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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/22/2009 - STAFF REPORTS - 1.B. Cindy Berardi From: Sidney Williams [Swilliams@PSMUSEUM.org] Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 521 PM To: James.thompson@palmsprings-ca.gov Subject: FW: Oasis Building Hello Jay- John Boccardo just sent me this email. Is it too late to present to Council? Thanks, Sidney Sidney Williams Associate Curator Palm Springs Art Museum 101 Museum Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 760/322-4813 -----Original Message----- From: John Boccardo [mailto:jb57@mac.com] Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 4:36 PM To: Steve.Pougnet@palmsprings-ca.gov; Chris.Mills@palmsprings-ca.gov; Ginny.Foat@palmsprings-ca.gov; Rick.Hutcheson@palmsprings-ca.gov; Lee.W eigel@palmsprings-ca.gov Subject: Oasis Building Dear Council Members: As an owner/caretaker of a precious work of local architecture (the Edris house, E. Stewart Williams, 1953)and as a member of the architectural profession myself, I strongly urge you to consider the dedication of the Oasis Building and its meaning for those of us who struggle to preserve the history of Palm Springs and its legacy of modern architecture. This fine structure at the most visible corner of downtown Palm Springs shines like a beacon while the tired and empty shopping plaza to the north still lies languishing. The Oasis is among the very best of Mr. Williams' esteemed body of work and as such should be preserved and its place secured among the city's rapidly eroding list of important modern buildings. Please don't make the mistake of letting another treasured building join the endangered species list. Palm Springs is sadly becoming littered with the broken promises and bankrupt dreams of even the most well-intentioned developers. I implore you to do the right thing, stand up for your city's noble heritage and vote for a Class I designation for the Oa$1S Office Building. Sincerely, John Boccardo 1030 W. Cielo Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 > Class 1 Designation for the Oasis Commercial Building Page 1 of 2 Martha Edgmon a From: Dan Everhart[Dan.Everhart@itd.idaho.gov] -ji, ; Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 4:42 PM ;- To; Martha Edgmon rc Cc: pmoruzzi@earthlink.net; info@pspreservationfoundation.org, PSmoderntours@aofca'm = "T Subject: Class 1 Designation for the Oasis Commercial Building Mayor Steve Pougnet and Council: My name is Dan Everhart and I am a resident of Boise, Idaho. I write to ask that you grant the Oasis Commercial Building Class One designation as a historic site of significance to not only Californians, but those elsewhere who appreciate fine architecture. As an architectural historian for the State of Idaho, I have my own reasons to visit Palm Spring. My partner, a social worker is equally adamant about visiting your amazing city and when friends and family ask us why we've spent thousands of dollars to visit Palm Springs twice in the past two years, we explain to them simply that this city is the "Mecca of Modernism". When we first chose to visit Palm Springs, the decision was made in large part to the wonderful collection of mid-century architecture that the city possesses. We arranged to visit significant buildings, study the city's history, and take a tour led by local architectural historian Robert Imber. Imber's tour was a fascinating experience made even more fascinating by the couple with whom we shared it. This man and woman were from Brazil and were employed as an architect and a fashion designer respectively. They had flown to Palm Springs for two nights simply to see the city's architecture. I was immediately impressed by the status Palm Spring's architectural heritage has not only around the country, but around the globe. For us and thousands upon thousands of tourists who annually visit this amazing place in the California desert, no other explanation is needed. For me, and many like me, it's not the sun and shops —which can be found in countless places — but rather the architecture that continues to draw us to this unique city. The concentration of important and well preserved architecture from the middle of the 20th century is a piece of the city's significant history that should not be lost or lightly changed. The Oasis Commercial Building deserves Class One designation as an International Style building completed in 1953 and designed by E. Stewart Williams and the prominent Palm Springs architectural firm of Williams, Williams, and Williams — long-time tenant of the building. It is intact and retains a high degree of architectural and historical integrity, meeting the local, state, and national guidelines for historic designation and classification. e � 4767J 7/21/2009 Class 1 Designation for the Oasis Commercial Building Page 2 of 2 We will continue to visit this amazing city while you nurture and support the qualities which make it unique, but once those qualities are gone or so severely degraded that they are no longer recognizable, I will begin to spend my time and money elsewhere. No doubt Palm Springs needs to grow and continue to develop, but that growth and development should not be at the expense of the city's history. Why risk jeopardizing what makes this place so great? I can assure you that neither we nor the couple from Brazil will travel to the California desert to visit new development. Please designate the Oasis Commercial Building as a Class 1 historic site. Dan Everhart ITD Architectural Historian 208-334-8479 dan.everhart@itd.idaho.gov 7/21/2009 l -IMP `E1 v Li,l . . :�L:•� l l" 330 East Molino Road F Palm Springs CA 92262 rEi 2029JUL 2 E AN' 21 76041630613 jEmisormann@earthlink.net � , i,i jimisermann.com C11 Y CL C�?,K July 21, 2009 Via Email Palm Springs City Council c/o James Thompson, City Clerk City of Palm Springs 3200 Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs CA 92263 Re: Public Hearing, Class One Designation for the Oasis Commercial Building Please accept this letter in support of Class One designation for the E. Stewart Williams designed Oasis Commercial Building at 121 South Palm Canyon Drive. I have been an active member of the Palm Springs community for twelve years. I served two terms/6 years on the Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board, 1999 —2006, and 3 years on the Palm Springs Art Museum's Architecture and Design Council chairing their lecture committee, 2002 - 06. E. Stewart Williams, along with Albert Frey, William Cody and Donald Wexler, was one of Palm Springs' most gifted and respected architects. Williams' practice was predominantly commercial and institutional architecture and the Oasis Commercial Building, home to his architectural practice office, is one of his most significant projects, The Oasis Commercial building makes the most of its corner site and sensitively holds it own next to what remains of the equally significant Lloyd Wright Oasis Hotel and Tower. Wright's slip cast concrete structure is poetically juxtaposed by Williams' generous use of glass, corrugated metal and metal railings. Both buildings present a brave front to the street and yet both reveal sympatehtic interior atriums to their inhabitants. Another indisputable sign of its success has been its ability after 57 years to still thrive as a commercial property. Please confirm Historic Site Class One Designation and spare the Oasis Commercial Building the ignominious fate of the Oasis Hotel and Tower. Sincerely, Jim Isermann C,7 fd•Zld7do 5 Fw ;1'c XPALM SPRINGS 1T PRESERVATION 225AIiL z0 Lit ' 8, 2 .;r�.Wi1:�. F O U N D AT I ON I'icS