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RESOLUTION NO. 25158
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM
SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING "THE
BLANKENHORN/GILMORE RESIDENCE" LOCATED AT 1850
SMOKE TREE LANE, A CLASS 1 HISTORIC SITE, (HSPB #148),
APN# 510-104-002, 510-104-006.
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, Eric Ellenbogen, John Engelman and Thomas Engelman, represented by
the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, submitted an application seeking historic site
designation of the Blankenhorn/Gilmore Residence located at 1850 SmokeTree Lane; and
C. WHEREAS, in August, 2023, me.mbers of the Historic Site Preservation Board (HSPB)
and City staff conducted site inspections of the proposed historic resource; and •
D. WHEREAS, on September 5, 2023, a noticed public hearing of the Palm Springs Historic
Site Preservation Board to consider Case HSPB #148 was held in accordance with applicable.
law; and • •
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E. WHEREAS, at the said hearing, the HSPB carefully reviewed and considered all the
evidence presented in connection with the ~El,aring on the project, including, but not limited to,
• the staff report and all written and oral testim·ony and voted unanimously to recommend that the
· C¢>uncil designate the Blankenhorn/Gilmore' Residence a Clas~ 1 (Landmark) historic resource;
arid
F. WHEREAS, on November 9, 2023, a noticed public hearing of the Palm Springs City
Council to consider Case HSPB #148 was held in accordance with applicable law; and
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G. WHEREAS, at the ·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:
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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 City
Council ·shall evaluate the application and make findings in conformance with the following
crite'ria:
Criteria for the Designation of Glass 1 Historic Resources. A ~ite, • structure, building or object
may be designated as a Class 1 historic resource, provided both of the following findings ("a" . .
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and "b'J are met:
a. The site, structl.!re, building or object exhibits exceptional historic
significance and meets one .or more of the criteria /is.fed below:
The Blankenhorn/Gilmore residence is a unique example of a rustic ranch-style home with a
rambling floor plan that tells the history of residential development in the Smoke Tree Ranch
community. The home demonstrates exceptional historic significance because of its association
with the history of "dude ranch" resorts in Palin Springs and its association with respected master
architects Garrett Van Pelt, Jr., and Albert Frey.
(Criterion 1) The resource is associated with events that have made a meaningful
contribution to the nation, state or commqnity;
No information was provided indicating any significant event was directly associated with this
site. The site does not qualify under Criterion i.
(Criterion 2) The resource is associated with the lives of persons whq made a
meaningful contribution to national, state or local history;
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The report describes the two main owners associated with the property: Louis "L. Mac"
McLaughlin Blankenhorn and Donald S. Gilmore. Blankenhorn, one of the original developers of
Smoke Tree Ranch and the city of Rancho Mirage, hired architect Garrett Van Pelt, Jr. to design
the home which he owned from 1929 to 1935.' The house was then sold to Donald S. Gilmore in I
1935 and stayed in the family's possession until 1990. It was during this time Donald Gilmore
became the president and general manager of the leading'pharmaceutical company in the
United States, Upjohn. Architect Albert Frey designed any additions or remodels made to the
home during the years of 1947 to 1990. • •
Blankenhorn mclde meaningful contributions to the desert communities and specifically played
a critical role in setting thEl development stand.ards for Smoke Tree Ranch, and Gilmore was a
nationally recognized business leader tnat made important advancements in the pharmaceutical
world during the time he owned and stayed at the home, thus, the City Council finds Criterion ii
is met. • •• • • • '
(Criterion 3) The resource reflects or exemplifies a particular period of national,
state or local history;.
Smoke Tree Ranch was a subdivision developed during the time of the Great Depression. The
home was designed as a rancli~style home with strong rustic elements such as low-pitched roofs,
board-and-batten siding, wood or steel encased windows, and asymmetrical plans and
elevations. The rambling floor plan is also considered a characteristic of a ranch style home. As
one of the earliest examples of a residential structure in the subdivision, the scale, form and
exterior building palette utilized at this home set the tone for the rest of the development.
Additions to the home were made during the post World War II period but the overall aesthetic I
of the ranch was embraced. The additions continued the use of simple forms and paid close
attention to scale and proportions. The building is an example of how a ranch style home was
intended to expand and adapt to the needs of the c;,wner. The home exemplifies a specific time
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period of development in Palm Springs is a historically significant community, thus, the site
qualifies as a historic resource under Criterion iii.
(Criterion 4) The resource embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type,
period or method of construction;
Unlike the National Register criterion concerning construction, the Palm Springs evaluation of
construction addresses the type (of construction), the period (of construction) and the method
(of construction). It appears that standard wood frame construction methods were used to
construct the building and the additions. The construction methods are conventional; therefore,
contrary to the report, the City Council finds the-project does not qualify for this criterion.
