HomeMy WebLinkAbout23963 RESOLUTION NO. 23963
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING THE
SANDCLIFF GARDEN APARTMENT HOMES
CONDOMINIUMS AS HISTORIC DISTRICT NO. 5 AND
ADCPT:NG A CLASS 31 CATFGORICAL EXEMP-i [ON
UNDER CEQA FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1800
BARONA ROAD (CASE HSPB 93/HD 5).
THE CITY COUNCIL FINDS AND DETERMINES AS FOLLOWS:
A. Chapter 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code allows for the designation of
historic sites and districts.
B. The Sandcliff Garden Apartment Homes Homeowners Association (SGAH) in
conjunction with the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation (PSPF) filed an application
with the City for historic district designation of the Sandcliff Garden Apartment Homes
condominium complex pursuant to PSMC Chapter 8.05. The application included a
historic resources report about the complex dated March 15, 2015.
C. In May 2015, members of the Historic Site Preservation Board (HSPB)
conducted guided site inspections of the proposed historic district accompanied by City
staff.
D. A significant number of unit owners within the Sandcliff Garden Apartment
Homes (SGAH) condominium association have indicated their support of the proposed
historic district designation.
E. A notice of a public hearing of the Historic Site Preservation Board of the City of
Palm Springs to consider designation of the Sandcliff complex was issued in
accordance with applicable law.
F. On May 12, 2015, the HSPB conducted a public hearing in accordance with
applicable law to consider designation of the Sandcliff Garden Apartment
Condominiums as a historic district and at said hearing voted to recommend that the
City Council designate the Sandcliff Garden Apartment Condominiums (Case HSPB
#93) as historic district #HD-5.
G. A notice of a public hearing of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs to
consider historic district designation of the Sandcliff complex was issued in accordance
with applicable law.
Resolution No. 23963
Page 2
H. On February 3, 2016, the City Council conducted a public hearing in accordance
with applicable law to consider historic district designation of the Sandcliff Garden
Apartment Condominiums.
I. The proposed histcrc distri. ; des gr,ation ;s resnsidereo a-pro;eci pursuant tc trtc
terms of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has been determined to
be Categorically Exempt from further evaluation under CEQA as a Class 31 exemption
(historic resources restoration / rehabilitation) pursuant to Section 15331 of the CEQA
Guidelines.
J. Pursuant to Municipal Code Section 8.05.160, the City Council, in evaluating a
historic district application, must find that the designation of the site or district supports
or furthers the purpose of the historic preservation ordinance. As stated in Section
8.05.010, "Purpose and Authority" the Historic Preservation ordinance is
"...For the purpose of preserving areas and specific buildings of the city
which reflect elements of its cultural, social, economic, political,
architectural and archaeological history. This chapter is intended to
stabilize and improve buildings, structures or areas which are considered
to be of historical, architectural, archaeological or ecological value, to
foster civic beauty, to strengthen the local economy and to promote the
use of specific buildings for the education and welfare of the citizens."
The Sandcliff Garden Apartment Condominium complex (SGAC) reflect elements of the
City's cultural and architectural history as explained in the defining criteria outlined
below including being representative of a particular period in local history and
embodying distinctive characteristics of a building type and architectural style. The
proposed designation of the Sandcliff complex as a historic district is supported
because it imbues aspects of the cultural, social, economic and architectural history
and development of the City. It possesses a high-degree of integrity in terms of its
ability to convey its historic significance in the context of the social and physical
development of Palm Springs and the modern period of architecture for which Palm
Springs is well known. Therefore the proposed historic district designation conforms to
the required finding.
K. Pursuant to Municipal Code Chapter 8.05.020 ('Definitions'), in order for an area
within the City to be considered for possible historic district designation, it must contain
a number of structures, natural features or sites that possess "...historic, architectural,
archaeological, cultural or aesthetic significance.".
The City Council finds that the Sandcliff Garden Apartment Condominiums Historic
District possesses a number of structures and features that possess historic,
Resolution No. 23963
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architectural, cultural and aesthetic significance as defined in the following criteria
outlined in PSMC 8,05.020:
Criteria #3. That reflects or exemplifies a particular period of the
nations,. :tat_- crlooalhi.;'or✓• _
The buildings within the proposed Sandcliff Historic District reflect the Modern Period in
local architectural history; specifically the period of significance proposed is from the
early 1950's to the late 1960's. It was during this period that the City of Palm Springs,
in response to rapid population growth following World War II, studied the inventory of
housing types that existed in the city and began establishing more multi-family zoning
designations in many of the open, undeveloped parts of the city. This in turn
encouraged a greater variety of housing types, including garden style apartments to be
developed.
The development of the garden apartments at Sandcliff are a response to the
significant increases in growth in population that Palm Springs was experiencing after
World War II and the shortage of high quality, affordable housing stock. As noted on
page 10 of the historic resource report, from 1950 to 1956, the population in Palm
Springs grew by an astonishing 60%. The City responded to this dramatic increase in
population by creating more medium and high-density residential zones and in turn,
developers responded by producing literally hundreds of garden style homes and multi-
family apartment and condominium complexes. The FHA began to insure mortgages
on condominium developments in 1961, making the financing of "apartment homes"
affordable and attractive to a growing number of families and individuals.