Ti� [), ciTy cLl-i1;; July 17,2009 The Honorable Steven Pougnet Mayor of Palm Springs 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262 Subject: Class 1 Historic Site Designation of the Oasis Commercial Building Dear Mayor: Exceptional buildings quickly become an important part of a city's architectural and historic fabric evolving beyond the steel, glass,stone and concrete they are made of. Such is certainly the case with the Oasis Commercial building(1952)designed by E. Stewart Williams and we ask you to support the building's designation as a Class 1 historic site. Because the Oasis Commercial building housed a Milton F. Kreis drugstore(one of the few stores that stayed open through the summner)it became a center of the city's daily social life through the 1970s, It remains an important component of downtown life to this day. But while the Oasis Commercial building is certainly treasured by many local citizens who have fond memories of escaping the summer heat by stopping in at"MTKs,"we would like to share with you a different perspective of the building: its tacit acceptance by tourists as the"heart"of our downtown. This perception is chronicled by the many scenes of our downtown portrayed in commercial picture postcards- We have attached a small sample of the many vintage postcard images available of the building to illustrate our point. You will see that through these postcards the Oasis Conmiercial building was frequently portrayed to the outside world as...Palm Springs itself. Additionally, I had an opportunity to talk with Donald Wexler about the Oasis Commercial building and I would encourage you to discuss with him the merits of this exceptional building. Sincerely, (2m 4ud-4y/- - Ron Marshall President Copy to: Council members G.Poat, L. Weigel, C-Mills and R. Hutcheson City Clerk(J.Thompson) 100 S.Sunrise Way,Suite A#465, Palm Springs,CA 92262-6778 760-837-7117 * info@pspreservationfoundation.org ' www.pspreservationfoundabon.org o7�za f�oa 9 a. PA .; LM 5PRINGS IPRESER`/ATION rM FOUNDATION Scene on South Palm Canyon Orrvc, Palm Springs. California 1 k r1 rJ • _._• 1 f S G It Yr0 f a - A"linen"postcard from the mid-1950s,produced shortly after the Oasis Commercial building was built Linen postcards were more expensive to produce than photochrome postcards and were reserved for"exceptional"images. ' C . .r. .r - s+,•IWrlyw'.I++r.... - rI.,IIrw�J'a' s �^ . +r,"+.1wWlli�l M1wr• . ..r..wyy.,. MNIrI .'r. , ,u+IWwNIIIfYw u..,.Pw++wMlllo'+f!f. y�Ily�{IrfJYim.rMYW�J•�INiW 1 N.•iJWN'JYr .r.MrY.ri•r..•.rrn.wA..�..+e+�'Mw'iwlw MIYfM�✓v uirrrl I I .... w..rlu'fWMIrrW.WCra.url.....YYYw+r'+�'rlrr ...w..MiWIL1udWY�MYw I,y� `I W T FM A, j LST7 tip' I _ 1 _ This late 1950s photochrome postcard of the Oasis Commercial building reads,"A typical scene along world famous Palm Canyon Drive where some of the nation's finest shops cater to the winter tourists' every need." 100 S.Sunrise Way,Suite A W5, Palm Spnngs,CA 92262.677E 760-837.7117 - info@pspreservationfoundabon.org ' www.pspmservationfoundation.olg • $Pa Len SPRINGS �'I'4LPRESERVATION FOUNDATION / Palm 1 . California This popular 1960s pliotochromc postcard is entitled"picturesque Palm Canyon at Night'and reads,"The illuminated palms and bright lights of the world-famous shops make a spectacular sight." The first floor of the Oasis Conercial building is ablaze with light and is the focus of the image. - = -�?• r f> �' from r y a c. California The popularity of the previous postcard image was re-purposed into a two-scene card with the Oasis Commercial building at the lower right corner. 100 5.Sunrise Way,Suite A#465, Palm Springs,CA 92262.6778 760-837-7117 " info@pspresery Uonfoundation.org ' Vr .pspreservatonfoundahon.org ' yyPALM 5PRINGS 'I'+RPRE5ERVATION .nW FOUNDATION h - u�W1�u1N-r:ail!y bl n 1 =1 A multi-image 1960s photochrome postcard ontitled"Palm Springs Scenes"shows various tourist draws including a moonlight scene of downtown with the Oasis Commercial building at the middle right. GEW I ~d This late 1960s photochrome postcard is entitled"Night Lights along Pahn Canyon Drive." The card was mailed in 1969 to Seattle,Washington and reads"We are enjoying Palm Springs every minute. The pool is very inviting. We drove around Palm Canyon last night and it sure is pretty." The Oasis Commercial building is on the right,the old Beachcomber Shop to the left. 100 S.Sunrise Way,Suite A#465, Palm Springs,CA 92262-6778 760-837.7117 ' info@pspreselvationfoundallon.org ' w .pspreserdationfoundahon.org pp`M SA4 iy c u m w + '4 i C O••°..re°'"1 ' 9`'k°Ra,P 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 (HSPB) 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 Code Section 8.05 ITEM NO. City Council Staff Report July 22, 2009 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 Dr. 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 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, 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. _ , 607 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 op ssesses 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 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 has not received any inquiries on this matter. FISCAL IMPACT: No fiscal impact. Ing, AICP Thomas J, Wilsq Diredta of Plannin S Irvices 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 605 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: ' _ U, 00 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 �07 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. 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 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 a/a wo ePLM sp�� Department of Planning Services T Vicinity Map N BELARQO RD ANDREAS RD AS RD CP a q i U J a TA UITZ DR TAHQUIT DR TAHQUITZ DR TAI•IQUITZ DR TAHQUITZ❑R E TAHQUITZ CANYON N/Y E- 0 O p � O W L m J a m a ARENAS RD ARENAS RD ARENAS RD ARENAS RD ARENAS R❑ gRSNAS RD _ Legend — a 0 ° o� z 0 400' Buffer 5 > Project Area 3 4 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 1 L� 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 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 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 .S' 0 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 8.05.130. 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 ,ell- wi g, Direc f Planning isty is Site Preservation Bo ecret ry ' µ 4 Historic Site Preservation Board Page 3 of 11 CORRECTED Minutes from the July 10,2007 Meeting 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. TheNto ' ommendation is based on those other lots being sold and owned separately. If the Boarto include the setting and cover the garden on a separate lot and the new owners wantld on that separate lot, there would be a potential dilemma. Staff is recommending that the ly�focus on the lots on which there are structures and not the larger setting - not because setting i&,not important, but because there are ten lots involved and each of them could be sold individually. .r Board member Strahl pointed out that Lot 1 contains the driveway to get to Lots 2 and 3 where the house is situated -so if the house and its buildings are designated, how does one access it? Director Ewing advised that the applicant could apply for a new driveway if an alternative driveway is possible by petitioning Public Work's,,for a new encroachment for a separate driveway located within the lots on which the structure sits and give up the driveway on the other lot. Staff member Lyon explained that "Setting";Js the notion of existing conditions around a building that are reflective of the historic period for which the building is significant. Board member Saunders asked staff, in prior sifu'ations such as this, have letters been received from homeowners telling staff that they are not interested in their properties being designated and how has this situation been handled? In some instances the property owner supports the designatiop and some owners do not support designations. In the Dr. Scholl case, RSPB initiated the study"grad the stay of demolition to have time to consider the site. It came about because the home owner had submitted a demolition application. There have been instances where the City has procedded with historic designation over the objection of the properly owner(s)- if the City has deemed the property important enough to be preserved as a significant asset to the community. , After further Board discussion, Board member Grattan moved to approve Op ' n 3 of the Staff Report..."Designate only the house and naturalized landscape on the two lots on w h 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: MIS/C (Grattan/Riley) to approve the motion as stated above-4 Yes, 2 No, 1 Absen �' L�f1tRSfsS'�. �.