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Home My WebLink AboutPresentation - Agenda Item 2B - Alexander Residence 09-30-21 (002)SMEV = AP A T T O R N E Y S BRUCE T. BAUER bauer@sbemp.com September 30, 2021 VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY cityclerk@palmspringsca.gov anthony.mejia@palmspringsca.gov Anthony J. Mejia, MMC City Clerk 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262 Phone: 760.323.8206 REPLY To: Palm Springs, California Re: HSPB #136- Historic Designation of The Robert Alexander Residence Located at 1350 Ladera Circle/Public Hearing: City Council Meeting, Sept. 30, 2021- Item No. 2B Dear Mr. Mejia: We are writing to regarding the Application by the City of Palm Springs (the "City") for historic designation of "the Robert Alexander Residence" aka "the House of Tomorrow", located at 1350 Ladera Circle, Palm Springs, California (APN #505-082-026), Case HSPB #136 (hereinafter the "Property"). That matter is being considered tonight on the City Council's agenda, Item No. 2B. Please distribute this comment letter appropriately for tonight's meeting in consideration of this agenda item. Our office represents the former owners of Property, the Tri-Villa Trust ("Trust"). The Trust was owner the owner of the Property for over thirty years, from 1987 until last December 2020, when it was sold. The City now recognizes the contributions of the Trust, as the owner of the Property, to its provenance: SLOVAK BARON EMPEY MURPHY & PiNKNEY LLP 1800 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way 650 Town Center Drive, Suite 1400 2240 Fifth Avenue 103 Carnegie Center Blvd., Suite 101 Chrysler Building Palm Springs, California 92262 Costa Mesa, California 92626 San Diego, California 92101 Princeton, New Jersey 08540 405 Lexington Avenue, 2VI Floor T (760) 322-2275 - F (760) 322-2107 T (714) 435-9592 • F (714) 850-9011 T (619) 501-4540 T (609) 955-3393 • F (609) 520-8731 New York, New York 10174 T (212) 829-4399 www.sbemp.com 0I 1-W-2,6-21 F 1,�'L7;�#4 rrEM No.�C.— a`) Anthony J. Mej ia, MMC City Clerk September 30, 2021 Page 2 In 1993, the subject property was refurbished "to just the way that Elvis had rented it" and was being rented out for parties at $3,500 a day. The following year, advertisements began to appear in the Palm Springs Desert Sun for tours at the Elvis Presley Honeymoon Hideaway. The owner, Leonard Lewis of Boston, emphasized the subject property's relationship to Elvis further by hosting gatherings at the residence including an event celebrating the 30th anniversary of Elvis and Priscilla's wedding in 1997. The City is correct. Our owner promoted the use of the Property in this manner as demonstrated in the enclosed website: https:Helvisinpalmsprin sg com/ As demonstrated in the above website, and the City's own Staff Report, our client utilized the term "Elvis Presley Honeymoon Hideaway" as well as the "Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway" to refer to the Property. Our client likewise referred to the Property as the "Elvis in Palm Springs" and "The Robert Alexander Estate." All of these terms were used continuously by our client during its ownership and promotion of the Property. As such, our client asserts an ownership interest in the use of those terms and objects to their use by the City and/or any third party, without our client's express written permission. Sincerely, SLOVAK, BARON, EMPEY, MURPHY & PINKNEY, LLP owllft-�� By: Bruce T. Bauer CC: CLIENT Alexander Residence Historic Designation(“House of Tomorrow”)Agenda Item #2B Case HSPB #136 September 30, 2021 DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT Alexander Residence •Designed by architect William Krisel and constructed in 1960 •Built for Robert and Helene Alexander, of the Alexander Construction Company •Associated with Elvis and Priscilla Presley DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT HSPB Action •Findings:Criterion 2: Associated with Alexanders, Alexander Construction CompanyCriterion 3: Exemplifies a particular period in historyCriterion 4: Distinctive design/constructionCriterion 5: Work of master architect (W. Krisel) •Retains sufficient degree of integrity for Class 1 (Landmark) designation DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT Alexander Residence Historic Designation(“House of Tomorrow”)Agenda Item #2B Case HSPB #136 September 30, 2021 DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT