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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/4/2009 - STAFF REPORTS - 1.A. Oasis Commercial Building Consolidated Preservation Position August 10,2009 As a general principle, PSMODCOM and PSPF agree that meetings between the preservation community and building owners to discuss future alterations to Class 1 historic sites in advance of HSPB deliberations can be very useful. Frorn such discussions "moderate and consensus views" regarding acceptable alterations can be reached. Preservation organizations can then facilitate (rather than obstruct) the certificate of approval process. Specifically with regard to the Oasis Commercial building, we pledge that PSMODCOM and PSPF might support future alterations to the Oasis Commercial building after Class I historic site designation provided specific architectural features remain intact and that the architectural essence of the building is preserved. We believe that the process of Historic Site Preservation Board review using The Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Rehabilhation of Historic Properties provides sufficient latitude to allow for sympathetic alterations to a Class 1 historic site. Some of the extant architectural elements on the first floor that should remain intact include: Primary: a. All round structural support columns (including those with tiling presently painted) b. Undulating frameless glass walls with mitred comers c. Concrete stairwell and planters at NW comer d. All extant native stone walls e. All aluminum-framed display windows (two each on south, west and north elevations, one on east elevation) f Concrete curb planter on SE comer which continues about 90 feet to the west. g. Aluminum air exhausts (3 total) on west elevation h. All cylindrical recessed lighting Secondary: a. Black terrazzo at NE entryway(presently Starbucks) b. Curbed mechanical intakes/access hatches (4 total) on west elevation c. "Sculpted"door handles (3 total, additional in possession of owner) Both the owner(s) and preservation organizations seem to agree that future alterations to the second floor would seriously compromise the architectural integrity of the building. i I�o zoo g �7�r 77O/"J QG Page I of 3 Martha Edgmon c From: Sidney Williams [Swilliams@PSMUSEUM.org] Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 3:13 PM To: Martha Edgmon Subject: FW: Oasis and APTI this Friday Hi Martha- Ginny asked me to send this to you and please print it out for her. There is a second one as well. Thanks so much, Sidney '&red A/aw, Associate Curator Palm Springs Art Museum 101 Museum Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.322.4813 From: PSmoderntours@aol.com [mailto:PSmoderntours@aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 8:11 PM To: Steve.Pougnet@palmsprings-ca.gov; Chris.Mllls@palmsprings-ca.gov; Ginny.Foat@palmsprings- ca.gov; Rick.Hutcheson@palmsprings-ca.gov; Lee.Weigel@palmsprings-ca.gov Subject: Oasis and APTI this Friday Election Day, 2009 TO: Palm Springs City Council FR: Robert Imber RE: Oasis Commercial Building; APTI Tour; etc. As all parties acknowledge, Class One historic site nomination of the Oasis Commercial Building was a "given" due to its certain architectural and historic significance. Anothergiven is that preservation and maintenance of the historic built- environment always makes a better situation for property owners and the community. Due consideration of an owner's rights and interests is important. No less important is the expectation that elected leaders fulfill their civic obligation regarding historic assets and their economic, historic, and cultural benefits to the community. As recent as damage last week, that the Oasis Commercial Building continues to be so deleteriously abused speaks volumes, and in my opinion tips the scale to your responsibility to ensure that the site remain FULLY intact via Class One designation of the entirety. ///D41zoo 11/4/2009 /1-_b3i 7_16',✓4Z— Page 2 of 3 Preservation and Progress work best hand-in-hand and ARE NOT at odds with one another. Well-documented here and elsewhere, reiterated in countless Palm Springs Public Comments, Class One designation will secure this prominent building to be appropriately improved over time to provide a quality, successful tenancy and attract a more elite customer/tourism visitor, which the owner's track record clearly belies. Their July, 2009 outreach for a helpful dialogue between preservation interests and theirs...was not fulfilled due to their apparent unwillingness to further respond or meet. Much like their absolute public promise that the completely intact, but consciously neglected 1923 Lloyd Wright Oasis Hotel Building and pool had to be forever demolished to make way for a renown restaurant "ready to break ground"...a business that never came. But they got the parking lot, then further damaging the integrity of the building by placing the "PAY HERE" kiosk in front of the exceptional and unique rear staircase. Attached are about a dozen letters from throughout America and the world excerpted from the many you received last summer regarding this designation. I hope you have read them...from passionate, well-heeled tourists who come to Palm Springs FOR the architecture (and buy homes here) to esteemed professionals, historians and developers whose expertise confirm the value of designating the Oasis Commercial Building as Class One. This Friday, keeping up with Palm Springs increasing architectural importance in the world, I'll host thirty prestigious professionals for a tour...a bus trip preceding the annual conference in Los Angeles of their international association, the Association for Preservation Technology International. Including members of the Canadian and Swiss governments, The Smithsonian Institution, The Getty Conservation, The Society of Architectural Historians (SAH); and the National Parks Service they are architects, builders, planners, developers, governmental officials, historians, academics, authors, et al all of whom have chose excursion due to the significance of our mid-century modern buildings. Click here APT: Association fior Preservation Technology Likewise, The California Preservation Foundation (CPF), who's successful conference last April brought 500 statewide preservationists and their dollars to our city has a double-session workshop here next week, and an event at the Kaufmann House. The National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) has designated Palm Springs for numerous modernist programs and interests in the years ahead. First Ladies Laura Bush and Michelle Obama's Preserve America, as you know, has now designated Palm Springs as a Preserve America City...there is always more exciting news to encourage the protection of our assets.. DESIGNATE THE (ENTIRE) OASIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING AS A CLASS ONE SITE... HELP THIS EPICENTER OF ARCHITECTURE, COMMERCE AND TOURISM PRODUCE NEW, LONG-TERM BUSINESS FOR PALM SPRINGS, I 1/4/2009 Page 3 of 3 Thank you, Robert Imber l]/4/2009 �pF7PLMSp, iZ c u � v �aHoYnrcn`Y>° ,4 C44 'FoRaNp CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT DATE: November 4, 2009 PUBLIC HEARING SUBJECT: CASE RSPB ##55: APPLICATION FOR DESIGNATION OF THE OASIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING AT 101-121 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE AS A CLASS 1 HISTORIC SITE FROM: David H. Ready, City Manager BY: The Planning Department SUMMARY Under Section 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code (Historic Resources), the City Council may designate properties as "Class 1" historic sites. On July 22, 2009, the City Council conducted a public hearing on the Historic Site Preservation Board's recommendation to designate the Oasis Commercial building at 101-121 S. Palm Canyon Drive a Class 1 historic site. Following receipt of public testimony, the City Council continued the item to September 16, October 7, and November 4, 2009, Class 1 designation would place the building under the guidance of Municipal Code Section 8.05 "Historic Preservation". RECOMMENDATION 1. Direct staff with regard to the designation of the Oasis Commercial Building, based on one of the following options: a. Designate the entire building as a Class 1 historic resource. b. Designate certain specific portions of the building as Class 1, c. Decline to designate the building. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The City of Palm Springs, via the Historic Site Preservation Board, filed an application requesting the structure at the subject property be designated a Class I historic site. Such designation would: �— City Council Staff Report November 4,2009 Case- HSPB No, 55; 101-121 S. Palm Cyn Dr. Page 2 of 6 1. Place the subject property under the guidance of Municipal Code Section 8.05; 2. Require present and subsequent owners to maintain the site consistent with that ordinance; and 3. Grant possible property tax reduction opportunities to the owner under the State of California Mills Act. A full project description, historic assessment report, findings and recommendations can be found in the attached staff reports to the Historic Site Preservation Board dated July 10 and August 21, 2007. PRIOR ACTIONS In 2004, the Oasis Commercial Building was included among 200 properties in the City's 2004 Historic Resources Survey. January 11, 2006 - A demolition permit (C 14781) was issued to demolish two one-story hotel structures on the west side of the site and the area paved for additional parking. April 11, 2006 — The HSPB identified and discussed in a public hearing the Oasis Commercial Building as one of approximately 50 properties in the 2004 survey possessing characteristics that may qualify it for local, state or national designation as a historic site. January 8, 2007 — The HSPB initiated the study and investigation of this site for possible recommendation to City Council for Class 1 designation. August 21, 2007 — The Historic Site Preservation Board voted 5 to 1 (Saunders opposed) to recommend a Class 1 designation for the Oasis Commercial Building. July 22, 2009 --The City Council conducted a public hearing, received testimony, closed the hearing and continued the item to September 2, 2009. The item was then continued to October 7 and November 4, 2009, ANALYSIS The site is a 1.35-acre parcel is located at the southwest corner of South Palm Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Drive. The building was designed in the International Style by the architectural firm of Williams, Williams & Williams, Architects, and completed in 1953. Additional discussion of the property's architectural and historic qualities is found on the attached City Council staff report (July 22, 2009) and exhibits. Following its discussion of the matter on July 22, 2009, the Council directed staff to return with options regarding a "focused Class 1 designation" or alternative conservation easement. Staff was to develop these alternatives in dialogue with the property owner. G City Council Staff Report November A,2009 Case: HSPB No.55; 101-121 S. Palm Cyn Dr. Page 3 of 6 Property Owner's Proposal On July 30, 2009, the Director of Planning Services met with property owner Steve Lyle, attorney David Baron and HSPB Chair Sidney Williams (invited by the property owner) to discuss options regarding historic designation. As part of the meeting, all in attendance went to the property and toured the exterior of the building. It was agreed that the property owner would submit a designation proposal to the City for consideration, which was received from Mr. Baron on September 10, 2009 (attached). Much of the City Council's discussion on July 22"d addressed the possible protection of certain portions of the building, either through Class 1 designation or through a conservation easement. Subsequently, the property owner has indicated that the conservation easement may not ultimately be the best approach, and no longer proposes its use (the conservation easement was not mentioned in the September letter). The property owner proposes the following features for Class 1 protection: o The entire second story of the building, beginning at the upper edge of the "base". Staff has prepared the following exhibit to indicate this edge: Jh r� • (The proposal includes an exemption for tenant signs and misting systems that would be proposed in the future.) o Display cases on the south and west elevations only. o The staircase on the rear (west) elevation. o The columns supporting the second store fronting S. Palm Canyon Drive. o The display cases on the north and east elevations and the original door handles may be removed, but would be stored for future re-use- During our meeting and tour, a couple of points were raised regarding the above items: w City Council Staff Report November 4, 2009 Case! HSPB No. 55; 101-121 S. Palm Cyn Dr. Page 4 of 6 1. The second story demarcation was a point of concern to Ms. Williams, who expressed her preference for using the lower edge of the second story base. 2. The value of the four window cases was debated, with staff and Ms. Williams concluding that all four cases were important to the building's architecture and design. 3. All in attendance agreed that an earlier addition to the rear (west) elevation (ground floor) could be removed at some point in the future, restoring that elevation to its original design. 4. Some of the entry doors and hardware are original, while other entries have been replaced with newer, non-matching doors and windows. While the property owner proposes to retain the original hardware for future use, there is no mention of when or how the door entries would be restored. With the July 30th meeting and tour, as well as with the follow-up letter, the property owner has provided a basis for divvying the building into parts: Those that would be reviewed by the HSPB prior to modification and those which could be modified without such review. Partial Protection of a Historic Building A division of the building into protected and unprotected elements may resolve the property owner's concerns for the uncertainties of HSPB review. However, staff believes that such an arrangement does not rise to the level of Class 1 designation, but might be considered a modified form of Class 2. While the popular understanding of the difference between the two classes is that Class 2 structures have been or will be lost, the Historic Preservation ordinance is more nuanced. The chart below provides a comparison of the two designations using the Code's own words: Class 1 Class 2 Historic Structure/site qualified for city designation; Value may be qualified at the federal, state and/or (same) county level. Archives Archival file will be maintained. (same) Building Structure/site may not be modified nor objects Modifications removed without the approval of the city (no limitations on modifications in Class 2) council Building Usage may be limited by the city council to Uses the extent that it may impair the integrity of the (no limitations an uses in Class 2) site Plaques Site will be plaqued. Site is eligible for plaquing. Intended for use when the structure or site still Intended for use when the site is not occupied by Purpose of exists as it did during the historical period or is a modern structure or use which is different than Class restorable that of the historical period or if structure is unusable, nonconforming, unrestorable or the like Based on the Code's language, the Class 1 designation focuses on requiririg a review of modifications to the site / structure and for the removal of objects. Further, the site / - structure's "integrity" is to be preserved as new uses are introduced. Staff believes that 4 City Council Staff Report November 4, 2009 Case: HSPB No.55; 101-121 S. Palm Cyn Dr, Page 5 of 6 these objectives cannot be met by the option offered by the property owner. However, the Class 2 designation (with conditions) could be the vehicle for providing the property owner's desired level of protection. As noted above, the Class 2 designation makes no mention of any limits to site / structure modifications or use limitations. However, staff believes that partial limits may be made conditions of a specific Class 2 designation. Consequently, the option proposed by the property owner may be best implemented by adopting a Class 2 designation with the following conditions: 1. No modifications to the following portions of the building may be allowed, except by the HSPB through a Certificate of Approval: a. The upper story, b. The window cases on the south and west elevations, c. The staircase on the rear (west) elevation, and d. The columns supporting the second store fronting S. Palm Canyon Drive. 2. The display cases on the north and east elevations and the original door handles may be removed, but shall be securely stored and protected for future re-use. Re-use of these materials shall be in the same or nearly the same location as originally installed. Re-use of these materials in other locations on site or removal from the site shall be reviewed by the HSPB through a Certificate of Approval. Sign Program In the City of Palm Springs, all multi-tenant commercial and industrial buildings are required to have a "sign program", reviewed by the AAC and approved by the Planning Commission.' No sign program has been established for the Oasis commercial building, and the building has a history of carrying many types of signs, including individual, free-standing letters; channel-cut script; painted wood panels, internally- illuminated "can" signs and many others with no overall coordination. Staff believes that the building's historic value and overall appearance would benefit from a sign program, as required by Code. Further, a sign program may ease many of the property owner's concerns over the introduction of new tenants. Lastly, a sign program should settle the issue of the definition of the upper story and allow the lower edge of the "base" to define its boundary. Consequently, staff recommends an additional condition for either a Class 1 or Class 2 designation: 3. Within 45 days of approval of this designation and prior to issuance of any building permits, the property owner shall submit a proposed sign program for review and recommendation by the HSPB and the PSZC Section 93.20.09 (excerpt) "Sign programs shall be required for all buildings with morg than one (1)tenant..." A sign program means, "_ design criteria established to guide the design of all signs on a building or complex; sign programs can, but need not mandate specific elements such as material, color, size, location, lighting and uniformity." City Council Staff Report November 4, 2009 Case: HSPB No.55: 101-121 S. Palm Cyn Dr. Page 6 of 6 AAC, and approval by the Planning Commission. No signs shall be permitted except in conformance with the approved sign program. Conclusion Staff has provided an option for partial protection of the Oasis commercial building, as requested by the City Council at its meeting of July 22, 2009. The Council may chose among the following options regarding the potential designation of the property as a historic site / structure. 1. Designate the property Class 1, as described in the staff memo of July 22, 2009. All exterior changes would be subject to HSPB and architectural review. 2. Designate the property Class 2, with the conditions described in this report. Portions of the building would be subject to HSPB review; all exterior changes would remain subject to architectural review. 3. Designate the property Class 2, with no special conditions. Only architectural review would be required for exterior changes. 4. Reject any historic designation. FISCAL IMPACT: No fiscal impact. Awing P Thomas J. Wilsg�i Dir&t& of PI n ing Services Assistant City Manager, Dev't Svcs David H. Ready City Manager Attachments: 1. Vicinity Map 2. Draft City Council Resolution for Class 1 designation 3. Council Meeting Minutes (excerpts) July 22, September 2 and October 7, 2009 4. Council Staff Report, July 22, 2009 5. Resolution #55 of the HSPB 6. HSPB meeting minutes dated July 10 and August 21, 2007 7. HSPB staff reports dated July 10 and August 21, 2007 8. Assessment Report, August 2007 9. 2004 Citywide Historic Resources Sheets on Oasis Commercial Building �� e N Department of Planning Services Vicinity Map BELARDO RD ANDREAS RD AR Pn CP K G � 7 U O 6 Q V J aTAUDR TAHQUIT DR TAHQUITZ DR TAHQUITZ DR TAHQUITZ DR E TAHQUITZ CANYON WY a J ❑ o Z O � J � Z J S Y aJ U W 2 Q] J Q LCL-� ARENAS RD ARENAS RD ARENAS RD ARENAS RD ARENAS RD--- ARENAS RD Legend O a a z o 400' Buffer 5 � U Project Area < 3 a a rn CITY OF PALM SPRINGS CASE NO: HSPB #55 DESCRIPTION: Consider an application to The Oasis Commercial designate "The Oasis Commercial Building" at Building" 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive as a Class 1 Historic Site #55. APPLICANT: City of Palm Springs u RESOLUTION NO. OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING 101-121 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE, THE OASIS COMMERCIAL 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 8, 2007, the Historic Site Preservation Board (Board) filed an application for Historic Site Designation of the Oasis Commercial Building; and WHEREAS, notice of a public hearing of the Board of the City of Palm Springs to consider designation of the Oasis Commercial Building as a Class 1 historic site was issued in accordance with applicable law; and WHEREAS, on July 10, 2007 and August 21, 2007, the Board conducted a public hearing in accordance with applicable law, following which hearing the Board adopted a recommendation to the City Council that the Oasis Commercial Building be designated a Class 1 Historic Site; and WHEREAS, on July 22, 2009, the City Council conducted a public hearing, following notification in the manner prescribed by law, at which hearing the Council received a staff report, associated exhibits and historical research, and written and oral testimony; and WHEREAS, following closure of the public hearing on July 22, 2009 the City Council continued the matter to September 2, then to October 7 and November 4, 2009 at which meetings the Council reviewed and considered all of the evidence in connection with the proposed designation, including but not limited to the staff report, application and historical research, and all written and oral testimony presented. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. That the proposed designation is Categorically Exempt from environmental review, in accordance with Section 15331 (Historical Resources Restoration/Rehabilitation) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as the proposed designation meets the conditions outlined for preservation of a historic resource. SECTION 2. That the proposed designation conforms to the criteria for Class 1 historic designation, as contained in Section 8.05.020.a of the Palm Springs Municipal Code, as follows: 1 2 u Criterion 1: That the property is associated with lives of persons who made meaningful contribution to national, state or local history as follows: Milton F. Kreis was an active merchant and business man, owning and/or operating five drug stores or restaurants along Palm Canyon Drive, in Los Angeles, San Francisco and in other cities. He was active in civic affairs and chaired the city's Parking and Traffic Commission. His MLK Drug Store was the anchor retail space in the Oasis Commercial Building and in its day, the store was referred to as a "Palm Springs Landmark." Criterion 2: That the property reflects or exemplifies a particular period of the national, state or local history as follows: The Oasis Commercial Building is an outstanding example of the bold modern architecture that became a trademark of Palm Springs from the 1940's through the 1960's. The optimism and "confidence in the future" that was prevalent in the United States during the post-war period was enthusiastically expressed in commercial and residential architecture in Palm Springs. The Oasis Commercial Buildings is one of a number of buildings in Palm Springs where the Modern architectural movement can be seen. Because of this, the Oasis Commercial Building exemplifies the post-war period in Palm Springs and nation-wide. Criterion 3: That the property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction: The Oasis Commercial Building is an outstanding example of using a light steel frame construction system to free the design from the heavy "grounded" appearance of more traditional load-bearing wall construction. The thin free- standing columns supporting the solid mass of the second floor give the building a dramatic and unusual appearance when compared to the heavier revival style masonry buildings nearby. The integration of maintenance-free and technologically-advanced materials such as the "free-standing" stainless steel door frames, mill-finished anodized aluminum railings and panels, and the use of very large, butt-glazed "frameless" glass panels all reflect a refinement and quality of construction that was uncommon for its age and even rare by current standards of most retail and commercial buildings. These construction methods and technologies allowed the architect to create a powerful example of International Style Modernism and make the Oasis Commercial Building a distinctive and very important building in Palm Springs. Criterion 4: That the property represents the work of a master builder...or architect whose individual genius influenced his age; or that possesses high artistic value: E. Stewart Williams was a master architect, and has been recognized for greatness in his field. Upon his death, an editorial in "The Desert Sun" stated: "If any single man can be cited for giving Palm Springs its place in architectural history, it's E. Stewart Williams." Williams' Oasis Commercial Building possesses high artistic value as expressed in its design, proportions, details and engineering. The Oasis Commercial Building is among the finest examples of E. Stewart Williams' mastery as an architect and designer. 2 J� SECTION 3. That the Oasis Commercial Building at 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California is hereby designated a Class 1 Historic Site subject to the following conditions: 1. The property owner may permit the City to place a historic marker on the Oasis Commercial Building of the City's choosing. 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 HSPB review pursuant Municipal Code Ordinance 8.05.180. 3. No permit shall be issued for the alteration of the exterior, including any and all of the defining elements and characteristics without prior approval by the Historic Site Preservation Board. 4. That the City Clerk shall submit the Council Resolution to the County recorder for recordation within 90 days of the effective date of this resolution. 