-„�-.,�,.�.�,�e.eo,_„,y:����,�r�.„7-....�,,.�,.,.,wu",-_•_,�:.-_w:.,�...:-��•:-=-.:��,-�� -� �+ 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 75 Historic Site Preservation Board Page 4 of 11 CORRECTED Minutes from the July 10,2007 Meeting Oasis building is also reflective of-the-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 HSPB 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 on 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. Board 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 waiting for the—wa44e� 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. 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: M/5/C (Riley/Williams) moved to approve the amended motion above stated by Mr. Strahl (6 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent, 0 Abstentions). E-RNF4F4@AWE- 3F'IAF'PROVAL.REQIIESTS:.sr._ 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 922. ,r Planning Technician Chris Ison described the project and application- Color photos were passed to members ,,�'taff has evaluated the application, colors, project, etc. and feels it is appropriate and consistent�ith the exterior of other businesses within La Plaza Center and recommends HSPB approval. \, IN PUBLIC COMMENTS: Owner, Darron Dahle, described project, explained that he was not aware he had to come before HSPB, the owner of Le plaza Is�a.Ware and had approved the project, but made no mention of this procedure. The awning has been thee' 16 years and needs replacement and the signage meets the City's Signage Program requirements. .. Peter Moruzzi, President of P.S. ModCom, stated`h is,concern and asked for clarification as to how is it possible that one of the most historic sites in Palm Springs 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 advising new and/or existing tenants of the requirements of this important Palm Springs Historic Site`'gT that any exterior renovations or modifications must come before the Historic Site Preservation BoAr for review and approval. It Is incumbent upon HSPB and staff to advise this and other property 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 i7 Historic site Preservation Board Page 2 of 6 C_ORRECTEID_Minutes from the August 21,2007 Special Adjourned Meeting 6. FROM THE CHAIR: (1) The Arc dvisory Committee denied approval of the Wessman Baristo Lofts project (300 South Palm harry - Santa Fe Federal Building) at their meeting August 20, 2007. (2) The AAC also advised Washington to have a shade structure over the ATM - they would like to see it removed and nothing put inits p _ (3) The California Preservation Foundation will hold a confereno-& Ln Springs in late April or early May 2009. There will be a planning meeting her in November 2007�Bt�rre 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 Building 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). is6"# _ turf of Derr ada a priwrate^•residence at =. -,-z W---- i57tsFkq 1(a Miraleste, Palm Springs, CA Possible Action�CC�rss, wLlstoric Site Designation Recommendation This residence was identified in the 2004 Historic Resotlrces Survey, and owner is supportive of designation of"Invernada° (approx. 2 acres) to a Class 1 Historic Site'3tabf:, lsy�,received a letter from Kenneth & Mary Lou Feenstra supporting designation of Invernada. ppLM SA c V rn °Ta rev w cA``�R°RN,P Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report Date: July 10, 2007 Case No.: HSPB -- 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 Code 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. ? ;1 Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report Page 2 of 8 Case HSPB.55 101.121 South Palm Canyon Drive The Oasis Commercial Building 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 erp sons 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 a 2 20 Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report Page 3 of 8 Case HSPB-55 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive The Oasis Commercial Building 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 HSPB may initiate studies, surveys and investigations it deems necessary to adequately gather information in consideration of a recommendation. Conditions that aooly 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 City shall maintain an archival file on the property. ' 3. It may be qualified as 'historic' at the federal, stale, 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 Chapter 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 tat 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. Historic Site Preservation 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. '4 LW 1 sa;,,,j, Villa Savoye, 1920's—Le Corbusier Oasis Commercial —North Facade 4 c..JI Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report Page 5 of 8 Case HSPS-55 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive The Oasis Commercial Building Date duly 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. h,� tI t^�FY.q!Iem M' m I Brasilian 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 piloti (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 columns 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 bottornAt aluminum block lettering consistent with the original commercial signage. ., w Historic site Preservation Board Staff Report Page 6 of 8 Case 1-IS132-55 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive The Oasis Commercial Building Date July 10,2007 I I 1 y 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 -I 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 FrqRcisco and other cities. He was active in civic affairs and chaired the is 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 g2 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, Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report Page 8 of p Case HSP9-55 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive The Oasis Commercial Building Date July 10,2007 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 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'p not received any inquiries on this matter. , ) Ken Lyon, �sociate Planner �i�wing, AI 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 ' {OFyaLM sp' Department of Planning Services y �4w•.....Aa� Vicinity Map 4PORN BELARDQ RD ANDREAS RD a z w p h Z G LTA UITZ DR TAHQUIT DR TAHQUITZ DR TAHQUITZ DR TAHQUITZ DR ETAHQUITZ CANYON WY � � z 0 0 _J Z 4 = J W 4 3 ARENAS RD ARENAS RE) ARENAS RD ARENAS RD ARENAS RD ARENAS RD Legend ° 0 � � o a - 400' Buffer - - -- z ❑ Q r U Protect Area m J _I — a CITY OF PALM SPRINGS CASE NO: 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. 