HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2B - LPBHD CC 9-14-23Recommended Amendment to the Las Palmas Business Historic District (“LPBHD”)Agenda Item #2B
Case HSPB #30
September 14, 2023
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DEPARTMENT Item 2B - Page 1
What Exactly is a Historic District?
•A defined area of the City with multiple parcels (usually with multiple owners) in which a majority of the buildings and sites have distinctive shared or related characteristics possessing exceptional historic significance. (In the case of the LPBHD, non-residential business / commercial buildings.)
•Buildings in a district that are significant and contribute to the theme and importance of that district are labeled “Contributing”; those that have been heavily altered or don’t possess exceptional historic significance are labeled “Non-contributing”. Non-contributing buildings are included only to establish logical boundaries for the district.
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DEPARTMENT Item 2B - Page 2
Las Palmas Business Historic District (“LPBHD”)
•City’s first historic district, designated by City Council in 1986.
•Significance: the contributing buildings reflect the expansion of the original small village business district. - “a common theme.”
•Original focus was only buildings from the 1920’s and 1930’s.
•Many important commercial buildings in the district that we now recognize as significant to the Palm Springs brand (like those from the Mid-20th century) were not considered.
•Too many non-contributing sites weakens the significance of the district.
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DEPARTMENT Item 2B - Page 3
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Most LPBHD buildings have retained their historic character …
Dollard Building Reid Clinic (Alcazar) El Paseo and Pacific Bldg Colony Palms
Item 2B - Page 4
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…others have been so modified they no longer qualify as “historic”…
Palm Springs Florist Ambassador Hotel (Triada Hotel) Reid Clinic II (Interior Illusions)
Item 2B - Page 5
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Important buildings from the postwar period are now recognized.
Turonnet Building (Trio) Dollard Building Clark & Frey Office Nichols Building (Trina Turk)
Backstrom-Reid Building
Item 2B - Page 6
Why amend the LPBHD? Because the amendment…
•…provides the required context statement - the theme of what makes the district historic.
•…“tells the whole story” - adding important buildings from the postwar period.
•…provides a defined period of significance - why some buildings are important and others not.
•…provides analysis of individual buildings to substantiate contributing status (not arbitrary).
•…“Sticks to the business / commercial theme” – removes residential buildings from the district.
•…achieves the requirement that a majority of buildings (51%) are contributing.
•…clarifies what is really historic, from that which is “pseudo-historic”.
•…recognizes some contributing buildings don’t contribute any more (heavily altered).
•…includes non-contributing buildings only as necessary to establish logical boundaries.
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DEPARTMENT Item 2B - Page 7
Existing & Recommended District Boundaries and Contributing Sites.
A smaller historic district with more contributing sites fully reflecting the period of significance.
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DEPARTMENT Item 2B - Page 8
The HSPB recommendation to City Council:
1.Adopt the Context Statement (district theme) that states the significance is its ability to reflect the City’s rapid commercial growth from Village to City.
2. Establish the Period of Significance: 1920 to 1969.
3.Include contributing sites that reflect the full business growth story.
4. Include in the archival record the criteria showing why certain buildings are “contributing”.
5.Amend the boundaries of the historic district to meet the new ordinance requirements and national standards.
6.Update the district’s design guidelines to meet contemporary preservation standards.
Staff supports the HSPB recommendation.
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DEPARTMENT Item 2B - Page 9
Thank you
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DEPARTMENT Item 2B - Page 10