5. Any alterations or modifications to the exterior approved prior to the designation of this site by the City Council shall be deemed acceptable. 6. Within 45 days of approval of this designation and prior to issuance of any building permits, the property owner shall submit a proposed sign program for review and recommendation by the HSPB and the AAC, and approval by the Planning Commission. No signs shall be permitted except in conformance with the approved sign program. ADOPTED this xxth day of Month, Year, David H. Ready, City Manager ATTEST: James Thompson, City Clerk 3 �� 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. 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 by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: James Thompson, City Clerk City of Palm Springs, California 4 City Council Meeting Page 3 of 12 ON-COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS, FOR THE VICEROY MOTEL T 15 SOUTH BELARDO ROAD," amending Section 4.1 and substitute-the c .dyle for improvements as requested by the_Vicer�_ and adding sub-phas�n require an Encroachment Permit within._30- days_and an agreement for ih6--Vdceroy to provide performance bond in the amount. of $250,000,_constructi66-to tart within 90-day-s,_hardscape and landscape improvements to be comp%f d:=o�ahuilla by 2010,_and the improvements to Belardo be completed by '1074—and amending Section 4.2 to to provide that the City Council review the C:U nn_47(—ie event of a failure to comply. Motion Mayor Pro Tern Mills, secori&e" 9ea�i#�rernber-�1Mei�el=ands r�nan irnoasly-carr-i®d��s-roll-cal�rate----� ,A. I.B. DESIGNATION OF THE OASIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING AT 101-121 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE AS A CLASS 1 HISTORIC SITE (RSPB 55): Staff Report Item 1.13. Craig Ewing, Director of Planning Services, provided background information as outlined in the staff report dated July 22, 2009. Mayor Pougnet opened the public hearing, and the following speakers addressed the City Council. DAVID BARRON, Representing Property Owner, stated the City has a flawed system for the designation of properties and provided recommendations to the HSPB, the process, requested the process mandate discussions with property owner and economic considerations, provided a history of the property, requested the City Council consider a compromise that prohibits the removal of the building, allow changes to the first floor, and requires no changes to the second floor, by requiring a grant of a conservation easement. RON MARSHALL, commented on the history of the Oasis building, the benefits of a Mills Act contract , and requested the City Council support the Class 1 designation. KATHI HALLOCK , read a letter from the President of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, requesting the City Council not designate the property as a Class 1 site. JACQUES CAUSSIR, stated his support for the designation of the building as a Class 1 Historic Site. LAUREN BRICKER, stated her support as a designation of the property as a Class 1 Historic Site. CHRIS SAHLIN, stated his opposition to the classification of the building 12 http;//palmsprings.granicus.conn/MinutesV iewer.p]Zp?view_id=2&clip_id=714 9W26i`?OU[k City Council Meeting Page 4 of 12 as a Class 1 Historic Site, ROBERT IMBER, stated his support as a designation of the property as a Class 1 Historic Site. JADE NELSON, stated his support as a designation of the property as a Class 1 Historic Site. ANDREA URBAS, stated her opposition to the designation of the property as a Class 1 Historic Site. MAGGIE MONTEZ, stated her opposition to the designation of the property as a Class 1 Historic Site. FLORENCE HAGSTROM, stated the building has gone through many changes and is not recognizable. STEVE LYLE, Owner, commented on the discussion and the vote of the HSPB, and stated his opposition to the designation of the building as a Class 1 Historic Site. MICHAEL KASSINGER, stated his opposition to the designation of the property as a Class 1 Historic Site. ROB FIRTH, stated his opposition to the designation of the property as a Class 1 Historic Site. DENNIS CUNNINGHAM, requested the City Council consider the compromise position of the owner. ERNEST VINCENT, stated his opposition to the designation of the property as a Class 1 Historic Site. JAMES CIOFFI, stated his opposition to the designation of the property as a Class 1 Historic Site. PETER MORUZZI, commented on the meaning and ramifications of the designation as a Class 1 site, and stated his support for the designation of the properly as a Class 1 Historic Site. ERIC WILLIAMS, stated his father was the designer of the Oasis building, and commented on the changes, the uniqueness and significance of the building. No further speakers coming forward, the public hearing was closed. The City Council discussed and/or commented on the following with respect to the designation: requested clarification of the compromise position of the owner and the preservation society, the lack of consent of http://palmspTings.grardeus.com/MinutesViewer.plip?view_id=2&clip_id=714 td�'2 �pp4 City Council Meeting Page 5 of 12 the owner for the designation, providing flexibility and adaptability for owners and properties in the Downtown area, requested staff address the process with the HSPB for modifications with a Class 1 designation, the extent of the changes and modifications to the building, the compromise proposed, keeping the second floor in tact, relation with zoning codes, conservation easement, the amount of outreach to the property owner, the possibility for designation but not restricting certain areas of the building, the requirement to review economic impact with respect to a Class 1 designation- MOTION: Adopt Resolution "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING THE OASIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING AT 101-121 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE A CLASS ONE HISTORIC SITE (HSPB 55)-" Motion Councilmember Foat, failed for lack of a second. ACTION: 1) Close the public testimony portion of the public hearing and continue to September 16, 2009; and 2) Direct the City Clerk to post a Notice of Continued Public Hearing. Motion Councilmember Foat, seconded by Councilmember Weigel and unanimously carried on a roll call vote. �. XCENT: convened at 8:29 p.m. , commented on the effects within the City due to Proposition BARBARA NEWMAN, requested the City Council keep all the Fire Stations open in the City of Palm SprinNand commented on the enforcement of dog leash laws. DENNIS ROSENBERG, commente,pn the actions of Sun Line toward the taxi industry and City Cab Company. JOY MEREDITH, commented on the activitF' of the Palm Springs Business Improvement District- COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS: Councilmember Weigel commented on the recent deaths o o hikers on the mountains in Palm Springs. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: City Manager Ready provided an update on t State budget and the potential impact to the City. ?\ "�xIW419a http://palmsprings.granicus.corn/Minutes'Viewer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=714 1 City Council Meeting Page 2 of 9 1. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1.13. ROYAL STREET COMMUNICATIONS CALIFORNIA L CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND VARIANCE TO EXCEED E MAXIMUM ANTENNA HEIGHT FOR THE INSTALLATIO F A FORTY-FIVE FOOT COMMERCIAL COMMUNICATION ENNA AT 4733 EAST PALM CANYON DRIVE, ZONE W-C- -N (CASE NO. 5.1227 AND 6.517VAR): ACTION: Adopt Resolution No. 22599, "A RES UTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SP GS, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERM AND VARIANCE TO ROYAL STREET COMMUNICATIONS ALIFORNIA LLC. TO INSTALL A FORTY-FIVE FOOT WIF?r LESS COMMUNICATION ANTENNA AT 4733 EAST PALM CANYON DRIVE (CASE NO. 5.1227 AND 6.517VAR)." Motion yor Pro Tern Mills, seconded by Councilmember Hutcheson d carried unanimously 1.C. ROYAL STREET CO NICATIONS CALIFORNIA LLC. CONDITIONAL USE PE IT AND VARIANCE TO EXCEED THE MAXIMUM ANTENNA EIGHT FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A FIFTY-FIVE FOOT MMERCIAL COMMUNICATION ANTENNA AT 2101 SAHARA OAD, ZONE P (CASE, NO. 5.1226 AND 6.513), ACTION: Ad Resolution No. 22600, "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COU IL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, APPROV G A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND VARIANCE TO ROYAI� STREET COMMUNICATIONS CALIFORNIA LLC. TO INST/CLL A FIFTY-FIVE FOOT WIRELESS COMMERCIAL C MUNICATION ANTENNA DESIGNED AS AN ARTIFICIAL ALM TREE AT 2101 SAHARA ROAD (CASE NO. 5.1226 AND 6.513)," amending the Conditions of Approval to provide for the extension of the masonry wall to the EastlSouth property line. Motion Councilmember Weigel, seconded by Councilmember ► 1.1). DESIGNATION OF THE OASIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING AT 101- 121 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE AS A CLASS 1 HISTORIC SITE (HSPB 55): ACTION: 1) The City Council closed the public testimony on July 22, 2009; 2) Continue the City Council deliberations to November 4, 2009; and 3) Direct the City Clerk to post a Notice of Continued Public Hearing. Motion Mayor Pro Tom Mills, seconded by Councilmember Hutcheson and carried unanimously 9162.10 littp-.//paimsprings.granicus.com/Agf,ndaViewer.php?vjew id=2&cl i p_id=743 City Council Meeting Page 3 of 9 f the Parks and Recreation Department and the programs. \head ission Chair McCormick provided an overview of accomplishments Commission: relationship with ,the Parks and Recreation Director ff, trail heads and signage, eco tourism projects, the condition and ents at the City's parks, and the Tahquitz Creek Master Plan. or Hei r presented an overview of the process for the development arks an creation Master Plan. ity Council a the Commission discussed and/or commented on llowing: the c dition of Palm Springs Stadium, the synergy en the Commissio , nd the staff, easements and parking required trails project, identi tion of bike lanes and maintenance in the loss of shade in the p ks due to windstorm damage, and an ory of shade for children's ea, bicycle trails lack of signage, and lack of bicycle trails in some areaN,in the City, attention to the pocket parks, identification of opportunities fo\re City for recreation and recreation projects, best practices he parks in the City, alternative funding to meet needs in conomic environment, cleanliness of the parks, involvemurrounding cities and their input in developing the Parks security at the Palm Springs Skate Park, the benefits of ts swim center, and smart scalping of grass in City parks. No action taken. The Parks and Recreation Commission adjourned at 7:30 p.m., and the Ci Council recessed. The City Council reconvened at 7:38 p.m. 1.13. DESIGNATION OF THE OASIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING AT 101-121 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE•AS A CLASS 1 HISTORIC SITE (HSPB 55): ACTION: 1) The City Council closed the public testimony on July 22, 2009; 2) Continue the City Council deliberations to October 7, 2009; and 3) Direct the City Clerk to post a Notice of Continued Public Hearing. Motion Mayor Pro Tern Mills, seconded by Councilmember Weigel and unanimously carried on a roll call vote. TIAN IG1kT C�F��IIJIY f61R DFSF=RTMl11.Y. �klJ UTHWEST CORNER OF RAMON ROAD, FILE R 09-01: Staff Report Item I.C. lxtlp://palmsprings.granicus.coin/MinutesViewer.php?vicw—id=2&clip_id=737 F6 pALMS, �y c x M �fe op a^h c�`'FOR` CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT DATE- July 22, 2009 PUBLIC HEARING SUBJECT: CASE HSPB #55: APPLICATION FOR DESIGNATION OF THE OASIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING AT 101-121 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE AS A CLASS 1 HISTORIC SITE FROM: David H. Ready, City Manager BY: The Planning Department SUMMARY Under Section 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code (Historic Resources), the City Council may designate properties as "Class 1" historic sites. The City's Historic Site Preservation Board (RSPB) has recommended such a designation for the property at 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive, the Oasis Commercial Building. The Council will conduct a public hearing and determine if the site should be designated. Class 1 designation would place the building under the guidance of Municipal Code Section 8.05 "Historic Preservation". RECOMMENDATION 1. Open the public hearing and accept public testimony. 2. Consider the HSPB's recommendation to adopt Resolution No. "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA DESIGNATING THE OASIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING AT 101- 121 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE, A CLASS ONE HISTORIC SITE." PROJECT DESCRIPTION The City of Palm Springs, via the Historic Site Preservation Board, filed an application requesting the structure at the subject property be designated a Class I historic site. Such designation would: 1. Place the subject property under the guidance of Municipal Cade Section 8.05 17 ITEM NO. City Council Staff Report July 22.2000 Case: HSPB No 55; 101-121 S. Palm Cyn Dr, Page 2 of 5 2. Require present and subsequent owners to maintain the site consistent with that ordinance, 3. Grant possible property tax reduction opportunities to the owner under the State of California Mills Act. A full project description, historic assessment report, findings and recommendations can be found in the attached staff reports to the Historic Site Preservation Board dated July 10 and August 21, 2007. PRIOR ACTIONS In 2004, the Oasis Commercial Building was included among 200 properties in the City's 2004 Historic Resources Survey. On January 11, 2006 a demolition permit (C 14781) was issued to demolish two one- story hotel structures on the west side of the site and the area paved for additional parking. On April 11, 2006, the HSPB identified and discussed in a public hearing the Oasis Commercial Building as one of approximately 50 properties in the 2004 survey possessing characteristics that may qualify it for local, state or national designation as a historic site. On January 8, 2007 the HSPB initiated the study and investigation of this site for possible recommendation to City Council for Class 1 designation. On August 21, 2007, the Historic Site Preservation Board voted 5 to 1 (Saunders opposed) to recommend that City Council designate the Oasis Commercial Building, a Class I Historic Site in accordance with Municipal Code Section 8.05, HSPB Resolution #>`55 is attached. ANALYSIS The site is a 1.35-acre parcel in the Central Business District located at the southwest corner of South Palm Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs. To the south is the Oasis Hotel Tower and commercial storefront that were integral parts of the Oasis Hotel designed by Lloyd Wright in 1923. To the east is the historic Wellwood Murray Library. To the north is the vacant Bank of America building (corner of the Fashion Plaza site). There is a parking lot on the western portion of the site and smaller boutique hotels to the west. The Oasis Commercial Building at 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive, completed in 1953, was designed in the International Style by the architectural firm of Williams, Williams & Williams, Architects. E. Stewart Williams, FAIA, was the partner—in-charge of its design. The building was constructed as a retail and office block for the Western City Council Staff Report July 22, 2009 Case: HSPB No.55; 101.121 S. Palm Cyn or Page 3 of 5 Hotels, Inc., then owners of the Oasis Hotel. The building is a steel frame structure with extensive use of glass, native stone, aluminum and cement plaster stucco. The subject property is an excellent example of the International Style of architecture The building is a flat-roofed rectangular volume approximately 154 feet wide by 128 feet deep and about 30 feet high. The first floor retail area is very transparent with large, butt-glazed, frameless glass panels. The second floor office area is a solid block-like volume with horizontal strip windows. A small projection on the southwest corner houses the elevator and connects the new structure to the original Oasis Hotel to the south. Additional discussion of the property is found on the attached HSPB staff report. The building's design is in direct response to its site. An outdoor light well, visible from Palm Canyon Drive, allows light to penetrate the interior of the building while creating an inviting outdoor space at street level that is sheltered from the sun. Large east-facing windows at both the first and second floor are shielded from the intense desert sun by wide flat overhangs that create the signature box-like second story element of the building. The north fagade takes advantage of high quality northerly light at the office level with a long expansive grid of glass. At street level, showcase windows in stainless steel "picture frames" provided eye-catching display of retail goods along Tahquitz Canyon Way. The building has undergone minimal physical changes and retains a high degree of architectural and historical integrity. Early photographs show a coordinated signage program for the commercial tenants which has since been removed (see attached HSPB staff report). Lettering style and color are recognized and permitted as part of commercial branding in the City's sign ordinance. In the case of the Oasis Commercial Building, the newer box-cut, internally illuminated trademark lettering and signage above the canopy could be replaced over time, with bottom-lit aluminum block lettering consistent with the original commercial signage. REQUIRED FINDINGS As noted above, Section 8.05.020 of the Municipal Code provides the definition of an historic site; "An historic site is any real property such as: a building; a structure, including but not limited to archways, tiled areas and similar architectural elements; an archaeological excavation or object that is unique or significant because of its location, design, setting, materials, workmanship or aesthetic effect." Based on the above analysis and the Historic Resources Report, Staff has concluded that the Oasis Commercial Building at 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive meets the definition of an historic site because of its location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and aesthetics. Furthermore, the building possesses qualities defined under criteria 2, 3, 4 and 5 from Municipal Code Section 8.05.020 as noted below: History_Persons (2) That is associated with lives of persons who made meaningful contribution to national, state or local history as follows. City Council Staff Report July 22.2009 Case: HSPB No.55; 101-121 S. Palm Cyn Dr Page 4 of 5 Milton F. Kreis was an active merchant in downtown Palm Springs, at one time owning and/or operating five drug stores or restaurants along Palm Canyon Drive as well as in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities. He was active in civic affairs and chaired the city's Parking and Traffic Commission. His drug store was the anchor retail space in the Oasis Commercial Building and in its day, the store was referred to as a "Palm Springs Landmark." Kreis was a figure of importance in California and in Palm Springs and the Oasis Commercial Building was associated with his accomplishments. As such, the building is associated with a person of importance to the community, thereby qualifying it as eligible for listing on the local, California and National Registries. Architecture (3) That reflects or exemplifies a particular ep riad of the national, state or local history as follows: The Oasis Commercial Building is an outstanding example of the bold modern architecture that became a trademark of Palm Springs from the 1940's through the 1960's. Prior to that period, Palm Springs consisted primarily of revival style architecture; borrowing on and replicating the detailing and aesthetic of Spanish Colonial and Mission styles of the past. The optimism and "confidence in the future" that was prevalent in the United States during the post-war period was enthusiastically expressed in commercial and residential architecture in Palm Springs. Architects, aware of striking examples of modern architecture such as the Villa Savoye and the 1939 Brazilian World's Fair Pavilion, created sophisticated adaptations of those buildings for their Palm Springs clients The Oasis Commercial Buildings is one of a small number of buildings in Palm Springs where this direct "lineage"to some of the world's most important icons of the Modern architectural movement can be seen. Because of this, the Oasis Commercial Building exemplifies the post-war period in Palm Springs and nationally. (4) That embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction: The Oasis Commercial Building is an outstanding example of using a light steel frame construction system to free the design from the heavy "grounded" appearance of more traditional load-bearing wall construction. The thin free- standing columns support the solid mass of the second floor and give the building a dramatic and unusual appearance when compared to the heavier revival style masonry buildings nearby. The integration of technologically- advanced materials such as the "free-standing" stainless steel door frames, mill- finished anodized aluminum railings and panels, and the use of very large, butt- glazed "frameless" glass panels all reflect a refinement and quality of construction that was uncommon for its age and even rare by current standards. These construction methods and technologies allowed the architect to create a powerful example of International Style Modernism and make the Oasis Commercial Building a distinctive and very important building in Palm Springs. 20 City Council Staff Report July 22.2009 Case HSPB No. 55; 101-121 S. Palm Cyn Dr. Page 5 of 5 (5) That represents the work of a master builder...or architect whose individual genius influenced his age; or that possesses high artistic value: E. Stewart Williams was a master architect, and has been recognized for greatness in his field. Upon his death, an editorial in "The Desert Sun" stated: "If any single man can be cited for giving Palm Springs its place in architectural history, it's ' E. Stewart Williams." Williams' Oasis Commercial Building possesses high artistic value as expressed in its design, proportions, details and engineering. The Oasis Commercial Building is among the finest examples of E. Stewart Williams' mastery as an architect and designer. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT In accordance with Section 15331 (Historical Resources Restoralion/Rehabilitation) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the proposed designation is categorically exempt from environmental review as the proposed designation meets the conditions outlined for preservation of a historic resource. NOTIFICATION Pursuant to section 8,05,140 of the Municipal Code of Palm Springs, All property owners within three hundred (300) feet of the subject property have been notiried and notice was made in a newspaper of general circulation. As of the writing of this report, staff has not received any inquiries on this matter. FISCAL IMPACT: No fiscal impact. -or ig//A.5F ing, AICP/ Thomas J. Wils� Dire or of Plannin S rvices Assistant City Manager, Dev't Svcs David H, Ready City Manager Attachments: 1. Draft City Council Resolution 2. Vicinity Map 3. Resolution #55 of the HSPB 4. HSPB meeting minutes dated July 10 and August 21, 2007 5. HSPB staff reports dated July 10 and August 21, 2007 6. Assessment Report, August 2007 7. 2004 Citywide Historic Resources Sheets on Invernada C+ is RESOLUTION NO. OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING 101-121 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE, THE OASIS COMMERCIAL 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 8, 2007, the Historic Site Preservation Board (Board) filed an application for Historic Site Designation of the Oasis Commercial Building; and WHEREAS, notice of a public hearing of the Board of the City of Palm Springs to consider designation of the Oasis Commercial Building as a Class 1 historic site was issued in accordance with applicable law; and WHEREAS, on July 10, 2007 and August 21, 2007, the Board conducted a public hearing in accordance with applicable law, following which hearing the Board adopted a recommendation to the City Council that the Oasis Commercial Building be designated a Class 1 Historic Site, and WHEREAS, on July 22, 2009, the City Council conducted a public hearing, following notification in the manner prescribed by law, at which hearing the Council received a staff report, associated exhibits and historical research, and written and oral testimony; and WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed and considered all of the evidence in connection with the proposed designation, including but not limited to the staff report, application and historical research, and all written and oral testimony presented. