1500 Capitola Road Project Current Status
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Scroll down for the Project Review Process
Scroll down for the Project Review Process
March 26, 2021
These pictures of the building site were taken March 20, 2021. As of March 26, the County's contractor completed demolition of the two residential buildings, including the historic Robert Merriman home, and associated outbuildings and pavement.
January 12, 2021
Trees Felled
On the morning of January 12, neighbors of the project were alarmed to see many trees being cut down on the project site. We knew this would happen. Knowing did not make it any easier to see large old living trees, homes to wildlife for decades, cut down. Pictures were taken the next day, as the work continued. They speak for the trees and the life no longer within. Dead trees, piled. Birds gone. Granted, the work was done before the start of nesting season, which can be from mid-January through September every year, depending on the species of bird. Somehow that knowledge doesn't help mend a broken heart.
Click on Images to enlarge.
Click HERE for the Landscape Site Plan, showing trees to be cut and trees to be retained.
January 11, 2021
County Historic Resources Commission Public Hearing
Agenda Item 6A: Review and consider approving the design for a historical installation honoring Robert Merriman for his heroism fighting fascism in the Spanish Civil War. The historic installation is required as a condition of approval for application #181579, for the properties located at 1412,1438, 1500, and 1514 Capitola Road in Santa Cruz (APNs 026-741-12, -13, -14, and -15), where Robert Merriman lived during his teen years. The subject properties are not designated as historic resources. The project applicant is MidPen Housing.
Click HERE to see the illustrations of the approved historic signage.
Click HERE to see the illustrations of the approved historic signage.
December 8, 2020 Board of Supervisors
The Board of Supervisors approved a 2nd Amendment to the Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with MidPen, Inc. to extend the negotiation period to March 31, 2021, due to a pending 100 day review period of the Agreement by the California Department of Finance. Click HERE for details.
December 7, 2020
Letter to Board of Supervisors from Brocklebank and Lewis
After we discovered the presence of PCE contamination of the 1500 Capitola Road parcel (initially as a Consent Agenda item in the November 10 Board of Supervisors meeting agenda), we submitted a letter for inclusion the December 8 Consent Agenda item regarding the extended negotiation period for the agreement with Mid-Pen Housing, alerting the BOS to our concerns. Click HERE to read our letter.
November 10, 2020 Board of Supervisors
The Board of Supervisors amended the 2019 Affordable Housing and Property Disposition Agreement to address environmental contaminants discovered on the site in January of 2020. (Click HERE and scroll to item number 19 for the September 2020 environmental report). The project team has worked with County staff and regulatory agencies to develop a plan that would mitigate risk from the contamination and would allow the project to be developed as planned. The sale price for the property to be purchased by Mid-Pen for the housing component was reduced from $3,525,000 to $1,407,601, and the sale price for the property for the health clinics was reduced to $0. (Click HERE and scroll down to item number 23 for the Revised Affordable Housing and Property Disposition Agreement.)
November 5, 2019 Board of Supervisors
The Board of Supervisors acting as the Santa Cruz County Redevelopment Successor Agency, approved the Affordable Housing and Property Disposition Agreement with MP Live Oak Associates, L.P. for the sale of the 1500 Capitola Road Property "for a mixed-use development containing a multifamily affordable housing component, a commercial component that includes a community health clinic and a dental clinic, and an open space component." (Click HERE and scroll down to item number 18 for the 2019 Affordable Housing and Property Disposition Agreement.)
August 28, 2019 Planning Commission
Click HERE for the agenda.
July 1, 2019 Merriman House Historic Evaluation Report
The existing house on the site has been evaluated and will be the subject of a Monday July 1 meeting of the County's Historic Commission that begins at 9:30 am at the Board of Supervisors Chambers. Agenda item #9 Update on Merriman House, located at 1438 Capitola Road in Santa Cruz is listed under Old Business. Click HERE for the report.
June 27, 2019 Traffic Impact Analysis Final Report
Mid-Pen Housing released the June 11, 2019 Traffic Impact Analysis Final Report for the 1500 Capitola Road Project. Click HERE for the report.
May 9, 2019 Project Parking and Demand Report
The June 11, 2019 Traffic Impact Analysis Final Report for the 1500 Capitola Road Project includes the May 9, 2019 Project Parking and Demand Report as Appendix M. Click HERE for the Parking Report.
October 11, 2018 MidPen Housing Community Meeting
On October 11 (Thursday), the public will see the revised proposal for development at the 1500 Capitola Road property. The meeting will be held in the auditorium at Live Oak Elementary School, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.
The basic proposal is still planned, but there are several major design feature changes from the initial plan, in response to meetings with adjacent residential neighbors and also to meetings with several members of the Capitola Road Neighbors group. Some of the revisions are good in our opinion, others not so good.
The Oct. 11 meeting is sponsored by MidPen Housing, Dientes Community Dental and the Santa Cruz Community Health Centers, all of whom are involved in the proposed development.
Please mark your calendars and spread the word about the community meeting.
The basic proposal is still planned, but there are several major design feature changes from the initial plan, in response to meetings with adjacent residential neighbors and also to meetings with several members of the Capitola Road Neighbors group. Some of the revisions are good in our opinion, others not so good.
The Oct. 11 meeting is sponsored by MidPen Housing, Dientes Community Dental and the Santa Cruz Community Health Centers, all of whom are involved in the proposed development.
Please mark your calendars and spread the word about the community meeting.
May 21, 2018 Revised Architectural Renderings
NOTE: These architectural renderings are not the final designs for the 1500 Capitola Road Project.
These are working drawings in response to on-going community input.
These are working drawings in response to on-going community input.