), the county has had to make some changes and revise their plan of action. As a result, there are a number of new plans for Santa Cruz County’s undeveloped areas—specifically the communities of Aptos, Soquel, Live Oak, La Selva Beach, Corralitos, and more. 

These developments are highly-anticipated and/or reaching the final stages of construction. 

Affordable Housing & Downtown Library

Following the recent construction of Water Street (the affordable housing development located in downtown Santa Cruz, built by the same developer as Riverwalk Apartments), there are plans for a new, centrally-located housing development and library. Currently, the plans are in their final stages of approval (as of March 2023).

This multi-story project is set to be constructed on the site of the city-owned parking lot on Cedar Street, and will replace the existing Downtown Branch for the Santa Cruz Library. The building itself will be mixed-use, with over 100 units of very low-income housing, the new library space (at over 38,000 square feet), a child care center, parking spaces (for cars and bikes), and e-bike/e-vehicle charging stations. The Farmers Market that is held in the parking lot is also planning on moving. 

For project status and the latest updates, visit the City of Santa Cruz website here.

Aptos Village, Aptos

Aptos Village Phase Two, as the project has been dubbed, is the further expansion of the Aptos Village Project. Its goal is to provide more of the necessary housing required, as well as reduce the amount of traffic in the region.

This mixed-use development takes on a three-pronged approach, centered around:

1. Condos and townhomes

2. Commercial space

3. Parks and green areas

Located near the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, the second phase of Aptos Village will include a number of new construction multi-family homes and retail stores, as well as a park and village common. While a portion of the homes in the area have already been built, construction on the project continues. 

More information about the project, found on Aptos Village Way, can be found here.

Bienestar Plaza, Live Oak

Construction for Bienestar Plaza, a mixed-use development in Live Oak that features a health clinic and a dental center, as well as fifty-seven affordable housing units, has been ongoing for the past few years. 

The project (located at 1500 Capitola Road) is now nearing completion, with the finishing touches on the last units currently underway, however the two medical centers have been open for some time. Applications to lease units recently opened and closed (as of mid-May 2023), and is now in wait-list status. The development features a small green area, resident and guest parking, and the expansive medical complex. 

More information about the project can be found here.

There are a plethora of developments currently in the planning stage, many of which are mixed-use—especially in the areas of Santa Cruz and Live Oak. Resident feedback for these developments (as well as those in the planning stages) varies, with concerns about whether these projects will, in fact, alleviate the housing and traffic problems. This remains to be seen. 

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