• Mission Hill Historic District
• Downtown Neighborhood District

Four National Register historic districts have been established in the City: the Mission Hill Historic District was placed on the National Register in 1975, the Downtown/Pacific Avenue Commercial District in 1986, the Downtown Neighborhood District in 1989, and the Cowell Lime Works District in 2007. The Downtown Neighborhood District and Mission Hill District are also Santa Cruz City Historic Districts. As a consequence of the destruction of 10 downtown historic buildings during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the Downtown/Pacific Avenue Commercial District was de-listed in 1991.                    
                                                 

The local and National Register Downtown Neighborhood Historic Districts do not have the same boundaries. There are small areas included in the National Register that are not located within the local district. It is necessary to amend the local district boundary line to correct this discrepancy.


The City General Plan identifies additional potential historic districts in the Ocean View Avenue, Beach Hill, and South of Laurel areas. The 1998 Beach/South of Laurel Area Plan proposed Beach Hill as an historic district and several areas as neighborhood conservation areas. Overlay zoning regulations have been adopted for these neighborhood conservation areas. The City General Plan identifies additional potential historic districts in the Ocean View Avenue, Beach Hill, and South of Laurel areas. The 1998 Beach/South of Laurel Area Plan proposed Beach Hill as an historic district and several areas as neighborhood conservation areas. 

In October 2000, an Historic Context Statement Report was completed. The Context Statement provides a good background and identifies related property types which evolved with the City’s historical past.