HomeMy WebLinkAbout24714RESOLUTION NO. 24714
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING "THE
SUNMOR MODEL HOME" LOCATED AT 2821 LIVMOR
DRIVE AS CLASS 1 HISTORIC RESOURCE HSPB #124,
SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS. (APN 502-141-006)
WHEREAS, Chapter 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code allows for the
designation of historic sites and districts; and
WHEREAS, On August 6, 2019, Catherine Bodziner and Duff Linde, owners and
applicant, filed an application with the City pursuant to Article Ill, Section 8.05.070
(Procedure for Designation of Historic Sites and Historic Districts) of the Palm Springs
Municipal Code requesting Class 1 historic resource designation for the parcel located at
2821 Livmor Drive (APN #502-141-006). The application included a historic resources
report ("the report") prepared by the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, dated June,
2019;and
WHEREAS, on October, 2019, members of the Historic Site Preservation Board
(HSPB) conducted site inspections of the proposed historic resource, accompanied by
City staff; and
WHEREAS, on November 12, 2019, a noticed public hearing of the Palm Springs
Historic Site Preservation Board ("HSPB") to consider Case HSPB #124 was held in
accordance with applicable law; and
WHEREAS, the HSPB carefully reviewed and considered all of the evidence
presented in connection with the hearing on the project, including, but not limited to, the
staff report and all written and oral testimony presented and voted to recommend that the
City Council designate the Sunmor Model Home as a Class 1 historic site; and
WHEREAS, on January 30, 2020, a noticed public hearing of the City Council of
the City of Palm Springs, California was held in accordance with applicable law; and
WHEREAS, at said hearing the City Council carefully reviewed and considered all
of the evidence presented in connection with the hearing on the project, including, but not
limited to, the staff report and all written and oral testimony presented.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS DOES HEREBY
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: FINDINGS -PART "A". CRITERIA FOR HISTORIC RESOURCES.
Evaluation of the Application. Pursuant to Municipal Code Section 8.05.070 (C), in
considering a recommendation to designate the site as a Class 1 or 2 historic resource
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the City Council shall evaluate the application and make findings for conformance with
the following criteria:
Criteria for the Designation of Class 1 Historic Resources. A site, structure, building or
object may be designated as a Class 1 historic resource, provided both of the following
findings are met:
a. The site, structure, building or object exhibits exceptional historic
significance and meets one or more of the criteria listed below:
The Sunmor Model Home exhibits exceptional historic significance as a highly intact
example of a tract home designed by architects Wexler and Harrison in the mid-century
Modern architectural style.
(Criterion 1) The resource is associated with events that have made a
meaningful contribution to the nation, state or community;
The report does not identify any events associated with the site, thus the site does not
qualify under Criterion 1.
(Criterion 2) The resource is associated with the lives of persons who
made a meaningful contribution to national, state or local history;
The report does not identify any persons of significance associated with the site who
made a meaningful contribution to local, state or national history, thus it does not qualify
as a historic resource under Criterion 2.
(Criterion 3) The resource reflects or exemplifies a particular period of
national, state or local history;
The Sunmor Model Home exemplifies the post-World War II period in the development of
Palm Springs (1945-1969) because of its mid-century Modern architectural style. This
style, sometimes referred to as "Desert Modern" reflects the tenets of the Modern
architectural movement, as adapted to the desert climate, with deep cantilevered roof
eaves that shelter and protect the expansive areas of glass from the hot desert sun. Palm
Springs has become internationally recognized as having an outstanding collection of
buildings from the mid-century period. As such the house qualifies as a historic site under
Criterion 3.
(Criterion 4) The resource embodies the distinctive characteristics of a
type, period or method of construction;
The Sunmor Model Home was constructed using wood post-and-beam for its structure.
Post and beam construction was often used in mid-twentieth century homes in Palm
Springs for its ease of construction and because it lent itself to the "Desert Modern"
characteristic of large expanses of glass. With an 8 foot structural module the post-and-
beam method of construction also allowed for rapid assembly since it was a structural
module based on standard lumber dimensions. This ease of construction allowed the
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homes to be built quickly and affordably, making them attractive to first-time homebuyers,
retirees and those seeking affordable second homes in the desert. For these reasons the
Sunmor Model Home qualifies under Criterion 4.
(Criterion 5) The resource presents the work of a master builder, designer,
artist, or architect whose individual genius influenced his age, or that
possesses high artistic value;
The Sunmor Model Home was designed in 1955 by architects Donald Wexler and Richard
Harrison, both of whom have been recognized for the substantial contribution made to
the Palm Springs architectural brand. Both Wexler and Harrison have been recognized
for having inspired a new generation of architects practicing in Palm Springs and who
seek to emulate the simple strong Modernist characteristics found in their body of work.
As such the Sunmor Model Home qualifies as a historic resource under Criterion 5.
(Criterion 6) The resource represents a significant and distinguishable
entity whose components may lack individual distinction, as used in
evaluating applications for designation of historic districts, for parcels on
which more than one entity exists; or
The report does not assert that the Sunmor Model Home qualifies under Criterion 6.
(Criterion 7) The resource has yielded or may be likely to yield information
important to national, state or local history or prehistory.
No information has been provided in the historic resources report on any pre-historic
significance of the site.