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. That the proposed designation is Categorically Exempt from environmental review, in accordance with Section 15331 (Historical -Resources Restoration/Rehabilitation) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as the proposed designation meets the conditions outlined for preservation of a historic resource. SECTION 2. That the proposed designation conforms to the criteria for Class 1 historic designation, as contained in Section 8.05.020.a of the Palm Springs Municipal Code, as follows, 1 22 Criterion 1: That is associated with lives of persons who made meaningful contribution to national, state or local history as follows: Milton F. Kreis was an active merchant and business man, owning and/or operating five drug stores or restaurants along Palm Canyon Drive as well as retail locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities. He was active in civic affairs and chaired the city's Parking and Traffic Commission. His MLK Drug Store was the anchor retail space in the Oasis Commercial Building and in its day, the store was referred to as a "Palm Springs Landmark." Kreis was a figure of importance in California and in Palm Springs and the Oasis Commercial Building was associated with his accomplishments thereby qualifying it as eligible for listing on the local, California and National Registries. Criterion 2: That reflects or exemplifies a particular period of the national, state or local history as follows: The Oasis Commercial Building is an outstanding example of the bold modern architecture that became a trademark of Palm Springs from the 1940's through the 1960's. Prior to that period, Palm Springs consisted primarily of revival style architecture; borrowing on and replicating the detailing and aesthetic of Spanish Colonial and Mission styles of the past. The optimism and "confidence in the future" that was prevalent in the United States during the post-war period was enthusiastically expressed in commercial and residential architecture in Palm Springs. Architects, aware of striking examples of modern architecture such as the Villa Savoye and the 1939 Brazilian World's Fair Pavilion, created sophisticated adaptations of those buildings for their Palm Springs clients. The Oasis Commercial Buildings is one of a small number of buildings in Palm Springs where this direct "lineage" to some of the world's most important icons of the Modern architectural movement can be seen. Because of this, the Oasis Commercial Building exemplifies the post-war period in Palm Springs and nation-wide. Criterion 3 That embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction: The Oasis Commercial Building is an outstanding example of using a light steel frame construction system to free the design from the heavy "grounded" appearance of more traditional load-bearing wall construction. The thin free- standing columns supporting the solid mass of the second floor give the building a dramatic and unusual appearance when compared to the heavier revival style masonry buildings nearby. The integration of maintenance-free and technologically-advanced materials such as the "free-standing" stainless steel door frames, mill-finished anodized aluminum railings and panels, and the use of very large, butt-glazed "frameless" glass panels all reflect a refinement and quality of construction that was uncommon for its age and even rare by current standards of most retail and commercial buildings. These construction methods and technologies allowed the architect to create 2 23 a powerful example of International Style Modernism and make the Oasis Commercial Building a distinctive and very important building in Palm Springs. Criterion 4: That represents the work of a master builder...or architect whose individual genius influenced his age; or that possesses high artistic value: E. Stewart Williams was a master architect, and has been recognized for greatness in his field. Upon his death, an editorial in "The Desert Sun" stated: "If any single man can be cited for giving Palm Springs its place in architectural history, it's E. Stewart Williams " Williams' Oasis Commercial Building possesses high artistic value as expressed in its design, proportions, details and engineering. The Oasis Commercial Budding is among the finest examples of E. Stewart Williams' mastery as an architect and designer. SECTION 4. That the Oasis Commercial Building at 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California is hereby designated a Class 1 Historic Site subject to the following conditions: 1. The property owner shall permit the City to place a historic marker on the Oasis Commercial Building of the City's choosing. The 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 cost if the plaque 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 HSPB review pursuant Municipal Code Ordinance 8,05.180. 3. No permit shall be issued for the alteration of the exterior, including any and all of the defining elements and characteristics without prior approval by the Historic Site Preservation Board. 4. That the City Clerk shall submit the Council Resolution to the County recorder for recordation within 90 days of the effective date of this resolution. 5. Any alterations or modifications to the exterior approved prior to the designation of this site by the City Council shall be deemed acceptable. ADOPTED this xxth day of Month, Year. David H. Ready, City Manager 3 24 ATTEST: James Thompson, City Clerk 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. _ 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 by the following vote- AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: James Thompson, City Clerk City of Palm Springs, California ary 4 F PPPIM Spey � Department of Planning Services T Vicinity Map N .oa 6ELARDO RD ANDREAS RD � o o ¢ z w o > � z U r �� - a LTA UITZ DR TAHQUIT DR TAI-IQUITZ OR TAHQUITZ DR TAHQUITZ DR E TAHQUITZ CANYON WY 0 o ❑ ❑ 0 ZO O } � ¢ U S w m J a ARENAS RD ARENAS RD ARENAS RD ARENAS RD ARENAS Rb ARENAS RD Legend ° o 400' Buffer J � U 4 Project Area < g � a CITY OF PALM SPRINGS CASE NO: HSPB #55 DESCRIPTION: Consider an application to "The Oasis Commercial designate "The Oasis Commercial Building" at Building" 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive as a Class 1 Historic Site #55. APPLICANT: City of Palm Springs RESOLUTION NO. 55 OF THE HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DESIGNATE 101-121 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE, THE OASIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING AS CLASS ONE HISTORIC SITE — HSPB 55. WHEREAS, Chapter 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code allows for the designation of historic sites; and WHEREAS, on January 8, 2007, the Historic Site Preservation Board (HSPB) filed an application for Historic Site Designation of the Oasis Commercial Building; and WHEREAS, notice of a public hearing of the HSPB of the City of Palm Springs to consider designation of the Oasis Commercial Building as a Class 1 historic site was issued in accordance with applicable law; and WHEREAS, on July 10, 2007 and August 21, 2007, the HSPB conducted a public hearing in accordance with applicable law to consider designation of the Oasis Commercial Building as a Class 1 historic site; and WHEREAS, the designation of the Oasis Commercial Building shall further the purpose and intent of Chapter 8.05; and WHEREAS, the designation of the Oasis Commercial Building shall promote the sensitive preservation of said site; and WHEREAS, the HSPB has carefully reviewed and considered all of the evidence in connection with the designation, including but not limited to the staff report, application and historical research, all written and oral testimony presented, and notes the following: 1. In 1953, the owners of the Oasis Hotel (Western Hotels, Inc.) commissioned Williams, Williams & Williams, Architects AIA (E. Stewart Williams partner—in- charge of Design) to design a multi-use retail and office building at 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. 2. The character-defining features of the building include its massing and proportions; its late International Style architecture utilizing long expanses of glass including butt-glazed glass at the retail level, the round mosaic-clad columns, aluminum and stainless steel detailing including stainless steel "picture frame" windows and self-supporting door frames at retail level, the native stone i 27 veneer walls, the open plaza-like quality of the Palm Canyon Drive frontage, the un-decorated and un-ornamented surfaces, strong linear facades, "floating" second level, sculptural exterior stair at the northeast corner, aluminum screen wall and railing at the second floor level, the open courtyard, and other details as described in the Historic Structure Report. 3. The building stands as an excellent example of the revolutionary thinking in commercial building of its time, in which the small scale Spanish Colonial revival style retail buildings of the past century gave way to a second generation of more sophisticated contemporary commercial structures for which Palm Springs has become internationally famous. THE HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD HEREBY FINDS AS FOLLOWS: Criterion 1: That is associated with lives of persons who made meaningful contribution to national, state or local history as follows.- Milton F. Kreis was an active merchant and business man, owning and/or operating five drug stores or restaurants along Palm Canyon Drive as well as retail locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities. He was active in civic affairs and chaired the city's Parking and Traffic Commission. His MILK Drug Store was the anchor retail space in the Oasis Commercial Building and in its day, the store was referred to as a "Palm Springs Landmark." Kreis was a figure of importance in California and in Palm Springs and the Oasis Commercial Building was associated with his accomplishments thereby qualifying it as eligible for listing on the local, California and National Registries Criterion 2: That reflects or exemplifies a particular aer of the national, state or local history as follows: The Oasis Commercial Building is an outstanding example of the bold modern architecture that became a trademark of Palm Springs from the 1940's through the 1960's. Prior to that period, Palm Springs consisted primarily of revival style architecture; borrowing on and replicating the detailing and aesthetic of Spanish Colonial and Mission styles of the past. The optimism and "confidence in the future" that was prevalent in the United States during the post-war period was enthusiastically expressed in commercial and residential architecture in Palm Springs. Architects, aware of striking examples of modern architecture such as the Villa Savoye and the 1939 Brazilian World's Fair Pavilion, created sophisticated adaptations of those buildings for their Palm Springs clients. The Oasis Commercial Buildings is one of a small number of buildings in Palm Springs where this direct "lineage" to some of the world's most important icons of the Modern 2 _ ` architectural movement can be seen. Because of this, the Oasis Commercial Building exemplifies the post-war period in Palm Springs and nation-wide. Criterion 3 That embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction: The Oasis Commercial Building is an outstanding example of using a light steel frame construction system to free the design from the heavy "grounded" appearance of more traditional load-bearing wall construction. The thin free- standing columns supporting the solid mass of the second floor give the building a dramatic and unusual appearance when compared to the heavier revival style masonry buildings nearby. The integration of maintenance-free and technologically-advanced materials such as the "free-standing" stainless steel door frames, mill-finished anodized aluminum railings and panels, and the use of very large, butt-glazed "frameless" glass panels all reflect a refinement and quality of construction that was uncommon for its age and even rare by current standards of most retail and commercial buildings. These construction methods and technologies allowed the architect to create a powerful example of International Style Modernism and make the Oasis Commercial Building a distinctive and very important building in Palm Springs. Criterion 4: That represents the work of a master builder...or architect whose individual genius influenced his age; or that possesses hicih artistic value, E. Stewart Williams was a master architect, and has been recognized for greatness in his field. Upon his death, an editorial in "The Desert Sun" stated: "If any single man can be cited for giving Palm Springs its place in architectural history, it's E. Stewart Williams." Williams' Oasis Commercial Building possesses high artistic value as expressed in its design, proportions, details and engineering. The Oasis Commercial Building is among the finest examples of E. Stewart Williams' mastery as an architect and designer. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that based upon the foregoing, the Historic Site Preservation Board recommends that the City Council designate the Oasis Commercial Building at 101-121 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 place a historic marker on the Oasis Commercial Building of the City's choosing. The marker shall be placed in a location visible from the public right-of-way. The owner shall maintain the marker 3 25 in the location installed and pay for the replacement cost if the plaque 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 HSPB review pursuant Municipal Code Ordinance 8.05.180. 3. No permit shall be issued for the alteration of the exterior, including any and all of the defining elements and characteristics without prior approval by the Historic Site Preservation Board. 4. That the City Clerk submit the Council Resolution to the County recorder for recordation within 90 days of the effective date of this resolution. 5. Any alterations or modifications to the exterior approved prior to the designation of this site by the City Council shall be deemed acceptable. ADOPTED this 21 st day of August, 2007. AYES: 5 NOES: 1 (Saunders) ABSENT: 1 (Riley) ABSTENTIONS: 0 ATTEST: CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA �Gtf Ewi g, Dire c f Planning Aisto ic Site Preservation Bo d ecret 30 Historic Site Preservation Board Page 3 of 11 CORRECTED Minutes from the July 10, 2007 Meeting n _.Z„maw aig Ewing, Director of Planning, joined the meeting and explained that this property has ten in idual lots and there is no City authority to prevent the sale of one or more of the separate lots. The ff recommendation is based on those other lots being sold and owned separately If the Board nts to include the setting and cover the garden on a separate lot and the new owners wanted to ild on that separate lot, there would be a potential dilemma. Staff is recommending that the Board o ky focus on the lots on which there are structures and not the larger setting — not because settingN not important, but because there are ten lots involved and each of them could be sold individually. k�a„ Board member Strahl Pi jOted out that Lot 1 contains the driveway to get to Lots 2 and 3 where the house is situated —so i)'�t,le house and its buildings are designated, how does one access it? Director Ewing advised that thiplicant could apply for a new driveway if an alternative driveway is possible by petitioning Public Work for a new encroachment for a separate driveway located within the lots on which the structure sits an "give up the driveway on the other lot. 11NA Staff member Lyon explained that "settingk.,is the notion of existing conditions around a building that are reflective of the historic period for whlc`<ghe building is significant. Board member Saunders asked staff, in prior situ¢ons such as this, have letters been received from homeowners telling staff that they are not inter sjted in their properties being designated and how has this situation been handled wat, In some instances the property owner supports the designatioj and some owners do not support designations. In the Dr. Scholl case, HSPB initiated the study '&9d the stay of demolition to have time to consider the site. It came about because the home aA1,,qr had submitted a demolition application. There have been instances where the City has proce ftcl with historic designation over the objection of the property owner(s) — if the City has deemed the Nperty important enough to be preserved as a significant asset to the community. lilt, , After further Board discussion, Board member Grattan moved to approve Op�f n 3 of the Stafff Report..."Designate only the house and naturalized landscape on the two lots on w the house is sited a Class 1 Historic Site, and allow the demolition of the pool and cabana � h that the remaining lots may be sold separately." Board member Riley seconded the motion. Vote: M/SIG (Grattan/Riley) to approve the motion as stated above —4 Yes, 2 No, 1 Absen �t��"�u�+m+x.�'wnreMmsnr+umeeavwwH.mv�rv.+wnm-wmrwne^samnro,7na-ur^ nYm^m-r,1:.+:�rr.,x.r:Yrrirt:T.-rcYzviec_ " B. HSPB #55— Class 1 Designation of the Oasis Commercial Building, 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA Possible Action: Recommend Class 1 Historic Site Designation to City Council On January 8, 2007, HSPB initiated the study and investigation of the site for possible recommendation to the City Council. The Oasis Commercial Building was included as one of the 200 historic properties in the 2004 Historic Resources Survey of Palm Springs properties. On January 11, 2006, a demolition permit was issued to demolish two one-story hotel structures on the west side of the site and the area was paved for additional parking. April 11, 2006, HSPB identified the Oasis Commercial Building as one of 53 properties having characteristics that may qualify it for local, state, or national historic designation. Staff has evaluated this property and found that it does possess qualities possible for historic designation. The building's exterior form is (page 4 of the Staff Report) reflective of Villa Savoye, a very noteworthy 1920's building by Swiss Architect Le Corbusier. The Historic Site Preservation Board Page 4 of 11 CORRECTED Minutes from the July 10,2007 Meeting Oasis building is also reflective of4#e Oscar Niemeyer's Brazilian Pavilion of the 1939 New York World's Fair. Photos are included in the Staff Report. The Oasis Commercial Building was designed by local architect E. Stewart Williams and built in 1953 in the desert modern style. The defining characteristics (2, 3, 4 & 5) of what makes a property historic are found on pages 7 and 8 of the Staff Report. Staff recommends that the HSPB refer 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive (Oasis Commercial Building) to the City Council for Class 1 Historic Site#55 designation. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Robert Imber, P. S, Modern Tours, encouraged HSPI3 to recommend this property for Class 1 Historic Site designation. Peter Moruzzi, President of the P.S. Modern Committee, stated this is truly one of the most important historic buildings in Palm Springs PUBLIC COMMENTS CLOSED. Staff noted a letter was received from the building owner requesting the item be continued to allow time for more owner-study. Board member Strahl supported this owners request for a continuance. Board member J.Williams thanked Patrick McGrew for the great historic assessment on the Oasis Commercial Building and asked about the eight criteria used, when staff and HSPB generally use only seven. Is there any particular value to having the owner do additional research than what has already been done through the Board, Staff, and interested parties? Staff member Lyon explained that the eighth characteristic is the opening definition of a historic site in Chapter 8.05 which says......A Historic Site is any real property...." then there is a list of seven items that comprise the historic definition. The author of this current report, Patrick McGrew, is an architectural historian and holds substantial qualifications. The Board needs to decide whether the request by the owner will provide additional Information that will alter or change the Board's decision. The owner has expressed opposition to having his building designated a Class 1 Historic Site and wants to provide additional information that may or may not change the Board's direction an the Oasis Commercial Building_ Board member Riley commented that Patrick McGrew's report was spectacular and feels that continuing this may be a delaying tactic. Beard member Grattan also felt the report was a superb historic analysis by Mr, McGrew, and several tenants in the building are architects, so it has attracted architectural interest for some time. Board member Strahl commented that Mr. McGrew's report is one of the best this Board has reviewed, but cautioned about not waitingfor then� +8IHe of any additional information — more information is better information. There is on-going construction on that building every day... he is concerned that alterations may continue in the next two or three months while waiting for this new report. - . 32 Historic Site Preservation Board Page 5 of 11 CORRECTED Minutes from the July 10, 2007 Meeting Staff member Lyon stated that the on-going work is permitted work. La Plaza and the El Mirador Garage are multi-tenant buildings that are Class 1 Sites similar to this one. Board member Saunders stated she feels more comfortable having as much information as possible to make as clear and good decision. Board member J Williams feels the Board should wait until September and hear the additional information from the owner. There was Board concern that approving this request for continuance could possibly set a precedent for others to follow this procedure in future. Board member Riley moved to continue this item. Brian Strahl suggested the motion be amended to state: "Continue this item to a Special Adjourned Meeting in August 2007, date to be selected by this Board, to allow the Oasis Commercial Building owner time to submit additional information. Vote: MIS/C (RiteylWilliams) moved to approve the amended motion above stated by Mr. Sttrrahl (6cYneis�,, 0 No,,nI Absent, 0 Abstentions). "tkZCl�f'TOr'f'Y'c"\Y�nIF"P^"1'M�Wntll1'%nr�:�QU�r1�Z�4i�an�;A'w�wr^Xi�ii:re YAvLi:.�d'SSrv�'�•y;,lltr�lP,u.';.L'N`P3:IM�V�i:'.;fl"^.:."�'f;�lN 'iI�W�� ase No. 3,1098 — Application by Cactusberry for Awning Fabric Replacement, Signage, and rella Seating at 116 La Plaza in the La Plaza Historic Site #22. Planning-,tiVchnician Chris ]son described the project and application. Color photos were passed to memberNStaff has evaluated the application, colors, project, etc. and feels it is appropriate and consistent LMj.�h the exterior of other businesses within La Plaza Center and recommends HSPB approval. PUBLIC COMMENTS: �M Owner, Dacron Dahle, described 1hii project, explained that he was not aware he had to come before HSPB, the owner of La Plaza is Epre and had approved the project, but made no mention of this procedure. The awning has been ther6,1, 6 years and needs replacement and the slgnage meets the City's Signage Program requirements. Peter Moruzzl, President of P.S. ModCom, stated h"ZsQncern and asked for clarification as to how is it possible that one of the most historic sites in Palm S�' lggs could have gone through this process and been issueda permit without going before this Board. PUBLIC COMMENTS CLOSED. Board members are concerned that the La Plaza property owner is not acTfting new and/or existing tenants of the requirements of this important Palm Springs Historic Site' ,- that any exterior renovations or modifications must come before the Historic Site Preservation Bob r Lfor review and approval. It is Incumbent upon HSPB and staff to advise this and other property b ners of the Historic Ordinance requirements for designated properties. Staff responded that the awning was replaced on an existing awning structure, the bollards, etc. e installed without application to the City, It was cited by Code Enforcement, the applicant has Historic Site Preservation Board Page 2 of 6 CORRECTED-Minutes from the August 21, 2007 Special Adjourned Meeting 6. RE-- FROM THE CHAIR: (1) TheL � dvisoryCmmittee denied approvaloftheWs project 30m CarrySana Fe FederalBuilding) t 20, 2007. (2) Thedvised Washingfn0tt �ngito have a shade structure over the ATM — they woue it removed and nothingputinis12(3) ThereservationFoundation willhold a conferenc6in late April ore09. There will be a planning meeting here in November 2D0? d yLI be 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS: A. Case No. HSPB#55— Class 1 Designation of the Oasis Office Building 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA Continued from July 10, 2007 Meeting Possible Action: Class 1 Designation recommendation Staff explained the staff report and the new historic assessment report from the applicant—all provided in Board packets. PUBLIC COMMENTS— Oasis Office Building at 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive: Steve Lyle, one of the owners of the Oasis building, urged the Board not to recommend the Oasis Office Building for Class 1 Historic Designation- Tony Merchell, P.S. Modern Committee, stated that the Modern Committee supports designating the Oasis Commercial Building for Class 1 Historic Site designation. William Kopelk, President, of the P.S. Preservation Foundation, spoke in favor of designation to a Class 1 Historic Site. Robert Imber, P.S. Modern Tours, spoke in favor of designation to a Class 1 Historic Site. DISCUSSION: Staff explained that this is a private building, so the Board can only evaluate the exterior of this building. Board member S. Saunders suggested the Oasis Budding be designated Class 2. After Board discussion, (B. Strahl/J. Nelson) moved that the Oasis Office Building at 101- 121 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA be recommended to Council for Class 1 Historic Site designation (5 Yes, 1 No, 1 Absent, 0 Abstentions). Ft t3 ?56 fa5s Desiyrr�tirrr�oT^hrtverm ;affta;lARreceived YeneematuLmT�' V6`5"F�tdertkl. 'a Miraleste, Palm Springs, CPossible Acfiorr:' a Fistoric Site DendationThis residence was identified in the 2004 Historic R , and owner is supportive of designation of"Invernada" (approx. 2 acres) to a Cite 9teff a;lAR received a letter from Kenneth & Mary Lou Feenstra supporting designation of Invernada. _-�, O�p PAM SpR u u+ g41F°R�� Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report Date: July 10, 2007 Case No.: RSPB -- 55 The Oasis Commercial Building Application Type: Class 1 Designation Application Location: 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive Applicant: The City of Palm Springs Zone: CBD (Central Business District) APN: 513-143-009 General Plan CBD, Section 15 From: Ken Lyon, Associate Planner PROJECT DESCRIPTION An application by The Historic Site Preservation Board (HSPB) of the City of Palm Springs to recommend to City Council the designation of 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive, the Oasis Commercial Building as a Class 1 Historic Site. Such designation would: 1. Place the subject property under the guidance of Municipal Cade Section 8 05 2. Require present and subsequent owners to maintain the building consistent with that ordinance, 3. Grant possible property tax reduction opportunities to the owner under the State of California Mills Act. RECOMMENDATION That the HSPB recommend to the City Council the designation of 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive as a Class 1 Historic Site. A draft resolution is attached for consideration. 