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Downtown Library & Affordable Housing Project Updates
NEXT STEPS:
11.14.2024 The Project Team continues to make progress on the Building Permit applications with the Core and Shell team and the Library Architect both in the plan check process, a full project updated can be downloaded here.
Image provided by 10-Over Studio
PAST UPDATES/ ACTIONS
5 .14.2024 City Council received a project update and took action on adopting a resolution to ratify an Amended and Restated Options to Lease agreement with the Affordable Housing Developers. Presentation can be found here. Link to the City Council Meeting here.
4.30.2024 The Project Team has submitted a Building Permit Application and taking the final step to complete Construction Ready Documents.
4.1.2024 The City of Santa Cruz Farmers’ Market is embarking on an exciting journey to enhance the downtown market experience and is inviting the community to voice their opinions through an online survey. This initiative aims to gather valuable feedback to inform the development of a permanent downtown market, ensuring it meets the diverse needs and preferences of local residents and visitors alike. The survey will remain open until April 24, 2024, and all responses will be kept confidential. Full press release here.
1.24.2024 The Project team continues to make progress on construction ready design documents see our update in the City Manager's Weekly Update here you can sign up for the CM Weekly update that covers this project and other important City projects here.
8.31.2023 The California Strategic Growth Council awarded $33.5 million from the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program (AHSC) for the Downtown Library and Affordable Housing Project. Full Press Release here
8.3.2023 The Project team continues to work on advancing the design toward Construction Ready documents while also applying for various State Grant Award opportunities. See the tentative project construction schedule here and other updates on the most recent activities of the Project Team here.
3.15.2023 Downtown Library & Affordable Housing Project was granted final approval to proceed by the Santa Cruz City Council. View the press release here.
3.14.2023 City Council held a Public Hearing and approved the the project permits associated with the Project Design the meeting can be viewed here and press release here
2.23.2023 The Planning Commission held a Public Hearing to review the permits associated with the Project Design and unanimously recommended that City Council approve the project permits. View the Planning Commission Hearing here and Agenda Packet
12.12.2022 On Monday December 12th at 4pm the Parks and Recreation Commission held public hearing item regarding an appeal received on the Heritage Tree Removal Permit associated with the project, view the agenda packet and meeting agenda for information on the item.
10.18.22 An application was made for Heritage Tree Removals as one of the permits required congruent to Planning Application submitted and in accordance with SCMC Chapter 9.56 the following notice was posted on the project site on 10.18.22 view the public notice.
The Heritage Tree Removal Permits are conditional on the Planning Application approval and requested to be issued at the time of construction expected to take place in 2024. Due to the multiple step process outlined in SCMC Chapter 9.56 and an early 2023 affordable housing funding application deadline, the project team determined that beginning the heritage tree removal application review process was time critical in order to consider the application at the same time as the larger project planning application that will be considered by the City Council.
Arborist’s Reports for the Project Can be viewed here: Initial Arborist Report , Addendum Report #1 , Addendum Report #2
Heritage Tree Resolution NS 23,710
10.17.22 Santa Cruz Farmers' Market and the City of Santa Cruz agree to an MOU to establish permanent home
9.27.22 the City Project Team presented quarterly updates including updates to the design efforts, community meeting feedback, and project budget
Download the presentation slide deck
9.22.22 City Council held a special meeting to receive a report from Keysor Marston Associates regarding impacts of Ballot Measure O
Read the Keysor Marston Associates Report
9.21.22 View the Community Meeting presentation slide deck on the Planning Application Design presented on Wednesday September 21st
Download the presentation slide deck
5.10.22 Downtown Santa Cruz Library Master Architect and Project Team presented to City Council an update on schematic library design, community feedback received, and Library Budget for the Schematic Design.
Download the presentation slide deck
4.21.22 Downtown Santa Cruz Library Master Architect team presented of schematic library design focusing on the interior design and overall site program components of the library along with an update on the exterior façade of the library, site plan, rooftop plan, and floor plans.
View the presentation.
Download the presentation slide deck.
3.22.22 Staff provided update to City Council on progress of project Design and submission of State Library Grant Opportunity.
Download the Presentation Slide Deck
12.14.21 Council directed staff to return with general schematics showing the integration of the library housing uses. The Council reviewed and approved the design updates at the Dec 14th meeting.
12.10.21 The City held three community workshops with the Master Architect team. The sessions were focused on the preliminary design of the new library and overall site program for the Library Mixed-Use Project, including the exterior façade of the library, site plan, rooftop plan, initial floor plans, and parking and housing unit counts.