27 lra,•. :,,y",';:.;;7."+' ''�„ . ', ',<a` . '7����'i�"'J�w," ,; ;w_ 'd'" ,-'., '•:,,I;,,e��s;.;;d;,r`r`;,":'� � r r ..,,_. • :1. '•!r'�AHvr• r•rr;ytea'r°n;o :, � :iY s 'N.N ' .rti �AKfi'py�.41��.1''�+��"�"6� :�:N'°Zip,�7"rll;,l�'���4'?+,ilMl"'�`'�+ '�J' � •�f71�'r'"�, •`w.1 �yl '.f�;J ° L�r," ° - R.• �r'.4�'lyl:;•.p i". 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The Information contained herein Is the proprietary property of the contributor supplied under license and may not be approved except as ficensed by digital Map Products. http://mapS d1. b talmapccntral.0 orr>/productNon/CtCyGI5N07r6p2lindexA.htm1 6/25/2007 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 (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, 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 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 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 an 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 or 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 day of AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST. CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA Ken Lyon, Associate Planner Historic Site Preservation Board Secretary µ -�i ``I, n'ff'�".' or., .t + ' } �-.,�i'� �-'ti-(.:•r'G.:�;�.y,:�'_.' .F, �.`,,, t,lg i,1 { .+��•.�\pl.�����'',::'td�il.(.'i.':,.��-r,lh.;�fn:� ,n`,'�I.%, �i.i �� d1�:11��e11 i�_ �,�!•�•'r: �,r%�A'. l�fl„i�,' � '-µ%c:''r' :Ninl r�'i''(__�'; 'r^i+{ . ;`�":f' �`F�+¢�f�7_i�"'�fl., '. .f `�:I,�n`°•� ( ,1'i'• sir •6!;`s:,, If��;. _Ls�,.., jj'f.}1Fh _ e ,9�,.'pd-;;. :i�•'. i ' rv�r, ',l ,J e'.,��i•,1a tt;w'j}rt''l,f�. I� I I, 'ilk L !�: . ..i'�+ cY •^�,',:: '9?, 4� . .. i •.�:f :�..�i�.a. . ::i;.4� or+. ¢rGiw � f1•�.4ry���j' . . . _ f gal: . �J-:-C4:- -�l:�if it;.' . u�lav�:.:rJrn.r;f.:,u.•mA�•WFe'1;}•if,y e ' •—f-�','�,L-`+v Wit' _w y.+ ., u .i_•�. y I�. :�a '=•_'�- :r .i .r,, fur LY1b 3JfY Jf'.I':.. ..... _.1�: Present Owner: Brandenburg-Oasis Plaza LLC, 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 of Property: Oasis Commercial Building/ Starbuck's Historic Name of Property: Oasis Commercial Building Assessor's Parcel Number:513-143-009 Zone: Cl Section. 15 Land Use: Mixed Use Retail and Office Is this project on fee land 0 or Indian trust land? ❑ (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, Referto Palm Springs Municipal Code Section 9 05 020 for the definitions of a historic site See Continuation Sheets i uvo v ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: (Please Check the appropriate boxes) Fl Vernacular Adobe 1800-1950 I-I Prairie Stylc 1905.1930 ❑ Vernacular Woad Frame 1800-1950 I7 Pueblo Revival 1905=194 0 r7 Vcmacular Brick 1800-1950 7 Mediterranean!Spanish 1915-1940 Colonial Revival ❑ Vernacular Ranch House 1800-1950 ❑ Moderne/Art Deco 1920.1940 ❑ Vernacular- Other 1800-1950 3 International Style 1925-1970 ❑ Gothic Revival 1800-1910 ❑ Mid-century Modern 1945-1980 Style ❑ Italianate 1860-1880 ❑ Commercial ❑ French Second Empire 1860,1890 0 Other ❑ Mission Revival 1890-1910 ❑ Craftsman Bungalow 1895-1930 1 PRIMARY BUILDING MATERIALS ROOF TYPE rl Wood Frame LJ Cable ❑ Log r-] Hip ❑ Adobe Brick Hipped gable ❑ Brick II Shed X Stone 1_1 Gambrel 3 Stucco Flat Z Concrete IJ Mansaid Metal ❑ Other Stcel p Other(Glass) Are there any significant decorative elemenls? ra Yes ❑ No If yes, briefly describe See Continuation Sheets RELATED FEATURES SURROUNDINGS ❑ Barn 0 Open Land ❑ Carriage House ❑ Scattered Buildings ❑ Garage N Densely Built-up ❑ Shed ALTERATIONS ❑ Outhouse ❑ Major L Windmill z Minor ❑ Water Tower ❑ Unaltered ❑ Tankhouse If altered, briefly describe; ❑ Hitching Post See Continuation Shects ❑ Fence 1-1 Wall ❑ Unusual Curb PRESENT CONDITION z Unusual Sidewalk ❑ Excellent Formal Gardens 9 Good x Unusual Trees (Historic 1947 Palms) ❑ Fair Z Other_Original Casls Hotel Fragment L Deteriorated -) L Destroyed USE OF BUILDING Currenl Use Relail shops at street level with offices above Original Use Same Bibliography (Please list any sources used to complete this application) See Continuation Sheets I I ISF❑ � r 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 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 history of properly ❑ Planning Services, checked by Date PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD Palm Springs Municipal Code Seclion 8 05 020 Definitions. (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, sclting, materials, workinanship or aesthetic ctfect and- (1) Thal is 9ssooiated with events that have made a meaningful contribution to the nation, state or community; or (2) That is associated with Imes of persons who made meaningful contribution to national, state or local history, or (3)That ieflecls or exemplifies a particular period of the riational,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 (6) th,)t possesses high artistic value; or(7) that represents a significant and dislingwshable entity (such as an Historic District)whose components may lack individual dislinclion or (8) that has yielded or may be likely to yield information important to national. slate of local history or prehislcry (b) I hslonc District.Any area of die city of Palm Springs containing a number of structures natural features or sales having historic, architectural, archaeological cultural or aesthetic significance end designated as an historic dislncl under the provisions of this chapter. (Ord 1320 § 1 1988, Ord 1140 § 1 (part) 1981) HSPB •,y °J PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD 1� 1 y ,k..4S.i{T'10.Gi,1r,. r:•.i'q: 1, n 1 Figure 1 Glal1 MUs flight shot of u)L Wsls COIIIIHUGJI tlullublg UILd 1Sb4 IIL Lllcct1VC use ot Iettefing In s'llllouetto was also chdfdcten.he or the Inlerndllundl Style Photo Paul Pospesll Courtesy Palm Springs Historical Society Background Tlie Southwest corner of Tahquilz Canyon Way and South Palm Canyon Drive is ground zero' for both hislonc and modern Palm Springs In 1884 it was the rentor of an 80-acro parcel of ranch land on which the home of the area's first white settler,John McCallum (PS Historic Site#5)was bu111 With lime this location became the center of the development of the nascent vdlego today known as Palm Spmngs The McCallum residence was located nearr the dusty road that became the villages Maui Street, officially ranamed Palm Canyon Drive in 1930 In 1925, with the completion of Lloyd Wright's Oasis Hole](PS Historic Sile# I0 ) commissioned by MXMIum's daughter Pearl this location also became the site ofvlllage's first incident building, thus beginning a design trend torwhich Palm Springs is now famous worldwide The living room and front porch of the old MCC211t1m residence were retained on 111e site and incorporated into the hotel compound, clearly visible in Wright's rendering of the project [Figure 2] McManus assigned the operation of the hotel to W E. Hannei who also operated the Holel Cecil in Los Angeles, laterthe hotel was sold to Hobart Garlick, and in 1955,the proporty was sold to again,this time to Western Hotels, Inc The new owners announced a$1,300,000 expansion project for the hotel, to include corishuclion of two new buildings,a dining room and cocktail lounge for the hotel, and a store arid clfice building fronting on Palm Canyon Drive to be known Bs the Oasis Commercial building, to be designed by the architectural firm of Williams, Williams &Williams Building Style: The International Style became the basis of later Modern arohileclure,a Style that ironically has now ul :- PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD become traditional Henry-Russell Hitchcock,who literally"wrote the book"on the International