HomeMy WebLinkAbout25241RESOLUTION NO. 25241
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM
SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING THE "ALBERT FREY BEL
VISTA HOME #3" LOCATED AT 1150 NORTH CALLE ROLPH, AS
A CLASS 1 (LANDMARK) HISTORIC RESOURCE HSPB #156,
SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS (APN 507-124-011).
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 property owner, Todd Hays, initiated an application, Case HSPB #156,
seeking historic site designation of the Albert Frey Be] Vista Home #3 located at 1150 North
Calle Rolph; and
C. WHEREAS, on April 25th and May 1st, 2024, members of the Historic Site Preservation
Board (HSPB) and City staff conducted site inspections of the proposed historic resource; and
D. WHEREAS, on May 7, 2024, a noticed public hearing of the Palm Springs Historic Site
Preservation Board to consider Case HSPB #156 was held in accordance with applicable law;
and
'E. WHEREAS, at the said hearing, the HSPB carefully reviewed and considered all the
evidence presented in connection with the hearing on Case HSPB #156, including, but not
limited to, the staff report and all written and oral testimony and voted unanimously to
recommend that the City Council designate the Albert Frey Be] Vista Home #3 a Class 1
(Landmark) historic resource; and
F. WHEREAS, on July 25, 2024, a noticed public hearing of the Palm Springs City Council
to consider Case HSPB #156 was held in accordance with applicable law; and
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:
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
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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July 25, 2024
a. The site, structure, building, or object exhibits exceptional historic I
significance and meets one or more of the criteria listed below:
The historic resources report explains the origins of the home as an affordable housing solution
and its direct association with the architect Albert Frey. Little has changed to the site and exterior
building finishes, down to the paint color, have been restored. This property is also an early
example of the International Style in Palm Springs completed in 1946.
(Criterion i) The resource 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 i.
(Criterion Jill The resource is associated with the lives of persons who made a
meaningful contribution to national, state or local history, -
Sallie Stevens Nichols and Culver Nichols were the developers of the tract and first owners of
this property. Both individuals played significant roles in the overall development and planning
of Palm Springs. Culver Nichols was one of the original members of the committee formed to
study the incorporation of the city in 1936 and the first president of the Chamber of Commerce
in 1940. Sallie Stevens Nicols was the daughter of the pioneer Prescott T. Stevens who is '
considered one of the early founders of Palm Springs. They later donated the land where the
Valley Station and the first tower are located. Sallie and Culver Nichols made meaningful
contributions to the development of Palm Springs; therefore, City Council finds Criterion ii is met.
(Criterion iii) The resource reflects or exemplifies a particular period of national,
state, or local history;
This home was one of fifteen homes completed in the Be] Vista residential tract development of
post-war housing. The home was completed during the "Post World -War II Period of Palm
Springs" using practical methods of construction and materials. The architect incorporated his
understanding of the International Style by using simple geometric forms and creating the
appearance of a lightweight, utilitarian structure with thin roof overhangs and columns.
Conventional materials and finishes such as stucco were used to create a clean exterior finish
and all frivolous ornamentation was stripped from the exterior. This tract development also
reflects the City's response to the demand for more affordable housing. Design expression was
created through site placement and colors schemes, not through a customized floorplan. Exterior
alterations were kept to a minimum and the exterior finishes were restored to the original design.
The restored home meets Criterion iii because it is an exceptional example of post-war housing
in Palm Springs that reflects the time period of significance in its current condition.
(Criterion iv) 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
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July 25, 2024
(of construction). As an affordable housing development, the construction methods and
materials were conventional and standard for the period. City Council finds this project does not
qualify for this criterion.
(Criterion v) 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 floorplan and site placement of the home was designed by the master architect
Albert Frey. Recognized as one of the first American architects to work for Le Corbusier and
Pierre Jeanneret, Albert Frey's work influenced the field of architecture and design in the United
States. His knowledge of the modernist aesthetic and exposure to the International Style led him
to work with other influential designers and architects such as A. Lawrence Kocher and Wallace
K. Harrison. The Be[ Vista tract reflects modernist design aesthetics using utilitarian building
materials and construction methods. Frey's influence on the field is seen throughout his built
work in Palm Springs and his theoretical work through various publications and exhibits. Albert
Frey is a master architect that continues to influence the field through his work, thus City Council
finds Criterion v is met.