36 Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report Page 2 of 8 Case HSPB-55101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive The 08S,S Cdrnmeraal Budding Date July 10,2007 PRIOR ACTIONS In 2004, the Oasis Commercial Building was included among 200 properties in the City's 2004 Historic Resources Survey. On January '11, 2006 a demolition permit (C 14781) was issued to demolish two one- story hotel structures on the west side of the site and the area paved for additional parking. On April 11, 2006, the HSPB identified and discussed in a public hearing the Oasis Commercial Building as one of approximately 50 properties in the 2004 survey possessing characteristics that may qualify it for local, state or national designation as a historic site. On January 8, 2007 the HSPB initiated the study and investigation of this site for possible recommendation to City Council for Class 1 designation. BACKGROUND AND SETTING Definition of an Historic Site, Section 8.05.020 of the Municipal Code provides the definition of an historic site as follows; (a) Historic Site: An historic site is any real property such as: a building; a structure, including but not limited to archways, tiled areas and similar architectural elements; an archaeological excavation or object that is unique or significant because of its location, design, setting, materials, workmanship or aesthetic effect and, History 1. That is associated with events that have made a meaningful contribution to the nation, state or community; or 2. That is associated with lives of persons who made meaningful contribution to national, state or local history; or Architecture 3. That reflects or exemplifies a particular period of the national, state or local history; or 4. That embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction; or 5. That presents the work of a master builder, designer, artist, or architect whose Individual genius influenced his age; or that possesses high artistic value; or 6. .That represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or 2 . - 3 Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report Page 3 of 8 Case HSPB-55101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive The Oasis Commercial Budding Date July 10.2007 Archeology 7. That has yielded or may be likely to yield information important to national, state or local history or prehistory. A Class 1 Historic Site may also qualify for historic designation at the federal, state and/or county level. Designation of Historic Sites. The City Council is authorized to designate Historic Sites. The HSPB makes recommendations to the City Council that certain sites be designated as Historic Sites in accordance with Section 8.05.135 of the Municipal Code. The 1-ISPB may initiate studies, surveys and investigations it deems necessary to adequately gather information in consideration of a recommendation. Conditions that apply to Class 1 Historic Sites. According to Section 8.05 of the Municipal Code, the following shall apply to a Class 1 Historic Site: 1. It shall meet the definition of an historic site as outlined in Municipal Code Section 8,05.020, 2. The Cily shall maintain an archival file on the property. 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 the approval of the City Council. 5. The use may be limited by the City Council to the extent that it may impair the integrity of the site. 6. A marker explaining the historic nature of the site will be installed at the site. 7. Compliance with all rules and regulations for Historic Sites and Historic Districts under Article IV of Chapler 8.05 of the Municipal Code shall be required. DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS The site is a 1.35-acre parcel in the Central Business District located at the southwest corner of South Palm Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs. To the south is the Oasis Hotel Tower and commercial storefront that were integral parts of the Oasis Hotel designed by Lloyd Wright in 1923. To the east is the historic Wellwood Murray Library. To the north is the vacant Bank of America building (corner of the Fashion Plaza site). There is a parking lot on the western portion of the site and smaller boutique hotels to the west. The Oasis Commercial Building at 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive, completed in 1953, was designed in the International Style by the architectural firm of Williams, Williams & Williams, Architects. E. Stewart Williams, FAIA, was the partner—in-charge of its design. The building was constructed as a retail and office block for the Western Hotels, Inc., then owners of the Oasis Hotel. The building is a steel frame structure with extensive use of glass, native stone, aluminum and cement plaster stucco. 3 37 Historic Site Preservalion Board staff Report Page 4 of 8 Case HSPB"55 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive The Oasis Commercial Building Date July 10.2007 In order to assess the building's historic value, a Historic Structure Report (HSR) was prepared by Preservation Consultant Patrick McGrew that evaluates the building's history and architecture (see attachment). The HSR assesses the building's significance as follows: The Oasis Commercial Building is an excellent example of the International Style of architecture. The building is a flat-roofed rectangular volume approximately 154 feet wide by 128 feet deep and about 30 feet high. The first floor retail area is very transparent with large, butt-glazed, frameless glass panels. The second floor office area is a solid block-like volume with horizontal strip windows. A small projection on the southwest corner houses the elevator and connects the new structure to the original Oasis Hotel to the south. The building's design Is in direct response to its site. An outdoor light well, visible from Palm Canyon Drive, allows light to penetrate the interior of the building while creating an inviting outdoor space at street level that is sheltered from the sun. Large east-facing windows at both the first and second floor are shielded from the intense desert sun by wide flat overhangs that create the signature box-like second story element of the building. The north fagade takes advantage of high quality northerly light at the office level with a long expansive grid of glass. At street level, showcase windows in stainless steel "picture frames" provided eye-catching display of retail goods along Tahquitz Canyon Way. { The Oasis Commercial building's design, comprised of a large white volume resting upon a grid of thin round columns, recalls Swiss architect Le Corbusier's early modernist masterpiece the Villa Savoye - a classic exemplar of the International Style Both buildings appear to hover above the ground plane supported only by thin concrete pilotis (slender columns) and both feature strip windows, a flat roof and a glassy lower level that stands free of the structural system. 7 I M't �`;$' I'7 . arWe=',iar'„T'r` � l- fo-''1':•t!cY(;i'1,i''`R i �n1I rje w. .A :{�ly'ij 7�1i:.�1'✓'`i I �iN4��7iYi;'S�'"'�LI:.� . If '1w;rl"1 ,lP,,•' ,,�ii, I kRnn�i''Iri li„r' =•,.� n' v 'ItiI4'!<q+ � N;y„ly'. Villa Savoye, 1920's—Le Corbusier Oasis Commercial— North Facade 4 - . 39 Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report Page 5 of B Case HSPS-55 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive The Oasis Commercial Building Date July 10.2007 Inspiration for the building's design can also clearly be seen in the main facade of Oscar Niemeyer's Brazilian Pavilion at the 1939 New York World Fair. Both buildings feature a white shadowboxed "floating" volume punctured by a light well open to the sky. �e\•li�!. ' t 'Y1'.N� R• �jx' r , i Brasilfan Pavilion 1939 Oscar Niemeyer Oasis Commercial Building— 1953 E S.Williams Other character-defining features of the Oasis Commercial building are the native stone walls; stainless steel door frames, large expanses of tempered glass, and stylized display windows with stainless steel "picture frames." The original door pulls were of teak (only one pair survives) and the flooring was terrazzo- The pilot) (columns) are round, and faced with 1 by 1-inch mosaic tiles (now painted over) that terminate about a foot from the top of the columns. The upper level features a bridge element that forms one side of the light court and provides pedestrian access to offices on both sides of the courtyard. A vertical ribbed aluminum screen wall railing with vertical aluminum fins that align with the colurflns below complements the street elevation of the building. The east wall of the offices is set back from the railing and the large glass windows are protected from the sun by a deep overhang. The side elevations at the second floor feature horizontal strip windows framed in steel; a simple metal awning on the south and west elevations provides additional protection from the sun. The horizontal cubic form of the building with its strip windows, light coloration and metal trim exemplify the International Style. An open stair set at an angle to the building at its northwest corner is designed to be both welcoming and sculptural. It provides visual interest to the flat smooth appearance of the west facade and was carefully placed to provide visible access to the office level from both the Palm Canyon Drive frontage and the parking areas behind the building. The building has undergone minimal physical changes and retains a high degree of architectural and historical integrity. Early photographs show a coordinated signage program for the commercial tenants which has since been removed. (see photo on next page) Lettering style and color are recognized and permitted as part of commercial branding in the City's sign ordinance. In the case of the Oasis Commercial Building, the newer box-cut, internally illuminated trademark lettering and signage above the canopy could be replaced over time, with bottom-lit aluminum block lettering consistent with the original commercial signage, 5 Qi Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report Page 0 of 6 Case HSPB-55101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive The Oasis Commercial 8udding Date July 10,2007 I AEI W. • wlc 11 f ` I d�ji ', ;�-r:,�,- ii, 5�'x, •,'�Y LY�Va: Additional Illuminated trademark lettering and signs located inside the glass wall below the canopy at the first floor could meet the contemporary demands of retail signage needs while restoring historic integrity of the building's original signage- The Historic Resource Report notes that Emerson Stewart Williams (1909 — 2005) was an architect of national significance. Williams began his architectural career in 1934 and spent time early in his career in the office of noted industrial designer Raymond Loewy; during that tenure he participated in Loewy's 1939 New York World's Fair projects, where he viewed Niemeyer's Brazilian Pavilion first hand- In 1999 Mr. Williams was made a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in recognition of his significant contribution to the Architectural profession- Williams, a prolific architect, designed many notable buildings in Palm Springs in addition to the Oasis Commercial Building including the Coachella Valley Savings and Loan / Prudential Real Estate Building (1956); the Coachella Valley Bank / Washington Mutual Building (1961); the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Mountain Station (1964), and the Palm Springs Art Museum and addition (1968 and later). REQUIRED FINDINGS As noted above, Section 8.05.020 of the Municipal Code provides the definition of an historic site: "An historic site is any real property such as: a building; a structure, including but not limited to archways, tiled areas and similar architectural elements; an archaeological excavation or object that is unique or significant because of its location, design, setting, materials, workmanship or aesthetic effect-" Based on the above analysis and the Historic Resources Report, Staff has concluded that the Oasis Commercial Building at 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive meets the definition of an historic site because of its location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and aesthetics. Furthermore, the building possesses qualities defined under criteria 2, 3, 4 and 5 from Municipal Code Section 8.05.020 as noted below: 6 Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report Page 7 of 8 Case HSPB-55 101.121 South Palm Canyon Drive The Oasis Commercial Building Date July 10,2007 History: Persons (2) That is associated with lives of persons who made meaningful contribution to national, state or local history as follows: Milton F. Kreis was an active merchant in downtown Palm Springs, at one time owning and/or operating five drug stores or restaurants along Palm Canyon drive as well as in Los Angeles, San Fr cisco and other cities. He was active in civic affairs and chaired the ki tV's Parking and Traffic Commission. His drug store was the anchor retail space in the Oasis Commercial Building and in its day, the store was referred to as a "Palm Springs Landmark." Kreis was a figure of importance in California and in Palm Springs and the Oasis Commercial Building was associated with his accomplishments. As such, the building is associated with a person of importance to the community, thereby qualifying it as eligible for listing on the local, California and National Registries. Architecture (3) That reflects or exemplifies a particular ep riod of the national, state or local history as follows: The Oasis Commercial Building is an outstanding example of the bold modern architecture that became a trademark of Palm Springs from the 1940's through the 1960's Prior to that period, Palm Springs consisted primarily of revival style architecture; borrowing on and replicating the detailing and aesthetic of Spanish Colonial and Mission styles of the past. The optimism and "confidence in the future" that was prevalent in the United States during the post-war period was enthusiastically expressed in commercial and residential architecture in Palm Springs. Architects, aware of striking examples of modern architecture such as the Villa Savoye and the 1939 Brazilian World's Fair Pavilion, created sophisticated adaptations of those buildings for their Palm Springs clients, The Oasis Commercial Buildings is one of a small number of buildings in Palm Springs where this direct "lineage" to some of the world's most important icons of the Modern architectural movement can be seen. Because of this, the Oasis Commercial Building exemplifies the post-war period in Palm Springs and nationally (4) That embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction: The Oasis Commercial Building is an outstanding example of using a light steel frame construction system to free the design from the heavy "grounded" appearance of more traditional load-bearing wall construction. The thin free- standing columns support the solid mass of the second floor and give the building a dramatic and unusual appearance when compared to the heavier revival style masonry buildings nearby. The integration of technologically- advanced materials such as the "free-standing" stainless steel door frames, 7 41 Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report Page 8 of 8 Case HSPB-55 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive The Oasis commercial Building Date July 10,7.007 mill-finished anodized aluminum railings and panels, and the use of very large, butt-glazed "frameless" glass panels all reflect a refinement and quality of construction that was uncommon for its age and even rare by current standards. These construction methods and technologies allowed the architect to create a powerful example of International Style Modernism and make the Oasis Commercial Building a distinctive and very important building in Palm Springs. (5) That represents the work of a master builder...or architect whose individual genius influenced his age; or that possesses high artistic Value- E. Stewart Williams was a master architect, and has been recognized for greatness in his field. Upon his death, an editorial in "The Desert Sun" stated: "If any single man can be cited for giving Palm Springs its place in architectural history, it's E. Stewart Williams." Williams' Oasis Commercial Building possesses high artistic value as expressed in its design, proportions, details and engineering. The Oasis Commercial Building is among the finest examples of E. Stewart Williams' mastery as an architect and designer. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT In accordance with Section 15331 (Historical Resources Restoration/Rehabilitation) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the proposed designation is j categorically exempt from environmental review as the proposed designation meets the conditions outlined for preservation of a historic resource. NOTIFICATION Pursuant to section 8.05.140 of the Municipal Code of Palm Springs, All property owners within three hundred (300) feet of the subject property have been notified and notice was made in a newspaper of general circulation. As of the writing of this report, staff h'as not received any inquiries on this matter. KeVLybn'sociate Planner �� Is La�w&ng, 4f P, Director of Planning Services ATTACHMEN 1. Vicinity Map 2. Draft Resolution 3. Historic Structure Report 4, HSPB Site Designation Application 5. HSPB minutes of December 12, 2006 6. Copy of 2004 Citywide Historic Resources Survey page on Oasis Building 8 `palm ram! Department of Planning Services Vicinity Map C�llfo�t��4 BELARDO RD ANDREAS RD =UD. S Rn a r a s 1 ❑ W 2 a U 2 J 4 ' TA, IJITZ DR TAHQUIT DR rAHQUITZ DR TAHQUITZ DR TAhIQU17Z PR E TAHQUITZ CANYON ANY r z D 0 a 2 5 a = U W m _ a � ARENAS RD ARENAS RD ARENAS RD ARENAS RD ARENAS RD ARENAS RP Legend I-- 400' BLIffer ProJectAre ill CITY OF PALM SPRINGS CASE N0: HSPB #55 DESCRIPTION: Consider an application to designate "The Oasis Commercial Building" at 101-121 South APPLICANT: City of Palm Springs Palm Canyon Drive as a Class One Historic Site - #55. 43 W -9 v� 1 t '',• vt,.'� ,0,kt,y�111 afro urw,�fW((;,��, o L, . Pav\ .' r�� '+di � �. !'�``u 4 ,a•,y, � o „�I r,trrv,W41', rr' t, � �yr^ik "{•�A .Y i � �,n 'ram. .FH". r �.I ^'�M•R�iA,.,.. IRA: .W'�I}�r.i T h � �V. r,:r •I � r ,i, �: � a: S N 1`?,. IA' Fff ; cel^M"., lyd'aah.. ,yy,•R.rw". p,..} ( . 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The Information contained herein Is the proprietary property of the earhri6ulal'supplled under license and may not be approved except as Harrod by Digital Map products http.//inaps.digitaimapcentral.com/production/CityGIS/VO7r6p2rindcxA.himl 6/25/2007 • !�4 RESOLUTION NO. 55 OF THE HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DESIGNATE 101-121 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE, THE OASIS COMMERCIAL 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 8, 2007, the Historic Site Preservation Board (RSPB) filed an application for Historic Site Designation of the Oasis Commercial Building; and WHEREAS, notice of a public hearing of the HSPB of the City of Palm Springs to consider designation of the Oasis Commercial Building as a Class 1 historic site was issued in accordance with applicable law; and WHEREAS, on July 10, 2007, the RSPB conducted a public hearing in accordance with applicable law to consider designation of the Oasis Commercial Building as a Class 1 historic site; and WHEREAS, the designation of the Oasis Commerciai Building shall further the purpose and intent of Chapter 8.05; and WHEREAS, the designation of the Oasis Commercial Building shall promote the sensitive preservation of said site; and WHEREAS, the HSPB has carefully reviewed and considered all of the evidence in connection with the designation, including but not limited to the staff report, application and historical research, all written and oral testimony presented, and notes the following: 1. In 1953, the owners of the Oasis Hotel (Western Hotels, Inc ) commissioned Williams, Williams & Williams, Architects AIA (E. Stewart Williams partner—in- charge of Design) to design a multi-use retail and office building at 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. 2. The character-defining features of the building include its massing and proportions; its late International Style architecture utilizing long expanses of glass including butt-glazed glass at the retail level, the round mosaic-clad columns, aluminum and stainless steel detailing including stainless steel "picture frame" windows and self-supporting door frames at retail level, the native stone veneer walls, the open plaza-like quality of the Palm Canyon Drive frontage, the un-decorated and un-ornamented surfaces, strong linear facades, "floating" second level, sculptural exterior stair at the northeast corner, aluminum screen wall and railing at the second floor level, the open courtyard, and other details as described in the Historic Structure Report. 3. The building stands as an excellent example of the revolutionary thinking in commercial building of its time, in which the small scale Spanish Colonial revival style retail buildings of the past century gave way to a second generation of more sophisticated contemporary commercial structures for which Palm Springs has become internationally famous. THE HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD HEREBY FINDS AS FOLLOWS: Criterion 1: That is associated with lives of persons who made meaningful contribution to national, state or local history as follows: Milton F. Kreis was an active merchant and business man, owning and/or operating five drug stores or restaurants along Palm Canyon Drive as well as retail locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities. He was active in civic affairs and chaired the city's Parking and Traffic Commission His MLK Drug Store was the anchor retail space in the Oasis Commercial Building and in its day, the store was referred to as a "Palm Springs Landmark." Kreis was a figure of importance in California and in Palm Springs and the Oasis Commercial Building was associated with his accomplishments thereby qualifying it as eligible for listing on the local, California and National Registries. Criterion 2: That reflects or exemplifies a particular gqriod of the national, state or local history as follows: The Oasis Commercial Building is an outstanding example of the bold modern architecture that became a trademark of Palm Springs from the 1940's through the 1960's. Prior to that period, Palm Springs consisted primarily of revival style architecture; borrowing on and replicating the detailing and aesthetic of Spanish Colonial and Mission styles of the past The optimism and "confidence in the future" that was prevalent in the United States during the post-war period was enthusiastically expressed in commercial and residential architecture in Palm Springs. Architects, aware of striking examples of modern architecture such as the Villa Savoye and the 1939 Brazilian World's Fair Pavilion, created sophisticated adaptations of those buildings for their Palm Springs clients The Oasis Commercial Buildings is one of a small number of buildings in Palm Springs where this direct "lineage" to some of the worlds most important icons of the Modern architectural movement can be seen. Because of this, the Oasis Commercial Building exemplifies the post-war period in Palm Springs and nation-wide. Criterion 3 That embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction: The Oasis Commercial Building is an outstanding example of using a light steel frame construction system to free the design from the heavy "grounded" appearance of more traditional load-bearing wall construction. The thin free- standing columns supporting the solid mass of the second floor give the building a dramatic and unusual appearance when compared to the heavier revival style masonry buildings nearby. The integration of maintenance-free and technologically-advanced materials such as the "free-standing" stainless steel door frames, mill-finished anodized aluminum railings and panels, and the use of very large, butt-glazed "frameless" glass panels all reflect a refinement and quality of construction that was uncommon for its age and even rare by current standards of most retail and commercial buildings. These construction methods and technologies allowed the architect to create a powerful example of International Style Modernism and make the Oasis Commercial Building a distinctive and very important building in Palm Springs, Criterion 4: That represents the work of a master builder . or architect whose individual genius influenced his age; or that possesses high artistic value E_ Stewart Williams was a master architect, and has been recognized for greatness in his field. Upon his death, an editorial in "The Desert Sun" stated: "If any single man can be cited for giving Palm Springs its place in architectural history, it's E. Stewart Williams." Williams' Oasis Commercial Building possesses high artistic value as expressed in its design, proportions, details and engineering. The Oasis Commercial Building is among the finest examples of E. Stewart Williams' mastery as an architect and designer. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that based upon the foregoing, the Historic Site Preservation Board recommends that the City Council designate the Oasis Commercial Building at 101-121 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 place a historic marker on the Oasis Commercial Building of the City's choosing. The 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 cost if the plaque 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 HSPS review pursuant Municipal Code Ordinance 8,05.180. 3. No permit shall be issued for the alteration of the exterior, including any and all of the defining elements and characteristics without prior approval by the Historic Site Preservation Board. 4. That the City Clerk submit the Council Resolution to the County recorder for recordation within 90 days of the effective date of this resolution. 