Proposed 7th & Brommer Development
The 2019 Proposed Project
Santa Cruz Harbor Village
Swenson Builder
http://santacruzharborvillage.com (no longer accessible)
Swenson Builder
http://santacruzharborvillage.com (no longer accessible)
March 16, 2019 Community Meeting
At the March 16 Community meeting, Swenson Builder presented an updated and corrected PowerPoint presentation of the proposed 7th and Brommer Santa Cruz Harbor Village project, based on comments received at and subsequent to the March 13 meeting. Click below to download the presentations.
March 16 Swenson Presentation | |
File Size: | 3393 kb |
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March 13, 2019 Community Meeting
At the March 13 Community meeting, Swenson Builder presented a PowerPoint presentation of the proposed 7th and Brommer Santa Cruz Harbor Village project. Click below to download the presentation.
March 13 Swenson Presentation | |
File Size: | 2254 kb |
File Type: |
February 26, 2019 Recommendations sent to Swenson Builder
BUILDINGS IN GENERAL
PARKING AND TRAFFIC SUGGESTIONS
URBAN OPEN SPACE (UOS) and other ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
The property has been a de facto greenbelt of sorts for the nearby neighborhoods for 30 years. Currently several avian raptor species hunt for food at this location. They can be seen overhead every day. At night, other owl species do likewise. To lose the call of raptors and owls altogether may not be illegal but it would be a shame. We suggest Swenson propose mitigation for the loss of wildlife habitat by doing the following:
- We like the scale and placement of the Lodge, as long as it stays no higher than 35' elevation.
- We like the possible name of Harbor Village for the development.
- We suggest that the agricultural history of the property be honored by naming the 1 acre park Maggiolo Park.
- We suggest two story limitations on commercial buildings. We suggest carports, not garages, for residences. Otherwise those garages will become used for storage, not cars (as has happened all over Santa Cruz).
- We like the buffer from the existing residences fence line to the proposed condos.
- We have mixed feelings about the cabins and tents as alternative accommodations ideas. We like the use of the existing residence reconfigured as a youth hostel. Looking at the site, we do have a concern about the hillside of the NW corner of the property and how much it will be manipulated to accommodate cabins.
- We question whether potential work force housing on second floor of the commercial buildings on 7th Avenue can count as 15% affordable housing. Santa Cruz is a place of open windows and fresh air for pleasant sleep. Our concern is that affordable housing gets all the street noise, while market rate gets a quiet sanctuary ... housing injustice?
- We support engineering to accomodate roof top solar and bioswales whereever feasible.
- Last, we have a serious concern that there is too much being packed into this area. It is difficult to stand at the property and contemplate everything shown on the Site Concept.
PARKING AND TRAFFIC SUGGESTIONS
- Align the Brommer entrances a bit farther west, to reduce back up into the intersection.
- Configure the exit from the residential area onto 7th so that drivers coming from the south cannot turn left illegally into that exit.
- Support a minimum of two parking spaces per residence.
- Retain the four way stop at 7th & Brommer, because without dedicated left turn lanes on 7th Avenue through the intersection at Brommer, signalizing will actually stop flow. There is no room on 7th for a dedicated left turn lane in either direction, nor on Brommer coming out of the development.
URBAN OPEN SPACE (UOS) and other ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
The property has been a de facto greenbelt of sorts for the nearby neighborhoods for 30 years. Currently several avian raptor species hunt for food at this location. They can be seen overhead every day. At night, other owl species do likewise. To lose the call of raptors and owls altogether may not be illegal but it would be a shame. We suggest Swenson propose mitigation for the loss of wildlife habitat by doing the following:
- Consider designing the westernmost portion of the 1 acre park as natural habitat, as a buffer to the remaining 1.3 acres of UOS. This portion of the park could be for educational purposes (e.g. with interpretive signage).
- Keep all lighting in the park as minimal or non-existent as possible (with a sunset closure of the park) to retain the night sky that is now available to the neighbors. The constellation Orion as well as Jupiter, Venus, Sirius, and Mars are currently viewable. Maybe the cabin and tent visitors would appreciate the night sky as well.
- Consider the following access as sufficient: Two accesses to the 1.3 acres of undeveloped UOS and the 1 acre park -- one will be the entrance for all visitors via the two Brommer Street entrances and the other will be the one way (exit) for vehicles on to 7th Avenue, which can allow pedestrian (and possibly bicycle) entrance from 7th Avenue. All visitors will be able to access the developed 1 acre park as well as the remaining undeveloped 1.3 acre UOS.
