HomeMy WebLinkAbout25059RESOLUTION NO. 25059
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM '
SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING 'THE ROBSON
CHAMBERS RESIDENCE" LOCATED AT 695 SOUTH WARM
SANDS DRIVE, AS CLASS 1 (LANDMARK) HISTORIC
RESOURCE HSPB #143, SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS (APN 508-
216-002).
THE CITY COUNCIL FINDS AND DETERMINES AS FOLLOWS:
A. WHEREAS, Chapter 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code allows for the designation
of historic sites and districts; and
B. WHEREAS, Carlos Serrao and Monica May, owners, submitted an application to the City
seeking historic site designation of The Robson Chambers Residence located at 695 South
Warm Sands Drive, Case HSPB #143; and
C. WHEREAS, in April, 2022, members of the Historic Site Preservation Board (HSPB) and
City staff conducted site inspections of the proposed historic resource; and
D. WHEREAS, on May 4, 2022, a noticed public hearing of the Palm Springs Historic Site
Preservation Board to consider Case HSPB #143 was held in accordance with applicable law;
and I
E. WHEREAS, at said hearing, the HSPB carefully reviewed and considered all 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 and voted unanimously to recommend that the Council
designate the Robson Chambers Residence a Class 1 (Landmark) historic resource; and
F. WHEREAS, on September 29, 2022, a noticed public hearing of the Palm Springs City
Council to consider Case HSPB #143 was held in accordance with applicable law; and
G. WHEREAS, at said hearing, the City Council carefully reviewed and considered all 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.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS RESOLVES:
SECTION 1: FINDINGS — PART "A", CRITERIA FOR HISTORIC RESOURCES.
Evaluation of the Application. Pursuant to Municipal Code Section 8.05.070 (C,1,a), the HSPB
shall evaluate the application and make findings in 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 ("a"
and "b') are met:
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a. The site, structure, building or object exhibits exceptional historic
significance and meets one or more of the criteria listed below:
The Chambers Residence reflects the modernist tenets of architecture widely applied in Palm
Springs in the mid twentieth century. It reflects the design talent of an architect who is widely
recognized for his collaboration with master architects Albert Frey and John Porter Clark. Its
construction is unique in the manner in which Chambers utilized plain, utilitarian materials such
as corrugated sheet metal and plywood for exterior surfaces.
(Criterion 1) The resource is associated with events that have made a meaningful
contribution to the nation, state or community;
The report does not list any events associated with the home that contributed to the nation, state
or community. Thus, it 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 asserts that the site should be deemed historic for its association with the life and
work of architect Robson Chambers. The report notes that Chambers made a meaningful
contribution to local history based on the many architectural commissions he participated in while
in partnership with Albert Frey from 1946 until 1966.
In 1966, Chambers left Palm Springs and began a new phase in his career as campus architect
for the University of California, Santa Barbara, a role he played until 1982 when he moved to the
desert community of Borrego Springs where he had a steady flow of commissions until his return
to Santa Barbara in 1998 and it was there he passed away at age 80 in 1999.
The report lists some of the many architectural commissions on which Chambers collaborated
with Frey and many of these co -designed buildings have been recognized as part of the basic
collection that became known as "Desert Modernism" or "The Palm Springs School of
Architecture' was formulated. Thus Chambers was not only a person of significance because
of the quantity of commissions for which he was associated, but for the influence these
commissions had in the emergence of a particularly unique form of Modern architecture — one
that was both influenced by and responsive to the harsh climate of the desert. For these
reasons, the site qualifies as a historic resource under Criterion 2.
(Criterion 3) The resource reflects or exemplifies a particular period of national,
state or local history;
As noted in the report, the many buildings that Chambers designed in collaboration with Frey
collectively reflect the post -World War 11 period in which Modernist architecture was embraced
enthusiastically by residents, business owners, school districts and civic leaders for its forward -
looking style and material simplicity and efficiency of construction.
The minimalistic designs from this period seemed to reflect the casual, simple leisure lifestyle
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that many families in the post-war period embraced. For these reasons, the site qualifies as a
historic resource under Criterion 3.
