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HomeMy WebLinkAbout23288 RESOLUTION NO. 23288 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 333-343 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE (J.W. ROBINSONS DEPARTMENT STORE / ROBINSONS SPECIALTY SHOPS / THE ALLEY BUILDING) AS A CLASS 1 HISTORIC SITE (HSPB 84). WHEREAS, Chapter 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code allows for the designation of historic sites; and WHEREAS, on July 10, 2012, the Historic Site Preservation Board initiated an investigation to determine if the property at 333-343 S. Palm Canyon Drive (J.W. Robinsons Department Store / Robinsons Specialty Shops / 'The Alley") should be designated a historic site; and WHEREAS, on November 13, 2012, the Historic Site Preservation Board conducted a public hearing in accordance with applicable law to consider designation of the property at 333-343 S. Palm Canyon Drive as a historic site; and WHEREAS, upon completion of said hearing and after considering all materials and testimony presented on the matter, the HSPB adopted Resolution #84 to recommend to City Council designation of the property located at 333-343 S. Palm Canyon Drive as a Historic Site, Class 1; and WHEREAS, notice of a public hearing of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs to consider designation of the property located at 333-343 S. Palm Canyon Drive as a Historic Site, Class 1 was issued in accordance with applicable law; and WHEREAS, on January 16, 2013 the City Council conducted a public hearing in accordance with applicable law to consider designation of the property located at 333- 343 S. Palm Canyon Drive as a Historic Site, Class 1; and WHEREAS, the designation of the property located at 333-343 S. Palm Canyon Drive as a Historic Site, Class 1 shall further the purpose and intent of Chapter 8.05 and promotes the sensitive preservation of said site; and WHEREAS, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the designation of a historic site is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15331 for the preservation of historical resources; and WHEREAS, the City Council has carefully reviewed and considered all of the evidence in connection with the designation, including but not limited to the staff report, application and historical research, all written and oral testimony presented and notes the following: Resolution No. 23288 Page 2 1. In 1958, the J.W. Robinsons Department Store / Robinson's Specialty Shop ("Robinson's"), now "The Alley", was constructed (with an addition in 1972) on a flat, rectangular lot at the south-west corner of S. Palm Canyon Drive and Baristo Road, and with a site address of 333-343 S. Palm Canyon Drive; and 2. The Robinson's building was recognized as significant from the time of its original construction, including a "First Honor Award" from the American Institute of Architects in 1958 and significant mention in the March 1958 issue of Architectural Forum; and 3. The defining characteristics of this building include: • A pavilion-style building elevated from street level by four horizontal concrete steps; • A glassed-in, well-lighted east elevation functioning as a display window; • Clerestory windows in the center of the building; • Broad roof overhangs supported by 4-inch finned steel pipe columns; • Cylindrical spun-aluminum exterior lighting fixtures; • Gold-anodized aluminum fascia • Concrete decorative tile fascia in a three-dimensional horizontal diamond pattern on three elevations THE CITY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY RESOLVE: SECTION 1: Pursuant to CEQA, the City Council finds that the designation of the property at 333-343 S. Palm Canyon Drive (Robinsons / "The Alley") as a Class 1 historic site is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15331 whereby this designation is for the preservation of a historical resource. SECTION 2: Pursuant to Section 8.05.020 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code, the City Council does hereby make the following findings regarding the property at 333-343 S. Palm Canyon Drive (Robinsons / "The Alley") to support designation as a Class One historic site: 1. The stated purpose and authority of the Historic Resources ordinance are furthered by this proposed designation. a. As a complete and largely intact example of the mid-century department store rendered in the modernist style, the J.W. Robinson's Department Store / Robinsons Specialty Shops holds an important place in the City's architectural and social history. b. The designation will help with future stabilization and improvement of the building as it can promote the preservation of the building in its original configuration and design. Resolution No. 23288 Page 3 c. Designation of the building will foster civic beauty, strengthen the local economy and improve the citizens' education of Palm Springs' experience with modern architecture and carriage-trade retail shopping. 2. The property reflects or exemplifies a particular period of the national, state or local history. The application describes the building as designed by the Los Angeles-based architectural firm of Luckman & Pereira (with Max R. Horwitz as the credited designer), and further notes that the building's stylistic markers place it directly in the historic context of Palm Springs' Modern Period. One of the city's better- known commercial buildings, the structure is a prime, largely intact example of the significant modernist architecture for which Palm Springs is widely known. As such it may be viewed as an important component of the historic trends that have come to define Palm Springs' image as a center of important midcentury architecture, i.e., an historic trend that exemplifies a particular period of the national, state or local history. The building also expresses the post-war and pre-mall retailing era of the 1950's and '60's when major stores were located downtown (including Bullock's Wilshire, Saks Fifth Avenue, I. Magnin, Joseph Magnin on Palm Canyon Drive) and locals and visitors calmly shopped alongside world-famous celebrities. 3. The property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction. The application states that the building possesses distinctive characteristics of modern architecture, such as overall horizontality, expression of structure, flat roofs, expansive amounts of glass, use of inexpensive, machine produced materials, and masonry. The structure is an important example of building practices in Palm Springs at midcentury. 