The proposed design increases the 100 percent affordable housing units to as many as 125, which is two and a half times more than the Council mandate for the project. The new Library, which faces Cedar St., and will include 40,000 square feet of programmable space – 35,000 square feet indoors and a 5,000 square foot roof deck that connects to the upper floor of the library.
The Library will be adjacent to five stories of affordable housing situated on top of three stories of parking. The proposed number of parking spaces has been reduced to 310 from 400, a reduction which allowed for additional affordable housing units. The project also includes space intended for a ground-floor daycare center, as well as commercial space on the corner of Cathcart and Cedar Streets.
- View a recording of the Community Workshop presentation
- Download the presentation slide deck
11.5.21 Jayson Architects completes first round of stakeholder discussion meetings to listen to community preferences for the new Downtown Library, including with seniors, teens, parents and kids, downtown businesses and others.
Community Feedback
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Friends of SCPL and Library Commission |
9.14.21 Staff provided a quarterly update to Council and the Council selected Jayson Architects as master architects for the Library Mixed Use Project.
6.22.21 Staff returned to Council with a report out following the Library Site Re-Use Visioning Process. Final report, prepared by Group 4 and the Project for public spaces, available here.
6.10.21 City has selected Eden Housing and For the Future Housing as the Affordable Housing Developer Team to build the 100% affordable housing portion of the project. To support the Santa Cruz Downtown Library Mixed Use Project’s goal of providing truly affordable downtown living, the team will develop and manage up to 107 units, which is double the number of units mandated by the Council.
Overview of the process and proposal submitted by Eden/For The Future Housing available here and the proposal attachment: rough massing and site plan. More information, updates, and a brief interview with the Eden/For The Future Housing team below:
5.13.21 The Community was asked to provide feedback on future re-use of the existing library site via online survey. View the Final Report on Re-Use Visioning Process.
4.27.21 Quarterly update to Council - Staff gave presentation on project updates and next steps. Watch the full presentation here or a recap of the top updates below:
Future updates will go to City Council on August 10th, 2021 and November 23rd, 2021.
4.22.21 The City has released an RFP for a Master Architect for the Library Mixed Use Project. All interested applicants must submit applications by May
4.19.21 Downtown Recovery: Big Plans for the Future - Map of future development projects in the downtown.
4.12.21 The City has released an RFP for Affordable Housing Developer partner for the Library Mixed Use Project. All interested applicants must submit applications by May 12th, 2021. *Note Addendum #1 has been posted.
4.10.21 Santa Cruz Sentinel Mayor's Message "More New Libraries on the Way" by Mayor Donna Meyers
4.6.21 Staff participated in the Downtown Association's Downtown Recovery: Big Plans for the Future webinar event and provided an update on the project. Video of that meeting can be viewed here.
4.1.21 Councilmember Cummings, Vice Mayor Brunner and City staff met with Congressman Jimmy Panetta to discuss the project, the process to date, potential funding needs/opportunities, and next steps.
2.11.21 A team consisting of the Project for Public Space and Group 4 Architects has been chosen to lead the Library Site Re-Use Visioning Process. All proposals can be reviewed here.
1.26.21 Update to Council - At the beginning of the 1.26.21 Council meeting staff will provide an update on the schedule, project approach, communications & outreach tools, and next steps. Update begins at minute 31:09 of the Council meeting & the slides can be viewed here.
January 2021 Addendum 1 & 2 and Addendum 3 to the Library Site Re-Use Vision Process RFP
12.2.20 The City has release an RFP for the Library Site Re-Use Vision Process. Proposal are due on January 14th, 2021 with the goal of having a consultant selected by the end of January.
10.27.20 City Council approves Owner' Rep contract with Griffin Structures, Inc. Staff will be working with Griffin to develop a project timeline and the best design delivery method.
10.22.20 Santa Cruz Sentinel Guest Commentary by Vice Mayor Donna Meyers
10.13.20 Santa Cruz Sentinel Guest Commentary by Bonnie Lipscomb, Economic Development Director
9.23.20 Council directed staff to return no later than the second Council meeting in October with broad based financial information on costs and available funding for both the affordable housing and parking components of the project, a copy of the proposed contract, information on potential developers of the affordable housing component, and links to relevant information n the library project.
9.16.20 Staff received direction from the City Council to issue an RFP (Request for Proposals) for an Owner's Representative to oversee the Mixed Use Library project. Staff will be bringing forward a contract with Griffin Structures, Inc. for Council's approval at the September 22nd, 2020 City Council Meeting.
8.20.20: Owner's Rep Proposals Due. Seven (7) proposals were submitted.
7.28.20: RFP for Owner's Rep Issued.
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