5. Any alterations or modifications to the exterior approved prior to the designation of this site by the City Council shall be deemed acceptable. ADOPTED this day of AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST, CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA Ken Lyon, Associate Planner Historic Site Preservation Board Secretary �u . ..... Jul, A - d Le On ....... rrr 1 4 Ali r kE tu Y-dNIJIF�L, ..Avq, Present Owner: Brandenburg-Oasis Plaza _LC, 1122 Willow Street, Suite 200. San Jose, Ca 95125 Original Owner: Western Hotels, Inc. (Dewey Metzdorff, VP for development) Important Owners: None Other Historic Associations. Milton F. Kreis Drug Store (Anchor Tenant) Common Name or Property. Oasis Commercial Building /Starbuck's Historic Name of Property: Oasis Commercial Building Assessor's Parcel Number.513-143-009 Zone: C1 Section: 15 Land Use: Mixed Use: Retail and Office Is this project on fee land ® or Indian trust land?O (check onc) Please attach to this application any information, photos, drawings, newspaper articles, reports, studies, or other materials to fully describe the characteristics or conditions that support this application for Historic Designation. Refer to Palm Springs Municipal Code Section 8.05.020 for the definitions of a historic site. See Continuation Sheets I 50 ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: (Pleese Check the BpprOpF12te boxes) 0 Vernacular Adobe 1800-1950 p Prairie Style 1905-1930 p Vernacular Wood Frame 1800-1950 p Pueblo Revival 1905=194 0 p Vernacular Brick 1800-1950 ❑ Mediterranean/Spanish 1915.1940 Colonial Revival ❑ Vernacular Ranch House 1800-1950 CJ Moderne/Art Deco 1920.1940 ❑ Vernacular- Other 1800.1950 0 International Style 1925.1970 O Gothic Revival 1800.1910 ❑ Mid-century Modern 1945-1980 Style p Ralianate 1850-1880 LJ Coimmeicial El French Second Empire 1860.1890 ❑ Other ❑ Mission Revival 1890.1910 ❑ Craftsman Bungalow 1895-1930 PRIMARY BUILDING MATERIALS ROOF TYPE ❑ Wood Frame 11 Gable ❑ Log I'i Hip Ej Aclobe Brick Hipped r1,hie ❑ Brick Shed pq Stonc Gambrel F1 Stucco Fill 0 Concrete FI Mansard 9 Melal ❑ Other 9 Steel a Other(Glass) Are there any significant decorative elementsv si Yes ❑ No I yes, bneFly describe, See Conlinualion Sheets 51 RELATED FEATURES SURROUNDINGS Barn ® Open Land ❑ Carriage House In Scattered Buildings ❑ Garage 9 Densely Built-up 71 Shed ALTERATIONS D Outhouse ❑ Major ❑ Windmill ® Minor ❑ Water Tower ❑ Unaltered ❑ Tankhouse If altered, briefly describe_ 0 1•11tching Post See Continuation Sheets ❑ Fence 0 Wall LI Unusual Curb PRESENT CONDITION X Unusual Sidewalk U Excellent 7 Formil Gardens R Good 39 Unusual Trees (Historic 1947 Palms) ❑ Fair I ;S Othor Original Oasis Hotel Fragment U Deteriorated it Destroyed USE OF BUILDING Current Use Retail shops at street level with offices above Original Use Same Bibliography, (Please list any sources used to complete this application) See Continuation Sheets tis•y APPLICANT'S REQUIRED MATERIAL CHECKLIST HISTORIC SITE DESIGNATION The following items must be completed before a Historic Site Designation Application will be accepted. Please check eff each item to assure completeness. Refer to the Required Materials list of this application for more details of each item Applicant City Use Application Original Completed Application (10 copies) ® ❑ Owners Signature, Notarized (if required) ❑ ❑ Plot Plan; 8-1/2" x 11" (10 copies) ® ❑ Miscellaneous Exhibits: Public Hearing Labels ❑ ❑ Project Sponsor Labels (if any) ❑ ❑ Existing Site Photographs ® ❑ Photos, articles, etc related to hislory of property ® ❑ PI inning Services, checked by Date 53 PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD Palm Springs Municipal Code Section 8.05.020 Definitions (a) Historic Site. An historic site Is any real property such as. a building, a shucture, including bul not limited to archways, tiled areas and similar architectural elements; an archaeological excavation or object that is unique or significant because of Its loealion, design, setting, materials, workmanship or aesthetic effecl and (1) That is associated with events that have made a meaningful conlribullon to the nation state or community- or (2)That is associated with lives of persons who made meaningful contribution to national,slate or local history; or (3)That reflects or exemplifies a particular period of the nalional,stale or local history,or(4)that embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction,or(5) Ihal presents the work of a master builder, designer, artist, or archilecl whose individual genius Influenced his age or (5) that possesses high artistic value, or (7) that represents a slgni(Icallt and distinguishable entity (such as an Historic Districq whose components may lack Individual distinction, or (8) that has yielded or may be likely to yield information Important to national, stale oI local history or plehislory (b) Historic Dlstnct.Any area of the city of Palm Springs conlaining a nurnbel of slluctwes nalulal fealures or slles having historic, archlleclural, archaeological, cultural or aeslheflc significance and designated as an historic dis[rtcl uncle) the prdvlsions of this chapter (Ord 1320 § 1 1088, Or(l. 1 1,;0 § 1 (parr) 1981) tI5nF1 PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD �k vi FoUru I Glamorous night shot of ilie dos,COM1r UC1,11 Blulding circa 19SA The ,ifeclive use of lettering IM-11111OLiette was also cliafoccrtslic of the Inlernalioral Slyle Pl= Paui POSl)eStl COLInCSy Palm Springs l-listericil$ociotV Background The Sc)LjlllwP-sicorncrofTahciL)i[z Canyon Way,91idSOLItJl Palm Canyon DiivP is 'ground zero for both historic and nriodorn Palm Springs In 18841t was lliecenter ofqii8O-acie Il criinch lanclonwhich the llorneof the area s first while sell John McCallum (PS Historic$i[e#5)was hunt With time, [his location became the center Df the development of the nascent village lod9y known asPaIn)SpjinUs. the McCallum residence was IOCflled near [lie dully road that became the village's Main Sheol,officially renamed PlInn Canyon Drive in 1930, In 1925, will) the completion of Lloyd Wright's Oasis Hotel(PS Historic Ste#10,)rOMIT1155criccl by McC01.1111's dl!Ughl,ei Pearl [his loci lion also became the site of village's frst modern building,thus h0ginning a design trend for which P.9471 Springs iS now famous worldwide. The living room and IMI porch of the Old MCCalILli-n residence were i'algiiiied on the site and incorporilod into the hotel compound, clearly visible in Wright's rendering of the project [Figure 21 M(Wiriu5 assigned the operation or[he hotel to W E Hannerwho also operated the Hotel Cecil in Los Angeles, latei [lie hotel was sold to Hobart Garlick, and in 1955, the property was sold to again, this time 10 WC51cm Hotels, Inc The new owners announced a$1,300,000 expansion project for the hotel,to include consl of two new buildings,a dining room and cocktail lounge for the hotel, and a store and oFicc building fronting 011 Palm Canyon Drive to be known is[lie Oasis Commercial Building, to be designed by the architectural firm of Williams, Williams & Williams Building Style: The International Style became[he basis of later Modern architecture,a style linal ironically has flow PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD become tractional. Henry-Russell Hitchcock,who literally'wrote the book' on the Inlernalional Style has said,"The lines that led to the International Style are clearer now to everyone than they could have been in the in]lie 30s, and the principles are few and broad (here 15, hrst, a new conception of architecture as volume ralher the mass Secondly,regularity rather than axial symmetry serves as the chief means of Ordering design,These 6c principles, together with a third proscribing arbitrary applied decoration, mark the productions of the lnfernatlonel Style ' It is said that only wrte�rg-and critics are interested in stylistic terminology like most architects of his generation, the building's deSigber,'Stpwart Williams found little use for the International Style, and particularly in his residential works, he indicated a preference for a warmer regional ae%fhelic However, his non-residential works often display tho stylistic markers that place Iheworksquarely the Late International Style tradition,of which the Oasis Commercial budding is an excellent example. Building Description: As envisioned by E. Stewart Williams, the building would be a Iwo-part commercial block, characterized by a horizontal division,with the public/retail areas on the ground floor, and the more private office areas above [See Figure Z] Although the Iwo-part commercial block was the prevalent archdeclural form on America's Main Street from the 1850s onward, by the 1950s the form had taken on a larger scale and more pronounced vlSual Importance The Oasis Commercial building is a flat-roofed reclangulElrvOlume approximately 154 feelwide by 128 leer deep,and about thirty feel high,containing approximately 27,000 square feet on two levels. A small projection on the southwest corner houses the elevator slack and connects[he new structure to the old Oasis Hotel and allowed easy access to the hotel offices located in the new structure. The volume of the buildings is punctured by an off-center light well, open to the sky-sort of a square donut hole-that brought light IO the interior Of the building while shellenng the occupants from [he morning sun The building'sdeslgn features an upper level in the form of a large while vbluine visually rcsling upon a grid of rOund concrete columns Ilia[ recall Le Corbusiers early modernist masterpiece the Villa Savoye - an early and classic exernplaf of the Inlernatlonal Style. [See Figure 4 ] Le Corbusier was the erohdect who first made the world aware [hat a new style was being born Both buildings appear to hover above the grolmd planC supported only by thin canclete pilohs (slolidel columns)anti fealuie step windows.a flat roof and a glassy lowei level that stands free Of IhesVucluralsystom Thcdesign also icfeiences the mam facade of Oscar Nlcmcycl s Blazillin Pavilion al the 193.9 New York Woild Fmi [Figure 5] bOlh binlUings feature a white shadowboxed hooting vOlunle punctured by a light well open to the sky To Williams'ciethl,ilia building Elise has the feel of i World s Fair Pavilion,but unlike pavilions at in Cxposrllon. the plall of the Oasis Cdnlnlel'rial Building was dcici-mined by ftinb1101ItII lellhel than ae51helic considerations Other character-defining features Of [he building include the introduction of native stone walls on any of the lower level walls Inlet are not glazed, stainless steel floor and window frames enclose large expanses of tempered glass including some slyhretf display windows with stainless steel "picture frames." The original boor pulls were of Iea� (only one pairsurvives) anti the flooring was terrazzo The columns are sound and faced wilh 1 by 1 inch mosaics Ilia that terminate about a loaf from the top of[he columns The upper level with Its unusual bridge forming one side of the light court utillzes an open metal rolling system ilia[ may not be original, but complements the building nonetheless. The street railing is composed of aluminum panels inlcrrupted by flat aluminum firs spaced to align with[he columns below. The actual walls of the offices are Set back from the raihng and ire largely glass The side elevations feature horizontal strip windows framed in steel;on the south and west elevations a simple metal awning provides additional prolection from the sum. The herzor l LIibIC form of the buildmo with its strip windows, while COlOralion and n1e101 Isms exernphfy [he principles of the International Style No[ to he Overlooked is the exposed rear stairwhich forms a sculptural element fiat complements the rear facade People Associated with the Building The lower level of the budding was leased to three artaflt5 including the exclusive 0asis Men's SI1op operated by Isadore Nelson,a women's shop"Rags from Bess Bonder,"and the anchor tenant on the corner the Milton F Krels Drug $lore. Toiled at the time as "the world's most unusual Drug Store Coffee Shop," Kreis was the anchor tenant necessary to allow consiruclion of the building to proceed Signage H5P6 _ V V PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD illustrated in the original rendering of the building shows the corner tenant to be a drug store Kreis commissioned Los Angeles architect A. Quincy Jones to design the inferiors, most of which have vanished under subsequent allerations. As the anchor tenant on this busy corner, the "MFK" as it was known, became a kind of hangout for locals and lourisls alike: in his obituary, the serewas referred to as a"Palm Springs landmark " At his peak. Kreis owned nine of these exclle drugs store- coffee shop and dinner house operations, including branches in Dayton, Beverly HMIs and San Francisco, a laboratory Thal produced his awn lime of cosmetics, and Milton F, Kreis Enterprises,which imported and wholesaled its own liquor brdnds In 1961, Kreis awned five restaurants in Palm Springs,all on Palm Canyon,Including the Signature Room,Grundy's Groggery,Lord Jeffery's(later Sherman s)and Rim Rocks (originally Romanoff's of the Rocks). He was active in civic affairs and served as chair of the Parking and Traffic Commission. The upper level was used for office space for the Oasis Hotel Soon after the building's completion, the Williams firm relocaled its offices from The Plaza to suite 222 in the new building The program forthe new building rcquired the demolition of a subslantial part of Lloyd Wright's original Oasis Hotel and the McCallum Residence Pearl McCallum McManus paid for the relocation and reconsifuclion of the iomains of he family's adobe home (along with a giant fig Iree)which were Iransporlcd a block solrth In a new site that now houses the Palm Springs Historical Society With this act she became the first documented preservationist in Palm Springs The original Oasis Hotel did not fare as well as the McCallum home. The construction of the Oasis Commercial building required the demolition of the hotel office building and original open air dining roam, as well as Some Oflhe early bungalows Today only a small fragmenl of the original Oasis Hotel,an important example of early Palm Springs modernism survives Architectural writer Alan Hess calls it"one of the great neglected buildings of California aichileclure." In a second project, the Oasis Hotel continued its expansion to the block on the west side of Belardo Road with ad(litional bungalows ultrmnteiy rcpresentlnq an investment of$2,250,000 The ownciship of [he Oasisconunuecflaohangeshandsandtoday,thehistofinCn5isHolclnolongerexists The remaining bungalows behind the Oasis Commercial building were demolished a feud years ago to make way for a patlang lot. Today, a sign is located in that parking lot offering the entire silo for sale Village Maikel, Will Build To Suit Previous Evaluation The Oasis Commercial 131.111ding has been previously listed as an hSloiic site In the 1987 Historic. Sdc Preservalion Board List In 2004, the Cityvvido ArchilF(.linal Survey delenmned that the bud(Ilnq 'appears to meet the level of significance necessary fn Indivi(lugl Nalrenal Recusler anti Cahforrlia Reglsl_r-,I eligibIL' at the local level, under Crllcria A (Events) anti C (Olslinclive Charactenstics and Work of a Master) Local Eligibility Evaluation: Based upon the Informal on contame(f In the background inforrnnhon conlaued In Ihrs repoil, the building is eligible for Irsling in the local Cahfornla and National Registries as follows' Crrtenon 1 Events (or patterns of events) thot have male a meaningful contribution to the nation, stale or Community The Oasis Commerical Building Is an importanl rxgmple of find-century commercial development in Palm Springs The budding represents the overall commercial development of the (downtown from the 1940s to the 1060s, and contributes to the scale and character of Iho oily's main commercial street As such rl Is associated with a pattern of events that have made I meaningful conulbution to the Commundy, thereby qualifying it as eligible for listing on the local, California and National Registries. Criterion 2. Persons who made meaningh l contribution to national, state or local history Milton F. Kreis was an important merchant In downtown Palm Springs, at one time owning and/or 'An unresolved internal eontradicoon in the Cllyvilda SOIVCy Form also assigns the building a National Register Status Codc or 5S3 The In11131 number indtcales the general status 5' Is delined as Ineligible for the National Register but still of local Interest 553 is defined as Plot eligible for separate Listing Dr designation under an exisling local ordinance but is eligible for special consideration in local planning.' PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD operating fivo drug stores or restaurants along palm Canyon Drive. He was active in civic affairs and chaired the city's Parking and Traffic Commission His MILK Drug Stare was the anchor retail Space in the Oasis Commercial Building and in Its day, the store was referred to as a 'Palm Springs Landmark" Kreis was figure of importance in California and in Palm Springs and the Oasis Commercial Building was associated with his accomplishments. Assuoh,Ile building is associated with a person of importance to the common ly,thereby qualifying it as eligible for listing on the local, California and National Registries. Criteria 3-7 Thatreflects or exemplifies a P8111QUIarpeliod Of tile national, state orlocalhiVory,or that embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction;or that represents the work of a ihaster builder, designer, artist, or architect whose individual genius influenced his age, or that possesses high artistic value;or that represents a signrticant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction', The Oa515 Commercial building possesses the dislindive characteristics of Palm Springs commercial buildings of the 1040s -1960s. It also represents a construction method of light steel framing represenled by physical fealuiessuch as tree-standing Columns and othersignalure details of Late Internalional Style architecture as described in the Building Description above. These traits Commonly occur in the important commercial bulldings of the period that line Palm Canyon Drive Thesubjecl building contains enough of those charnclenshos to be considered a true representative of its type, period, and method of construction These characlenslics are expressed in specific terms including the form, proportion structure, plan style and materials f E Slewad Williams is a masterarchitect and is generally recognized for greatness in his field Upon his death, an editorial in The Desert Sun doled September 15 2005 stale(l 'If any single man c�ill be cited for giving Palm Springs ifs place in architectural history II's E Slewarl Williams After six decades of designing buildings around lown and Ihroughoul the valley.the nationally known erchilecl died Salurday." Tho building may also be said to posses high artistic values as expiessed rn riesign planninrl and engmeemig. A property is eligible for its high arllsliC values If it so fully altlCulales a particular concept of design(hat it expiesses an oe5thefie ideal The O:Isls Commercial Building successfully embodies the concepts Of Late Inlematienal Style architecture. Because the building embodies the distinctive characteristics of Palm Springs commercial architecture,and because it is thework of a master aidhilecl,and because it possesses high artistic values, it qualifies as eligible for listing on the local Caldornia and National Registries Criterion a: That has yielded or may be likely to yield information important to national, state or local history or prehistory This criterion inost commonly applies to properties that contain or are likely to contain information bearing on an important archeological research question The property must have. Characteristics suggesting the likelihood that it possesses configurations of artifacts, soil strata, structural remains, or other natural or cultural features The site is the center of the first while selllernenI uI what would become the town of Palm Springs Il was not, however, noted as a Native-American site of significance. No archeological data is available for the site, so based upon the information currently available, it I would not qualify as an 'This portion of this criterion refers to buildings that might not quality indrndualiy but might be a contnhutor IQ a potential historic dislnct I Ispa p PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITS PRESCRVATION�BOARb historic resource under this criterion Integrity: Integrity is the ability of a property to convey its significance. To be considered an historic resource, a property must not only be shown to be significant under at least one of the criteria, but it also irmst have integrity. The evaluation Of integrity mist be grounded in an understanding of a property's physical features and how they relate to its significance. Historic properties either retain integrity(that Is, convey their significance) or they do not Within the concept of integrity, there are seven aspects or qualities that,in various cornbinations,define it To retain integrity a property will always possess several, and usually most, of the aspects Determining which of these aspects are InostimportiVnttoa Pal hcular Property requires knowing why, where. and when the property issignificant Theseven aspects of integrity are Location, Design, Setting, Materials, Workmanship, Feeling and Association Although the building appears lobe a lithe neglected and many of the slreel level shops are vacant the budding siill passessesellsevenoftheseaspects. And while the building has undergone numerousinmornlleiations since itwas bull,virtually all ofdscharacter-de fin ing features survive with the exception of the frec-slanding silhouetted signage Observable alterations to the street level Include replacement of the original terrazzo flooring and the installation of a system Ofguardrallsthat nhlbds flow to[lie shaded rourtyaid. The exposed columnswllhlheirnnosalclilerovering have been painted, but all of these changes are easily reversible Since one of the historic door pulls survives, replicas could be fabricated to replace the missing ones The budding relains a high degree of integrity :] PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD APPENDIX: Biographical Sketch of Williams, Williams&Williams, Architects, AIA Photographic Documentation Blollography Site Plan Assessor's Map f Flyl=y PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD Historic Site Nomination Conlinuatlon Sheet Pholo Documentation Nr4,1 ,f����i r' • J f1' y3: •vsp r. a: ti!:i.f • .s v i^�:y tp ktu4 .. i! ,a iy �l�f,��wi�il�'�;�i!!III��SI`ir�,i1?itit�j4�!(i ��.},z;iaijlal'�•.:iHf,��:IN;-�"iy'b�a�l;�:ni:ru �'F�I�<<lI+�=7`''�Ijijil�i('y7�l;in11''��'(ira t:ff�"Ilii �� L. f�IF�`II!:;�i�ai i.a(h,;'i ri. V:.;li,i"�,li.,y,;:f�,• i" ,,, '!.d�' � �i'� M1I � Ili �'Y , Jt�f �{'i.�'�; ,• l,,k;c'r1�;,' :. K, .._.. "d';..I:;,,�i. , ..�IkMI '"r�I'�. r��l?t �;I.i t�ircp}� d�ik�71 Llli laLk` .11,�.91k;�lni�i(•'=i+i*idL a"�il�'6i'�lit�tyr"j;��l;,i..piiii' t��llhli'I)'lh il``:�! li:�'�'!",1 i��ii'iyi�,�I ly�'f.}"iT `'.,it'I;i�ll�,. 1 'N.I,ii'r 'N'fF,�,�ilr�ryw�n'�p•'�i!•!•!i!F'[;�" i� 'fl 4}��7 M� y�',1] �,i('}ti "hS"Sl�Il �l �li>ilir� � 'ti,�, r!�%9� u, �,ikul;i7s"' •�.,5r1!-.'T2t- � -Iry�'-,I� 4 � ri,. ep. 1� ' i �t �ilT;jlf� d � . a •'fi11,(a!{sr �:�; i.�r�lc. [ .•a r :�P lr�n �,r..R. n. �':::+Ts� r , �r u�F��v tii �a!•i,i� r, � r'��rn� I •+ � M ' �t �,�~I� r"11:� ��,r} �.rr�i�.7e.F, �"L�•r�,�. �. �A,u.t,�i i f�i��„r y�Y�t' �a ��h'U' �;. ;"lu �,r��,� !• =Jf i•� Figure 2 Upper an aenal rendering by Lloyd Wright illustrates the incorporation of the McCallum residence into his 1923 design for the Oasis Hotel Lower: 1952 rendering of a three-quarter view of the Oasis Commercial building by the Williams' architectural firm that replaced the Oasis Hotel office and the McCallum residence � L T11 IA U R T': PL -'Le',L 17, ;7TJ r J1 L FII r 7 Yy � •I� k �r.� ihrtd'3r+ k!II;�3�1131 „ , „"All,;i,+s a v. ul,.;q . ., - •,`n,•�'„9iil Gr..,aad4JLri�i.. H t '^I'� -;e*-,m.� i. � • r,-nsn �-Nl n �:.wiyy 0."�i-�•�:�nYYR^I� IL•�'� ryl; ,,(:_ ":�I�:I.'M Yi�'F.friirv'x'i.j Y,.-. ��G'�di.I� r, . ... +a ����41(.r 'j' Ala. �.C'`ii`A'1"Z i r•. -�! - :� v ••��•����' ��1� - �,� •.. '� •,.�����:�;�''�, I � Fla ;[. "ks'N'�J,. 'yi'•' ' i:NV,`i 71•�fia p, ? . �;+rtjfi'Yf 19+�'!it=f:'�rl �''� :.ii>•=y,,Pa �1v+.?,I� ,] �I�''u,,�p:i�',..��. �,I,};:CP•d+,� �� pia, ,ll�::�,��,,r,' :,ii.'{if,;l•�11� II •`i . �;!'. !�.1,a� �(�:�,: I �-.� , i� rt91i� i0'� a , r� �" {P.�tu.di'-,.;(E,l{�I.'� ''�,II.� di r{, �::=— 'Y:,�;:;1•r':• �''=1.:!�,aa;{n{r F}•i�tliU'r'tV ;riCh�' r': ��hl:;':�.:��q.,.�._.. .I'�i�'•;''I lq, p ilia C)11J . :41�t.F'�.�,.,li i.,,=-; (I` • , I, af�;E:'�....q . ',l,i If: ..1_ ..� �'s-'i!1 VV �'nr ilf - •1�1PIIII rl P,l:.�,;�1� ,'i' i T4i Y 41.a�F—'' Y,'H�r (j �',. �! I' ,1'�rga•I�r :. - 1 L � r�•1,_I ., ..�`,�'Fiil:c;l'��3i�wlT�,���11414fi'ry�l p �w:^., i, . .-�,_ P. i '7.42 _r r"�w.r. �Jin; ._w i:_wir.•,'i'i i'.' .. '1.J-M JI-1-4: T,11 �5+:m'v='i•'aiii7L; rlp' ',a9�'•Ir. '.yeti rC,75s:� { .91^•, ' �, 1 PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC 517E PRESERVATION ^� Historic Site Nomination Continuation Sheet Photo Documentation mentaiion ,'r t "••�vu�:t l�';'-��, III g�'�It' hI���FI' i ylYlry;�Jl r tfllt ,I i i�i".�I=!`-'r��rry v:ri. I•'p����ll'Illf[I���p�ll Il, llii"a'wj moll; dyEpy-'iS.S�II.!i,t4d II it 'k-_ 4WT II'I Sit �� it iaa�•1 Nei a �:j.a�� , �A.�i:r',I,�' n' .�34 �ir�.��i."��I., W lllr I: I , `:'''r�ll # '��, �; I•rr,e„ral''z:^ ,, lit.��,4„ ,�,p =.r;��;Icg,�.,gpl; Ix1iI:�)?; ,,a�:.l';;�: �hf[Illlilff'f.�II,I Illii i�lli I'llq :AIL 'a;I�EI''�II III E`�� i �t�°A� ,�1h�flflMl�iiP,l ii�l;If;� lti 6�:,1:'I yG:i if 16, �.'yl,.rti%q�:lt'd"r�""r l�� f II II : „I iy f jl l'4 ' I,,€ +,� Y :5� '1����{{li q�i�•�1'I I,I _ i.1i�f�'t - 'rT,gc',ti NK�{n:•r. 1 �i, � - I,� I I1 ,._L'' - � 1�:;:'�' A �'I�6i�.� ,�!��III "`iiiih" <I ,,',, ��cC:� ., " jf�•E�:' �;�'.��, . ��"rx��3o�A , Figure 5 In thus Image, the Oasis Commercial Building is compared with Oscar Niemeyer's Brazilian Pavilion at the 1939 New York World's Fair.The white floating volume with its 'shadow box"frame are signature features of both buildings Later, E. Stewart Williams was to again demonstrate Niemeyer's Influence with his design for the Coachella Valley Savings building al 499 South Palm Canyon hI5P6 [� 1�'t ■. t � 1 ��i�, •"y�~i bG,• '� '� � ! .' a Pl' il'i 1• ��i,i� ��1�1 r �'"� b �i;� 4-,'f .r !II �`_E!_,•1.'y�i1 r: !J `ii�Yawu;u{L�?4+r' Gul�!flll �,1'•;1 �_ (,.i � ,,..-_.0_ ,TJ.I�'t""TR `«n1".'n n'un ,..",:yh."[iwit�'•[.r•:��ir�l4N.•_. 6 .i bc:; ivV°�'f'=np�1 �-`R:'1Gr'r?fWrlw�arsyfd,_ nY Al rlir raM,.,,•. 'II'.A»�h, ,B",Yi_i6��„ p,,... '7J..- .+. �r, :'"^,�3 ..,2 , .r I'. - .,I,I,i.ij.1�,%il_�i��P;j,4 iti "I c:C"��,!Ip, �",Plf ii";}:5.��'r:''.i i•7-t��: ;i �ifiY I13�`� � jN�p.}'�nvrY�:��� }����,�r.,:'{:;�Ml .P• s I'I''i?"� j.�l;,"Ln'ij'-�llvlu, r PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD Historic Site Nomination Continuation Sheet Photo Documentation BIBLIOGRAPHY Books Alnswonil,Katherine,ifie McCallum saga the Story of file Founding of Palm Sprigs Palm springs Desert Museum Palm Springs 1975 Archileclural Resources Group,Gfywrde Historic Resources Survey San Francisco 2004 Bogert Frank M Palm Springs First Hundred Years. Palm Springs Pphllo Library.Palm Springs 2003 Bacon,Mardges,Le Corbusier in America Travels In file Land of the Timlq The MIT Press,Cambridge,2001 Curtis,William R,Modern Architecture Since 1900 Phladon Press ID82 Cygelman Adele,Palm Sprigs Modern Ril International Publicalions New York 1999 Hess,Alan,and Andrew Danish Palm Springs Weekend the Architecture and Design or d Nhdcentpry,Oasis Chronlcic nooks San Francisco. i 2,001 Hitchcock Henry-Russell and Phillip Johnson, The Intcmahonal Style W W Noilon 3 Cc,New York 1966. Hughes Edan,Arlistsm California 1766-19•!0 Hughes Publishing Cc San Francisco lg86 Jenks Chance,Le Carbuster and the Continual Revolution in ArchilcOuro The Monscepi Press New York 2000 Kann Hosao-Uddin Inlemalional Style Modcmn Sl ArchifeCnrrefrom 1925 1955 Taschen Koln 1995 Loewy Raymond Industrial Oeslgn Woodstock Press Woods(oek 1979 Gebhard,David and Harriette von Bretton IJoyd Wright Architect 20h Century ArcMrecluie in an Orpanle Exhibition Regents of the Ulllvc•rsdy of California Santa Barbara 1971 Longstreth,Richard,The Bundings of Main Street A Guide to America COrnmerddf ArCfllfeahiee Preservation Press Wasllinglon D C 19a7 Maine,Erik,Worlds Fairs Pdncean Architectural Press New York 1996 National Park 5011 National Register Bullefln IS.How to Apply the National Register Criteria for EValuatmn D S Department of the Interior Washington,D C, Nieman Greg,P91in Spnnys Legends Creation of a Desert Oasis Sunbelt Pubdcalions Sail Olego 2000 Papadakl,Same OscarNierl Gooroa nranl6er,Inc New York 1950 Sibeirtan,Sleve Execullvil Edlror 005ect Nlerriones The Desert sun,Palm Springs 2002 Solid Andy,ol.a1.,B Stewart klrjlliams:A Tel to His Want and LPe Palm Spiings Preservation Foundation Palm 2005 Weaving,Andrew end Lisa Freedman,Llving Modern Bringing Modernism Home Chronicel Books San Francisco 2002 Williamson,Roxanne Kuler,American Archifects and tlic Mechanics of Fame. Unli Texas Press,Auslln 1991 I ISM c PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD l'llStOfIC Site Nomination Continuation Sheet Photo Documentation Magazines Engel,Allison,"Modern Love•Palm Springs Lire,February 2007 Palm Springs Villager,March 1953,p,3"The Most Exc14ng Shop In Palm Springs' ••••••------------------------February 1053 p 11.'Hotel oasis Dlmng Room and Cocklad Lounge --•-••........