Preserving old buildings isn’t just about history — it’s about sustainability, writes Joe Michalak, who has lived in Santa Cruz since 1974 and is on the city’s Historic Preservation Commission. Reusing structures reduces waste and saves resources while keeping the character of a community intact, he says, citing beloved local spots like the Tannery Arts Center, Rio Theatre, Old Sash Mill and Seabright Cannery. These projects prove that adaptive reuse supports both the environment and local culture. Saving buildings means saving stories — and passing them on, he writes.
