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HomeMy WebLinkAbout24696RESOLUTION NO. 24696 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING "THE KIRK DOUGLAS RESIDENCE" LOCATED AT 515 WEST VIA LOLA AS CLASS 1 HISTORIC RESOURCE HSPB #118, SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS. (APN 505-252-032). THE PALM SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL FINDS AND DETERMINES AS FOLLOWS: A. Chapter 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code allows for the designation of historic sites and districts. B. On March 14, 2019, Diane Budman Bald on behalf of the Diane Budman Bald family trust, owner and applicant, filed an application with the City pursuant to Article III, 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 515 West Via Lola (APN #505-252-032). The application included a historic resources report ("the report") prepared by the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, dated February, 2019. C. In August, 2019, members of the Historic Site Preservation Board (HSPB) conducted site inspections of the proposed historic resource, accompanied by City staff. D. On September 10, 2019, a noticed public hearing of the Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board ("HSPB") to consider Case HSPB #118 was held in accordance with applicable law. E. 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 7-0 to recommend Class 1 historic resource designation of the Kirk Douglas Residence. F. On January 9, 2020, a noticed public hearing of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, California to consider Case HSPB #118 was held in accordance with applicable law. G. 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 PALM SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS RESOLVES: Resolution No. 24696 Page 2 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 the HSPB 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 meta a. The site, structure, building or object exhibits exceptional historic significance and meets one or more of the criteria listed below: The Kirk Douglas Residence exhibits historic significance because of its association with a person of significance (actor Kirk Douglas). (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 significant events associated with the Kirk Douglas Residence. It does not qualify as a historic resource 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 notes that 515 Via Lola is associated with actor Kirk Douglas. Douglas and his family owned and occupied the home for roughly four (4) decades. Beginning on page 25, the report describes the significance and contributions that the Douglas' made to civic life in Palm Springs as well as his significance as an internationally known actor. The site thus qualifies as a historic resource under Criterion 2. (Criterion 3) The resource reflects or exemplifies a particular period of national, state or local history; The Douglas Residence exemplifies the post WWII Modern Period in the development of Palm Springs (1945 — 1969) because it is an example of the type of modernist -styled, custom-built residences of post and beam construction that were popular during the post- war period. The period of significance of the home is also related to the time during which the Douglas' owned and occupied the home, which the report states was from 1959 through 1999. Thus the Douglas Residence qualifies under Criterion 3. (Criterion 4) The resource embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction; Resolution No. 24696 Page 3 On Page 27, the report asserts that the Douglas Residence possesses numerous characteristics common to the "mid-century modern" architectural style. These characteristics include an expansive use of glass, strong horizontality expressed in the overall structure, a visible expression of the structure which is evident in the exposed beams and wood structure of the roof and other elements of the home, and a minimal amount of ornament, and simplicity of form and overall design. The additions to the home in 1964 and 1976 obscure some of the clean lines and simplicity of form for which Wexler and Harrison's work is recognized. As such the Douglas Residence qualifies as a historic resource on the basis of Criterion 4 and exhibits many characteristics of the mid-century method of construction, but is not an outstanding example of this typology. (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 Douglas Residence was designed by master architects Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison. The two business partners formed their architectural firm in 1952, thus the Douglas Residence was one of their earliest commissions. The home reflects many of the design tenets that Wexler and Harrison refined throughout the early part of their careers: minimal use of materials, post and beam construction, and responsiveness to the harsh desert environment through the use of generous roof eaves that protect the large expanses of glass from the sun. The report notes that in 1964 a series of additions and alterations were made to the Douglas residence that were designed by Michael H. Morrison. The report provides little information about Morrison. The Morrison additions substantially altered the Wexler / Harrison design, obscuring or diminishing the simplicity and clean lines of their design such that staff would assert that the Douglas Residence no longer stands as a noteworthy example of the work of Wexler / Harrison. The extent of the Morrison additions, which are identified on page 41 of the report materially impair the Wexler / Harrison design. Thus the HSPB made the finding that although the Douglas Residence was designed by Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison, it does not possess high artistic value, is not an outstanding example of the work of these master architects, and thus does not qualify 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 the Douglas Residence qualifies under Criterion 6. (Criterion 7) The resource has yielded or maybe likely to yield information important to national, state or local history or prehistory. Resolution No. 24696 Page 4 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 HISTORIC INTEGRITY. Analysis of Integrity. (PSMC 8.05.070 (C,1,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 site relative to the seven aspects or qualities of integrity, as recognized by the National Park Services' Secretary of the Interior Standards. The seven aspects or qualities include location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. The application concludes that the Kramer Residence retain a high degree of integrity. In evaluating the site's integrity the HSPB found that the site only possesses a fair degree of historic integrity. 1. Location: The Kirk Douglas Residence remains in the same location that it was constructed, thus it retains integrity of location. 