Home Sweet Home

Nine acres of creeks, trails, and open space — and your kids get to call it their backyard. Coastside Cohousing sits in the Carbonera Creek neighborhood, one of Santa Cruz's most sought-after areas, with great schools and a neighborhood that still feels like a neighborhood. Downtown, the beaches, and the Boardwalk are just minutes away, but step outside your door and you're in a world of redwoods, birdsong, and room to run. Farmers' markets on weekends. Surf lessons after school. Fireflies in the creek on summer nights. With both energy and calm at your doorstep, this location delivers the best of Santa Cruz living in one extraordinary place.

What We Know So Far…

  • How many homes are planned?

    We are busy making plans with the Santa Cruz County to determine the final number of homes.

  • What size will the homes be?

    We are planning for homes between 900-1300 square feet. Community members that commit early will be involved in developing the specific floor plans and sizes.

  • What will each home include?

    All private homes at Coastside Cohousing will have full kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, and laundry connections.

  • What about the Common Amenities?

    We are planning a rich set of shared amenities, with the specific features to be shaped by community members in the coming months. At the heart of the community will be the Common House—a place for shared meals, games on rainy afternoons, quiet moments by the fireplace, hosting guests in shared suites, and gatherings such as yoga classes.

  • How is community work completed?

    The work of Coastside Cohousing will be done by our Teams. Every member of the community is expected to serve on at least one Team at a level realistic and reasonable for their interests and abilities.

  • How are community decisions made?

    Coastside Cohousing is self-governed—decisions are made by us, not for us. The work, as well as the fun, is our responsibility. Every household is a member of the Board of Directors of our Homeowners Association.

  • Will Coastside have a focus on sustainability?

    Yes! Coastside Cohousing will prioritize sustainable practices during the development and on-going management of the community. We are planning to have over 2/3’s of our future home dedicated as a conservation area for the whole neighborhood to enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We're in the Carbonera Creek neighborhood in Santa Cruz's North County — about 2 miles from downtown. It's one of the most sought-after areas in Santa Cruz: tucked away among redwoods and creeks, yet close to everything.

  • The total site is 13.5 acres. We'll build our homes and common facilities on approximately 4 acres, with about 9 acres preserved as permanent open space — including two creeks and natural habitat that the whole community (and neighborhood) will enjoy.

  • Yes! We hold regular site tours for people interested in learning more. Please check our website for upcoming dates rather than visiting on your own — we want to maintain good relationships with our future neighbors.

  • The land is under contract with a purchase agreement that allows up to three years to complete the sale. This gives us time to finalize design approvals and build our buyers group while protecting the site.

  •  Yes, two creeks run through the property. The creek areas are part of the conservation zone and won't be developed. We're working with environmental consultants as part of our planning process.

  • There is some ambient noise from Highway 17. The site planning and construction methods will include strategies to mitigate this, and likely the ambient noise will be less noticeable once there are structures on the site.

  • No. The recent fires were on the other side of Highway 17. That said, we're in California, so fire-wise building practices will be incorporated into our design and construction.

  • The site is within Santa Cruz city limits. Fire service is provided by Scotts Valley Fire with a mutual aid agreement. Police service is Santa Cruz city. Water, sewer, and power are all city-provided utilities.

  • It is about a 20 minute walk to the nearest Metro bus route. However, the site is approximately 2 miles from downtown Santa Cruz, making it accessible by bike for many trips. The neighborhood is up a hill, so an e-bike may be your best bet! Most people would drive or e-bike for everyday errands. That said, one of the beauties of cohousing is that you'll share many resources on-site (tools, guest rooms, bulk groceries, even occasional carpools or informal car-sharing), which reduces how often you need to leave.

  • The Carbonera area offers convenient access to Santa Cruz amenities including grocery stores, schools, the public library, and downtown — all without the feeling of living in a busy urban area. Nearby grocery stores include Whole Foods, Staff of Life, Safeway, and Grocery Outlet. The property is in the Santa Cruz City schools district, and will likely be slated for Delaveaga Elementary, Branciforte Middle School, and Harbor High School, which are all within 3 miles.

  • We're currently projecting completion and move-in around 2030. This timeline depends on the planning approval process and construction schedule.

  • We're in the feasibility and design phase. Design workshops with the community and architects began in early 2026. After design is finalized, we'll go through the county approval process, then construction.