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Home My WebLink About21971 - RESOLUTIONS - 7/18/2007 RESOLUTION NO. 21971 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA DESIGNATING THE BUILDING AT 588 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE, "THE CITY NATIONAL BANK BUILDING' A CLASS ONE HISTORIC SITE, WHEREAS, Chapter 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code allows for the designation of historic sites; and WHEREAS, on January 9, 2007, the Historic Site Preservation Board initiated an application for historic site designation of 588 South Palm Canyon Drive; and WHEREAS, notice of a public hearing of the Historic Site Preservation Board of the City of Palm Springs to consider designation of 588 South Palm Canyon Drive as a Class 1 historic site was issued in accordance with applicable law; and WHEREAS, on June 12, 2007, the Historic Site Preservation Board conducted a public hearing in accordance with applicable law to consider designation of 588 South Palm Canyon Drive as a Class 1 historic site; and ' WHEREAS, at said hearing, the HSPB adopted Resolution #52 to recommend to City Council designation of the building at 588 South Palm Canyon Drive as a Class 1 historic site; and WHEREAS, notice of a public hearing of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs to consider designation of 588 South Palm Canyon Drive, as a Class 1 historic site was issued in accordance with applicable law; and WHEREAS, on July 18, 2007 the City Council conducted a public hearing in accordance with applicable law to consider designation of 588 South Palm Canyon Drive as a Class 1 historic site; and WHEREAS, the designation of 588 South Palm Canyon Drive shall further the purpose and intent of Chapter 8.05; and WHEREAS, the designation of 588 South Palm Canyon Drive promotes the sensitive preservation of said site; and WHEREAS, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the designation of a historic site is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15331 for the preservation of historical resources; and WHEREAS, the City Council has carefully reviewed and considered all of the evidence in connection with the designation, including but not limited to the staff report, Resolution No, 21971 Page 2 application and historical research, all written and oral testimony presented and notes the ' following: 1. In 1959, The City National Bank of Beverly Hills commissioned the Beverly Hills office of Victor Gruen Associates Architects to design a branch bank at 588 South Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. 2. The defining historic characteristics of this building are its mid-century modern architecture, characterized as "expressionist modern". The sculptural quality of the exterior volume of the bank building, use of smooth plaster with rounded surfaces and edges, large panels of "Byzantine blue" mosaic tile, large expanses of aluminum and glass curtainwall along the north and west facades, the cantilevered 'floating' terrazzo "plinth" base, its clean un-decorated and un-ornamented surfaces, and wide overhanging roof planes. The building stands as a very good example of revolutionary thinking in commercial banking of its time, in which the typical heavy, temple-like traditional style of banks was cast aside in favor of unconventional and dramatic new concepts in architecture. 3. The automatic teller machine shelter, located on the north side of the building is considered complementary to the historic character. However, this element is not part of the defining historic characteristics of the site because it is not part of the original design and construction of the building and it was not installed during the historic period related to the site and building. THE CITY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY RESOLVE: SECTION 1: Pursuant to CEQA, the City Council finds that the designation of the building at 588 South Palm Canyon Drive as a Class 1 historic site is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15331 whereby this designation is for the preservation of a historical resource. SECTION 2; The Council does hereby make the following findings; The City National Bank/Bank of America Building reflects or exemplifies a particular period of the national, state or local history; The City National Bank / Bank of America Building is an excellent example of mid- century modern architecture in an "expressionistic modern idiom" as applied to a commercial bank building. It embodies the optimism and faith in technology and the future that was prevalent in the country during the period following World War II. It presents a visionary idea that a structure for banking could be a sculptural expressive structure in a very human scale instead of the usual heavy classical architectural forms that typified bank buildings in previous eras are embodied in this structure. ' It is an important member of a collection of buildings in this vicinity that developed in the fifties and sixties as Palm Springs "financial district'; including the Santa