An eight-story, mixed-use housing development dubbed Five30 on Front Street in downtown Santa Cruz has been given the green light to move forward. The project covers about 239,000 square feet across four lots totaling slightly over an acre on the 500 block of Front Street. It is fully electric and is a mixed-use structure.
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On the main floor of Five30 in Santa Cruz are six restaurant-ready commercial spaces, while on the upper floors are 276 apartments. The 276 units consist of 169 studios. 68 one-bedroom apartments with dens, 34 one-bedroom apartments without dens, and five two-bedroom apartments.
Additionally, Five30 in Santa Cruz will provide 181 parking spaces for cars and 36 charging stations for electric vehicles. Moreover, there will be 384 bike parking places, 372 of which will be secured lockers.
An overview of the original Five30 plans and subsequent changes
Originally, the project was a six-story, 170-unit building in 2020. However, it was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was then redesigned with recent changes to state bonus density laws in mind. The laws permit builders to go beyond regional construction codes. In exchange, they must commit to setting aside a specific proportion of the units in development as affordable housing. Five30 in Santa Cruz scoped a 50% bonus density increase and subsequently increase its units to 276 units.
“We are particularly excited about the outcomes that will come from the redevelopment of these sites. They will give us the chance to rethink the development pattern from many years ago when we had turned our backs on the river. The opportunity to celebrate the river will truly be provided by these initiatives.” stated Santa Cruz Planning Director Lee Butler at the event.