Criteria 4. That embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type,
period or method of construction;
The buildings in the proposed Sandcliff Historic District reflect a low-cost approach to
home construction. Stripped of ornament, high quality finishes, expensive details or
lavish materials, the developers of the homes at Sandcliff focused their resources on
providing technological features that were advanced for their time, and amenities such
as built-in sound systems, built in-kitchen gadgets, contemporary appliances, air
conditioning and sunken tubs.
Buyers in the early 1960's in Palm Springs were comparing features and value of the
post-and-beam construction common in the housing tracts that the Alexander
Construction Company began in the mid-1950's with the conventional "stick-built" frame
construction of the Sandcliff homes; which were typically better insulated, offered larger
kitchens with more gadgets, appliances and storage. Not only does the construction
typology of Sandcliff reflect the market demand at that time for convenience and "state-
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of-the-art" gadgetry, it is also reflective of the fiercely competitive nature of producing
affordable housing. That which wasn't essential for convenience or comfort within the
proposed units was stripped away, leaving the physical architecture of the buildings
simple, clean, and uncluttered. During the period in which Sandcliff was built, modern
architecture, with Its IcsG is mailtra was ernbraoeHr b,,< �OJP uev°aiope'� seeking tc
maximize profits and home-buyers seeking to minimize the time and effort required for
maintenance and upkeep.
L. The boundaries of the proposed historic district are Barona Road on the west,
Sandcliff Road on the north and east, and Morongo Trail on the south.
M. The Sandcliff Garden Home Apartment Condominiums Historic District's period
of significance is roughly from the early 1950's to the mid-1960's.
N. The context within which the Sandcliff Garden Home Apartment Condominiums
Historic District is identified with the post-World War II growth of Palm Springs as a
worldwide vacation and resort destination. The period following World War II saw
increasing seasonal and permanent population in Palm Springs and from a 1950's
report on the housing stock of the City it was determined that a shortage of affordable
homes existed. Many areas in the City were re-zoned from low-density to medium and
high-density residential zones to encourage an increase in production of different
housing stock options.
O. Contributing. Non-Contributing, and Defining Historic Characteristics or Elements
The physical character-defining features of this site include the following:
1. The strong horizontal roof planes of all buildings and structures on the
site, emphasized by the thin fascia of the roof structure and deep patio
overhangs, interspersed with simple rectilinear volumes of the kitchens
which protrude above the roof fascia to provide visual balance to the
overall composition.
2. Narrow natural-anodized aluminum-frame windows and sliding glass
doors.
3. The variety of concrete screen block privacy walls at patios and terraces.
4. The lightly raked stucco accent panels above and below the kitchen
windows.
The contributing elements of the complex are recommended as follows:
1. All residential structures within the Sandcliff complex are recommended to
be designated as Contributing Structures and individually treated as
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Class 1 historic structures pursuant to Section 8.05.125 of the Palm
Springs Municipal Code.
2. The swimming pool and pool cabana structure are recommended for
designation as Contributing Structures and treated as Class 1 historic
strurt :;es.
The non-contributing elements are recommended as follows:
1. The driveways, carports and service areas along Sandcliff road.
2. The common area landscape.
3. Any new or modified privacy walls, canopies, shade trellises, surface
mounted conduit, antenna, satellite dishes, floor tile at patios, screen
doors of varying designs, steel picket gates of varying designs, vinyl
replacement windows and doors.
P. Integrity. The factor of integrity, while not a requirement of the Municipal Code
Findings, is a factor that is considered in applications made to the National Trust for
Historic Places and in certain state historic designations. The report concludes that the
buildings within the proposed Sandcliff historic district have undergone limited
alterations and that most of the character-defining features survive. Thus, the sites
within the district retain a high degree of historic integrity.
Q. The specific parcels proposed for inclusion in the Sandcliff Historic District are as
follows:
Assessor Parcel Numbers 510-040-001 to 040 and the common lot -041
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
HEREBY RESOLVES:
Based upon the foregoing, the City Council hereby designates the Sandcliff Garden
Apartment Condominiums located at 1800 South Barona Road and as bounded by
Barona Road, East Sandcliff Drive, South Sandcliff Drive and, Morongo Trail , Palm
Springs, California, as "HSPB #93, Historic District#HD-5."
1. The property owner shall permit the City to place a historic marker of the City's
choosing at the site. 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.
Resolution No, 23963
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2. All future modifications of the existing structures, as well as, any new buildings
proposed on the site shall require HSPB review pursuant Municipal Code
Ordinance 8.05.180.
3- All rmquiremanw cf ti a be nldi.
4. That the City Clerk submits the Council Resolution to the County recorder for
recordation within 90 days of the effective date of this resolution.
5. Any alterations or modifications to the exterior approved prior to the designation
of this site by the City Council shall be considered legal, non-conforming only as
to Section 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code.
ADOPTED THIS 3RD DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2016.
r
ATTEST: David H. Ready, Ci a r
mes Thompson, City Clerk
Resolution No. 23963
Page 7
CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RI`dFRtil;)E- 1
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, JAMES THOMPSON, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, California, do
hereby certify that Resolution No. 23963 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 the 3'd
day of February, 2016, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmember Foat, Councilmember Kors, Councilmember Roberts,
Mayor Pro Tern Mills, and Mayor Moon.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
es Thompson, City Clerk
ity of Palm Springs, Californ / /Za t 6