Style has said: "The Imes that led to the International Style are clearer now to everyone than they could have been in the in yhe 30s, and the principles arc few and broad, there is, first, a new conception of architecture as volume rather the mass. Secondly, regularity rather than axial symmetry serves as the chief means of ordering design,These Ewo-principles, together with a third proscribing arbitrary applied decoration, mark the productions of the International Style." It is said that only wrlPr�and critics are interested in stylistic terminology, Like most architects of his generation, the building's desierFttpart Williams found little use for the International Style, and particularly in his residential works, he indicatetl a'preference for a warmer regional aesthetic. However, his non-residential works often display the stylisticmarkersthat place thework squarely the Late International Style tradition,nfwhich the Oasis Commercial to is an excellent example. Building Description: As envisioned by E Stewart Williams, the building would be a two-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 2] Although the Iwo-parl commercial block was the prevalent architectural form on America's Main Slreel from the 1850s onward, by the 1950s the foam had taken on a larger scale and more pronounced visual importance. The Oasis Cormmercial building is a flat-roofed rectangular volume approximately 154 feet wide by 128 tact deep,and about thirty feet high,containing approximately 27,000 square feet on two levels. Asmall pro)echon on the southwest corner houses the elevatorslack and connects the 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 to the interior of the budding while shellenng the occupants from the rmorrnng sun. 1 The building's design wnlures an uppei level in the forrm of a laiclewhilPvolumc visually ieslmg upon a grid of round concrete columns that recall Le Corbusier's early modernist masletpiece the Villa Savoye - an early and elessic exemplarof the International Style [See Figuro 4 ] Le COIbuSier was the archilecl who first made the world aware Iha[ a new siyle was tieing born Bnlh buildings appear to hover above the ground plane supported Only by thin concrete pilotis (slender colurnnS) and feature ship windows a flat roof and a glassy lower level That stands free of he stiucturalsystem Thedesign also references the main facade of Oscar Niemuycr s Brazilian Pavihon at the 1930 New YorK World Fair[Figure S] holh buildrngS fenlwe a while shaduwbOxigd floating' volume punchtrcd by a light well open to the sky To Williams credit,the budding also has the feel of a Woi Id s Fan Pavilion but unlike pavilions at an exposition, the plan of the Oasis Cernuiercial Building wds detemmmed by functional lather than aesthetic considerations Other chnrecter-defining features Or the budding include Ilse introduclien of native stone walls on any of the lower level walls that are not glared, steinlcss steel door and window frames efiduse lance expanses of tempered glass, including same stylized display windows with slairlless steel "picture frames The onginel door pulls were of teak (only one pair survives) and the flooring was lerrazzo The columns are round, and raced with 1 by 1 inch mosaics the that terminate about afoot from the top of the columns The upper level with its unusual bridge forming one side Of the light court utilizes an open metal railing system Ihal May not be original but complements the building none(heless. The street railing is cornposed of aluminurm panels interrupted by flat aluminum fins spaced to align with the oolurnns below. The actual walls of the offices arp set back from the railing and are largely glass. The side elevations feature honzonlnl strip windows framed in steel;on the south and west elevations,a simple metal awning provides additional protection tram the sun, The horizontal cubic form of the building will) its strip windows, white coloration and metal Inms Cxcmplify the principles of the International Style Not to be overlooked is the exposed rear stair which forms a sculptural element that complements the rear facade People Associated with the Building The lower level of the building was leased to three tenants including the exclusive Oasis Man's Shop operated by Isadore Nelson,a women's shop 'Rags from Bess Bender;"and the anchor tenant on (lie corner. the Milton F Kreis Drug Store. Touted at the time as "the world's most unusual Drug Store Coffee Shop," Kreis was the anchor tenant necessary to allow construction of the building to proceed Signage nsPo �, it PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD ^^ Illustrated in the original rendering of the building shows the cornertenant to be a drug store. Kress commissioned Los Angeles architect A. Quincy Jones to design the interiors, most of which have vanished under subsequent alterations. As the anchor tenant on this busy corner, [he "MFK" as it was known, became a kind of hangout for locals and tourists alike; in his obituary,the store was referred to as a'Palm Springs landmark." At his peak, Kreis owned nine of these exotic drugs store- coffee shop and dinner house operations, including branches in Dayton, Beverly Hills and San Francisco; a laboratory that produced his own Ilno of Cosmetics; and Milton F Kreis Enterprises, which imported and wholesaled its own liquor brands. In 1961, Kreis owned 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[he 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 relocated its offices from The Plaza to style 222 in the new building. The program forthe new building required the demolition of a substantial part of Lloyd Wright's original Oasis Hotel and the McCallum Residence. Pearl McCallum McManus paid for the relocation and reconstruction of the remains of he family s adobe home(along with a grant fig tree)which were transported a block south to a new site that now houses the Palm Springs Hlstoncal Socle[y. With this act,she became the first documented preservationist in Palm Springs. The original Oasis Hotel did not fare as well as [he MCCBI]um home. The construction of the Oasis Commercial building required the demolition of the hotel office building and original open air dining room, as well as some of the early bungalows "today only a small fragment of the original Oasis Hotel an important example of early PBIm Springs modernism survives Architectural writer Alan Hess calls it "one of the great neglected buildings of Cnliforme architecture " In a second project the Oasis Hotel continued its expansion to the block on the west side of Belardo Road with additional bungalows, itim.rtely repicscoing an mvcslmcnt of$2 250,000. The ownership of the Oasis continued to changes hands @no today,the historic Oasis Hotel no longer exists Theremainingbungalows behind the Oasis Commercial building were demolished a few years ago to make way fora parking lot Today, a sign is located in that parking lot offenng thr r.ntiro silo for sale "Village Market, Will Build To Suil " Previous Evaluation The Oasis Cornrnei[.IdI Budding Ildg been ptevl(nisly listed as an hlstonc site in the 1957 Historic Site Preservation Board List In 2004 the Ciiywidc Architectural Survey delerrnined That the building "appears to meet the level of significance noressary for Individual Nano_nal Register and California Rerpslpr clipolityl at [he local level under Criteria A (Events) and C (Distinctive Characteristics and Work of a Master) Local Eligibility Evaluation: Based upon the Informelwn :,onl,iined in the background information contained In This report, [he building is eligible for listing in the local, California and National Registries is follows