Historic Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields

Santa Cruz Army Reserve Center

(Santa Cruz Lighthouse Reservation)

 

 

Undated US Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District History I

 

On January 13, 1959, the 4.43-acre site was transferred by a Letter of Transfer from the Department of the Treasury, U.S. Coast Guard, to the Department of Army. This acreage was a portion of an original federal ownership of 10 acres acquired in 1868 for a lighthouse. At that time, the only improvement on the site had been a lighthouse. It was used and maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard until 1941 and removed shortly thereafter. The site was acquired with the intention of building facilities to house and relocate the United States Army Reserve Center (USARC) from its leased building on Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz.

 

However, soon after the site was acquired, the city of Santa Cruz, which wanted the site in exchange for a city-owned site described as the "Airport" site, entered into negotiations with the government for a land exchange. Subsequently, the 4.43-acre site was conveyed to the city of Santa Cruz by a Quitclaim deed on 16 February 1960. The site was never developed by the government for use as a reserve center.
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Undated US Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District History II

 

On 13 January 1959, Department of the Treasury, U.S. Coast Guard, transferred a total of 4.43 fee acres of land, by a Letter of Transfer, to the Department of the Army. This acreage was a portion of an original federal ownership of 10 acres acquired in 1868 to build a lighthouse.

The United States Army Reserve Center (USARC) site was located in Santa Cruz County, within the city of Santa Cruz, California. The site was also referred to as United States Army Reserve Center Lighthouse Point; United States Coast Guard Santa Cruz Light Station; Lighthouse Point; Santa Cruz Lighthouse Reservation; Santa Cruz Army Reserve Training Center; and USARC Lighthouse Point Site. The only improvement on the site was a lighthouse. The U.S. Coast Guard maintained the lighthouse until 1941 and it was removed shortly thereafter. The site was transferred to provide for the USARC-Santa Cruz. Available records indicate that there were no improvements made to the site during Army ownership. There was no mention of any restrictions, recapture clauses or restoration provisions.

The 4.43-acre site was conveyed to the city of Santa Cruz by a Quitclaim deed dated 16 February 1960.

 

 

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Updated 8 February 2016