University of California Santa Cruz

University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California

Getty Campus Heritage Grant Final Report (PDF) 49.5MB

UC Santa Cruz, though known for its modern residential colleges, also encompasses Cowell Ranch with historic buildings and structures related to its days as a limestone processing center dating back to 1851. In addition to historic Cowell Ranch, the campus is situated in a region with evidence of prehistoric Native American settlements, including eight to ten Ohlone sites. Grant funds will allow UC Santa Cruz to survey these important historic resources for incorporation into a long-range development plan, which will guide campus growth to the year 2020. The University will also prepare the nomination of the Cowell Ranch District for state and federal registers.

University of California, Santa Cruz received a Getty grant in 2004 for $100,000 to support campus heritage planning.

Report Summary

Purpose: Grant funds will allow UC Santa Cruz to survey these important historic resources for incorporation into a long-range development plan, which will guide campus growth to the year 2020. The University will also prepare a nomination of the Cowell Ranch District for state and federal registers.

Historic Designation: The project has already led to nomination (as submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office for approval) for addition to the National Register of Historic Places of a Cowell Ranch and Lime Industry Historic District, containing 10 contributing structures and 5 landscape areas

UC Santa Cruz, though known for its modern residential colleges, also encompasses Cowell Ranch with historic buildings and structures related to its days as a limestone processing center dating back to 1851. In addition to historic Cowell Ranch, the campus is situated in a region with evidence of prehistoric Native American settlements, including 8-10 Ohlone sites.

Planning Process Used

• Two site visits accommodated observation, documentation, and research, along with GPS site mapping
• Evaluation (by State Historic Preservation Office) staff evaluated the proposed historic district’s contents, using California and National Register, i.e., National Park Service, criteria
• Observations and assessments for the historic district were entered on California’s Department of Parks and Recreation Series 523 forms
• A nomination was prepared for the historic district to the National Register of Historic Places

Outcomes: Products

• Identification of one significant area adjacent to the proposed historic district (Lower Quarry) and of three sub-areas within the proposed historic district: Campus Entry; Cowell Ranch House; and Barnyard
• List of structures and areas within the proposed historic district, noting relevance of each to the district’s significance
• Observations and research recorded on State of California record sheets (form 523)
• Campus maps with topographical underlay
• Historic district nomination as submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office for approval
• Prioritized treatment recommendations for the 10 contributing structures as well as for the landscapes and circulation elements within the proposed historic district

Outcomes: Plans

Nomination for addition to the National Register of Historic Places of a “Cowell Ranch and Lime Industry Historic District.”

Outcomes: Policies and Practices

Various experts employed student interns in researching the report

Unique Features

• UC Santa Cruz should be commended for listing student interns and their tasks in the report, for crediting student drawings, and for noting preparations for future classes and projects.
• Campus maps with topographical underlays Advisors
• Campus representatives formed one-third of the project team: Campus Architect; Campus Landscape Architect; Director of Campus Planning; and Senior Environmental Planner.
• Various experts employed student interns