The next park place
By DARREL W. COLE
Sentinel staff writer
SANTA CRUZ — City officials and developer Maynard Manson are negotiating a land swap that could put into place one piece of the puzzle for a proposed six-acre park at the old railroad depot site.
The approximately quarter-acre swap would square off parcels owned by the city and Manson at the end of Chestnut Street. The city also is seeking an easement through Manson’s property for park access.
Manson plans to build a 96-unit apartment complex, including 14 units that would rent below market rate. Plans for the complex also include 9,000 square feet of commercial space at Laurel Avenue and Chestnut Street.
The proposed park is between Washington Street and the railroad tracks, next to Lighthouse Liquors and across the street from the Santa Cruz Feed and Mercantile store at 123 Center St.
The city took the first step to creating the future park — to be called the South of Laurel Park or Ohlone Park — in September 1999 with the $3.3 million purchase of the depot site. Plans call for a soccer field and children’s play area. About four acres of the site will be
used for a transit center for buses, vehicle parking spaces, and bike and pedestrian paths.
The state chipped in $2.1 million because of the transit center. The rest of the money came from the city’s Measure G bond, approved by voters in November 1998.
The park could grow if the Santa Cruz City Council ends up buying the liquor store property at 101 Washington St. The city is eyeing the property as a site for a natural history museum.
The city also could buy a 14,767-square-foot parking lot between the West Cliff Drive trestle bridge and Pacific Avenue across from the Municipal Wharf. The site is the former home of the Fun Spot.
"They are all possible right now," said City Manager Richard Wilson. He said negotiations between property owners and the city are continuing.
Manson’s apartment project got a break from the council in July 1999 when about $820,000 in assessment district costs were waived. Also, the developer agreed to pay $120,000 over five years into the city’s affordable housing fund.
