Clocktower Center could become largest building in Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- The City of Santa Cruz is looking to add affordable housing but one project is becoming a tall concern.

The Clocktower Center which is a 16-story mixed use project which will consist of apartments and retail space. The development will be loaded next to famous Clocktower.

This building on 2020 North Pacific Avenue could be the largest structure in town.

This new building development would be located in downtown Santa Cruz. the city plans to put it near the famous clock tower. The developer of this project Tim Gordin says there's several main factors in deciding between an eight-story and a sixteen-story building in downtown.

“It’s one step closer to solving the housing crisis so for us it’s about creating the housing and solving that problem as opposed to the eight or 16 stories tall," President and founder at Workbench Tim Gordon said.

However, it seems the Santa Cruz community has mixed feelings about the new development.

“Everyone knows that what we need here is affordable housing," Batya Keegan a resident in Santa Cruz County said. "If it’s not designated for affordable housing, then I’m really not for it in any way because we have plenty of market rate housing here and housing is becoming way too expensive.”

The city of Santa Cruz spoke on where the plans stand and when they believe this development will be discussed next.

“I anticipate a community meeting to happen in the next few weeks that will be hosted by the developer," Principal Planner for city of Santa Cruz Samantha Haschert said. "We will open to any member of the public to come and have a further discussion and provide the developer with feedback at this very early point in the process.”

Both projects include the merger of two adjacent lots as well as demolition of the existing commercial buildings.

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