SANTA CRUZ >> At its meeting Thursday evening, the city of Santa Cruz Planning Commission will review the proposed Clocktower Center project at 2020 N. Pacific Ave. in downtown Santa Cruz.

The project is being developed by the firm Workbench and originally consisted of two alternate sets of plans. One plan for the project detailed an eight-story mixed-use structure with 174 housing units, and the other, taller version of the project was a 16-story mixed-use building with 260 housing units, which was ultimately abandoned by the developer.

Since the pre-application was submitted to the city of Santa Cruz in March 2024, Workbench has decided to move forward with the eight-story version of the project, which has gone through some changes since the last year.

According to the agenda report, the approximately 170,000-square-foot eight-story project will include 178 residential units, with about 2,700 square feet of commercial and residential amenity space and 100 parking spaces. The Clocktower Center project would be about 95 feet high and span two lots that are roughly a half-acre in size. The property is currently occupied by the now vacant Santa Cruz County Bank at 2020 N. Pacific Ave., and the Rush Inn and a real estate office at 113 Knight St. and 115 Knight St.

According to the latest version of the project plans, of the 178 housing units in the upper seven floors of the building, 79 would be studios, which are roughly 370 square feet and 99 would be junior one-bedroom apartments, which are about 470 square feet. The ground floor would have a residential lobby and the commercial space fronting North Pacific Avenue and Knight Street. The ground floor will also contain the building’s parking garage with 100 spaces, which are intended for patrons of the commercial tenants and the building’s residents.

The agenda report states that the project would contain 28 deed-restricted affordable units, which allows the developer to take advantage of the state’s Density Bonus Law. Under the law, the project qualifies for unlimited waivers and three concessions, and Workbench is asking for increased floor area ratio and building height, reduced sidewalk width and building setbacks, among others.

To view the meeting agenda, visit cityofsantacruz.com.