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Home My WebLink About23196 RESOLUTION NO, 23196 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 766 N. PALM CANYON DRIVE ("KOCHER-SAMSON BUILDING") AS A HISTORIC SITE, CLASS 1 ( HSPB 79). WHEREAS, Chapter 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code allows for the designation of historic sites; and WHEREAS, on March 13, 2012, the Historic Site Preservation Board initiated an investigation to determine if the property at 766 N. Palm Canyon Drive should be designated a historic site; and WHEREAS, on April 10, 2012, the Historic Site Preservation Board conducted a public hearing in accordance with applicable law to consider designation of the property at 766 N. 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 #79 to recommend to City Council designation of the property located at 766 N. Palm Canyon Drive ("Kocher-Samson Building") 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 766 N. Palm Canyon Drive ("Kocher-Samson Building") as a Historic Site, Class 1 was issued in accordance with applicable law; and WHEREAS, on July 11, 2012 the City Council conducted a public hearing in accordance with applicable law to consider designation of the property located at 766 N. Palm Canyon Drive ("Kocher-Samson Building") as a Historic Site, Class 1; and WHEREAS, the designation of the property located at 766 N. Palm Canyon Drive ("Kocher-Samson Building") 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. 23196 Page 2 WHEREAS, in 1934-35, Albert Frey, with A. Lawrence Kocher, designed and built a two-story building as offices and a residence at 766 N. Palm Canyon Drive; and WHEREAS, the Kocher-Samson Building was among the first modern building constructed in Palm Springs and the first, and possibly only building designed in the International Style during the 1920's and 1930's, and WHEREAS, the defining characteristics of this building include: • A composition of four cuboid volumes organized to create enclosed and open spaces, both covered and uncovered, with perimeter walls further defining the outdoor spaces: • The use of concrete, steel and glass as construction materials; • The absence of adornment or decoration; and • Adherence to the principles of the International Style. NOW THEREFORE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE: SECTION 1. Pursuant to CEQA, the City Council finds that the designation of the property at 766 N. Palm Canyon Drive ("Kocher-Samson Building") 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 . 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 766 N. Palm Canyon Drive ("Kocher-Samson Building") to support designation as a Class One historic site: A. The stated purpose and authority of the Historic Resources ordinance are furthered by this proposed designation; because as the sole representation of the International Style, the Kocher-Samson Building holds a unique place in the City's architectural history; and because the designation will help with future stabilization and improvement of the building as it can promote the restoration of the building to its original configuration and design; and because preservation of the building will foster civic beauty, strengthen the local economy and improve the citizens' education and welfare because recognition and restoration of the building adds to the City's reputation as a Mecca of modern architecture. B. The property is associated with lives of persons who made meaningful contribution to national, state or local history, because the building original owner, Jacob John Kocher, was a leader in the early years of the community's development as the first licensed pharmacist, one of the earliest physicians and president of the Palm Springs Board of Trade; and because Dr. Kocher developed a subdivision in the Movie Colony area that yielded several substantial mission revival style homes. Resolution No. 23196 Page 3 C. The property reflects or exemplifies a particular period of the national, state or local history, because desert modern architecture can be argued to have begun with the Kocher-Samson Building; and while Lloyd Wright's Oasis Hotel preceded it by more than a decade, the undecorated purity of the Kocher-Samson building is a clearer statement of the machine-age principles associated with modern architecture and is the first of its kind in Palm Springs; and because it has been recognized nationally as an important beginning of desert modernism D. The property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction, because the building's use of unadorned cuboid shapes to create interior and exterior spaces sets it squarely within the International Style, which was one of the more significant expressions of modern architecture in the early 20th century. E. 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, because the building's architect, Albert Frey (with A. Lawrence Kocher), is recognized as one of the seminal architects who contributed significantly to Palm Springs' trove of modern architecture; and this building is the first of Frey's many contributions, yet it stands alone as a pure ode to the principles of the International Style; and the high artistic value of the building, as originally designed, is found in its simplicity and success in producing comfortable indoor and outdoor spaces; and because subsequent modifications have compromised the building's integrity of design, but do not appear to pose a barrier to its restoration. F. The property represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction, because, while the components of the original building may not reveal individual distinction, they represent the principles of the International Style, because by using simple shapes (cubes and cuboid volumes) and plain materials (concrete, steel, glass) the architect has fashioned a significant and distinguishable building. SECTION 3. Based upon the foregoing, the City Council does hereby designate the entire site, property line to property line, as a Class 1 Historic Site the property at 766 N. Palm Canyon Drive ("Kocher-Samson Building"), 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. Resolution No. 23196 Page 4 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 temporary, 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. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, THIS 11TH DAY OF JULY, 201 David H. Readyret y anager ATTEST: mes 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. 23196 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 11, 2012, by the following vote: AYES: Councilmember Hutcheson, Councilmember Lewin, Councilmember Mills, and Mayor Pougnet. NOES: None. ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tern Foat. ABSTAIN: None. mes Thompson, City Clerk City of Palm Springs, California