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.

Santa Cruz Local logo From Santa Cruz Local...

03/21/2025
Image for display with article titled 144 Apartments in Revised Proposal on Almar Ave. In Santa Cruz

Details of a proposed 144-unit apartment complex at 831 Almar Ave. in Santa Cruz were outlined at a Santa Cruz Planning Commission on March 20, and the commission agreed in concept to the project. 

California Local Pin Marker From Lookout Local...

03/20/2025
Read on to learn more about upcoming neighborhood meetings at local libraries hosted by local homelessness nonprofit Housing Matters for discussion around the topic of “Neighbors for Neighbors: At the Intersections.”

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

03/20/2025
The impact of cannabis lounges and an update on the housing element of the General Plan were on the agenda of the March 19 meeting of the Scotts Valley City Council. Read on to learn more

California Local Pin Marker From Lookout Local...

03/19/2025
Read on for details about a brewing conflict as the Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors advance a housing measure for the ballot in opposition to one backed by Mayor Fred Keeley and local housing groups and other stakeholders.

California Local Pin Marker From Lookout Local...

03/19/2025
A statement from Santa Cruz City Manager Matt Huffaker and Economic Development and Housing Director Bonnie Lipscomb addressing criticism about transparency and concerns about occupancy numbers of local affordable housing.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

03/19/2025
Read on for details about a March 18 online community meeting discussing plans to build a seven-story housing development on the 900 block of Pacific Avenue.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

03/17/2025
A $5 billion pot of federal money set aside to help people on the verge of homelessness pay the rent is running out of cash — and no one has a plan to keep the roughly 60,000 renters, more than 15,000 of them in California — from losing their housing after the last dollar is spent.

The Pajaronian logo From The Pajaronian...

03/13/2025
Image for display with article titled Tiny Village Project Moves Forward After Second Appeal Denied

A tiny home development for 34 homeless people slated for the parking lot of Westview Presbyterian Church in Watsonville can move forward after the City Council on Tuesday denied an appeal by a neighbors’ group that has been battling the placement of the project since its inception in October 2023.

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03/13/2025
An online forum hosted by the City of Santa Cruz will be held on March 26 for discussion about a six story affordable housing project to be constructed at 525 Water Street. Read on to learn how you can participate.

Santa Cruz Local logo From Santa Cruz Local...

03/12/2025
Image for display with article titled Circle Church Site Undeveloped Nearly 5 Years After Housing Approval

Nearly five years since the Santa Cruz City Council approved up to 12 homes and 12 in-law units at the Circle Church site in Santa Cruz, nothing has been built and city planners await design applications from owners.

The Pajaronian logo From The Pajaronian...

03/11/2025
Image for display with article titled Recurso De Fuerza: The Homeless Housing Project at Westview Presbyterian Church

In Watsonville, we see the human cost of California's housing crisis every day. As homelessness rises, we face a critical choice: continue with inadequate approaches or embrace innovative solutions reflecting our values of compassion and dignity for all.

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03/11/2025
In their March 11 meeting, Santa Cruz County supervisors approved new rules to restrict vacation rentals. Read on for more information.

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03/08/2025
Lookout Local's Wallace Baine reflects on the transformation of Front Street in Santa Cruz as the downtown building boom continues.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

03/06/2025
Read on for more information about the seven-story mixed-use development proposed for the 900 block of Pacific Avenue and the community meeting about the project scheduled for March 18.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

03/05/2025
Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to see tangible results from the $6.4 billion mental health bond voters approved last year. Moving fast carries a risk of neglecting under-resourced communities.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

03/03/2025
Oakland Democrat Buffy Wicks said lawmakers will soon see 20 bills to speed up housing construction, along with more on energy, water and transit.

California Local Pin Marker From The Sacramento Bee...

02/26/2025
Read on for details about a report on the 2-year Yolo County Basic Income Program which ended in April 2024.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

02/26/2025
Each year, legislation aimed at better wildfire mitigation fails – often due to cost or conflict with environmental regulations.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

02/26/2025
Feather River College is still reeling from the 2021 Dixie Fire, which destroyed hundreds of homes in the surrounding community and warped the housing market. The college is one of many schools that have tried — and failed — to secure state grants to build more student housing.