2. Design: The report asserts that most of the design characteristics of the Douglas residence remain intact. As noted above, in 1964 the Douglases commissioned Michael H. Morrison of Los Angeles to design an array of alterations which are documented via building permits in the report beginning on page 24 and a diagram on page 41. These alterations obscure much of the strength and simplicity of the original Wexler / Harrison design. Examples of these alterations include the added trellis -like roof eaves along the back yard elevation of the home, the tall shade structure at the center of the back of the house which interrupts the low -slung, horizontality of the Wexler / Harrison design, along with louvered wood "awnings" at the center of the back elevation of the home, a disparate collection of windows along the sides of the house, and an addition that spans most of the front of the home which obscures the original front elevation. Although installed during the period that the Douglas' owned the home, these alterations diminish the integrity of the Wexler / Harrison design. These additions, while done during the period that the Douglases owned the home, diminish the architectural integrity of the home and thus the HSPB asserts they do not contribute to the historic significance of the site. A tennis pavilion was added in 1976 and also designed Wexler & Harrison with collaboration by Michael H. Morrison. It was designed with a symmetrical floor plan, a hipped roof, wide angled fascias and fieldstone walls flanking large sliding glass pocket doors. The tennis pavilion stands apart from and is architecturally not consistent with the architecture of the main dwelling, however it does not diminish the design integrity of the primary dwelling. Resolution No. 24696 Page 5 3. Setting: The setting of the Douglas residence, that of a custom home in a neighborhood of custom homes remains intact, thus the site retains the integrity of Setting. 4. Materials: The original portions of the Kirk Douglas residence were constructed of wood, glass and stucco in the post and beam method of construction. The later additions were of the same material, although some portions appear to have been constructed of standard wood frame and stucco construction. Some alterations have diminished the integrity of materials at the Douglas Residence including considerable surface mounted conduit, wiring, lights and other appurtenances. Deterioration and deferred maintenance exist on the exterior materials of the home that, if not addressed will diminish the material integrity of the site. Furthermore, a disparate collection of window types, window frame colors and materials, tinted and clear glazing impairs the material integrity of the home. The report does not provide any detail as to the original colors of the home, however the HSPB does not believe the current exterior colors diminish the integrity of the site. 5. Workmanship: The Kirk Douglas Residence exhibits average quality workmanship. A number of locations around the exterior of the home, particularly along the side elevations where additions and modifications have been made, reveal a rather low quality of workmanship, given the custom nature of the home. The HSPB asserts that the integrity of workmanship is below average for a custom built home of this type. 6. Feeling: The Kirk Douglas Residence maintains a feeling of a large, rambling, casual family home from the mid-century period. 7. Association. - The Kirk Douglas Residence is associated with the post -World War II boom in Palm Springs as many middle class families and wealthy individuals chose Palm Springs for building second homes and establishing the City as a favored vacation destination. It also retains its association with Kirk Douglas, a person of significance. SECTION 3: DEFINING HISTORIC CHARACTERISTICS 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 Resolution No. 24696 Page 6 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. In considering the physical character -defining features of the Kirk Douglas Residence, the HSPB asserts that although aspects of the alterations from 1964 and 1976 diminish the design and material integrity of the home, they were added to the home during its period of significance (1959 to 1999) by the Doug lases and as such, some aspects could be considered historically significant. The physical character -defining historic features of this resource include the following: 1. Expansive floor to ceiling glazing along the southern (rear) elevation of the home. 2. The thin horizontal fascia at the roof line. 3. The fieldstone walls at the front of the home and those on the tennis pavilion. 4. The tennis pavilion. 5. Its mid-century Modern style. The non-contributing features include the following: 1. The landscape and hardscape (paved pool terraces, etc). 2. The pull -down sun shade on the raised shade structure on the back of the house. 3. The retractable awning on the side of the house. 4. The 1964 additions and the 1976 addition on the southwest corner of the home. 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: The size and arrangement of the glass doors and windows along the south facade is significant, however the HSPB would assert that should the owner desire to replace the single -pane glass with insulated glass for energy efficiency, such alteration should be allowed as long as the glazing units are of the same size and arrangement. Resolution No. 24696 Page 7 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". 5. A marker explaining the historic nature of the site may be installed at the site in a location viewable from the public way. 6. Compliance with all rules and regulations for Historic Sites and Historic Districts under Chapter 8.05 of the Municipal Code shall be required. 7. The City Clerk shall submit the Council Resolution to the County recorder for recordation within 90 days of the effective date of the Council's resolution. BASED UPON THE FOREGOING, THE CITY COUNCIL HEREBY DESIGNATES THE RESIDENCE AT 515 WEST VIA LOLA "THE KIRK DOUGLAS RESIDENCE" A CLASS 1 HISTORIC RESOURCE (CASE HSPB #118). ADOPTED THIS 9th DAY OF JANUARY, 2020. David H. Ready, City er ATTEST: thony J. City Clerk Resolution No. 24696 Page 8 CERTIFICATION STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss. CITY OF PALM SPRINGS) I, ANTHONY J. MEJIA, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that Resolution No. 24696 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 the 9th day of January, 2020, by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Garner, Middleton, Woods, Mayor Pro Tern Holstege, and Mayor Kors NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Palm Springs, California, this I I+- day of re jorjo , Z-c 2�-� An ony J. M 1i ia, City Clerk