Crlenori I Events (or patterns of events) that have niodr. o ineaningful contribution to the nation, state or community The Oasis Cornmer'Cial Building is an important example of mid-century commercial development in Palm Springs. The building represents the overall commercial development of the downtown from the 1940s to the 1950s, and contributes to the scale and characler of the oity's main =rmercial street As such it is associated with a pattern of events that have made a meaningful contribution to the community, thereby qualifying i(as eligible for listing on the local, California and National Registries. Criterion 2. Persons who made meaningful contributron 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 cunlradlchon In the Cilywide survey Form diso assigns the building a National Register Status Codc of 5S3 The initial number indicates the general status 5'is defined as Ineligible for die National Reglaler but still of local interest '5S3 is defined as*Not eligible for separate i9ting or designalion under an exieling local ordinanre but is eligible for spcclal consideraion in local planning" G. j PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD operating five 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 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 figure OF importance in California and in Palm Springs and the Oasis Commercial Building was associated with his accomplishments As such,the buildingisassoriated with a person of importance to the Community,thereby qualifying it as eligible for listing on the local, California and National Registries. Criteria3.7 Thatraftects orexemplifies a particular period of the national,state orlocal history, Orthat embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction, or that represents the work of a master builder, designer, artist, or architecl whose individual genius influenced his 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 chararlefistios of Palm Springs commercial 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 signature details of Late International Style architecture, as described in the Building Description above These traits commonly occur in the important commercial buildings of the period that line Patin Canyon Drive. The subject building containsenough of Ihose oharacten5llcsto be considered a Wile representative of its type, period, and method of construction These characteristics are expressed in specific terms including the form, proporlion, structure plan, style, and materials E Stewart Williams is a master architect and is generally rer..ognized forprealness in his lield Upon his denih, an editorial in The Desert Sun Baled SPplernber 15, 2005 staled "If airy single man can be.oiled forgiving Palm Springs its place in orrhilnlura[ history its E Stewart Williams Aflcr six deradesofdesigning buddingsaiound lows andthroughoutthe valley,the nationallyknown architect died Saturday.' The building may also be said tO posses high artistic values as expressed in dc:5lgn planning and engineering A property is eligible for its high artistic values if it so fully articulates a parlicular concept or design that it expresses an aesthetic ideal The Oasis Cornrnercial 6ulldmg successfully embodies the concepts of Lale Intcrnauonal Style aichitecture Because the building embodies the distinctive characteristics of Palm Springs cOlnrrlercial archdechire, and because it is the work of a roaster archilect, and because it possesses high artistic values it qualifies as eligible for listing on the local Califonua and National Registries Criterion 8: That has yielded or may be likely to yield infvrmntion important to national, &fate or local history or prehistory This criterion most commonly applies to properties that contain or are likely to contain inronnation bearing on an important archeUlOgical research question The property must have characteristics suggesting the likelihood that it possesses r,•oofigurations of artifacts, .soil Strata, &trurtural remains, or other natural or cultural features the site is the center of the first white settlement in what would become the town of Palm Spiing5 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 t would not qualify as an `'this portion or this crltanon refers to buildings that might not qualify Individually bui might be a contributor to a potential historic district I IsPa PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD 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 roust not only be shown to be significant under at least one of the criteria, but it also must have integrity. The evaluation of integrity must be,grounded in an understanding or 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 vanous combinations, define it To retain integrity a property will always possess several, and usually most, of the aspects. Determining which of these aspects are most imporlarlt to a panccular Properly requires knowing why, where, and when the property is significant. The seven aspects of integrity are Location, Design Setting Materials, Workinanshrp, Feeling and Association Although the building appears to be a little neglected,and many of the sheet level shops are vacant,the building still possesses all seven of these aspects And while the building has undeigone numerous irunoi alterations since it was built,virtually all of its character-defiri features Survive,with the exception of the free-standing silhouetted signage. Observable alterations to the street level include replacement of the original terrazzo flooring and the installation of a system Of guardrails that inhibits flow to the shadedrourtyard The exposed columns with their mosaic tile covering have been painted, but all of these changes arc easily reversible Since one of the historic door pulls Survives, replicas could be fabricated to replace the missing ones The building retains a high degree of integrity. G u PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD APPENDIX: Biographical Sketch of Williams, Williams &Williams Architects, AIA Photographic Documentation Bibliography Ste Plan Assessor's Map 1 risro PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD Historic Site Nomination Continuation Sheet Photo Documentation IIYILU*`-1 ITd 7 �o a ,'i•;r'' �'f:.i;•. ='9- •�i , �''�d' 4 , V :..I': air h 1 ; laf'i.�1'�� r, P'il[I r, it"I;it'iFl;ldJ {ii'IJIt�Fliuf.: '-rfi ll?alb}'f'ii��!-J'1,ii;°.'"'dil"*,nfi"h��' rllili'Ir `I��J.I�L�� f�14'��'�lir :Sif'"fei It dlilti,��li r,l�'n •.I!1°ilia}G1,;,- . A—�_1$� I,�if�fk,tll�� YJF". i'L1.'X" I,iYt ily7j i II' i n'I- Y.T,i*t'd�• P.h "nljt b �" "ra"�;tl lrtlllJ Sllj��ltl I.+Y�� ' =v� li' 1�°,r-�I,�II�� ''�:; `r��r•r,,:��rl��. ,f �. ,� ' u �,C. U = JN 1 i10r:,Ikrllili 4 g �iiffi;alyF ''t�'k'.�t"'•d i � I l a'� l' l�. '� Plpl l�{�17 119�Yp'i Jkfi II �i�:i�1tl"tfjiV.�: I'n3iVl I�h � i!4�6'd l'.���Il��yt�I','ila:aril I.� 'dl�fil�c�3.1-51p�t'�4i la Yi"lit 7 �al� ],11 l Figure 2 Upper: an aerial rendering by Lloyd Wright illustrates the Incorporation of the McCallum residence into his 1923 design for the Oasis Hotel Lower 1952 rendering of a lhl'ee-quarter view of the Oasis Commercial building by the Williams'architectural firm that replaced the Oasis Hotel office and the McCallum residence MO I XSEN I. '. j I�lirliv[ '�, , fd11+' ij 1 iii+•�i��+ � rL ��MSi It �� • ir,'�'„�,11 ! •r ', .�.�: I , .. is�"'�.>•,::' ,1 .�oli.i i•�' . , '-I j .��j %�._ L.rA;rl��ry{a �.'r.;"l,.{a: V i, � �J l!•;.:.� Pyl1,d �I.,1� •�'.VA,l fdff�ll(! �I1'fa 1_ 11 I ' ��✓�I IY I I ^ `1 ! '1 i it it - .d;'` n .T,- rq ;j. :_�;r � °��'• '�. �y,.; a��1� '�n '%a `lard '�i• 6t. .���R'� ..'r. i S 'r; :is�.; j:ip,Ynj} •1f1},{Lj 1,' ,"-l }yi:'i.7 :.:�:,i' ar J..r � "i � i '44�pj.i.