(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 original home was designed by master architect Garrett Van Pelt, Jr. who was based in
Pasadena and Santa Barbara. He was recognized and praised by his colleagues for his
understanding of residential design. (The report goes into more detail about his contributions to
the field 'of architecture and design.) . •
The additions to the home were completed by the renowned architect Albert Frey who is
recognized for his contributions to the mid-century modern movement. The Blankenhorn/Gilmore
residence embodies the design talent of both architects and demonstrates their understanding
of mass/scale, form, and site planning. The report also reveals the unique relationship of
employee and employer between the two architects. Frey had an advantage in understanding
the design intent surrounding the origirial home since he worked for the original architect prior
to designing the new additions. Both architects influenced the field with their designs, therefore,
Criterion v is met.
(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
No information has been provided that the resource qualifies under Criterion vi.
·(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 on any pre-historic significance of the site.
SECTION 2: PART "B" ANALYSIS OF HISTORIC INTEGRITY.
Analysis of lntegritv (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.
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Beginning on page 38 of the report is an evaluation of the site relative to the seven aspects or I
qualities of historic 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 report concludes that the site retains a high degree of integrity and is further
analyzed below:
1. Location:
The resource remains in its original location of construction, therefore, retains its integrity of
location.
2. Design:
The mass/scale, form and building materials of the home are consistent with the original design
intent. The irregular footprint of the home evolved from an L-shaped floor plan to a Li-shaped
floor plan, however, the idea of a rambling/asymmetric design remains consistent. While there
are certain elements on the newer additions that reflect contemporary building solutions to
address the owner's needs, the architect demonstrates an understanding of the original design
and emulates the rustic style of the original design and does not compete with the main facades
of the home, therefore, the design integrity remains intact.
3. Setting:
Located within the Smoke Tree Ranch development, the desert setting around the hon:ie has
been maintained and · remains relatively unchanged. The open and rural setting not only
preserves views, but it also highlights the site placement of the home, thus the integrity of setting
is intact.
4. Materials:
The use and rhythm created by the board-and-batten siding, steel casement window details and
openings, and wood roof shingles are key components of the exterior fa9ade that remain
consistent throughout the home; therefore, the .integrity of materials isJntact.
5. Workmanship:
Conventional construction methods were utilized and the aesthetic for the home emphasizes
simplicity rather than· craft. The exterior of the, home is well maintained, and the original
workmanship is evident.
6. Feeling:
The home is in a preserved rural setting and. the design of the building represents the time period
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in which.it was originally constructed. The rustic, ranch-style home remains integrated with the I
desert landscape, thus the original feeling of the site remains intact. .
7. Association:
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The design and condition of the property is an excellent example of a rambling ranch style home
associated with the "dude ranch" aesthetic of Smoke Tree Rach is maintained through the use
of simple forms, building materials and its integration into the desert context. The home's
association with the two architects, Pelt and Frey, are visible in the overall form and fenestration
of the home; therefore, the home's association to ·the time· periods it represents, and the
architects remain intact.
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
City Council when it is tasked with evaluating future alterations to the historic resource.
Page 25 of the report identifies the physical character-defining historic features of this site. The
following is a list of character-defining features identified by the City Council:
Character-defining features of the resource are as follows:
• One-story ranch home with an emphasis on horizontality
• Low pitched wood shake roof ,
• Board-and-batten wood siding
• Deep roof eaves with extended roof rafters
• Covered front porch, patios and arcades
• Two shed roofs on either side of the low pitch gable roof of the original home 1
• Masonry chimney along the roof ridge of the low-pitched gable roof visible on the west
facade
• Irregular/rambling floor plan
• Steel-framed windows
• Natural desert setting
Non-contributing elements:~ .
• Large swimming pobLand spa in the central courtyard of the home
• Hardscaped walkways·, patios and driveways
• Rooftop mounted mechanical equipment and screening
• Parcel across the street is owned by the current owners but does not contain any part of
the historic resource
• Fruit trees and lawn area
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
1 The original shed roof on the north side of the home, which was visible from the front elevation, was removed as part of an
alteration completed by architect Albert Frey in 1947.
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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 , I
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 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 i n 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 .
within 90 days of the effective date of the Council 's resolution .
8. The City Clerk shall submit the Council Resolution to the County record e r for recordation 1
Based upon the foregoing , the City Council hereby designates "The Blankenhorn/Gilmore
Residence " located at 1850 Smoke Tree Lane , a Class 1 (Landma rk) Histori c Resource (Case
HSPB #148).
ADOPTED THIS 9TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2023 .
cott C . Stiles , City Manager
ATTEST:
Bren
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Resolution No. 25158
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE )
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
CERTIFICATION
ss.
I, BRENDA PREE, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that Resolution
No. 25158 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 November 9, 2023, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
RECUSED:
Councilmembers deHarte, Holstege, Middleton; Mayor Pro Tern Bernstein; and Mayor
Garner
None
None
None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I h~ve hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City
of Palm Springs, California, this 20..,.,._ day of November 2023. •
· A CERA, Cily C.lerk •
City of Palm Springs, California