------------- October 1952,p 33."The New Oasis $lore Building and Dining Room --------••--••••......... November 1952 p.52, Village Landmark to Remain. December 1952,p 34,'MCCOIIum Adobc Reconstruction February,1953 p 44 'fh6 NOW Hold Oaals•,MOfU 10XUrIOUu than Lver' Palm Springs Life,December 19GI p 27 Nighllife'ArtICIL On Million F Krus. January 2000,p 79'Building A Reputation. SlOwarl W Illlama as luld to Hal Melted Sources Consulted Patin Springs Assessor's Office Palm Sprigs Historical Sociely Palm Springs Publlc Library Palm Springs Planning Deparlmonl San Francisco Pull Library Fhslotic Photographs Collection 6? TA1-.Q'U17Z CANYON WAY LINE OF FLOOR ABOVE PROPERTY LINE PROPERTY LINE LF GAL GE S CR I P?IGN "13S Acres MM1 !n Lets 1.2 M. 0057a3 250 Map ar Palm So.inns and Lot 4, Block 20 M 009e432 Sd P,1ap Ol ?an Spnrgs For Taal Sea Sae w a Assessor's MAps ) 0 OASIS COM1Ac,gCIAL BUILDING p O ELILT IE0, W �ECiYlG R]OR=nE4 -PFk:% le fry_af PARKING I ' I i LINE OF FLOOR ABOVE ELEVATOR PROPERTY OASIS HOTEL LINE suiLr uzs i os.:or i ------- - _ OASIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING SITE PLAN' PROPERTY LI Nc - -__SCALE 4 0 B 10 Cn 1 nlls svxs�[rr:-.'�r.,p us'Sv.-.a xs m,r a:e�,nllr i.4A pit-03° 3 1 3 - 1 4 f !S AG'.T P:i r.[r:uw.r c',If Y,�rl'r,uSstia•i:s.n �] !!..L1'A'!Wr fA''l'YIiY lh'1'_l4!'R V 3„"N:512 u�lti::' RI/.R.SiL T.45. R.4E .9-v A oil- 12 Cf:Y^% PF;I S?.?RIGS u: -5;2 !; �l I TAf1Q fJ772 - - --'— - DRIVE — - - Ic I ..a „u • ea, rd I I I I I I r I ru � , 'J: '• J i _I ].. 1 . ,. :] � ] � f]d • II r y 1 l I + I I r I I 1 ' 1 iI I I fC5)I I r 1 ` _ � I 'Y BLK. re� �n •• ,r a r 7 " - - -a 2p w,. 13 ...,. �' , 11 EELL,��S sv r - B BLK.27 BLK.Q P 3L%_75 _r] _ - w v 5• < 8. ^;-r A ]] .\l III I.n. 2 C • _O so - - 6-� I ` - - u - - - - - .J,eG w. 19 •�:% 6 26:FC!V V^l 91' 0c ax� la I 1+f 1 I I ' L.. 1 rz 'I 1 ... —ARENAS r�] ---ROAD [I qL L.`3 9,`432 S.O. FAP 0 PhUl SPRIH55 F1 I90/5735 P?1 27274 Av.S[P.'S 1-1EY il]P.'. II '-� P'•n:�n ea+I .a.lr. Lii`S Y3 y,P/6�72 i'i ACf } 14. v.� DATE SUBMITTED ' _/-2- b CASE NO - � (To be assigned) CITY OF PALM SPRINGS � -3• r -3%7 Department of Planning &Building Historic Site esi nation TO THE APPLICANT: Your cooperation in completing this application and supplying the information requested will expedite City review of your application pursuant to local procedure. Applications submitted will not be considered complete until all submittal requirements are met. Staff may require additional information depending upon the specific project needs. please submit this apn➢ication and subsequeeCnnt material to the Dep�ment of Planning & Building. M /J NAE OF APP 5 -J LICANT L Sr _ Check One: Owner Lessee Authorized Agent Applicant's Address: .2 SO � z a VGL7�4y Telephone Number; _(� ,4_ Site Address: -/` 1 �906(1y 1444r7t L.;q.n,yaN / x?l V c Construction Date: �� •, _ ©'Estimated Factual Architect: J6- STC--LtJdLCT•' CcJl��i /im� fN'r�ep-leiv-1s: A -4gLwNcy :J'oNr~U Builder: Present Owner: r� bb /1 �Lil y4 e I -�fJ U/t A Original Owner: HSD Revised 9/99 4 10 Important Owners: Other Historic Associations: ( "kS I s Cj R aaJ HbT-4--c, zj %&�uL 2 �f11 i c ro N F_ Common Name : l 'M VW e0- L- Historic Name: I)(,' - (5 LD� Cf}575 �OCJIVt Assessor's Parcel Number: 04 a D 0 Zone: CRD SecYJenl �S�y� band Use: OowiIV(-,)eC1A4- J-) Is this project on fee land [9 or Indian trust land ❑? (Check One) H5D Revised 8/98 5 _ 7i Please check the appropriate boxes: ARCHITECTURAL STYLE, ❑ Vernacular Adobe 1800-1950 ❑ Bungalow 1995-1930 ❑ Vernacular Wood Frame 1850-1950 ❑ Prairie Style 1905-1930 ❑ Vernacular Brick 1850-1950 ❑ Pueblo Revival 1905-1940 ❑ Vernacular Ranch House 1850-1950 ❑ Mediterranean/Spanish Rv. 1915-1940 i ❑ Vernacular (other) 1850-1950 t 1920-1940 ❑ Gothic Revival 1850-1910 International Style 1925-1950 ❑ Italiante 1860-1880 ❑ California Style Post-1945 ❑ French Second Empire 1860-1890 Commercial ❑ Mission Revival 1890-1920 ❑ Other: ❑ Craftsman Bungalow 1895-1920 PRIMARY BULAING MATERXAL ROOF TYPE, ❑ Wood Frame ❑ Gable ❑ Other: ❑ Log ❑ Hip ❑ Adobe Brick ❑ Half-Hipped ❑ Brick ❑ Gablel ❑ Stone ❑ Shed 5 tuco(L Stuccco r FT'( o�- ❑ Gambrel Concrete � Flat Metal ❑ Mansard Other. Li j ❑ Hipped Gable Are there any significant decorative elements? 0 Yes ❑ No If yes, briefly describe: r i L T sC A, D Ht L 5 1"E: [_ 1q 2� ZrD il' ,L r75 &Vf2—`� p�� FI,)LL,5 VI�iC'�fCIC_ (i L� CV�f] CL�I/l�1 N 1 Revised 8/98 CLASS 6 72 RELATED FEATURES SURROUNDINGS ❑ Barn ❑ Open Land ❑ Carriage House ❑ Scattered Buildings ❑ Garage Densely Built-up ❑ Shed AL ,RATIONS ❑ Outhouse ❑ Major ❑ Windmill Minor ❑ Water Tower ❑ Unaltered ❑ Tankhouse If altered, briefly describe: ❑ Hitching Post ❑ Fence ❑ Wall ❑ . Unusual Curb ❑ Unusual Sidewalk PRESENT CONDITION ❑ Formal Gardens ❑ Excellent ❑ Unusual Trees � Good ❑ Expansive Lawns ❑ Fair ❑ Other: ❑ Deteriorated ❑ Destroyed USE OF BUIC D)NG Current Use: �j�w vet C�c�C l Vl t �T-O CE /� L OC,_ Original Use: �ir aF'�7/cG Please list any sources used to mplete this application: HSD Revised 9/98 APPLICANT'S REQUIRED MATERIAL CHECKLIST HISTORIC SITE DESIGNATION The following items must be completed before a Historic Site Designation application will be accepted. Please check off each item to assure completeness. Refer to the REQUIRED MATERIALS list of this application for more details on each item. Applicant City Use Only Only • Original Application (10 copies) Plot Plan • 8 1/2 x 11 (10 copies) ❑ ❑ Miscellaneous Exhibits • Public Hearing Labels El ❑ • Project Sponsor Labels (if any) • Existing Site Photographs �. /V�i77)�lrJ Cc7FfFrJ 1}� Ic�U- �l nf�2 — L11.11P `P F64 7 �l r l.�•r2 J7 70 /✓�7N7A n/ Planning Department, Check By: HSD Revised 8198 8 CITY OF PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING Minutes of Meeting -Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. Large Conference Room, City Hall, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, California 92262 FY 2006-2007 Present Present Excused Absences ROLL CALL This Meeting Year-to-Date To-Date Sidney Williams, Chairperson X 7 0 Jade Nelson, Vice Chair X 5 2 James Hayton X 6 1 John Williams X 7 0 Harold "Bud" Riley X a 0 Brian Strahl X 5 0 STAFF PRESENT: Craig Ewing, Director of Planning Loretta Moffett, Administrative Assistanl Ken Lyon, Associate Planner 1. The HSPB Special meeting was called to order at B 16 a m on December 12, 2006 by Chair Sidney Williams. 2. ROLL CALL: Present S. Williams, J. Williams, J Nelson, B. Riley, B. Strahl, J. Hayton Absent: None 3. REPORT OF POSTING OF AGENDA, This Agenda was available and posted in accordance with state and local procedures for public accoss at the City I Tall exterior bulletin board and iho Department of Planning Services counter by 4:00 p m Thursday, December 7 2006. NQTE Audio Cassettes and DVDs or HSPB Meetings are available for review Cassettes will be l for six nlhs only. DVDs of the meetings' wdl be kepi indefinitely Minutes formal is more aclio a[ed than verbqtrrri, xcept where special interest or special meetings are involved 4. APPROVAL OF MI ES. November 14, 2006 — Board member Jade Ne n corrccled Section 10, Item C, word runt sh be "run" Page 3 — Public Noticing Re rements — correct "most threatened" to state "highest pn M/S/C (Riley/Hayton) moved that the ember 14, 2 Minutes be approved as corrected. (6 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent, 0 Abstentions) 5, PUBLIC COMMENTS' (3 minutes) Peter Moruzzi, Palm Springs Modern rnrr , called alien to- (1) The Chatten-Brown letter to the Mt. San Jacinto Winter rk Authority that reiterates th card's discussion about the Board's authority over publ' uildings interiors and exteriors. Copies ere distributed to Board. (2) The Potter Clinic 00 Norlh Palm Canyon has been seriously van ed Mod Corn had sent letter to th roperty owner and copied the City about this property n being properly secured and erel members of ModCom went to visit the site and the property is for e, and are working Code Enforcement right now Asked HSPB to follow up, ModCom will con 0 to folio p. (3) It was announced recently that the Spa Hotel will be demolished for a new cas d hotel — ModCom is very concerned since this has been identified as a significant historic 75 Historic Site Preservation Board Page 5 of 7 Minutes from the December 12,2006 Meeting I favorite buildings McdCom supports this designation Robert Imber c ented that this building's siting is so exceptional important and he supports this nominatio . Board member John Williams felt it was rt note that this building is not one of the 53 properties identified as most significant f 1e 4 Survey. It does qualify for local, state, and national designation althoug id not state that in urvey He asked that more research be done on this b ' ng because of the lack of inform- from the Survey M/SIC (J. H / J. Williams to initiate the process to designate the San Federal build' t 300 South Palm Canyon Drive as a Class 1 Historic Site. 6 Yes, 0 No, sent, 0 Abstentions. &) Oasis Commercal Buildin 101.17.1 South Palm Can on Drive 1952 PUBLIC COMMENTS, Robert Imber feels this is the second most important building in Palm Springs, because it is iconic, of international styling, types of materials, and the crimped metal on the second level is certainly WWII technology Took framing photos to AAC December 11, 2006 of the remark- able steel framing From construction to its use today as functioning at its original purpose is highly commendable and significant Specific elements of the building that are very Important are the door frames, the mosaic tiles, the concrete walls, the columns, the one of a kind stairwell at the back of the building. He urges the restoration and designation of this building i Peter Moruzzi. ModCom, stated that it was originally Kies Drugstore — the metal framed windows that face north and south are remarkable —integrity is the key element of what needs to be considered when looking at these properties Urged the Board and staff to carefully look at all this as part of the research and analysis. E Stewart Williams was a great architect, ModCom membership is very concerned about this building for lots of reasons — prime location, could be potentially threatened given it being In the biggest Intersection in the City in leers of tourism ModCom supports designation of this building. Steve Lyle, co-owner of the Oasis Commercial Building, and explained his 16-year involvement in this building He slated that there are very serious implications for a building when it is designated a Class 1 Historic Site— especially so when it's a mulls-lenanl building and much different that a single-tenant building, The owners have no interest in demolishing the Oasis Commercial Building and do not support the.nomination for Class 1 designation PUBLIC COMMENTS CLOSED Board member Jade Nelson pointed out that the Board was focused today on the Oasis Commercial Budding which Is a separate entity from the Oasis Hotel and Tower. He commented that "Palm Sprngs Is hot, people coming back — everything old is new again," There are businesses that seek out historic and architectural important buildings He feels there would be plenty of people interested in this type of building Board member John Williams asked for clarification of the GIS map and the correct building date. The process is to determine if the building does meet classification for designation, which will come out with further information and research. MIS/C (J. Nelson / J, Havton) to initiate the process to designate the Oasis Commercial Building at 101-121 at 300 South Palm Canyon Drive as a Class 1 Historic Site. 6 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent, 0 Abstentions. 78 oYpAtiMSp� CITY OF PALM SPRINGS DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING SERVICES 4[ Po RH MEMORANDUM Date: August 20, 2007 To: Historic Site Preservation Board From: Ken Lyon, Associate Planner Subject: Oasis Commercial Building Hearing on Possible Class 1 Designation Recommendation Staff comment on Draft Assessment Report by Andrea Urbas Staff received the subject report this morning and has evaluated it with respect to the agenda item before the Board on August 2131 and makes the following findings and conclusions: 1. Under Section IV, "Research Methods", Urbas identifies National Register Bulletin 15 was followed in previous studies and the 2004 Citywide Survey and notes five steps in the bulletin are to be followed to determine edibility for nomination/listing. Staff notes that these are not the criteria the Board is to use in evaluating a budding for possible local designation. It is to use the criteria outlined in the Palm Springs Municipal Code Section 8.05.020. 2. Under Section V, "Oasis Office Building Description" Urbas identifies "The essential character-defining features of the Oasis Office Building". Later in the report she concludes the building lacks sufficient integrity to merit designation. Staff disagrees, and denotes the following from her list of character-defining features and notes nearly all are still remaining and intact, thus the conclusion seems to refute the findings. Geometric concrete form -- intact at the upper level. Integration of interior and exterior spaces within both the first and the second stories — intact (because the courtyard is intact, the exterior stairs and second story exterior corridors and wide roof overhangs are all intact) Corner windows - intact (Staff believes the significance is not 'corner' windows, but rather that they are frameless butt-glazed windows), most are still intact at the first floor level. Rubble stone display windows— intact (one such window was recently removed without permits by present owner in the past few weeks) the other still remains as does the rubble stone wall. The grand stair—intact. Ribbon windows — intact. Pilotis—intact (mosaic cladding intact, but painted over). Fine door hardware— intact (one set remains as an intact example) 3. On page 8, Urbas goes to some length to quote E. Stewart Williams' own statements about "what he didn't know' early in his career when this building was commissioned. The purpose of including these statements seems unclear and irrelevant. There is no direct conclusion made from any or these quotations. 3200 E. TANQIIITZ CANYON WAY, PALM SPRINGS, CA 92262 TEL: (760) 32a•5249 FAX; (760) 322-S360 E-MAIL: KEN.LYON@PALMSPRINGS-CA.GOV 77 4. On page 8 Urbas identifies that Harry Williams himself had considerable acclaim, and denotes that renowned architect Albert Frey may have had association with the building. Later in the report however she affirms that the building has no association with persons of significance, nor with an architect of great artistic genius; again, this conclusion seems inconstant with the findings made in the report. 5. On page 9 Urbas identifies characteristics of E. Stewart Williams' desert work and then concludes that in reference to these characteristics, the Oasis Commercial Building does not exemplify his work, Staff does not know the source of Urbas' assertion that these are characteristics of his work, however the following analysis of the Urbas-defined characteristics finds that most of theses characteristics can be found in the Oasis Commercial Building as follows: • Variety of materials and textures; Staff notes the building is composed of the materials Urbas lists including concrete, anodized aluminum, natural stone, stainless steel, mosaic tile, glass, and terrazzo. • Subtle coloration and forms: Staff notes that under the paint, the mosaic tile used subtle color; the upper massing is white, the natural anodized aluminum panels are subtle grey. As it relates to "form" Staff is unable to draw a conclusion that Mr. Williams used subtle form in his architecture It appears instead that his trademark characteristic was to use dramatic form, elements that are pure box-like in proportions, that often appear to float above their foundation and break from traditional form and architecture. It is unclear where Urbas draws this conclusion that subtlety in farm is a characteristic of Mr. Williams' work. Staff believes it is not correct. • Integration of indoor and outdoor space: Staff notes this quality is very strong in the Oasis building; one "enters" the building as one steps under the upper canopy into the courtyard, yet is not yet "inside" the building. The same is true with the upper story corridors. One 'enters' the second story, yet is 'outside' before going 'inside' to the individual offices. It is Staff's impression that the building actually demonstrates a sophisticated development of integration of indoor and outdoor space. • Strong Relationship to contcxUsite Staff believes the Oasis Commercial Building has a strong relationship to site. It anchors one of the most prominent commercial corners in the downtown area with a dynamic building mass that opens commercial spaces to Palm Canyon with large expanse of frameless glass. It features custom designed showcase windows on the Tahquitz Canyon side further relating to the pedestrian shopping experience there. It uses the grand stair to engage the west side with the Tahquitz side, thereby taking what would otherwise be perceived as the"back of the building" and ties it together functionally with the Tahquitz Canyon 'frontage' and gives it 'equal strength' despite its back-facing location The south side creates a narrow covered pedestrian alley which not only focuses attention on the historic tower of the original Oasis Hotel but also provides sun protection and extended storefront glass to lure pedestrians into the retail spaces and the tower courtyard. • Clean lines: Staff believes the building exhibits strong, clean lines in its overall composition with the pure box-like upper story, the long continuous lines of the ribbon window and the clean frameless glass of the storefronts. • Natural treatment of materials — Staff concludes that the building reflects this characteristic in that the natural anodized aluminum, cement plaster, unpainted mosaic columns, and other surfaces reflect this "natural treatment of materials". It is in light of these conditions that Staff again notes conclusions seem to differ from the findings or actual conditions present in this building. 3200 F. TAHgUITZ CANYON WAY, PALM SPRINGS, GA 92262 TEL: (760) 323-9245 FAx: (760) 522-8350 E-MAIL: KEN.LYGN@PALMSPRI NGS-CA.GOV l � 6. Under section VI "Context" Urbas notes the International Style in Palm Springs manifests itself in extensive use of glass, deep overhangs, and integration of indoor and outdoor spaces and informality. The Oasis Commercial Building exhibits these qualities yet Urbas has intentionally excluded it in her extensive list of"international style" buildings in Palm Springs, 7. Under Section VII "Integrity", Urbas notes in the first paragraph significant defining characteristics which have bee removed including storefronts, display windows, terrazzo, planters, floor, doors and hardware and metal sunscreens. Staff isunclear where the sunscreens were, as no one has identified sunscreens on this building before, nor does Urbas include them in her earlier identification of character-defining features. Staff notes that the present owner has recently removed without permit a display window. Planters and other original elements continue to be removed by this owner through recent tenant improvements. These very recent actions suggest that the remaining elements may be threatened, perhaps arguing that historic designation may be necessary to prevent further degradation of this site. 8, Under "Materials", Urbas argues that the removal of certain materials causes this quality to be deemed "fair", however again Staff notes that most of the original character-defining materials are still intact including the mosaic tile, the anodized aluminum panels, the concrete upper volume, the original ribbon windows, the original storefront glass and so on. 9. Under the heading "Workmanship" Urbas notes that most of the character-defining elements that substantiate a high degree of workmanship are still present, despite being covered with paint, or partially altered Staff would conclude this quality is still present in the Oasis Commercial Building in the butt-glazed glass, the stone work, the fine detailing of the display windows. 10. Urbas notes the building evidences involvement by notable architects including Harry Williams, E. Stewart Williams, Albert Frey, and A. Quincy Jones, then concludes here that it is not associated with a person of significance. Staff believes these architects, prominent at both a local and national level do allow a positive finding to be made in this regard. 12. Urbas makes several references that "better examples exist' of certain styles and examples of these architects' work, however there is no finding or requirement that the Board only designate "the best". Staff continues to believe the building possesses sufficient qualities to merit Class 1 designation recommendation. Furthermore, there is no criteria under Section 8.05.020 that a building must be recognized as "award-winning" or "published" to be considered "historic". To further argue this however, as the building has aged, it has been recognized as possessing significance and has been published in several newspaper articles about E. Stewart Williams as well as several architectural guidebooks about Palm Springs. However Urbas states that the building has not been published or 'recognized'. 13, Urbas notes that since Kreis neither owned nor built the building, noting the building's association with him as a person of local and state significance should be dismissed. Staff disagrees; there is no stipulation that association with a person of significance must be through building ownership or by commissioning of its construction. Urbas' conclusion it erroneously based in this regard. 14. Urbas states that most of the character-defining features no longer remain. However this is not true, as nearly all the character-defining features are still present in the Oasis Commercial Building as is evidenced by her description of these features in this report. Staff concludes that the Urbas report contains many conclusions that simply are not supported by the findings in her report and other reports. Furthermore, the loss of some character-defining 3200 H. TAHQUITZ CANYON WAY, PALM SPRINGS, CA 92262 TEI,: (760) 323-23245 FAIL: (160) 3$.8•8a60 E-MAIL: KEN.4YON@PALMSP RI NGS-CA.GOV J features that she identifies have occurred in recent months suggesting that a sense of urgency may exist to prevent the current owner from further degrading the historic elements of this site. Urbas fads to make an accurate argument in support of her assertion that the Oasis Commercial Building does not meet the Criteria for listing as a Palm Springs Class 1 Historic Site. Because of this, Staff believes no new information has been provided by the Urbas report that would cause it to change its recommendation to the Board. 