(I-i.'� kyi i�i° {�� _ '^�''�.v;c t:•�rt,m-,� • —,n'tl I'�i�'`: I�I� �' �1T�' .Ir�!ri':.;,�I t � - ��S'��4a. 1.'lr:,, ?iilf •i:":I it'�G i't 1.�y�' i . . i'�.i,.l d�IT'. tarp.roil;"i ':,_i ''•V• i � ii'i t:.1P Q-'�1 �h,�,,l�l iil�,l 'i;;' - b el.._';r TI •r`t." . . �kfl.�_'iil `']i9i ,.�,.LL_ - - �i;1-/'I;�t. !:'v'YiID`-r'�' iv-;;:vT✓M=,pi,lrr.��77.•_: =.�a�+C_. IT I PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD Historic Site Nomination Continuation Sheet Photo Documentation 00. PI'�+ i l4 al it •� iil,�,°.� , � ,qy u.rl¢i, If.•'p!n'I II" In 1' Ifl"Niel' "I,! +I 1 11 Idlll It�1'�Ill T :p..d ��7,�Ia ilt r lIN,.I f' 1 d]l alit � �lll�'If[Wi,fl�� , {I�LiIIIj} I��II``IIIII i II 'IIIh , �'ilI�yili�7E�,„� lfryJll' rra ,I�.lE1� I � i llf ili`;If.`}., iId 'li�ili�; II'll,}';Ilu_ rl. r lY'u .ry.•d'If q!jnri:[li l .,.+[��(, e'f,;•-i\•i±l;i`•f1Y�e�y::�(4%: IIII' i IIII � � �l1I11 i{{l'rill7�I;4 ur: IIIL• Ii.:,xli.I:N,x': i�a,,�f✓.. - _ �11f�t,lv,ha�l il+r�ll"I •'I+e:.•:1�;^,, .I,x4.dl.g, i' ll i� �,.h✓IldE4;1191''!j�-,I '�u;nh.�.Lany++Lfl�µ{CYA;v irk:;,i��_'�s'�}:1}rN r•8�cirt(��gf�a.1.� }:1 Fy�U�r�y.�,l` \Sia}d;;•:t„�J.I'-1 aI'li hf.lL.. � 0�,.Ilf�'�;v ,ra,'rr�r ;q•., ,,,F.�rn. r-:r.! ^" I I ,I i'l . I 1 i11 •„1 Illryl;p ti'I�FF"I ;jh{i �f li; .L•i i.;,,i:; p ��x -; 1., d„'v.a, � '.{i.;> e ,..r�i..:ICI II ";by ,j1 1 � �;I� :'t:•=� '',r -,. �:1?. 1 ,�.� �'4�'•.'�;� [ii' $I^ll:•i:,.. '1�"'r:':. M"ter 'y `--_ .` i l i' 'lii,l .1 Y::r•r ,'.._`�y:7..�J�y x�.. - .�.�t +i't.� � l '�I, ,;u'� ' 11 � tl, . �.-•�M.:�t a�:y:,,. �. r. .i,;• }cam r rltit'�G 1'Nd rit rl Qy �rr�J ,r, n ,{. l fk11.r�"yL «.�•11� till 11I II l �� II IudF I Id I - I - 1 Figure 5 In this image, the Oasis Commercial Budding is compared with Oscar Niemeyer's Brazilian Pavilion at the 1939 New York World's Fair The white floating volume wilh ils "shadow box" frame are signature features of both buildings. Later, E. Stewart Williams was to again demorlstiate Niemeyer's influence wilh his design for the Coachella Valley Savings building al 499 South Palm Carryon I H,VH 1 7.1 is V`d`i +g1�ns'PV. Arrr •,�`+��'_,'" IL i914�,�,r�i:� I+i• I � `{p`'1i ',lire,... � • r.��. � :' � ,- - - `i IT I a is + ,. .r•�--d4r � ti••-l?i �Ym.311 i-rT�"�'i§itl•�:;L.�;!"�`Y 51Rilaw11•f fNit P1' It ,..,::�: G�- i`�::,TMwTry'�r�,_I �:;;; �,;��„��'-ral:�.l.�n�l��•:n � � •'::� A ,. _,_ �"�:= , � �t r = � yr:{: . ,,;:;•:, PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD Historic Site Nomination Continuation Shcct Photo Documentation BIBLIOGRAPHY Books Ainsworth Katherine The McCallurn Saga rho Story of the Founding of Palm Spnngs Palm Springs Desert Museum Palm Springs 1973 Architectural Resources Group Citymac Hlstonc Resources Survey San Francisco 2004 Boger[ Frank M Palm Springs,First Hundred Years. Palm Springs Public Library Palm Springs 2003 Bacon,Mardges Le Corbusier in America Travels In the Landor file Timid Thu MI I Press Cambridge 2001 Curtis Willium R Modern Architecture Since 1900 Phladon Preu 1962. Cygelman Adele,Palm springs Modem R12201i International Publications New York 1999 Hess Alan,and Andrew Danish Palm Springs W[ekond the Architecture and Design of a Midcentury Oasis Chronicle Books Salt Francisco r 2001 Hllchcock Henry•Rus5ell and Phillip Johnson iha intL/national Style W W Norton&Co New York 1966 Hughes Eden,Artists in California 1736-1940 Hughes PllNistiing Co San Fiance Lu 1086 Jenks,Charles Le Corbusier and the Continual Revolution in Architecture The Mollacclli Press New York, 2000 Kahn HaFan-Uddin international Style 61odernisf Architecture From 1925-1965 Taa.rhen I(oln 1998 Loewy Raymond Industrial Design Wocdslecl<prc.,a Woodstock 1979 Gehhard David aIUJ Hallir;ttu von Biettun Lloyd Wnghl 4rr.hifeci 20"Cenfurl Architecture ip an 0rganle Exlntbllloll Rege11t5 0l the University of California,Santa Barbara 1971 Lorlgareth Richard The Buildings of Main Street AGuide to Ainencas ColininuLml Alchgccfurc Preservation Press,Washing ton D C 1987 Mille Erik,Worlds Pdirs Pnncetun ArohitecWral Press New York 1996 National Park Servloe National Register Bulletin 15.Haw to Apply trio Ndaundl Register Criteria for Evaluation U s Department of the Interior Washington 0 C Nieman,Creg Palm Springs Legends Creation of a Or,sert Oasis Sunbelt Publications San Diego 2006 Papadaki,Slamo GSe3r Niemeyer George Sra2llhur Inc New York 1060 Silbemian,Steve Executive Ediloi Deserr Memories I he Desert Sun,Palm Springs 2002 Sotta,Andy,et al,E Stewart Williams.A 7hbutu to His Work and Life Palm Springs Preservation Foundation Palm Springs 2005 weaving Andrew and Lisa Freedman,Living Modern Bringing Modernism Home Chmnicel Books,San Francisco 2002 Williamson Roxanne Kuter,American Architects and chip Mechanics of Fame University of Texas Press,Austin 1991 HSP6 PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD Hislonc Site Nomination Continuation Sheet Photo Documentation Magazines Bngal Allison, Modern Love'Palm Springs Life,February 2007 Palm Spnnl G Villager,March 1953,p 3 The Most Exclling Shop in Palm Springs February 1963 P 11 "Hotel oasis Dining Room and Cocktail Lounge •-------— October 1952 P 33, The New oasis Store Building and Dining Room ............---------------- November 1052,P 52, Village Landmark to Remain December 1952,P 34 "MCCallum Adobe Reconstruction ------------------------ February 1953 p 44 The Ncw Hotel owls Moiu luxuriuu: than ever' Palm Springs Life December 1961 p.27 Nightlife"Article on Milton F Kreis- --- --------------- Jantrary 2000 P 79 Building A Reputation Stewart Williams as told to Hal Meltzer Sources Consulted Palm Springs Assessors Office f Palm Springs I liscrieN Society r Palm Springs Public Library Palm Sprngs Planning❑epadmenl San Francisco Public Library HlsWrIC Photographs Collection T,AHQUITZ CANYON VdAY LINE OF:LOOR ABOVE PROPERTY LINE PROPERTY LINE I-=uAL nESCRL^TnU fd .': 35 Acres IM: 'n Lols 1,2 Iola ZIOD143 25d Map I al.Palm Sen^gs and Lol.4 Blcck 20 IJ 0091432 Sd hiap Oi Pa:m Springs For Total D=_scria,lan Sae w Assessor's fdinps o nf O � OASIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING O o I I o..,LT es, z ST rL tIR APF 4OX I?,iCOM Q SEllid_FLCOR-RE.:_P-PROF 1.11 W sf < PARKING "- I I I I i I I ERcE2E:•!a: . LUJE OF FLOOR ABOVE I ELEb�CR PROPERTY OASIS HOTEL j LINE eL 1525 j I 3`51 y f _ OASIS COi NIE RCI;L BUILDING 517E PLAN PROPERTY LINE —� --5CALE 114` = ;'�J' I ti �FJ 4 0 8 16 rxls u su=c'Iu rW.:.t_rs�ty:2�rtr:,mcr [u.�rtlr. 5 1 3 - 1 4 I S.IRI Fii i:� 110P Y r-1..'[01:1 Mll lwj'n'i F•Y2 L.,a.a. nl-cae u1•e.:uchrmrx IMl Icr-s:.l.a inolu:$l¢a Ixt[s PCft.SEC 15 14S. R.4 tI.43? C§P., 0. P:_}i PH 11d33 GII-02 f, f %� n3 TAHQU;TZ -----"= - DRIVE 1 I I to .w =li I L. I I ,If xlnl [ 13 c vlrt , i ,lu •Ir IP � I [ .5 i6rr, +IfN S �.F.i x I FI I , � _ L 1 1. 1 •. + _ L I I o1>{xEl [�_ x r M1 '^IX n - .s � 102 x BM27 I• 'HLK. P 1 x ov a 1we &. :. _ rr a u 75 � _ FJ ^ ZI {J x h z -J� 1!1 IN !OF G 'I � `'1� I i Y'I z Y le I I iIV. I 1 A OF�T]a 3% 2f I � � i9 fe I !] nn I I I. 11 -Zc Olvz n I LL I I I I I i I I /��I - - 9 x I I I - -I- I I I I - _ _ _ _ _ _ � 1 :.I sl m.r c.l n OCT 0 L 2POi301 �—N s c l o-l.l •°I 1.15;ssr:•s Z'.sF R 513 n: 14 19P�37-58 iY[ 27774 y, r,ara id,NrL , [w'i1 JSx YB 242/e i-72 TWT YAP W. 25077 I �f3 �55 DATE SUBMITTED- - CASE (To be assigned) CITY OF PALM SPRINGS 0- ( 3 77 Department of Planning &Building Historic Site Designation TO TFTE 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 application and subseypee�n7yt material to the Dednartmen_t_of Planningg�&Building_ NAMEOFAPPLICANT J�GJQIGwr7-1,� CC SE Pyf} ric)g//�C IP1l/LvCT1 e !