- Since there will be plenty of access to the harbor below the site, via sidewalks and bike lanes, we oppose a path from the RV area of the harbor up into the UOS and vice versa. We also oppose an access into the UOS from lower Brommer Street, for the same reasons as given. As for access to Arana Gulch, an existing paved bicycle routes and sidewalk provide for access for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Project History
7th and Brommer Developer Chosen
October 31, 2017
Based on initial responses to the RFQ, the County of Santa Cruz has identified Barry Swenson Builder as the preferred lead developer of the 7th and Brommer site. The County and BSB must now reach agreement on a possible exclusive negotiating agreement before embarking on a community-based process to further refine the vision for the site. Stay tuned for details. http://www.santacruzcounty.us/7thandbrommer.aspx
Based on initial responses to the RFQ, the County of Santa Cruz has identified Barry Swenson Builder as the preferred lead developer of the 7th and Brommer site. The County and BSB must now reach agreement on a possible exclusive negotiating agreement before embarking on a community-based process to further refine the vision for the site. Stay tuned for details. http://www.santacruzcounty.us/7thandbrommer.aspx
7th and Brommer RFQ Responses
August 18, 2017
Two separate proposals were submitted in response to the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) issued by the County General Services Department. The deadline was August 18.
One proposal is from the Santa Cruz Port District and one proposal is from Barry Swenson Builder.
Initial screenings of the two proposals will occur by September 8. Selection of the developer will be sometime in October. Public Vision, Project Scoping and Negotiate, CEQA Process, and Draft DDA* will occur in 2018.
Unfortunately, the submittals may be marked by the submitter as proprietary information and therefore not available to the public, although we may be able to glean some information about them by keeping our eyes and ears open.
Updates will follow as soon as there is anything to report.
*DDA means Disposition and Development Agreement with the selected Developer that specifies the scope of development, public benefits, business terms, and performance requirements, as well as a timeline for securing entitlements and purchasing the property from the Redevelopment Successor Agency.
Two separate proposals were submitted in response to the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) issued by the County General Services Department. The deadline was August 18.
One proposal is from the Santa Cruz Port District and one proposal is from Barry Swenson Builder.
Initial screenings of the two proposals will occur by September 8. Selection of the developer will be sometime in October. Public Vision, Project Scoping and Negotiate, CEQA Process, and Draft DDA* will occur in 2018.
Unfortunately, the submittals may be marked by the submitter as proprietary information and therefore not available to the public, although we may be able to glean some information about them by keeping our eyes and ears open.
Updates will follow as soon as there is anything to report.
*DDA means Disposition and Development Agreement with the selected Developer that specifies the scope of development, public benefits, business terms, and performance requirements, as well as a timeline for securing entitlements and purchasing the property from the Redevelopment Successor Agency.
Board of Supervisors Approve 7th and Brommer RFQ
At their June 6, 2017 meeting, the County Board of Supervisors approved Item 18 on the Consent Agenda: "Approve Request for Qualifications for the 7th Avenue Visitor Accommodation Site, and direct the Office of Economic Development to return with an exclusive negotiation agreement with a qualified developer, as recommended by the County Administrative Officer."
Click HERE to read a request to oppose approval of the RFQ and return it to the Economic Development Office for a rewrite.
Click HERE to read a request to oppose approval of the RFQ and return it to the Economic Development Office for a rewrite.
7th & Brommer Priorities Meeting
6:30 pm, Thursday, April 27th, 2017
Live Oak Elementary School
1916 Capitola Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Click HERE for more information
6:30 pm, Thursday, April 27th, 2017
Live Oak Elementary School
1916 Capitola Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Click HERE for more information
The 2016 Proposed Project
In 2015, the Santa Cruz County Department of Public Works contracted with Valbridge Property Advisors to produce an appraisal of the 7th and Brommer property and to evaluate the potential of the property for the proposed development project. (1) The Valbridge Report appraises the value of the 7th and Brommer property, as of May 19, 2016, at $2,855,000, and states:
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On August 12, 2016, The County Economic Development Department issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) "To develop a landmark waterfront, infill site owned by the Santa Cruz County Redevelopment Successor Agency (RSA) with lodging, other destination oriented commercial uses and public open space. Development of this site aims to strengthen the local tax base and enhance economic vitality and quality of life in the County."
The RFQ description of the property changes the emphasis of the land use from parks to visitor accommodations and specifies the inclusion of a hotel:
The RFQ description of the property changes the emphasis of the land use from parks to visitor accommodations and specifies the inclusion of a hotel:
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The map below shows the 7th and Brommer property outlined in red, with the adjacent property to the north, outlined in yellow, which belongs to the Santa Cruz Harbor, but may be included for redevelopment as part of this project. (3)
You can use the interactive map further below to see the residential areas around the subject property.
You can use the interactive map further below to see the residential areas around the subject property.
Project Area
Interactive Map
1. Valbridge Appraisal Report, June 16, 2016
2. Santa Cruz County Economic Development Department Hospitality Development Opportunity
3. Long-Range Property Management Plan, Santa Cruz County Redevelopment Successor Agency
All documents are available on the Documents Page.