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.

California Local Pin Marker From Local News Matters...

07/24/2024
California Forever’s announcement July 22 that it has decided to pull a ballot measure that would have let voters decide on a controversial planned city in rural Solano County drew swift reaction from political leaders and opponents.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

07/24/2024
What happens when voters take to the ballot to thumb their nose at state housing law? Courts haven’t offered a clear answer.

California Local Pin Marker From SF Gate...

07/22/2024
On July 22, California Forever announced it was withdrawing its initiative to amend the Solano County General Plan off the November ballot and would instead begin working with the county through the normal, though less expeditious, process.

California Local Pin Marker From Lookout Local...

07/18/2024
Construction will commence soon on 460 units of student and employee housing on the Santa Cruz Westside.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

07/18/2024
A housing project at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Soquel is under discussion between church officials and a group of low-income housing developers.

Good Times logo From Good Times...

07/16/2024
Image for display with article titled Grand Jury Raises Questions About Who Gets Affordable Homes

A report raises questions about whether the City of Santa Cruz is properly tracking who lives in “inclusionary units”—those set aside as affordable housing—within the city to make sure preference is given to Santa Cruz residents.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

07/11/2024
UC Santa Cruz moved to raze the 42-space Camper Park on July 10, citing concerns for health and safety.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

07/10/2024
Taking advantage of new state funds, some California healthcare providers are starting to offer what their homeless patients really need: housing.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

07/03/2024
The Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury released a report finding a lack of tracking of occupancy of local affordable housing units.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

06/27/2024
A report released on June 27 by the National Low Income Housing Coalition found the Santa Cruz area to be the most expensive rental market in the nation.

California Local Pin Marker From Lookout Local...

06/27/2024
A second virtual community meeting about the proposed 16-story 260-unit Clocktower Center housing development in downtown Santa Cruz included both objections and support for the project.

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06/26/2024
Image for display with article titled New City Looms in South of Laurel Area Plan

A bustling neighborhood and a new 3,200-seat arena for the Santa Cruz Warriors are part of a plan to transform Downtown Santa Cruz in the coming years.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

06/25/2024
A push to bolster housing production in California's coastal communities in recent years has led to heated battles over potential state reforms. Below, a veteran elected official believes the debate has created a false choice between housing and protections. The opposing view: A former attorney for the Coastal Commission says the state Coastal Act has failed to deliver on what it envisioned.

The Pajaronian logo From The Pajaronian...

06/21/2024
Image for display with article titled Housing Projects Taking Shape in Pajaro, Watsonville

Just across the Pajaro River from Watsonville in Monterey County, hundreds of seasonal farmworkers are now living in a recently completed housing complex created for them at the end of Susan Street.

California Local Pin Marker From The Mercury News...

06/20/2024
On June 19, California YIMBY announced support for the California Forever project going to the Solano County ballot in November.

California Local Pin Marker From Lookout Local...

06/18/2024
In a June 18 meeting of the Santa Cruz City Council with planning commissioners attending, a draft plan was presented for the South of Laurel area (SoLa) project including a permanent Warriors arena and 1600 units of housing in towers up to 12 stories tall.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

06/17/2024
A recent court ruling exempted five charter cities from a controversial housing law. That’s given anti-density advocates across California an idea.

California Local Pin Marker From Times Publishing Group...

06/15/2024
On May 29, MidPen Housing celebrated the completion of the 57-unit affordable apartments on Capitola Road in Live Oak adjacent to the Santa Cruz Community Health and Dientes Community Dental Care clinics.

Santa Cruz Local logo From Santa Cruz Local...

06/13/2024
Image for display with article titled How Many Unhoused People Have Found Homes in Santa Cruz County?

There have been about 1,800 to 2,300 unhoused people in Santa Cruz County in recent years, and at least 1,000 people each year have found housing through city, county and nonprofit programs, according to county records.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

06/13/2024
Tens of thousands of California homeowners, especially those who live in areas at risk of wildfires, have lost their insurance or have to pay more to keep coverage. One after another, major companies have pulled out of the state, many citing the cost of claims.
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