HomeMy WebLinkAbout25197' RESOLUTION NO. 25197
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING THE
COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES" LOCATED AT SOUTH
CAMINO REAL AND EAST LA VERNE WAY, A HISTORIC
DISTRICT, (HSPB #145 / HD-9), SUBJECT TO
CONDITIONS, MASTER APN# 511-150-031.
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, the Country Club Estates of Palm Springs Homeowners'
Association, Represented by the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, submitted an
application seeking Historic District designation of the Country Club Estates located at
South Camino Real and East La Verne Way; and
C. WHEREAS, on October 9, October 21 and November 3, 2022 the City's
Historic Preservation Officer ("HPO") Ken Lyon attended video -conference meetings with
property owners within the proposed historic district as required by the City's Historic
Preservation Ordinance; and
D. WHEREAS, on August 16th and August 30th, 2023, members of the Historic
Site Preservation Board (HSPB) conducted site inspections of the proposed historic
district, accompanied by City staff; and
E. WHEREAS, on September 5, 2023, a noticed public hearing of the Palm
Springs Historic Site Preservation Board ("HSPB") to consider Case HSPB #145 / HD-9
was held in accordance with applicable law; and
F. WHEREAS, at the 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 Country Club Estates as a
Historic District; and
G. WHEREAS, on April 25, 2024, a noticed public hearing of the Palm Springs
City Council to consider Case HSPB #145 was held in accordance with applicable law;
and
H. 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.
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THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS RESOLVES: '
SECTION 1: FINDINGS — RELATIVE TO THE CRITERIA FOR THE DESIGNATION OF
HSITORIC DISTRICTS.
Evaluation of the Application. Pursuant to Municipal Code Section 8.05.090 (C,1), the
City Council shall evaluate the application and make findings in conformance with the
following criteria:
Criteria for the Designation of a Historic District, provided the following findings are met:
a. The site, structure, building or object exhibits exceptional historic
significance and meets one or more of the criteria listed below:
The report identifies Country Club Estates as an exceptional example of a mid-century
modern garden apartment for multi -family residential use. Master architect A. Quincy
Jones was the lead architect for the project; however, the Jones & Emmons firm is given
credit for the design. A strong association to a particular period of Palm Springs history
and a high level of design integrity are present on this property.
(Criterion a) Is associated with events that have made a meaningful
contribution to the nation, state or community, '
No information was provided indicating any significant event was directly associated with
this site. The site does not qualify under Criterion a.
(Criterion b) Is associated with the lives of persons who made a meaningful
contribution to national, state or local history,
The report does not call out any individuals associated with the property who made any
meaningful contribution to national, state, or local history. The site does not qualify under
Criterion b.
(Criterion c) Reflects or exemplifies a particular period of national, state or
local history -
During the post -World War II period in Palm Springs, there was a growing demand for
multi -family residential units with ownership options. A place that was a tourist destination
for the wealthy was now experiencing a population growth of the upper -middle class and
the middle-class following World War 11. As part of this shift, new housing typologies such
as garden apartments, low-rise multi -family development and condominiums began to
emerge. From a planning standpoint, the increased popularity of condominiums as a
residential use with amenities started to change the urban fabric of development.
Concurrently, designers were experimenting with Modernist ideas and implementing '
them to address the need for housing. Utilitarian building materials were used to create a
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clean aesthetic for this multi -family residential project which exemplifies the post -World
War 11 period in Palm Springs; therefore, staff finds the site qualifies as a historic resource
under Criterion c.
(Criterion d) 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). Conventional construction
methods and materials were used to develop this complex. The honesty of
materials is celebrated but no new construction methods or techniques, were
utilized for this project; therefore, contrary to the report, staff finds the project does
not qualify for this criterion.
(Criterion e) Presents the work of a master builder, designer, artist, or
architect whose individual genius influenced his age, or that possesses high
artistic value;
Architect A. Quincy Jones is recognized as the principal architect for the Country Club
Estates. His partnership with Emmons was formed in 1950 and their design firm produced
a variety of award -winning projects for the next 20 years: Locally, A. Quincy Jones is
known for designing "Sunnylands" and the Annenberg Estate in Rancho Mirage. As a
master architect who greatly influenced the Modernist movement in California, A. Quincy
Jones successfully influenced his peers through his work. His use of ordinary materials
and the subtle integration of light and air at the Country Club Estates exemplifies his
mastery of Modernist design principals, thus staff finds the project qualifies under
Criterion e.
(Criterion t) 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 f.
(Criterion g) The resource has yielded or maybe 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 "C" ANALYSIS OF HISTORIC INTEGRITY.
Analysis oflntearity. (PSMC 8.05.090 (C,2). 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,
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materials, workmanship, location, setting, feeling, or association.
"Country Club Estates" is evaluated as a historic district in terms of its historic integrity as '
follows:
Location.