SECTION 2: FINDINGS -PART "B" -ANALYSIS OF INTEGRITY.
b. The site, structure, building or object retains one or more of the following aspects
of integrity, as established in the Secretary of the Interior's Standards: integrity of design,
materials, workmanship, location, setting, feeling, or association.
The application includes an evaluation of the residence relative to the seven aspects or
qualities of integrity, as recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. The seven
aspects or qualities include location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and
association. The application concludes that the residence retains a high degree of
·integrity despite some modifications. The City Council made the following findings of the
site's historic Integrity:
1. Location:
The Sunmor Model Home remains in the same location that it was constructed, thus it
retains integrity of location.
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2. Design:
Aside from some minor additions including a patio cover in the rear yard, a translucent
glass privacy wall in the front yard, the home possesses a high degree of design integrity
and has been well maintained.
3. Setting:
The setting of the Sunmor Model Home, within a tract of similar homes with mid-century
Modern design characteristics, remains as it was from the time of its construction; it thus
retains integrity of Setting.
4. Materials:
As noted above, the Sunmor Model Home has had very few modifications or alterations.
Its post-and-beam wood construction is still evident and unaltered. Of particular note are
the wood framed windows. The window frames are wood with only a casement window
inset where operable windows were desired. The framing at the windows has protruding
"stops" that give a visual thinness to the window frame assemblies. Aside fr_om. the metal
patio cover in the back yard and the frosted glass privacy wall at the front, the home
exhibits a high degree of material integrity.
5. Workmanship:
The Sunmor Model Home is a structure built of high-quality materials and craftsmanship
and thus retains integrity of workmanship.
6. Feeling:
The casual informal living style expressed in the Sunmor Model Home with its large
expanses of glass that creates a strong visual connection between the inside and outside
of the home is still intact as is the open floor plan. The home continues to exude a quiet
sense of elegance and a comfortable feeling and thus retains integrity of feeling.
7. Association:
The strong association between architects Wexler and Harrison and the Sunmor Model
Home has been well documented and thus integrity of Association remains strong.
SECTION 3: DEFINING HISTORIC CHARACTERISTICS AND NON-
CONTRIBUTING FEATURES.
In considering a recommendation for historic resource designation it is important to
distinguish those physical elements that are original or from the period of significance that
contribute to the resource's historic significance from alterations, additions or features
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that were added at a later time that may be sympathetic to the original character, but
which may create a false sense of historicity. Distinguishing original character-defining
features from non-original elements aids the HSPB when it is tasked with evaluating
future·alterations to the historic resource.
The physical character-defining historic features of this resource include the following:
1. The mid-century Modern architectural style of the home.
2. The low-profile roofline and thin fascia with deep cantilevered eaves.
3. The wood post and beam structural system.
4. The wood frame window assemblies and large expanses of floor to ceiling glass
and clerestory windows.
5. The board and batten vertical siding on the front of the home.
6. The smooth sand finished stucco walls.
The nori-contributing features include the following:
1. The patio cover at the rear yard.
2. The translucent glass privacy wall at the front yard.
3. The aluminum wall light sconces.
4. The masonry privacy wall around the back yard.
5. The swimming pool and landscape.
SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
The proposed historic resource designation is-not subject to the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct
or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3)
(the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines,
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for
resulting in physical changes to the environment, directly or indirectly.
SECTION 5: CONDITIONS THAT APPLY TO CLASS 1 HISTORIC SITES.
According to Section 8.05 of the Municipal Code, the following shall apply to a Class 1
Historic Resource:
1. It shall meet the definition of a historic site as outlined in Municipal Code Section
8.05.020.
2. An archival file shall be maintained on the property by the City.
3. It may be qualified as 'historic' at the federal, state, and/or county level.
4. The structure/site may not be modified nor objects removed without following the
procedures outlined in Municipal Code Section 8.05.110 "Demolition or Alteration
of Class 1 and Class 2 Historic Resources -Certificate of Appropriateness".
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5. A marker exp laining the historic nature of the site may be installed at the site in a
location viewab le from the public way .
6 . Compliance wi th all ru les and regulations for Historic Sites and Historic Districts
under Chapter 8.05 of the Municipa l Code shall be required .
7 . The site shall not be further subdivided.
8. The City Clerk shall submit the Counci l Resolution to the County recorder for
recordation within 90 days of the effective date of the Council 's resolution.
Based upon th e foregoing , the City Council hereby designates the residence at 2821
Livmor Drive "The Sunmor Model Home" a Class 1 Historic Resource (Case HSPB #124).
ADOP T ED THIS 30 t h DAY OF JANUARY, 2020.
David H. Ready , City M
Resolution N o. 24714
Page 7
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
CERTIFICATION
I, ANTHONY J . MEJIA, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that
Resolution No . 24714 is a full , true and correct copy , and was duly adopted at a regular
meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs on this 30th day of January, 2020 ,
by the following vote :
AYES :
NOES :
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN :
Councilmembers Garner, Middleton , Woods , Mayor Pro Tern Holstege, and
Mayor Kors
None
None
None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the
City of Palm Springs , California , this l O...,.__.__ day of ,.Ce...lorJa7 , ,Zc.,z.c, .
av,h ~
nthony J.µe[i;,
City Clerk