SITE HISTORY

Rewind to the early 1970s. The historic preservation movement in Santa Cruz was just beginning. In 1974, the City of Santa Cruz adopted the historic preservation ordinance and established the Historic Preservation Commission. Later in 1976, the first Santa Cruz Historic Building Survey was completed. 

Enter Chuck and Esther Abbott — retired photographers who moved to Santa Cruz in the 1960s and quickly recognized the importance of protecting the city’s historic character. At a time when many older homes and buildings faced demolition or modernization, the Abbotts became leading advocates for preservation. (Yes — Abbott Square is named after them!)

In 1972, one of Santa Cruz’s first major preservation projects began when the 1894 Cope Row Houses at Lincoln and Chestnut were saved from demolition and restored by PROD (Private Rehabilitation of Downtown), led by Chuck Abbott.

Later, Abbott’s visionary concept for the “Pacific Avenue Garden Mall” — a walkable, pedestrian-friendly shopping district — helped transform downtown Santa Cruz. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake forever changed downtown Santa Cruz and the character of the Pacific Garden Mall, with the loss of many historic buildings. But the Abbott legacy remains.

Today, we honor Chuck and Esther Abbott for recognizing something that still rings true: protecting historic buildings and preserving neighborhoods strengthens community identity, vitality, and sense of place.