All individual buildings and open spaces remain in the original location of construction,
therefore, retains its integrity of location.
Design.
There is a large emphasis on the site plan and layout of the individual buildings on the
triangularly shaped lotto create a functional and welcoming environment for the residents.
The low, horizontal massing helps frame the surrounding mountain views, and the honest
use of conventional building materials reflect the Modernist design aesthetic. Building
materials like the concrete blocks served both a practical and decorative propose.
Internalized atriums with full-length walls of glass in each unit brought light and the
outdoors into the space. This feature was described as an outdoor garden inside your
home. Carports were located near the entrance of each unit continuing the use of the
square concrete blocks. This utilitarian space was well integrated into the design of each
entrance. The design intent created by the architect remains virtually unchanged,
therefore, the design integrity is intact.
Setting.
The site plan and placement of the individual buildings create an internal open space for
recreation activities. While the surrounding context has evolved overtime, the original site
plan and scale of the project remains consistent, therefore, the integrity of setting is intact.
Materials.
The exterior building materials consist of masonry walls with a smooth Portland cement
finish, concrete blocks, and fenestration with thin aluminum frames. Conventional building
materials are composed in a way that prevents visual monotony. The original selection of
materials remains the same. The overall integrity of materials is intact.
Workmanship.
Conventional construction methods and building materials were used, but the application
of the materials and use of form shows a clear aesthetic. Simple clean lines indicate a
level of workmanship that values attention to detail.
Feeling.
Minimal changes were made to the physical site and the building layout remains
unchanged. The character defining features on each building have been retained, and
the complex continues to be used as a multi -family residential development. Staff finds
the feeling of the site remains intact.
Association. '
The property maintains most of its original detailing and layout on the site. Its association
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to the architect A. Quincy Jones is apparent because original design details like the low,
horizontal fascia and the openings for light and air valued by the California Modernist
architects are maintained.
The City Council made findings for Historic Integrity for the site to qualify as a Historic
District.
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 staff and HSPB when it is tasked with evaluating
future alterations to the historic resource.
Character -defining features of the resource are as follows:
• Nine buildings composed of 2-units and 4-units emphasizing horizontal massing,
flat rooflines, continuous fascia detail extending the entire fagade and decorative
use of concrete blocks.
' • Internal atrium inside each unit.
• Recessed entry with louvered openings in the roof, planting beds, and a staggered
concrete paver walkway.
• Open carport design integrating concrete blocks as walls and pillars.
• Narrow aluminum window frames and floor to ceiling glazing on the walls facing
the garden patio.
• Garden patio framed with concrete winged block walls.
• Entry door configuration and side window with bottle glass and diamond pane
patterns. Doorknob and escutcheon positioned on raised cross panel and original
unit numbers above the doorknob.
• Original swimming pool and adjacent spa tub from 1965.
• Site design including but not limited to the community open space at the center of
the property and milk -glass globe streetlamps along the broomed concrete
walkways, and buffer green space.
Non-contributing elements:
• Pool fencing which was installed to comply with building safety requirements and
regulations.
• Roller shading devices and awnings installed on the soffit to cover rear patios.
• Garage doors and walls enclosing the original carport design.
• Large bronze address numbers on the carport columns.
' • Rooftop mechanical equipment and duct work.
• Photovoltaic panels mounted on the roof.
• Metal security doors in front of the original entrance doors.
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• Gutters and downspouts. '
• Enclosed interior atrium.
• Non -original signage for the complex.
• Non -historic round globe streetlamps located along the street.
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 HISTORIC DISTRICTS:
According to Section 8.05 of the Municipal Code, the following General Conditions shall
apply to Historic Districts:
1. It shall meet the definition of a historic district 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 8.05.120 "Demolition or Alteration
or New Construction within a Historic District — 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.
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.
The following Specific Conditions of Approval shall apply to the Country Club Estates
Historic District:
1. Review of future Certificates of Appropriateness ("C of A"). Alterations to buildings,
structure, objects, and other character -defining and contributing resources within
the historic district and described in Sections 2 and 3 are to be evaluated pursuant
to PSMC Section 8.05.120 (E), including consistency with the Design Guidelines.
Based upon the foregoing, the City Council designates "The Country Club Estates"
located at South Camino Real and East La Verne Way, a Historic District HSPB #145
H D-9.
Resolution No. 25197
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' ADOPTED THIS 25TH DAY OF APRIL 2024,
Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
ATTEST:
Brenda Pree, City Clerk
CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS)
I, BRENDA FREE, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that
Resolution No. 25194 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 April 25, 2024, by the following
vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Garner, Holstege, Middleton; Mayor Pro Tenn deHarte; and
Mayor Bernstein
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 JLA�p_ day of June 2024.
renda Pree, MMC, CERA, City Clerk
City of Palm Springs