3200 E. TAHQUITZ CANYON WAY, PALM SPRINGS, CA 92262 TEL: (760) 323-824S FAX: (760) 222-8360 E-MAIL: KEN.LYON@ PALMHPRI NG5-GA.GOV THE OASIS OFFICE BUILDING PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA AN ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE AND HISTORIC INTEGRITY i Dxak August 2007 $ 7 i I THE OASIS OFFICE BUILDING PALM SPRINGS, CA AN ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE AND HISTORIC INTFGRTTY i i i i 1, PURPOSE I On April 11, 2006, The City of Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board (RSPB) identified and discussed in A public hearing the Oasis (Office) Commercial Building, as one of approximately 50 properties in the 2004 survey processing characteristics that may qualify it for local, state or national dnsignation As a historic site. A second meeting of the RSPB i took place on December 12, 2006 resulting in beginning the process of designating the buildings.historic site. On January 8,2007, the FISPB initiated the study and iuvestgation of the Oasis "Office" Building for possible recommendation to City Coumcil for. "Class 1" designation. Patrick McGrew (McGrew/Arcbitectute) was commissioned to undertake the evaluation, which resulted in the Mstoric Site Designation Application dated March 2007. On July 10, 2007, the RSPB considered cbe application (IISPB-55 The Oasis Commercial Building) for designation as a "Class 1 Historic Site". At the hearing the property owner voiced concern regarding the pending action and its potential long-terra, implications, and requested a Contiauance to allow time for .m independent c zluauon_ As a result, Lyle Commercial contracted this current study,which commenced oa August 2,2007. II. BACXGRODND AND SETTING Section 8.05.020 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code provides the definition of a historic sire as:Any real property such As A building,a site,including but not limited to archways,tiled areas and similar Architectural elements, An archeological excavation or object that is unique or significant because of its location,design,qcLtin,materials,worlcmansliip or aesthedc effect,and: 82 History I_ That it is associated with events that have made a meaningful contribution to the nnuan, state or local bistory;or 2, that is associated w th the lives of persons who made meaningful contribution to national, staLc or local history;or Architecture 3. That reflects or exemplifies a particular period of national,state or local history;or 4. That embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type,period or method of construction;or 5, lhar represents the work of a masLCr builder, designee or architect whose individual genius iutluenced his age;or that possesses high artistic value,or 6. That tt:presents a signific=a and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction;or Archeology 7. That has yielded or may likely to yield information important to national, state or local history or prehistory. A Class 1 I3istotic Site may also qualify for historic designation at the federal state or county level. III. PRPVI()US FINDINGS Pursuant to the 2004 Reconnaissance sw-vey, the consu(tarars, Architectural Resources Group (ARCM) stated that the Oasis Office Building (ref=ed to erroneously as the Oasis Commercial Building) appears to meet the level of significance necessary for individual listing for individual National Register oC Ilistotie Places,or California Register of I•Iistoucal Resources eligibility at the local level, as" (1) an interesting example of mid-century modern commercial arcbitecturc, (2) the building represents the overall commercial development of downtown Palm Springs from the 1940s to the 1960s, and contributes to Lbe character and sale of the main commercial street. (3)Further, the building is the work of waster architect, E. Stewart Williams, and interior designer, A. Quincy Jones, thus has elevated the significance for its association with a prolific local architect and designer of national prominence.This is an excoptiooal example of its type,period,or method of constiuction," The associated Pfimary Record(DPR 523A) listed 1924 as the date of construction; that it is altered from the original design, and assigned a status code of 5S3 Cmcligible, but of local. interest. The Building, Slyde*m and Object (DPR 523B) form stated that the common name was Kwis Building/Oasis Room; the architect as E. Stewa>t Williams and interiors by A. Quincy Jones; and although again providing the 5S3 status code, identified the applicable National Register Criteria as A (Events) and C (Distinctive Characteristics and Work of a Mastei).The Coalinrratiou Sind states that the building was cons"eted in 1948; that it has a • - u� I I I high degree of integrity; that it is the work of master architect E_ Stewart Williams and interior designer A. Quincy Jones. I In March 2007, Patrick McGrew concluded, that ties building is eligible for listing in the local,California,and National Registers as follows: j I Criterion 1 Events (or patterns of events) that may have rnad,e a meaningful contribution to the nation,state or community. McGrew stated that the Oasis Commercial Buildmg•(sic) is an important example of mid-century commercial development in Palm Springs. The building rrpresents the overall developrnent from the 1940s to the 1960, and contributes to the scale and character of j the ayi main covimemal sme4 As sucb, it u associated with the pattern of events that have made a meaaingW eonhzbutaon to the commimiy, thereby qualfytng it as eligible for luting on the local.trite. or National Registries. Critction 2: Persons who made meaningful contribution to national, state or local history. Milton ICreis was an important merchant in downtown Palm Springs, at one.time owning and/or operating five drug stores or restaurants along Palm Canyon Dtivc...Kteis was (a) figure of importance in California and Palm Springs,and the Oasis Commercial Building was associated with his accomplishments.As such, the building is associated nnth a person of importance to the commamty, thereby gualij vq ft for the local, Cal forms, and Natiorml Registries. I Critetia 3-7:That reflects or exemplifies a particular period of national,state,or local history; or: that embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type,period, or method of construction; or that represents the work of a master builder, designee,artist,or architect whose individual genius influenced lus age;or that possesses high artistic value:;or that represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction. "The Oasis Commercial Building possesses the distinctive cbaracrerisiics of Palm Springs comenetcial buildings of the 1940s-1960s. It also represents a construction method of light steel framing represented by physical features such as free-standing columns and other significant details of the Late International Style architecture...These traits commonly ocau in the important buildings of the period that line Pnlm Carryon Drive. The subject property contains enough of those characlerzstau to be covuzdercd a trite rxp esentativs of its type,period, and method of conshvdion. These characteristics are exprerred in specific terms mbtdtng the fom, proportion, strxcture, plan, style and materials." "R- Stewart WRlia:ms is a master architccS and is generally recognized for greatness in his field..."The building may be also said to possess high artistic values as expressed in design, planning, and engineering. A property is eligible for its high artistic values if it so fully articulates a particular concept of design that it expresses as an artistic ideal. The Oasis ` Commercial Building successfully embodies the concepts of the Late International Style arclutecmte, Because the bidlding embodies the &Eamceye characteruttcs of Palm Springs tdmv eyzial archttectterc, and because it z the warp of a master architect anti becarue it possesses high artistic value, it quaAfies as eligible for listing on the!oral, Caiifornia,and National Registries." Criterion 8:That has yielded or may likely to yield information important to national,state or local history or prehistory. This critction most commonly applies to properties that contain or are likely to contain information bearing on important archeological research questions. The property must have characteristics suggesting the likelihood that it possesses I I p CY 4 coufutadons of artifacts, soil strata,structural zematns,or other natural Or cultural features... It would not qualify as an historic resource under this criterion." tategcity: hategrity is the ability of a property to convey its significance. To be considered a historic resource,a property must not only be shown to be significant under at least one of the criteria, but it must have integrity_ The evaluation of integrity must be grounded in an undetstanding of a building's physical features, and how they relate to the concept of imegtity...or they do not.Within the concept of integrity,there are seven aspects or qualities that, in various combinations define it. To retain integrity a property will always possess several, usually most of these aspects, Determining which of these aspects are most important to a property requites knowing why, where and when a property is significant. The seven aspects of integrity arc: Location, Design, Setting, Materials, Workmanship, Feeling and Association." "Although the building appears a little neglected, and many of the street level shops are vacant, the building still possesses all seven of these aspects. And while the building has undergone numerous mirror alterations since it was built,virtually all of its cbancter-defining features survive, with the exception of the ficc-standing silhouetted siguage. Observable alterations to the street level include replacement of the original terrazzo flooring and the installation of guardrails that inhibits Aow to the shaded courtyard. 'Ile exposed columns with their mosaic tile coveting have been painted,but all ofthese changer are reversible. Since one of the historic door pulls suxvives, repkcas could be fabricated to replace missing ones_ The bU&Nng retain a high degee ofiateg i1y" xV. RESEARCH METI-f OD$ Following a review of the previous study, and the inveotnty prepared for the building pursuant to the 2004 survey, the N'atmnal.[{egrner llvlletin 15 0 ulletin 15), was followed. Brllctin 15 identifies five steps to be followed in detat•:wining eligibility for nomination/listing: 1. Categotize the property. Determine whetber the property is a district, site, building, stmctute,or object. 2. Determine which prehistoric or historic context(s) the property represents. A property must possess significance in American history, atchitectart, atnccology, engineering, or culture when evaluated wi(.hin the historic contort of a relevant geographic area. 3. Determine whether the property is significant under the National Register Criteria (palm Springs Criteria 1-7 for Class 1 sites). This is done by identifying the links to important events or persons, design or construction features, or information potential that make the property important A. Determine if the property represents a type usually excluded £rom the National Register. If so, determine if it meets any of the Critera Considerations. (This does not apply to the Palm Springs Cuteua for Class 1 sites) 5. Determine whether the property retains integrity-. Evaluate the aspects of location, design, setting, workmanship, materials, feeling, and association that the property must retain to convey its historic signi5cauce. V. OASIS OPPICF BUILDING DESCRIPTION Constructed is 1952, within the complex of the Oasis Hotel (designed by Lloyd Wrigbt in 1928),the Oasis Office$uildkg requited the demolition of the original Wright dining zoom, and the relocation of the McCallum adobe.The solid concrete, slip-form coostmction Oasis buildings to the east remained, and were connected to the new brdlding via an elevator and open-air walkway at the second story.Thus, the new comer office building was designed co have four significant elevations —two of which were oriented to street traffic, and the other two to the hotel clientele. r •* L.: Sniph el mnsn mrrb aijactai )Vd Vnght Cmu7.Had(hDrx ShuLuonJ It is rectangular is plan,and constructed of concrete anti steel-fsaruiag,with a flat roof The Palm Canyon fagade is recessed From the sidewalk, behind mosaic tiled prlotis, supporting the cantilevered second story. The recess continues toward the center of the structure, Creating a courtyard, (open to the office level above,) and allowing for additional stotefronts. As with typical Mainsheet commercial buildings, retail was planned for the first story,while offices were designated above. Storefronts continued along the side and rear elevations.The display windows employed comer glazing and teak door handles. The side and xeai elevations incorporated dvee-part display windows with transoms into rubble stone veneers. The second story along Tahquitz Canyon was defined by extensive glatin{ taking the form of a curtain wall with three-part steel-framed glamng units. The second story along the east elevation was defined by a long two-part ribbon window, with a cantilevered sunscreen. This treatment was continued at the south elevation,with a similar, sunscreen protecting the first story,as well. It was accessed from the hotel side of the complex,via a grand steel and concrete.stair. -- C3 i i I I pram Canyon elm utiou.(photo:Shulman) � The essential character-defining features of the Oasis Office Building were: the geometric concrete foam; the integration of the .interior and exterior spaces within both the first and second stories; comer windows; rubble stone display windows; the grand stair; ribbon windows;sunscreens;pilotis;fine door hardware;A.Quincy joncs'Kicis interior- Construction Chxouology 1952-3 O.rig%al Construction.Williams,Williatms&Williams Architects,Clark& Frey Associate Azrhltects. i 1957 First Story Remodeling 1966 Drug Store Remodeling;Masonry Exterior Change 1973 First Story Remodeling;Remodeling of Smre£roais, Including Masonry Wainscoting 1974 Remodeling for Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge 1982 Cafe Espresso Storefront Remodeling and%tetior Patio Remodeling 1994 "Tenant Remodeling for Pahn Springs Cooldc Company 1986 Fire Damage to Clothing Stoic;Major Remodeling 1988 Remodeling for Candlemaker and TCBY 1989 Remodeling for Nightclub 1991 Remodeling for)ohnnie's Uppercut 1997 Exterior First Stony Remodeling(Chris Mils,Architect) 1998 PIVAC Remodeling(Chris Mills,Architect` VI. ARCI-XIT CT According to almost all contemporary references, iucluduag the McGrew and ARG evaluations, the architect of the Oasis Office Building was E. Stewart Williams. However, I " S7 i 1 according to building records, original drawings, and the Getty Research Institute's Julius Shulman Photographic .A.tchive, the architect was Williams Williams and Williams. Schulman's records were fastidious in cataloging his photographs. Within the atclaxe, one Ends three classifications for Williams' projects: Williams Williams & Williams, E. Stewart Williams, and Williams &Williams.The Oasis Office Building was catalogued according to the fonnet. The otiginal drawings (two of which survive and are in the possession of the property owner) list Williams Williams & Williams as the architect, and Clark & Frey as associate architects. Furth=norc, the initials "RJC", "RC" RKT' were listed as "drawn by" and the initials"AF"were listed as"checked by". It may indicate that Robson Chambers,and.Albert Frey were instrumental in the design of development of this project McGrew notes in his evaluation, many similarities between the Oasis Office Building and LeCorbasier's Villa Savoye, Prior to coming to the United States,Swiss-born Frey worked under the tutelage of the Master Architects including the design of VilLw Savoyc. That may explain some of the similarities of the two buildings. I Iaity Williams, himself, had considerable acclaim prior to arriving in Palm Springs, as a Partner in the 120-petson Dayton firm of Schenk tic Williams. The firm was responsible for the design of countless buildings between 1905 and 1938 (43) dotting the city's skyline.This included many residential structures (such as the home of Orville Wright), churches, civic buildings; many corporate structures including all facilities for NCR, Frigidaire and Delco; and the original buildings and structures associated with Wright-Patterson Ait Field. Although, early designs reflected the preferred stylistic Revivals of the time, later firm architecture was clearly contemporary, and reflected that of the then new "machine age". One building, Building 26 of the NCR campus, reflects similar deli&nn and massing, and application of ribbon windows, as the Oasis. Harry Williams' 1957 Desert Sun obituary j references the Oasis as one of his major designs. Hasp Williams' son, E. Stewart, arrived in Palm Springs after sieving in the Navy, to learn ! about architecture. According to Stewart, be "...didn't know anything about architecture teally when I came out here in 1946. I only lend bits of experience. I didn't know about zoning, about building codes,didn't know anything about construction. I didn't know how to mix concrete. I detailed a lot of things in my Dad's office but I didn't know how to build."' Stewart was licensed as an architect in 1949, and admitted as a. anember to the .American Association of Architects in 1950.'As such,he was very early in his practice at the time of the design of the building.Williams noted in the"Prickly Pear"interview that it vvis i not until the raid-50s, that he tools the lead on design and client relations, while Roger focused on strncWres. Furthcrnore, during his luncheon speech in 1999, Stewart stated, "I am also greatly indebted to my father,my brother Roger, and to my long--rime partner John Clark for their help and counsel on the many projects that today are wrongly attributed to me alone" r Palm Springs Ltfc 1997 3 Archive,Ilie American Institute of Arcbitccts. Stec art Williams,FAIR Luncheon Speech,May 17,1999.(Arcbsv,,The Ameti 9 Institute of Arehitccts) p� i r�•Z r14�l__\�. 4�. E.stewnrt Williams.(photo-shulmnn) Many local articles have been wiittcn about Stewart Williams, and many incorporate direct quotations. According to several, Stewart Wilbams was First exposed to Modernism while teaching at Batd College.There he read LeCorbusier's A Macbine far Living and Towards a New Anhitectun by Walter Gropius. .According to Wil1iarns, "My interest in contemporary architecture has never wavered since those days. I think my pbilosopby of design tends to .reflect that of Mies van der Rohe more than that of frank I loyd Wright--though I've always liked Wtighes selection of materials: concrete, stone,wood and glass, rather than the steel, glass and stucco-coveted geometric solids espoused by Corbusier and Gropius." "Perhaps I was most influenced by the work of Scandinavian architects like Aalto, Asphwd and Mazkehus, all of whom employed natutal materials and carefully integrated the surrounding• environment into their work." "I think it's fait to say that T learned something ftom each of these masters of 20"' century design, though I've never consciously copied any of their styles of work." An article in Palm Springs life (200) noted that bis primary influences were the Deutscher Werkbixnd, unsuccessful Seidling houses, as Williams Realized that the Germans pzefetred beautiful woods, native stone and glass, mixed with colorful interiors...patterned fabrics,flowers,vines on houses. In the desert Stewart Williams work rmcorporated the following characteristics: • Variety of materials and textures—wood,concrete,stone,and glass • Subtle colorations and forms • Integration of indoor and outdoor space • Strong relationship to contest/site • Clean lines • Natural treatment of materials—strong dislike of stucco and paint In zefeseace to these character-defining features, the Oasis Office Building does not exemplify his work.The building was not designed to be compatible with the site/context— that of the LJoyd Wright Oasis Hotel. In fact,its construction obliterated the public view of the masterwork. Instead of being tied to the ground, this building appears to hover above. The application of stucco and lack of wood is also inconsistent with his design philosophy. In summary,it 7:emtins unclear as to whom the actual design should be attributed to- 0 ther-Wi 9a_n1 Yso_jects Many Waams Architect 194"950 Office or the Plana (Roger joined its 1.945;Slew' i joined in 1946) 1946 -Sinatra Kouse,1148 Alejo(1145 via Calwa?),Palm Springs** • •PSHS Gymnasium, Palm Springs- -Temple Isaiah,332 A1ejo,Pahn Springs • (SCC4L4CvtXote ofl-Ioxor TYllY/[Y/) •Potter Clinic,1000 N Palm Cyn,Palm Springs"Y** -Higgins Residence,Palm Springs**" •Bissontc Lodge,260 W Vista Cluno,Palm Springs Devolzrbed -Pepper Tree Inn,Indian Cyn&Crand Via Walonte,Palm Springs W8 hove either been ren;odeled beyond racagnition,or demolished" 1947(49) •Thc Colony by Lad Cordrey,430 S.Cafi,02,Palm Springs -Palm Springs Baseball&Roden Stadium,Palm Springs"F Offmo of Willium Williams&William;at fh Oa"ns(pha=Shulman) Williams Williams&WiMams 190-19S7 (father Marcy aad brother Roger office ar die Plaza and lai er S Lr 222 of the Oasis)) 1930s Primarslyresidrntial: 1950 -(noted as a mllabaration),Desert Hospital(I'r 30 beds),Palm Spline+* 1951 -Miner Housq Thunderbird Country Club,Rancho Mirage** 1952 •Bligh House,Thunderbird Country Club,Rancho Miragr. 1953 (50) •Intctior of Florshehn Shoe Store** • -Desert Museum,135 R Tahquitz Canyon, palm Springs Note: Randall Renderson in Desert Mgga:iae, Pohmmy 1959, identifies Albert Frzy a 6br,mshifr.t asd.Ha y WaGaanu'obtuary does not li t it a arre ofhar fann i pm/ecz r. -Oasis Office Building -Oasis Motel,New wing and dirung room 1955(53) •Edus House,1030 West Cielo,Palm Springs"* (clam I/,utori<site)>" • •Surxer IIouce,Palm Springs •Williams House,Palm Sprngs+; -Koerner House,Palm Spzi,ugs (rated as 0rrrJtrsnddn2 1955(6) -Coachella Valley Savings and Loan,383 South Palm Canyon,Palm Springs Rear ekoadan it similar to that of the Ctris •(oath Clark Frg&Chamlws)Palm Springs City Hall • •PSHS Auditorium,Pahn Springs *': •flicks Centcr,1345 N.Pahn Canyon,Palm Springs (destroyed by fire) Williams&Williams 1997--1972 focus=commercial 1957 •Santa Fe Savings and Loar>,588 South Palm,Canyon&Swisto,Palm Springs l969AL4rC deign atation FFI&7 1957(63) •Keuaswu House (noted as autstondvw ICenattou pnr4ary residence in Pat Palzmder—Ae Sged by A.Ouiucy Jones Mae:user same stone as 0aitr. 1958 -PSI-IS Library,Palm Springs T* -COD Gymnasium and Pool,Palm Dcscrt** S 1: i 1960(58) Sutter House,Palm Springs** (noded as out'&adrn ) •Santa Fe Savings&Loan,Palm Springs 1961(64) -Coachella Savings&Loan(2-�,355(499)S Palm Canyon,palm Springs *** 19G6 Portlmrd CesnentAssociafiar,9wardfor Creative Use of Concmfe(A%&TI (W22sbington Mrwal?)Considered a monumemd do PS Modeniwn parrcard image i 1963 -Oasis Hotel Rear Wing,Palm Springs(demolished) ** •Des=Hospital Addition(60 beds),Palm Springs*" 1964 •(mith/filbert Frcylohn Porter Clank.&Robson Cbmnberr)PS City F Q Addition, Palm Springs •Rivccsidc Cminty Admtoistmdon&C:om-Ls Building,Indio** •(widh Clark Prey&Chwnberr)Palm Springs Aerial Tiamway, Mountain i Station*,** 1 1966-76 -(with Armstrong eh'Porter)Crafion I-Tills College,Yucaipa f 973 ftrtr place awardA7AIC*,�* 1969 •(vidb Jobn Carl Warnekcy)College of the Desert,Palm Desert -Santa F'e Savings&Loan,Wm Spriugs 4 Williams Clark&Wiliams 1972-100 1972 •Palm Springs City Hall addition I 1976 •SamLn f'c Savings&Loan (1-rtor7 suel,epfxarr,do float abovegrowid,floor-ta-cm1ug.&a,NorthrNp Indushies sinr mens,stainless bamimd) I • -Palm Springs Art Museum 1011vlusmm D=vc,Palm Spnags t1TATCSpeaalAwasd ofExcellemee(photo references Rageras amhitect) lllilliams noted it fo be one ofhfs fameeprajscts 1982(4) •Palm Springs CA7IIa11 addition 1986(3) FErik&Sidney Williams House (noded as outstanding)i 1987 first honor mvardMasonry Imtitute of California in cor3um66.w desert chapterAl4)1 1989 •Graff-Radfoid House,Rancho Mirage (wed as arrtsdand t� 1994-6 •(v h CbrisMillr)Palm Springs Art Museum Chase Art Wing • E,x/nbit furl A7A rmmmaisan(Sccliam 3,.ExhibiA) �"�lirt ofaudSigmafacantlsmjectr(I"ATf1,N'ominatiom) **w Tdcati'd on(Vemonton)Cal Poly Pomona Bibliography on XJese�2Ddodemestn I V1. CONTEXT Based on its style, the Oasis Office building is associated with the context of Palm Springs Modernism,a style introduced by early wealthy vacationers seeking the desert oasis for their second homes;and then promoted by newly anivcd architects, the fist of whom was John Porter Clads [19321, followed by Albert Frey (1934]), and then Hairy J. Williams in 1940. Williams was joined by sons Roger m 1945, and E. Stewart in 1946.Leading architects from outside of the Coachella Valley,added to the palette,including such names as John L aumer, Richard Neutra, RM.Schindler, Paul Williams, Welton Beckett, Richard Peteira, Charles Luckman and Victor Gruen. The contemporary vision quickly spread, and Palm Springs became the image of Modernism. Countless buildings were designed in various interpretations for the style, and included residential, resort, commercial and institutional examples. The International Style, as seen in Palm Springs manifested itself for its extensive use of glass,deep ovecbaugs,and the integration of indoor and outdoor spaces,and informality- It often was oriented towards mountain views and the integration of water features. Examples of this style in Palm Springs included the following: (CorweractedPrrorto 1958[50year—st andardfor ngerter cllgibiltNUnderlined) 1920s Name Atchiteci 1923 Oasis Hotel Lloyd Wright 1928 El Mirador Hotel 1930s 1932 El Encanto Apartments Marshall P-Wilkinson 1933-5 Kocber-Samson Building Frey&Kocher 1935 Community Church Chatics Tanner 1936 Ship of the Desert Earle Webster&Adrian Wilson 1938 Grace Lewis Miller House Richard Neutra 1938-9 Welwood Murray Library )ohn Poxtei Clark 1939 Clark House John Porter Clark 1939 Palm Springs Womeds Club John Pouter C1uk 1940s 1940 Fey House AlbertPrcy 1941 Cahui➢a Ekmenta ty School Albeit Frey Sc Robson Clark 1945 Racquet Club Albeit Ficy 1946 Loewy I--louse Albrrl-Prey&Robson Clark 1946 Edgar J.Kaufman House Richard Neutra 1946 Villa Hermosa Resort Albert Frey 1947 San Marino(Del Marcos)Morel Wdllzm F.Cody 1947 Bullock's Department Store Walter Wurdeman&Wellon Becket 1947 Tennis Club Additions A. Quincy Jones&Paul1L Williams 1948 Town and Desert H.W.Burns i I I I 1948 Biltmore Hotel Fred Monhoff 1949 St.Maul's to the Desert Cl.'ak&Frey 19505 1950 Town&Country Ccntca A-Quincy Jones& Paul R. Williams 1952 Chambcts House Clark&Frey 1952 L'Horizon Hotel William F.Cody 1952-7 Palm Springs City TIad Albert prey&John Porter Clack and Williams,Williams &Williams 1953 Desert Museum Albert Prey 1956 Ocotillo Lodge Alexander Co-&William Kesel&Dan Saxon PaLmez 1956 Carey-Picozzi House Albert Frey 1957 Twin Palms,tract homes Palmer&Ktisel 1957 Huddle Springs Restaurant William F. Cody 1957 Christian Science Church Albert Frey 1957 Tmpala_T odge __ Huah� xtu 1958 Robinson's Department Store Wcbud Pereira&Charles Luckman 1959 City National Bank Victor Gruen Associates 1959 Spa Barbliouse&Hotel Williatu Cody,Donald Wcxlcr,Richard Harison 1960s j 1960 Alpha Beta Shopping Ccnter Albcrt Ftcy 1960 666 Palm Canyon Drive office Howard&Lawrence Lapham 1960-62 gas station North Palm Canyon William F. Cody 1961-62 Fxperit-Aental steel houses Donald Wexler&Richard Harrison 1962 The House of Tomorrow Don Saxon Palmer&William Krisel 1963 Frey II House Albert Frey 1963-65 'Tramway gas station Albert Ftey&Robson Chambers 1964 yellow brick ftte station Iugh I{aptor 1968 Elrod House John IAutner ' 1968 St.Iberesa Patish Church William Cody 1968-70 Max Palcwsky House Craig Ellwood 1970s 1973 Bob Hope Homc John Lautner 1975 Palm Springs Library Centcr William Cody I _ Q i I V II. INTEGRITY I The requisite seven aspects or qualities that define integrity as described by McGrew, include: Location, Design, Setting, Materials, Workmmslup, Feeling and Association. The Location remains intact for the Oasis Office Building, as it has not been moved. However, as indicated in Section 'V, it has undergone numerous remodclingos. Significant character- defining features have been ternoved (storefronts, display windows, terrazzo, planters, flooring, doors and hardware, and metal sunscreen), other features have been significantly modified (storefronts, enclosure of open space, signage, exterior surface re- facing/paint/cladding), and additions have been introduced. Finally, the refined interior designed by Master Architect, A. Quincy Jones, was removed many years ago. Apart from the overall massing, grand stair, and upper story glazing, contrary to statements made in earlier assessments,limited integrity of Design remains. The Setting is the physical environment of a historic property,and refers to the charactet of the site,and the relationship to surrounding features and open space. Setting often rcEets to the basic physical conditions under which a property was built and functions it was intended to setae. These features can be either natural or manmade, including vegetation, paths, fences, and relationship between other features or open space. The Oasis Office Building was designed as a component of the Oasts Hotel Complex, serving not only street traffic, but the hotel guests, as well. It was intended to have four distinct elevations with associ tcd stoxefronts and entrances,visually tied to mtitoate pathways for guests moving between then rooms, pools, and dining building. These relationships no longer remain. The dining building, resort landscaping and surrounding cosmos have been demolished; and the rear storefronts have been unclosed and significantly modified,so as to now appear as a standard tear elevation of a commercial building. T'he building is now clearly oriented merely to Palm Canyon Dave.Hence,it no longer retains integrity of setting. Materials are the physical elements that were combined or deposited during a particular period or tiros, and in particular pattern or configuration to form a historic property. Primary extcdot materials remain in-place in many locations. Some elements however,have been clad with paint or stucco, some stoncworL has been removed, as well as the exterior terrazzo paving materials. The .interior designed by A. Quincy Jones, no longer stqnds. Hence,the matmial integrity is fair. Workmanship is the physical evidence of crafts of a pardcu lu culture or people during any given period of history or prehistory, and can be applied to the propettp as a whole, or to individual cornponertts. Evidence of sltillcd worlunanship in the Oasis Office Building included, the application of the rubble stone in storefronts, the fine detailing of the comer windows, the hardware with teak door handles, mosaic tile on the piloris, the detailed construction of the rear staircase, the refined A_ Quincy Jones interior, and the metal awnings_ Of these features, sonic of the stone remains, although most inset display windows have been to-filled; some of the corner windows remain; two doors retain their original handles; the mosaic tile is no longer visible due to paint applica4on; the rear stair remains unaltered; two of three original awnings remain; but, the Jones' interior has long been removed.As such,the integrity of workmanship has been significantly dimiaisbed, Feeling is a property's expression of the aesthetic or historic sense of a particular period of dr= It results from the pxcsencc of physical features that when tauten togethcx, convey the property's historic character. As such, the feeling of the historic building has been lost with the demolition of the rest buildings and landscaping,and their intetrehtiouship to the Oasis Office Building. The integrity of feeling has further been matted with the significant tewodelisig to this building, and those within its block. The integrity of feeling is therefore fair. Association is the direct link between the important historic event or person and a historic property. As this building is considered significant for architecnixe, as an example of mid- century Intemational Style/Mid-century Modernism, it is not associated with a specific event, or person, but a period of development in the City of Palm Springs. As such, the Oasis Office Building retains integrity of association with the period of mid-century conametcial design and development i VIII. