... in the Soquel Avenue Corridor and East Morrissey Avenue Neighborhood
Sensitive Neighborhood Design
1817 Soquel Avenue incorporates many emerging best practices in neighborhood design. 1817 Soquel Avenue has significant frontage along a major commercial corridor and transportation route to the south. It abuts an existing vibrant residential neighborhood of single-family homes to the north. Components of the project are designed to create a transition between the two types of uses and include:- Development of residential condominium units at the north of the property is compatible with the residential nature of the adjacent neighborhood, and provides entry level homeownership opportunities.
The height of the residential buildings at the north end of the property is staggered from two stories at the northern most end and steps up to three stories as you get closer to Soquel Avenue.This provides a gradual transition from the single family neighborhood to the more dense four-story development along Soquel Avenue. The current proposed residential building heights along the northern end of the site are lower than building heights presently legally permitted without any variance for two story single family residences.
- “Carriage House” units in two story buildings along the northern end of the parking lot will act as a buffer between homes on Eastbrook and project parking.
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Mixed-use buildings (residential and commercial) along Soquel Avenue will support retail and program uses on lower levels in keeping with the commercial nature and pedestrian friendly nature of this major thoroughfare.
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We expect that the Soquel Avenue corridor will undergo significant redevelopment in the near future. This project will serve as a learning model for sustainable mixed-use development.
Neighborhood Meeting Sunday April 27, 2008. (Photos by Scott Kennedy)
In April volunteers and staff from the Resource Center for Nonviolence distributed nearly 600 fliers door-to-door to neighboring residences and business near 1817 Soquel Avenue (the area from Park to Morrissey and from Highway 1 to one block south of Soquel). Two open houses were held at Barrios Unidos on Thursday April 24th and Sunday April 27th (pictured above) so that interested parties would have a chance to hear about the project and to raise questions and concerns even before an application has been formally submitted to the City of Santa Cruz. The 1817 Soquel Avenue Team is committed to open discussion with those who will be most impacted by construction and the operation of the new residential, offices, programs and retail uses at 1817 Soquel Avenue.