Fe Federal Resolution No. 21971 Page 3 Savings Bank, Coachella Valley Savings Bank (Washington Mutual), Coachella Savings & ' Loan (Prudential), Union Bank of California, Guaranty Bank, and Wells Fargo. This collection of financial institutions are all located on or near Palm Canyon Drive which was, at the time, the hub of commercial activity in the Coachella Valley. Each bank sought to capture customers by creating a significant presence through the use of outstanding architecture. This notion of 'advertising through architecture' is clearly evident in this collection of buildings, including the City National Bank/ Bank of America Building. The City National Bank / Bank of America Building embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction; This site presents a rare and unique example of "Expressionist Modern" architecture from the Mid-century Modern period of architecture because a) It is a building whose overall volume is almost more sculptural than "building- like". The rounded and curvilinear surfaces soften the appearance of the building. b) Although clearly modern in its style, it is unique in that it does not adhere to the usual rigorous structure proportioning grid to define its shape or size that is typical in more "rationalist or mannerist" modern architecture. c) It is reflective of its own time, not a copy of earlier styles or cultures. d) It is devoid of applied decoration or ornamentation. e) It possesses the following defining historic characteristics or elements: 1) The overall sculptural quality of the exterior volume of the building. 2) The long, uninterrupted cantilevered roof structure on the west and north facades, 3) The muted colors and smooth plaster rounded surfaces and planes of the walls and roof overhangs, 4) The 'volume' of Byzantine blue mosaic tile created at the southern end of the building and used within the three openings on the east elevation, 5) The cantilevered terrazzo base or 'floating' floor slab, The inspiration for its proportion and form can clearly be traced to an important historic structure of the modern movement: the Chapel Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, France by internationally renowned architect Le Corbusier from 1954; yet the City National Bank building stands on its own merits, singularly unique and very artistic in its form and overall design. The City National Bank/ Bank of America Building presents the work of a master builder, designer, artist, or architect whose individual genius influenced his age; or that possesses high artistic value; The City National Bank / Bank of America Building was designed by Rudy Baumfeld of Victor Gruen Associates Architects of Beverly Hills, who is credited with having designed the first two story shopping center in the United States. The building ' demonstrates Mr. Baumfelds' artistic talent as a designer and architect and his ability to translate the functional requirements for this bank into a beautiful structure with sculptural- like qualities. Resolution No. 21971 Page 4 ' SECTION 3: Based upon the foregoing, the City Council does hereby designate the City National Bank Building at 588 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California as a Class 1 Historic Site subject to the following conditions: 1. The property owner shall permit the City to demark the building as a historic site with a marker of the City's choosing. The historic marker shall be placed in a location visible from the public right-of-way. The owner shall maintain the marker in the location installed and pay for the replacement cast if the marker is lost, stolen, or otherwise removed from the property. 2. All future exterior modifications including but not limited to building, site, landscaping, lighting, walls, and fences shall require Architectural Approval pursuant to Section 94.04,00 of the Palm Springs Zoning Ordinance and Historic Site Preservation Board review pursuant Municipal Code Ordinance 8.05.180, 3. No permit for the alteration of the exterior, including signage and any and all of the defining elements and characteristics shall be issued without prior approval by the Historic Site Preservation Board. 4. That the City Clerk submits the Council Resolution to the County recorder for recordation within 90 days of the effective date of this resolution. 5. All existing or previously approved alterations shall be considered acceptable. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 18`h DAY OF JULY, 2007. David H. Ready Gi anager ATTEST: mes Thompson, City Clerk Resolution No. 21971 Page 5 ' CERTIFICATION STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss. CITY OF PALM SPRINGS ) I, JAMES THOMPSON, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that Resolution No. 21971 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 18, 2007, by the following vote: AYES: Councilmember Foat, Councilmember McCulloch, Councilmember Mills, Mayor Pro Tem Pougnet and Mayor Oden. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. Zitoes Thompson, City Clerk y of Palm Springs, California