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Home My WebLink About23602 RESOLUTION NO. 23602 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 370 WEST ARENAS ROAD, THE TOWN & DESERT APARTMENTS, (CURRENTLY KNOWN AS "THE HIDEAWAY") AS A CLASS 1 HISTORIC SITE, (HSPB #90). WHEREAS, on March 17, 2014, Wahoo Cal Hotels, LLC, (owners) in collaboration with the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation (PSPF), submitted an application pursuant to municipal Code Section 8.05.00 seeking Class 1 Historic designation of The Town & Desert Apartments (hereinafter "T&DA"), (currently known as "The Hideaway'), located at 370 West Arenas Road; and WHEREAS, Chapter 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code allows for the designation of historic sites; and WHEREAS, the subject site is located on a roughly 20,155 square foot lot in the Tennis Club Neighborhood; and WHEREAS, the subject small hotel was designed by Herbert Burns, a local architectural designer whose commissions in and around Palm Springs contributed to the local vernacular architectural style that emerged during the postwar period, which has become known as "Desert Modern", for which Palm Springs has become internationally recognized; and WHEREAS, the T&DA was recognized nationally in a 1948 edition of Architectural Record magazine in an article entitled, "California Hide-Away, Motel Style" and numerous other nationally circulated publications and books about motel and hotel architecture; and WHEREAS, the T&DA stands as a meticulously preserved and maintained example of Burns' work and its character-defining features include: • emphasized low roof profile and horizontal lines, • thin fascia on cantilevered eaves, • integration of bris-soliel sun control devices and thin round vertical pipe columns accenting the entry to the owners' unit, • Burns' "signature" thin, second fascia placed just below the eave and overhang of the cantilevered roof, • vertical piers and accent panels of ledgestone /sandstone, • the steel-sash corner casement windows, • the angled "end panel" at the secondary eave (along the front fagade) and • the lush expansive lawn are surrounding a large swimming pool; and Resolution No. 23602 Page 2 WHEREAS, the non-contributing elements of the site include the following: • ground-face concrete block garden walls • brushed-aluminum front entry gate. • Conversion of the original garage to living space; and WHEREAS, the T&DA is associated with Herbert and Gayle Burns, who arrived in Palm Springs in 1946, owned and operated the Town & Desert Apartments from its construction through 1954 and were active in local civic and social life in Palm Springs the remainder of their lives; and WHEREAS, a notice of public hearing of the Historic Site Preservation Board to consider a recommendation for Class 1 historic designation of the T&DA was issued in accordance with applicable law; and WHEREAS, on June 10, 2014, the Historic Site Preservation Board conducted a public hearing on the subject application in accordance with applicable law; and WHEREAS, The Historic Site Preservation Board 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, and all written and oral testimony presented and voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council designate The Town & Desert Apartments as a Class 1 historic site; and WHEREAS, a notice of public hearing of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, California to consider a recommendation for Class 1 historic designation of the Town & Desert Apartments was issued in accordance with applicable law; and WHEREAS, on July 2, 2014, the City Council conducted a public hearing on the subject application in accordance with applicable law; and WHEREAS, the City Council 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, and all written and oral testimony. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1: REQUIRED FINDINGS The City Council finds that the purpose of the Historic Preservation chapter of the City's Municipal Code is furthered by designation of The Town & Desert apartments as a Class 1 historic site. The purpose of the Historic Preservation chapter of the Municipal Code is outlined in PSMC 8.05.010: This chapter is adopted pursuant to the authority of (California) Government Code Section 37361 for the purpose of preserving areas and specific buildings of Resolution No. 23602 Page 3 the city which reflect elements of its cultural, social, economic, political, architectural, 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. (Ord.140 §) The Town & Desert Apartments meets the definition of a historic site as follows: Definition of an Historic Site. Section 8.05.020 of the Municipal Code provides the definition of a historic site as follows. The site has been evaluated against this definition and the conclusions of that evaluation are provided below: (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. The T&DA is significant because of its design, setting, and aesthetic effect, and the following specific qualities pursuant to the definition of a historic site: 1. That reflects or exemplifies a particular period of the national, state or local history; or The T&DA possesses many of the distinctive characteristics, detailing, and styling of the post-war period of development of resort-based architecture in Palm Springs, when local developers, hoteliers, homeowners and merchants embraced the simple bold, clean lines of the Modern period of architecture, and adapted it to the intense desert climate. 2. That embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction; The T&DA is a well-preserved and maintained example of the postwar "desert modern vernacular" architecture, emphasizing leisure and outdoor enjoyment, capitalizing on the views and vistas of the nearby mountains and simple architectural detailing that have become notable features of the Palm Springs Mid-century Modern period. 3. That presents the work of a master builder, designer, artist, or architect whose individual genius influenced his age; or that possesses high artistic value; The TD&A is an intact, readily identified example of the work of Herbert Burns, an architectural designer whose work possesses high artistic value and incorporates many "Trademark" design elements. Resolution No. 23602 Page 4 SECTION 2: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT In accordance with Section 15331 (Historical Resources Restoration/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 (Class 31 Categorical Exemption). NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that, based upon the foregoing, the City Council does hereby designate the entire property located at 370 West Arenas Road, "The Town & Desert Apartments", as a Class 1 Historic Site, subject to the following conditions: 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. 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 requirements of the Palm Springs Zoning Code shall be met. 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 2nd day of July, 2014 David H. Ready anager ATTEST: ames Thompson, City Clerk Resolution No. 23602 Page 5 CERTIFICATION STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss. CITY OF PALM SPRINGS ) I, JAMES THOMPSON, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that Resolution No. 23602 is a full, true and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs on July 2, 2014 by the following vote: AYES: Councilmember Foat, Councilmember Mills, Councilmember Lewin and Mayor Pougnet. NOES: None. ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tem Hutcheson. ABSTAIN: None. c ames Thompson, City Clerk City of Palm Springs, California