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION Previous evaluadons stated that the Oasis Office Building was significant as I "(1) an interesting example of mid-century modem commercial,nrchitectutc, (2) the building i tepv_sents the overall commerci-d devclopment of downtown Palm Springs from the 1940s to the 1960s, and contributes to the character and scale of the main commercial street (3) Further, the building is the work of master architect, 1 . Stewart Williams, and interior designer,A. Quincy Jones,thus has elevated the significance for its association with a prolific local architect and designer of national prominence. Ibis is an exceptional example of its tppe,period,or method of construction." AltG (although rated it 553-ineligible) i Discussion: (1,2) This building is an interesting example of mid-century lntemational Style (Modern) in Palma Springs and the associated post war development, however it has been � significwtly altered, and no longer retains adequate integnty for individual listing. Better: i examples exist of the style. (3)"There is no confirmation that this building could be prim:ndly attributed to Stewart Williams, rather it appear to have been a collaboration (as had been commonplace) of the local architects, Harry, Roger and Stewart Williams with Albert Trey and John Porter Clark. Bcttcr examples of Williams Williams &Williams buildings remain, including the Coachella Valley savings and Loan at 383 South Palm Canyon, and several award-wi=ing projects. The Oasis Office Building was neither published,nor recognized as outstanding.. Finally, the discussion of the interior by Jones, as irrelevant, as no clement of his design remains in the building. As such, the rating of rated it 5S3 —ineligible, appears Appropriate. McGrew concluded that this building is eDgible for listing in the lord, California, and National Registers as follows: i Criterion 1 Events The badlding azpresents the overall development from she 1940t to the l966s, mar! canh'ibutet to the scale and character of the aty a main cornmemal street.f1s such, it it arrogated=Pft the i puttem of events chat have made a meanb;eul contnbartion to the roeramunity, thereby gleal5mou+it ai 41ble for 6:ete"ng on the local state or National Registries. Ctitc+aon 2: Persons who made meaningful contribution to national, state or local history_ Milton Kteis was (a) figure of importance in California and Palm Springs, and the Oasis Commercial Bvulding was associated with his accomplishments. -Is meh, the building it associated arith a person of importance to the community, thereig ryara4jing it for the local, Calfornia, and National Regirt3ies. i Criteria 3-7: Becu¢se the barilding embodies the dirlinctive characteristics of Palm Spntagr commercial a7rhiter&are, and because it is the work of a moor arebitect, and bccaure ii torsessei high artis<ie nabeer, it quays as eligible far listing oat the local,California,and National Aegislnes." Integrity. "...And while the building has undergone numerous minor alterations since it was built, virtually all of its character-defining featwes swvive, with the exception of the free- standing silhouetted sigtiage.Observable alterations to the street level include replacement of 97 I i i the original teta.azzo flooring and the installation of guardrails that inhibits flow ro the shaded courtyard. The exposed columns with their mosaic the covering have been painted, but at!of these changes are reyerrible. Since one of the historic door pulls survives,replicar eweld be fabricated to replace ntrrang ones- 7ho bu Uhtg retaiatr a b gh degree oj'integrity." I Discussionr Criterion 1 This building is an interesting example of mid-century International Style (Modem) m Palm Springs and the associated post war development; however it has been significautly altered, and no longer retains adequate integrity for individual listing. Better examples exist of the style. I Criterion Z:Although the building housed of a time one of the drugstores operated by Milton Deis,it was neither owned,nor built by him.As such this wmociation is not appropriate for historic sWiicance.Furthermore,nothing remains of the original design of the drugstore. Criteria 3-7: There is no substantiation thar this building can be primarily attributed to Stewart Williams.Rather,it appears to have been a collaboration (as had been commonplace at the time) of the local architects,Harty,Roger and Stewart Williams with Albert Frey and rohaz Porter Clark. Better examples of Williams Williams & Williams buildings terrain, including the Coachella Valley Savings and Loan at 383 SouLh Palm Canyon, and several other av,ud-winning projects. The Oasis Office Budding was neither published, nor tecognized as outstanding- I Integrity: the conclusions reached by McGraw are incorrect, most of the character-defining features no longer remain, and the building lacks the requisite historic integrity- The discussion of reconstnution is irrelevant, as almost anything can be reconstructed. Evaluation of the integrity of a building is based on current conditions,rather that poteatial. In conclusion, although the Oasis Office Building is an. example of the Mid-centruy I International Style in Palm Springs, it is not the best example, and does mot tetam the necessary historic integrity- As it temains unclear as to what direct contributions Stcwmt� Flarsy,or Roger Williams,--ot Albert prey or John Porter Clark,the claim that it is the work of a Master, cannot be substantiated. Berrea• intact examples of the architecture of the Williams family retaain in Palm Springs, including the Coachella Valley Savings and Loan, which possesses similat features to the Oasis. As such, the Oasis Office Building dots not mcct the Ctiteria for listing as a Class I Historic Site. Co.hu i Valley 5nvinp and Loan Building,Rene I I i 13113LXOGRAPI-IY 4 I "1949 The Colony:A Studio Apartment Group-Palm Springs,California",AJr/nlerhrrol Rrmrrl,Nov.1949. pp.124-129, "1956'1ra ms House-Palm Sptiaga,Califomri',I rJArgc(eeEzmmmer ARG."City of I'.'dm Springs Historic Rcemarces Suwcy'2004. The Amrriom Lrstimre oEAmhitects ibrary and Archives,Washington,D-C. A&U&dnrojFmnm,1y54,p208.9 Architectural Record,July 1932.,p.37-39. Architcctued Record,July 1951.p,124126. Auer,Michael,ed.IgiefiomllondLook for7ir/orirBla/r/irr�,r.National Patk Service,1988. Auer,Michael,ed.Ixtcdorr PloxflGookforHuronr➢rujrkgGJ,YoGlmc II.Natiemd Dash Service,1993. ' Blcmccton."Bibliogrnphy on Desert Modernism'. h t . w v LLtrrlmDnI ,�JLti13th�l+tml Bowkcy RR.Amviw#Anhiledt Diaaory.1970. City of Pnlm Springs Building Department Piles City Gf Palm Springs Piauning Department Files Cygelman,Adele.fdfiv Sfirg7Morfern.New Yodc Ri2zo4,1999. "Great Pso'Gln Provides Thas For Oaxi Guests",DmaSrm january 24,1941. + rG err ,Etn/rnli+ r/(Vo rmurG PnrGzrfira r6nr I-7nrv>•IJrirvrdl ranee ru lhr,pnrl Fi(ti57r++,c Depamment of the Inledor,National Pack Service,National Register,M story and Edu'negdon,1979,revised 1990,199G,1998, C,'niAehrerfor Bap/mkn r Douro.titan prefer Armenlrcl miQi.Fig+tyrnar Prr mAe.Departirtent of the LgeC or,National Park Service,National Register,History and Educ,ttion,1989. I Iecmt,Thomas E.,ed.TvemeflwCennrry BnildiggMafena4r,Hi}ay grad Corirrrvu4vn.National Park 5erv4;e/McGraw-Hill. Henderson,Randall."They Learn About the Desert in PaLn Spricgs"Desert Ma nf�i�iine,February 1959.p.12-13. FIe�,Alan and Andrew Dauish Palm Spnugs Weekend.Chronicle Books,2001 Hisixwk photmgmphs,Palm Spcinge I-atcrical Soacry. 'TIotel has cash flow problem"DarenSng.October 6,1981 "Ilotel the Oasis".Daie Spp,February 14,1941. apol,H-Ward.P/Efe j6R i18:.RehaGrfrfmii Igfmorr in 1-ruktir Br ISs r Iriznti rn CGrrnuJrr-De n Elunsnh.National J Bef '8 g h' L frp;p Pack Service,7988. Julius Shulman Photographic Collection Sholmau Sens IC Architects 1936-1999,Box 1S4 Folder 15,1953 Williams, Williams&'1Yldbntna:Oasis Office Building 6oh 1525).Getty Research lmdraie Julius Shulman Photographic Collection:Shulman Seoes IC Architects 19315.1999,Boa 156 Polder 13,1953 Wilhams, %Uoms&Whams:Oasis Office Building(lob 1523).Getty Research Insdtnte Painoka,Wtkc 'TS PLwucne Rcicrt Hotel Project Aid",Desert Sun.Ocrobee 13,1977 Library of Congtcss,IIABS/I•IAP12 Collection Morton,W.Brown III.The Secretary of the Interior's Su rrdatds For Rehabilitation with Illustrated Guidelhnce for Rchabiliwkg Historic Buildings.National Pack Service,1992, National Park Service,"Secretary of the Interior's Srandaeds for Evaluatiou' Nnfimo-d pn:P Se'ire 797E l7i is rmzz imrl•-Department of Gic lowoor,National Pack Scrvice.Ndson,Lee H, Preservation Brief 17:Azebitectm:d Chamerer-Identifying the Viettal Aspects of 14rsto4c Buildings as an Aid to Preserving Their Chametcc,National Park Service,1988."Norea on Cburch Design",Aechitcetural Forum-December 1949. "Oasis Motel Complete Improvements".Desert Sun.Pollruary 14,1941- "Oeisi;Hotel Pinally Sold" Desert Sun,July 14,1969. "Oasis Hotd Opera Nev Addition",Descci,Son.Octaher 16,1964- "Oas4 Hotel Sold;also Bueincss Blocdt',Desert Sam-July 14,1968- Ohit,E.Stew.nt Williams,The Dmea San,September 18,2005. Palm Springs City Council Resolution No.15424 "Palm Springs cleats way for city's f r skysertpm'Pzess-13aterprise.Joly 28,1963 Palm Spring Preservation Fdm E,Srm=Williams;, A Tributc to His Life and Work,Novemhet 2005, Palm Springs fidsmriod Society Arcbive� Parr,]ode,"fkehileehrral Icon:E,Stewart Williaina'.Cife is Built on Modcw rlrchitectum."The DeAar Sum,November 16, 2003 Patcnaude,Richard E.Staff Report to Mswiic Site Presr tion Boud January 14,1985 Paysoer,Mcholaus.A 7d'irary vfBr0,Z Ty es Oxford:Oxford Ilniversily Press,1997. Pidorin/Livfgdlvlgga.Zigc,March 22,1959,pP.10.11. Pnserarng the Re"IPwr IIPPF,1995. Pmtemgg be Frs d Pal I-WEF,2000. Prickly Peas 619:Intervicw With Roger and Stewart Williams "Resosr Pire Pmrf•Lglerprur.October 73,1992- - "Safety Award",DeRdSrm,January 9,1981, Schenk&Williams.http://wrow,emporis tom/en/td/cm/lid=schttukwilliaros<laytan-rah-user I "The New IIotel Oas+s",Pali Spnagv V&Scr.January 1953. "The New O:=s",Palm Sprirgy Vrlkgn-October 1952, Willams,L.$must."FAIA Awed Luncheon TaW,.May 17,1999. Tmppin,Aadrez"Once tIpoe a Umc in the West"bp.Modemism M: zine.Sp&g 2005 w1aw+s,Williams&Williams.First Floosliekleeh:d Ceiling Plan,dated Oetabc 15,1952,revised January 22,1953. Williams,Williams,&Wiliazes.Second Floor Plnr,dated Octabu:15,1952,revised January 22,1953. Williams,Williams&WiWams.South H21f of First Floor,dared October 14,195:,revised January 12,1953. Wr ghf,-Lloyd.Copies of Working Drswiogs for Hacienda(Oasib Hutt),Oc-toba 14,1923 Woo,Pdame.'?-�,steWeut Williams,95,DeSned 91etlF W:urm Stylc of Desert Arcb¢t[ture,I os Angeles Times,October 15, 2005 1925 photograph,Palm Speings SXi W4 al Calendar,1985 "Brief]jstoty of the I lotel Industry".hap://wmw2.rlw.ttu.edu/blum/history/ bmr.//ru v.hikftron.edu/— y-IVnl 11111 .hluffton.edu nWvanm mryalxcnnis/cppjg,h 4 I[ r//www.lnr.guv/cxlvLin/tticylres/InOOV.hfml lly(p•U_vnu.art-htrn r�m(�Ch1LCwct/Jt4cA1.MI_l)J1L �+ytp;(f vw.laukay cam/I.IrndW6211th tm htrp://w.vw I;isleav,,,,rom[lathu /I/Inphnrn/1.WdpJ1i�.0 ine Appendix A: Biography of E. Stewart Williams i E.(F=t1son)Stewart Wiluams November 15,1909 Bow Dayton,OR to Flatly&Tlna Williams 1928 Graduated&am Stecic High School,Dayton,OR 1933 Bachelor of Architecture degree,Cornell University 1934 Master of Architecture degree,University of Pconsylvankt 1934-8 Ins Lmetor Bard College R{ d"A 2VIaeJndeforL.:mg"I.r.CurbaPward7•parelra —Gmpvter 1918 Eutopmu Grand Tour 1939-41 Dmagh tsman,Raymond Locwy,NYC June 30,1940 Married Mari Schyltern,Woodstock,NY 1942-1946 Nivy:Mace Island Naval Yard,SF(supervised dry dock,construction) Note:Licensure application states 19441-1943 Schenk&Wrlhams,Dayton 1946-1950 Draughtsman,I:Iany Williams Architect,15AD SpMas August25,1949 Passed California.Aschitectuee Liceuwcc Exam (Crewe#1194) Ocrober,18,1950 Membership American Institute of Archtrecta granted .l'rol7ored/y.F7enry L);ggen (a likely Cornell clds vate ru he.rtrded familiarity vilfi Sto2vart for22yeaa)and hir ,fatba,7rany 1950-1957 Williams Williams&Wilhams 1957-1969 Williams&Williams January 1,1966 Thusferred AIA membership Itoin the Southern California Chapter to the newly- formed Inland California Chapter 1969-1988 Williams Clark&Williams c1985 Roger Williams and John Clark Raire 1988 ATA Etnctitus states 4s granted ;S'rmv-ut works out of hio home 1999 Admitted into the American Institute of Architects'College of Fellows Died 2005 Childrm Geoffrey Williatus Mari Anne Pasgoaletti Eric Williams _ yW4 Appendix B: Original Flans of the Oasis Office Building - 10S i I i _ -'F:''""'h'S �•.a xrs-,sf. 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Y:t),"j+.P• - �.1';�e` `.':' 'w'•d,'�.�•!'�S:�S.NS�i Ply:^"•y1'�-�Y I��'fM)�j`i �;�.,ai.�, -ii'I ir�ih�'�t��•�r, +"� ..%;�"�7 J°�'i1��t e+��11(�a'• TUF OASIS OFFICE BUILDING PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA AN ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE AND HISTORIC INTEGRITY Fecpuad by Andrea Urbas,N Arch 700 E.Redlands Blvd,Ste.U-149,Redlands,CA 92373 36CFR6Iywi46nd i�FL,taac Axehimew;4 Axclutc=t;Afchacctat2 History,Hismry,Cons+ m6on,Cw t+m,I•liswdc Preservation and I-I l c'c P[ae bon Plonnmg T .jz fii 14 ...... Aqericy;,2.­` 1,; . Primary$ 8�AA 1 , A ' jI 4 A L �I' � M,A , IV "I Date" ..,..... Page I of 3 Resource Name or (Assigned by recorder) Oasis Commercial Building P1.Other Identifier: offices of architects Williams, Williams,and Williams P2.Location: E]Not for Publication 0 Unrestricted a.County Fiversicte and(p2b and 132c or P2d.Attach a Location Map as necessary.) b.USGS 7.5'Quad Palm Springs Date 1996 T R 114 of 1/4 of See B.M. c. Address 101-121 South Palm Canyon Orive City _Palm Springs Zip 92262 d.UTM: (Give more than one for large and/or linear resources) Zone 11 mE/ mN a.other Localional Data: (e.g.,parcel 11,directions to resource,elevation,etc.,as appropriate) City of Palm Springs Section 15 Parcel No. 513 143 009 Pia.Description:(Describe resource and Its major elements.Include design,materials condition,alterations,size,selling,and boundaries) Originally constructed as the Oasis Commercial Building,this elegant two-story building was designed in a Modern architecture[ style by architect Stewart Williams,with inlenors by A. QuIncyJones and was built as an expansion of the adjacent Oasis Hotel to the south. Occupying a prominent corner of Palm Springs main commercial street, [he building has a general rectangular shaped plan with a central courtyard, a recessed ground floor and a series of ground-floor concrete columns and piers that provide additional support to the buildings second-story. Upper floors were designed as office space with retail on the ground floor. This building housed the offices of architects Williams. Williams,and Williams on the second floor 21 the northeast corner. Exterior building materials consist of smooth stucco for the exterior walls,meal-framed window wall sections,and vertically hung corrugated metal panels with metal posts forming the second floor"piano nubile"on the cast, street-facing elevation. FiRnIRStralion consists of a serves of metal framed window wall sections for the first and second floors,and an expansive horizontally placed ribbon window composed of three rows each containing 19 S12QJ sash panes is set into the north facade The rear of the building is accessed via an exterior broad metal staircase ascending to second floor office spaces Overall,the building appears to be in good condition, although somewhat altered from [lie original design. 3b. Resource Attributes: HPO- 1-3 Story Commercial Building P4.Resources Present; 0 Building E Structure El Object D Site E]District (-_]Element ofDistract Pr5a. Photo or Drawing(Photo required for buildings,structures,and objects) P5b_Description of Photo; (View,Vi date,accession 4) ew Southwest .3 August2005 , ,P',�'­, r,J 7, , P6. Date Constructed/Age and Sources: Historic FJ Prehistoric [-I Both @ 1 1924: Palm Springs]-ISPB List (1987) for Oasis Tower p P7. Owner and Address; Oasis Group ttiki'jiiq 45175 Panorama Or #E Vi Palm Desert,CA 92200 0.1 Pit. Recorded by: MalQy/Petrinfrinsloy/Watsion Architectural Resources Group Pier 9, The Embarcadero San Francisco, CA 94111 "n, P9 Date Recorded: August 2003 1310.Suriiey Type(Describe) xv- Reconnaissance Survey P11.Report Citation:(Cite survey report and other sources,or enter"none.") Architectural Resources Group. City of Palm Springs Historic Resources Survey Summary Report,2004, attachments: EJ None Z Continuation shoot E]District Record El Rock An Record C]Other(List) E]Location Map Z Building, Structure, and Object Record E]Linear Feature Record El Artifact Record Sketch Map 0 Archaeological Record D Milling Station Record 0 Photograph Record DPR 523A(1/95) Stag o[�Galrforl�aI�-;The Resources Agency Primary ff� y ,U , i i'OrFP:4F11�$ANDRECKE.ATIO _'_il�;,F1Rl �'" BlM4Eb1Rd`; 57 '0TU,R`Ea;` ':'1r, r+, w . '.'r: ";nkl',ius'p�<r u.,e)�.lav ly+'r- qb,+1'�hlrt.,,.1 f, �,r�l' :,r:•, 10„ i,, +C, Ige 2 of 3 NRHP Status Code 553 Resource Name or H:(Assigned by recorder) Oasis Commercial Building ^� B1. Historic Name: Kreis Drugstore Building/Oasis Room ---- 52. Common Name: Oasis Commercial Building - B3.Original Use: Commercia% ^ ^ t34. Present Use• Commercial •._ S5.Architectural Style: mid-century Modern B6.Construction History:(Constnichon dale,altcrallons,and date of alterations) m_ _ This building was constructed in ig52. B7. Moved? Z No C]Yes ❑Unknown Date: Original Location: 38. Related Features: _ Exterior seating area Bga.Architect: E Stewart Williams,Interiors by A. Quincy Jones b. Builder: Unknown B10,Significance: Theme commercial architecture/deyelopment Area Palm Springs •_"��� —__—_— Period of Significance 1940-1960 ­ Property Type commercial building Applicable Criteria A, C •� (Discuss importance in terms of historical or architectural context as defined by therne,penod,and geographic scope.Also address Integrhy.) •• For centuries the habitat of the Aqua Caliente band of Cahuilla Indians, Palm Springs,site of natural hot springs and sunny desert climate,drew its first non-Indian visitors in the late 19th century. For reasons of improved health and recuperation, the first settlers established early hotels and inns.Not until 1938 did the village o1 Palm Springs incorporate, setting out a gridded street plan and zoning controls. By then Palm Springs had already acquired an identity as a winter retreat for Hollywood stars and the wealthy, as evidenced by the exclusive older neighborhoods of Old Las Palmas, the Movie Colony Lillle Tuscany,and the Tennis Club quarter, initially built for winter residents. Defined by elegant, grand architecture in predominantly Spanish and Mediterranean styles, these and other neighborhoods were later filled in with mid-century Modern homes by the end of the 19603 ,During the post-WWII era, the City of Palm Springs prospered, relying on tourism, resorts,and the appeal of golf, tennis,polo, and other sports to fuel the economy During the Palm Springs heyday, tourists and Hollywood discovered the desert oasis and lull-scale holels,smaller inns,nightclubs and restaurants prospered. Concurrently, from the 1940s through the 1960s, Palm Springs was transformed into an increasingly urban environment,building schools, hospitals and an airport and other civic amenities, The commercial core of the City,long concentrated along the main thoroughfares of Palm Canyon Drive and Indian Canyon Drive, flourished. Expanding residential development began in the early 1960s when large tracts of popular, reasonably priced Modemist-style homes were constructed by Jack Meiselman and later, George and Robert Alexander throughout Palm Springs Tract subdivision development was followed by the establishment of condominiums initially as second-homes in the 1960s, (See Continuation Sheet) 811,Additional Resource Attributes: HP6- 1-3 Story Commercial Building 1312. References: - Architectural Resources Group, City of palm Springs I-lisforle (Sketch Map with north arrow required.) Resources Survey Summary Report, 2004. (report contains full bibliography) B13. Remarks: `YL"lF�ra121rtiir q ddanCf,r�i.�Iiro. , il! duh w,) P c Maley/Petrin/TmsleyMlatson �—• P,ii=,aec B14,Evaluator: Architectural Resources Group ��y,,.W�n N�- - •p,„,,,L�,*,�;,d��W„a�.w,,y^ Date of Evaluation: August 2003 �� +�r'F,�'i, `�'�'iI NS W(VlA mM1 Um PaDe•-•_N t�o 3�e`rr_�r'Y LLm rP. L_Arenaa FJ Dr (This space reserved for official comments,) •" Iimn_ 5 a ca�i'�Ilif,rk n _ryI ��• �I?'f,W undn�Y'6t1;er I ., EF MolM \LIDRT Miwrn ioa.szaol.Hti.lhs-'Nrnnaf>apa.'. '_.>_ 'r: DPR 523E(1/95) _a�� i. d 1 StateA -afilRe" r.he Res0ur66,gA9e6,bV, Primary# ........... rlk, . ...... AFO 7, Ji��R I ONN 1 1 15i 'E EXT."I" ,ge 3 of 3 Resource Name or#:(Assigned by recorder) Oasis Commercial Building Recorded by M@Iey/Putrin/TinslayfWatsorArch, Resources Group Date August 2003 Continuation ❑Update Bi 0. Significance Continued The budding originally known as the Milton F. Kreis Drugstore reflects the context of commercial development in this area from the 19409 to the 1960s. The building was built in 1948. The structure retains a good degree of integrity,despite minor necessary changes relating to storefront modification, !-a-railings abutting the sidewalk for outdoor seating areas. The location, seulng, design, materials,workmanship,feeling, and association appear to remain unchanged since the building was constructed The commercial complex at 101.121 South Palm Canyon appears to meet the level of significance necessary for individual National Register of Historic Places or California Register of Historical Resources eligibility at the local level. An interesting example of mid-century modern commercial architecture,the building represents the overall commercial development of downtown Palm Springs from the 1940s to the 1960s and contributes to the character and scale of the main commercial street Further,the building is the work of master architect, E.Stewart Williams. and interior designer,A.Quincy Jones,thus has an elevated level of significance for its association with a prolific local architect and designer of national prominence. This is an exceptional example of its type, period,or method of construction. Becauseof 1he building's visual quality, history,intact selling,and high integrity, and as an outstanding example of commercial architecture,the building represents the overall commercial development of downtown Palm Springs during the post-war era and contributes to the mid-century modernist character so strongly identified with Palm Springs. 7. nnn C11. 11 Inc) F PALM Sp City of Palm Springs V y h I Office of the City Clerk coP'owa*E° 3200 I:..Tduluiu Crayon Way • Palm Spungs, California 92281 CAL/FOR4\P leL (760) 323-8204 • roc (760) i22-8332 • Web. www.palmspnggs-ca.,ov NOTICE OF CONTINUANCE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Regular Meeting of September 16, 2009, Public Hearing Item No. 1.D. DESIGNATION OF THE OASIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING AT 101-121 S. PALM CANYON DRIVE AS A CLASS 1 HISTORIC SITE (HSPB 66) By a unanimous vote of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs the public hearing was continued to Wednesday, November 4, 2009, Council Chamber, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, at 6:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as possible. AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING State of California ) County of Riverside ) ss. City of Palm Springs ) I, James Thompson, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, California, certify this Notice of Continuance was posted at or before 6-30 p.m„ October 8, 2009, as required by established _ policies and procedures. mes Thompson City Clerk NOTICE OF CONT-Oasis Comm Bldg 10.07-09.doc } t7 Post Office Box 2743 0 Palm Springs, California 92263-2743 1