(Criterion vi) The resource represents a significant and distinguishable entity
whose components may lack individual distinction, as used in evaluating
' applications fordesignation of historic districts, forparcels on which more than one
entity exists; or
No information has been provided that the resource qualifies under Criterion vi.
(Criterion vii) 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 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 report provides an evaluation of the site relative to the seven aspects or 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.
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July 25, 2024
2. Design:
The original floorplan for the single-family home shows a 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom design with an
exterior block wall enclosing the laundry area. Building records show that an additional bathroom
was added in 1972. It appears the home was constructed on a concrete slab with integral
thresholds poured for each door. The functional layout of the plan resulted in a rectilinear building
form with a flat roof. The overhangs cantilever over the front entrance and the rear porch but the
carport overhang is supported by four thin wooden square beams. The plans show a block wall
enclosure around the laundry room with either a curved or rectilinear configuration. In the case
of this home, the rectilinear plan was constructed and remains intact. The fascia and trim details
on the building's exterior are thin and simple. The site placement of homes with a carport parallel
to the road had a curved driveway. This was one of three homes in this development with a
curved driveway as an original feature. All original openings remain, including the exterior door
that is internalized as a result of the bathroom addition. The details of the windows and doors
down to the rounded stucco finish remain in good condition. All restoration efforts reinforced the
original design intent. Despite the small bathroom addition to the rear elevation, the overall
design of the home is incredibly intact.
3. Setting:
The surrounding zoning remains residential, and the home maintains the same spatial ,
configuration on the lot as originally planned. While the sizes of some of the homes in the
development have been altered or enlarged over time, the overall integrity of setting reflects the
original subdivision.
4. Materials:
The exterior materials of the building consist mainly of stucco, wood framed fenestration, and a
flat roof. The exterior walls of the bathroom addition match the historic stucco finish, but the vinyl
window remains in place to help identify the addition as new. The roof remains a flat surface but
solar panels, air conditioning equipment and associated duct work were added. Changes to the
original design were made to non -primary facades of the home and the primary facades
accurately reflect the original materials; therefore, the overall integrity of materials is met.
5. Workmanship:
Conventional construction methods were used to build all of the homes in this tract. The attention
given to finishing details reflect high -quality workmanship that is still visible today. Integrity of
workmanship is met.
6. Feeling:
The home retains its simple and utilitarian feeling because the footprint of the building remains ,
relatively intact, and the exterior finishes have been restored to reveal the subtle details of the
original design.
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July 25, 2024
7. Association:
The property is associated with Albert Frey and the Modernist movement of design. The
building's high level of physical integrity makes it easy to identify the architect's association with
the design of the home. The integrity of association is met.
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.
The following is a list of character -defining features identified by the City Council:
Character -defining features of the resource are as follows:
• Site design and placement of the home on the lot
• Unadorned, painted stucco walls
• Slightly recessed wood casement windows and wood sill detail
' • Wood framed exterior doors with horizontal wood mullion that creates two asymmetric
lites
• Rounded stucco detail around all exterior openings
• Flat roof and horizontal fascia and trim detail
• Carport feature and overhang supported by thin square wooden columns
• Rectilinear block wall enclosure around laundry area
Non-contributing elements:
• HVAC condensing unit and ductwork on the roof
• Solar panels on the roof and associated electrical cabinet
• Exterior water heater and associated lines
• 1972 bathroom addition to the southeast corner of the home and vinyl window
• Outdoor swimming pool and pool equipment from 1992
• Corrugated metal fence
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.
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July 25, 2024
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 "Albert Frey Bel Vista Home
#3" located at 1150 N. Calle Rolph, a Class 1 (Landmark) Historic Resource (Case HSPB #156), '
ADOPTED THIS TWENTY-FIFTH DAY OF JULY, 2024.
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Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
ATTEST:
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Brenda Pree, City Clerk
Resolution No. 25241
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July 25, 2024
CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS)
I, BRENDA PREE, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that Resolution
No. 25241 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 July 25, 2024, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Garner, Holstege, Middleton, Mayor Pro Tern deHarte, and Mayor
Bernstein
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my handand affixed the official seal of the City
of Palm Springs, California, this S+%j day of 2024.
renda Pree, MMC, CERA, City Clerk
City of Palm Springs, California