(Criterion 4) The resource embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type,
period or method of construction;
The Chambers residence, with its simple forms and open flexible floor plan lent itself to simple
materials. The scarcity of many types of building materials, coupled with the efficiency of
construction that could be achieved with large thin sheets of corrugated metal and recent mass -
production techniques of products like plywood and laminated plastics gave architects in the
post War era a new palette of materials with which to design and build. The Chambers residence
is quite unusual in its use of plywood and cement board panels for exterior wall surfaces; using
rough, raw materials as the finished surface. This "honesty of materials" and visibly exposing
the fasteners and structure can be considered similar to the tenet of Modern architecture of
structure becoming the ornament on the building. Thus, it is eligible as a historic resource
relative to 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;
Robson Chambers work, in collaboration with Frey and Clark represented a departure from '
traditional architectural style and use of materials. The expansive use of glass, generous eaves,
exposed simple materials all contribute to the particular style of Modern architecture that has
recently been referred to as "Desert Modern". Chambers work contributed to this unique,
regional style for which Palm Springs is known. Current designers and architects who embrace
the characteristics of Desert Modern are influenced by the simplicity and straight -forward
designs of Chambers and his peers. Thus the building qualifies as a historic resource based on
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 Chambers residence 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: PART "B" ANALYSIS OF HISTORIC INTEGRITY.
Analysis of Integrity. (PSMC 8.05.070 (C,1,b). The site, structure, building or
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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 Chambers residence is evaluated in terms of its historic integrity as follows:
1. Location:
The Chambers residence remains in the same location that it was constructed, thus it retains
integrity of location.
2. Design:
The design of the Chambers residence was one of flexible use of space and spatial volumes
designed to accommodate growth and expansion of the home as the family grew. The additions
made after the period of significance, such as the swimming pool and air conditioning (1966),
the addition to the living room (1973) and the perimeter garden wall (2019) do not materially
impair the design integrity of the home.
The home has a good degree of design integrity.
'3. Setting:
The report does not provide information about the nature of the surrounding neighborhood at
the time the home was constructed, however it is reasonable to assume that the time of
construction, the residence was one of the first homes built in the vicinity and the area was
mostly open desert. Today the neighborhood is fully built out, thus the setting of the home has
changed from that of open desert to a neighborhood of single-family residences.
4. Materials:
The simple exterior materials used in the exterior of the home remain mostly intact and thus
material integrity remains.
5. Workmanship:
The home is of average workmanship common for the era of the 1940's although the creative
use of industrial materials such as curved corrugated steel panels for soffit and fascia reflect a
talented craftsman. Rough materials were well -crafted to become finished surfaces that have
survived the test of time.
6. Feeling:
The residence retains its feeling as a modest home from the 1940's. Its unique use of common
materials for finished surfaces continues to draw attention thus retains integrity of feeling.
7. Association:
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The Chambers residence continues to reflect and convey its association with the mid -twentieth '
century period in Palm Springs when young architects were experimenting with simple materials
in creative ways to create modest affordable and interesting dwellings.
In summary, the home retains sufficient integrity to qualify as a Class 1 ("Landmark") historic
resource.
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 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.
Character -defining features of the home are as follows:
• Flat roof
• Deep eaves and overhangs constructed of curved corrugated metal panels.
• Large expanses of floor to ceiling glass. '
• Open carport.
• Low cost "industrial" material such as Flexboard, corrugated metal, plywood and
pumice blocks for the fireplace.
• Simple form and massing with no ornament or decorative elements.
Non-contributing elements:
• The swimming pool.
• The hardscape and landscape.
• The perimeter walls.
• The screening around the rooftop mechanical equipment.
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. 1
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SECTION 5: CONDITIONS THAT APPLY TO 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 Class 1 historic site as outlined in Municipal Code Section
8.05.020.
2. An archival file on the property shall be maintained 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 site shall not be further subdivided.
8. 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 Robson Chambers
' residence" located at 695 South Warm Sands Drive, a Class 1 (Landmark) Historic Resource
(Case HSPB #143).
ADOPTED THIS TWENTY-NINTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2022.
A, � �_,(z(- cam— ,
TERESA GALLAVAN
INTERIM CITY MANAGER
ATTEST:
A /t,4_r�
BRENDA PRE t, MMC, CERA
CITY CLERK
City Council Resolution No.25059
Page 7 of 7
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE )
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS)
ss.
CERTIFICATION
I, Brenda Pree, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that Resolution No.
25059 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 September 29, 2022, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Kors, Woods, Mayor Pro Tem Garner and Mayor Middleton
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Holstege
ABSTAIN: None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City
of Palm Springs, California, this day of Oader , ad2Z
Brenda Pree,`Citq Clerk
City of Palm Springs, California