4. The property presents the work of a master builder, designer, artist, or architect whose individual genius influenced his age; or that possesses high artistic value. The building's architect, the firm of Luckman & Pereira, has long been recognized as a leading firm of the modernist movement and documentation on the firm is extensive. The April 1957 issue of Architect & Engineer identifies Luckman & Pereira vice-president Max R. Horwitz as the designer credited with both the Beverly Hills and Palm Springs Robinson's stores. The Palm Springs Robinson's building was immediately recognized by the architectural press and peers in the profession as an extraordinary effort that combined a sense of proportion, massing, refinement and use of modern materials and technology, including receipt of the 1960 Triennial Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects Southern California Chapter. Luckman & Pereira's J.W. Robinson Department Store / Robinson's Specialty Shop certainly articulates the best of "corporate modernism" to a level of excellence and confidence that could easily be considered an aesthetic ideal. Resolution No. 23288 Page 4 SECTION 3: Based upon the foregoing, the City Council does hereby adopt a Statement of Historic Significance attached hereto as Exhibit A, and designate as a Class 1 Historic Site the building and the entire site, including the parking lot, at 333-343 South Palm Canyon Drive (J.W. Robinsons Department Store / Robinsons Specialty Shops / The Alley), 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 shall require HSPB review pursuant Municipal Code Ordinance 8.05.180. No HSPB review shall be required for new portable, detached, non-habitable structures or modifications to landscaping. 3. All requirements of the Palm Springs Zoning Code shall be met. 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 16TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2013. David H. Ready, C ager ATTEST: I mes Thompson, City Clerk Resolution No. 23288 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. 23287 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 January 16, 2013, by the following vote: AYES: Councilmember Foat, Councilmember Hutcheson, Councilmember Lewin, Mayor Pro Tern Mills, and Mayor Pougnet. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. C es Thompson, City Clerk ity of Palm Springs, California oz�rn�2ar3 Resolution No. 23288 Page 6 EXHIBIT A STATEMENT OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE J.W. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT STORE / ROBINSON'S SPECIALTY SHOP THE ALLEY 333-343 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE LOCATION The J.W. Robinson Department Store / Robinson's Specialty Shop building remains in its original location and therefore qualifies under this aspect. DESIGN The J.W. Robinson Department Store / Robinson's Specialty Shop ("Robinson's) building has seen some minor alterations; however, the essential characteristics of form, plan, space, structure, and style have survived intact. Similarly, the structural system; massing; arrangement of spaces; pattern of fenestration; and the type, amount, and style of detailing, has survived as well. The exterior surface materials (concrete block and metal fascia) have been painted but this is an insignificant and reversible change. One of the primary design elements of the building is the elevation of the structure above the street level by four, long horizontal steps that create both a sense of arrival and impart a sense of importance to the building. Over the years concrete planters have been installed which act as a barrier between the building and the street thereby diminishing the drama of entering the building. These planters could be removed or mitigated to more closely echo the original design. There is extensive documentation in the form of plans and photographs (including many taken by architectural photographer Julius Shulman) that illustrate the original design intent of the architects. SETTING The setting of the Robinson's building continues to reflect the architects' original design relationship of site and structure. MATERIALS As mentioned previously, the Robinson's building's exterior surface materials have been painted, but this change does not constitute a significant loss of the physical elements that expressed the design during the building's period of significance; the particular pattern and configuration that today forms the building survives intact. WORKMANSHIP With the Robinson's building, the workmanship is comprised of integral ornamental detailing reflected in concrete block, glass, steel, and even the exposed structural system itself. The property continues to express a high degree of contemporary period workmanship. Resolution No. 23288 Page 7 FEELING The Robinson's building was designed and built to express Palm Springs' informal glamour. As a retail establishment that unapologetically catered to the rich and aspiring upper middle class, the "feeling" of the building reflected urbanity in an informal resort location. The late 1950s and early '60's were a sophisticated, open and optimistic time, a feeling expressed by the design of this building. With few modifications since originally built, the Robinson's building retains the integrity of feeling, even as shopping tastes and behaviors have changed. ASSOCIATION As stated under Criterion 1: the Robinson's building is an important example of midcentury commercial development in Palm Springs. The building represents the city's overall commercial development from the 1950s to the 1960s, and contributes to the scale and character of the city's midcentury commercial "banking district." As such, it continues its association with a pattern of events that have made a meaningful contribution to the community; the building retains integrity of association. SUMMARY: The building appears to be in excellent condition due largely to the use of construction materials suitable for the harsh desert environment. The Integrity analysis confirms that the building still possesses all seven aspects of integrity. And while the building has undergone numerous minor alterations since it was built, virtually all of its character-defining features survive. The building retains a high degree of integrity sufficient to qualify it for listing as a Class 1 Historic Site.