Santa Cruz County Local Housing News Articles and Digest

Animals Housing

Coyotes More Likely To Turn Up at Wealthier Properties in San Francisco

12/08/2023
A coyote recently was found at the $27 million Russian Hill home of AI mogul Sam Altman. This relates to a study, which found that coyote sightings were more frequent in higher-income areas of San Francisco.

From Sacramento Bee...

Agriculture, Food & Gardening Housing Government

Thousands of Migrant Farmworker Apartments Sit Vacant for Months

12/07/2023
Even though California is facing a crippling housing shortage, one potential source remains untapped. The state allows thousands of apartments used for part of the year by farmworkers to otherwise sit vacant for three to six months.

From Sacramento Bee...

Environment Land Use & Development Housing

State Might Soon Require Replacing Broken A/C Units

12/06/2023
California energy regulators are considering requiring homeowners to replace broken air-conditioning systems with heat pumps or HVAC systems that are more energy efficient. The change would go into effect in 2026.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Land Use & Development Housing

Planning Commission Denies Appeal for ‘Peace Village’

12/01/2023
The proposed “Peace Village” project—a 40-unit apartment building on the campus of Peace United Church of Christ at 900 High St. in Santa Cruz—will move forward after the Santa Cruz Planning Commission denied an appeal of the project.

From The Pajaronian...

Business, Economy & Jobs Homelessness Housing

Evictions Loom for 14 Pajaro Families

11/30/2023
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In the middle of the holiday season, 14 families in Pajaro must find somewhere new to live in one of the country’s most expensive rental markets.

From CalMatters...

Land Use & Development Housing Government

How San Diego Hacked State Housing Law to Build ADU ‘Apartment Buildings’

11/27/2023
A 2021 state law has radically changed the housing equation in San Diego. Advocates, developers, and policymakers are split on whether it should be exported to other jurisdictions.

From Voices of Monterey Bay...

Resilience Housing

Road Atlas

11/22/2023
I’m part of a band of humans who call themselves nomads, except I’m a part-time digital nomad. The “part-time” is because I still have a house — a sticks-and-bricks, as the nomads call it.

From Santa Cruz Local...

Land Use & Development Housing County of Santa Cruz

Housing Plans Approved for Live Oak, Aptos, Soquel

11/17/2023
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Santa Cruz County Supervisors approved a plan to allow more than 6,000 new homes in unincorporated areas of the county in the next eight years.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Housing Veterans

San Lorenzo Valley Veterans Housing Site Set to Double

11/17/2023
Some two years after plans to convert a San Lorenzo Valley motel into affordable veteran housing were announced, the property's new owners say they expect the Highway 9 site’s capacity to nearly double in size by the end of 2024.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Homelessness Housing Community Service & Support Community Bridges

Community Bridges Assists Pajaro Families Facing Eviction

11/16/2023
In the wake of approximately 24 families facing evictions from a Pajaro apartment complex as the property's owners prepare to work through violations cited by Monterey County, Watsonville-based nonprofit Community Bridges has intervened to assist those families.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Housing Government

Mayor’s Message: State Takes More Control Away From California Cities

11/11/2023
“For more than 150 years, California’s local land use decisions were the purview of city councils and boards of supervisors, yielding mixed results,” writes Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Housing City of Capitola

Capitola Leaders Approve Housing Element Update

11/10/2023
After more than a year of work, six drafts and almost 500 pages of planning details, the Capitola City Council unanimously approved the 6th Cycle Housing Element update at its meeting. Capitola Community Development Director Katie Herlihy said earlier this year the update would be one of the most difficult assignments of her career.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Housing City of Capitola

Capitola Housing Element Readied for Final Approval

11/06/2023
Capitola leaders are expected to cap off a year-long effort to update the city’s housing element before the state-mandated deadline in December.

From Sacramento Bee...

Business, Economy & Jobs Housing

California Isn’t Losing Residents Everywhere

11/06/2023
Redfin data shows that tens of thousands of more people look to leave California than buy homes in the Golden State. There’s an exception, however: the Sacramento region, which remains one of the hottest homebuying markets in the country.

From Santa Cruz Local...

Housing City of Santa Cruz

Downtown Santa Cruz Plan Could Allow Height of Proposed Hotel

10/20/2023
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The Santa Cruz City Council on Oct. 24 is expected to consider changes to the Downtown Plan that could allow a hotel proposal at Laurel and Front streets to advance.

From Santa Cruz Local...

Housing City of Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Event Offers Affordable Housing Strategies

10/19/2023
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Speakers highlight laws that limited homes and potential fixes.

From CalMatters...

Homelessness Housing Community Service & Support Government

Tiny Homes for the Homeless—Do They Help Solve the Problem?

10/18/2023
Tiny homes are increasingly California cities’ shelter option of choice — but how far they go in solving homelessness is a contentious question.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Housing City of Santa Cruz

Conference Examines Affordable Housing Crisis

10/14/2023
The group behind the Measure O campaign, known as Our Downtown, Our Future, organized a conference that examined numerous facets of the affordable housing crisis.

From Santa Cruz Local...

Housing City of Capitola

Capitola Leaders Outline Areas for New Homes

10/13/2023
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