_/fLi%J Check One: ❑ Owner Lessee Authorized Agent Applicant's Address: -�72CW) � �HcCui �z( /�ivva �/LC7�y �A L/YI Telephone Number: (ae)l ' xT' '�—` Site Address: �A4rn L"qn yi�rN /Ji21 V Construction Date: /.L 7 © Estimated ❑ Factual Architect: GU/L L/ ,4 m 6 / NTIE0-1�iU,' �) _�c�rrcey Ja�I�S Builder: Present Owner: B2 g D&N H4W6- — 011S A 7-4 L L eS�) LS�I Original Owner: HSD Revised 8/98 4 Important Owners: Other Historic Associations: _Q3-:5 15 _l [k a`1 ) h`OTC-L Q-j' T NL;&K /III F,ra Nx Common Name : Historic Name: * &(5 Z pG— �]A51 S RC7c�n�'t Assessor's Parcel Number: �5-I0 _ 04 Do y zone: (J�, D -S C-riQnl Land Use: Is this project on fee land ® or Indian trust land ❑? (Check One) HSD Revised 8/98 5 Please check the appropriate boxes: ARCHITECTURAL STYLE ❑ Vernacular Adobe 1800-1950 ❑ Bungalow 1895-1930 ❑ 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 ❑ Vernacular (other) 1850-1950 Qll�r 1920-1940 ❑ Gothic Revival 1850-1910 (Z 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 PRTMARY BUILDING MATERTAL ROOT' TYPE ❑ Wood Frame ❑ Gable ❑ Other: ❑ Log ❑ Hip ❑ Adobe Brick ❑ Half-Hipped ❑ Brick ❑ Gablet ❑ Stone ❑ Shed 1�nA-o c`F Stucco Gambrel Concrete Flat Metal ❑ Mansard Other: j ❑ Hipped Gable Are there any significant decorative elements? 0 Yes ❑ No If yes, briefly describe: 4 T a OW l 5 T—L c_ 6 k 2 4 P�"wtpZ s poz)fL5 D/'��2- FltLS I/✓�r�/ 1C �f( � Clef] CGLLIN NS esD `o h� r [' ��,��c�f 4 I 1 c� jzR�, fM I i���P 8077 C caZ Revised 8/98 5S - 6 rT RELATED FEATURES SURROUNDINGS ❑ Barn ❑ Open Land ❑ Carriage House ❑ Scattered Buildings ❑ Garage Densely Built-up ❑ Shed ALTERATIONS ❑ 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 USEQF BUMDING n Current Use: ' aM vet e6e r' t- �77J�C l`� L O(; Original Use: Please list any sources used to Wmplcte this application: C•'�L1 Ic e; r0tt �5 SicRu�y — � Sr ITSD Revised 8/98 7 v � APPLICANT'S REQUIRED MATE,RIAL 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 Onl • Original Application ❑ ❑ (10 topics) Plot Plan • 8 1/2 x I I (10 copies) D ❑ Miscellaneous Exhibits • Public Dearing Labels ❑ ❑ • Project Sponsor Labels (if any) ❑ • Existing Site Photographs ❑ ❑ I"VD P?"M S' -- A1�`"1�1�r�� ���i�-�1��7�I Lr✓� �r, Nam' � r�����1� =P /�C�C�L.�C�� %i�'�� Planning Department, Check By: L1SD Revised 8/98 8 G � 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 BOLL 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 8 0 Brian Strahl X 5 0 STAFF PRESENT Craig Ewing, Director of Planning Loretta Moffett, Administrative Assistant Ken Lyon, Associate Planner 1_ The HSPB Special meeting was called to order at 8.16 a.m on December 12, 2006 by Chair Sidney Williams. i 2. ROLL CALL- Present, S. Williams, J. Williams, J. Nelson, B, Riley, B. Slrahl, J. Hayton Absent. None 3 REPORT OF POSTING OF AGENDA: This Agenda was available and posted in accordance with state and meal procedures for public access at the City Hall exterior bulletin board and the Department of Planning Services counter by 4:00 p m.Thursday, December 7 2006. TE: Audio Cassettes and DVD` of HSPB Meetings are available for review. Cassettes will be t for six nths only. DVDs of the meetings will 6e kept indefinitely. Minutes formal is more ac[io ated than verbatir Xcept where special interest or special meetings are involved. 4. APPROVAL OF MI S. November 14, 2006 — Board member Jade Ne n corrected Section 10. Item C, word runt sh be `run". Page 3 — Public Noticing Re rements — correct "most threatened" to stale "highest pri MIS/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 mmittee, called atten ' 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 publi uildings interiors and exteriors. Copies ere distributed to Board. (2) The Potter Clinic 00 North Palm Canyon has been seriously van ' ad Mod Com had sent a letter to th roperty owner and copied the City about this property n being properly secured and oral members of ModCom went to visit the site and the property is for e, and are working I Code Enforcement right now. Asked HSPB to follow up, ModCom will con ' e 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 rC Historic Site Preservation Board Pacgo 5 of 7 Minutes From the Decombcr 12.2006 Meeting t favorite buildings. ModCom supports this designation. Robert Imber c nted that this building's siting is so exceptional important and he supports this nominatior . Board member John Williams felt it was rl note that this building is not one of the 53 properties identified as most significant f e 4 Survey. It does qualify for local, state, and national designation althoug It not state that in urvey. He asked that more research be done on this 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. 5 Oasis Commercial Suilding, 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive (19521 PUBLIC COMMENTS, Robert Imber feels this is the second most important budding 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 conslruCtion to its use today as functioning al 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. Peter Moruzzi, McdCom, stated that it was originally Kreis 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 terms 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 staled that there are very serious implications for a building when it is designated a Class 1 Historic Site— especially so when it's a multi-tenant 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 Building which is a separate entity from the Oasis Hotel and Tower. He commented that "Palm Springs 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 budding 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. ui {° Pp1.MSpRi CITY OF PALM SPRINGS w Z ` DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING SERvMCEB c'nr..enn. •Fp'^ 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 21"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 building 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 of these quotations. 3200 E. TAHQUITZ CANYON WAY, PALM SPRINGS, CA 92262 TEL: (760) 828-8245 FAX: (760) 322-eae0 E-MAIL: KEN.LYON@PALMSPRINGS-CA.GOV 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 form 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 context/site. Staff believes the Oasis Commercial Building has a strong relationship to sile. 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 lower 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. TAWQOITZ CANYON WAY, PALM SPRINGS, CA 922,62 TEL: (760) 323-8245 FAx: (760) 322-886o E-MAIL: KEN.LYON@PALMSPRINGS-CA_GOV �, ,' 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 is 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 S200 E. TAHQUITZ CANYON WAY, PALM SPRINGS, GA 92262 TEL: (760) 323-8245 FAX- (760) 322-8360 E-MAIL: KEN.LYON@PALMSPRTNGS-CA.GOV y 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 fails 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. 9200 E. TAHOIIITZ CANYON WAY, PALM SPRINGS, CA 92252 TEL: (760) 823-8245 FAX: (760) 322-8360 E-MAIL,: KEN-LYON@PALMSPRINGS-CA.GOV U"t i THE OASIS OFFICE BUILDING PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA AN ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE AND HISTORIC INTEGRITY i y Dmk August 2007 I THE OASIS OFFICE BUILDING PALM SPRINGS, CA I AN ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE AND HISTORIC INTEGRITY �mw F c i I I L PURPOSE i On April 11, 2006, The City of Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board (HSPB) identified and discussed in a public hearing the Oasis (Office) Commercial Building,as one of approximately 50 properties m the 2004 survey processing characteristics that may qualify it for local, state or national designation as a historic site. A second meeting of the I1SPB took place on December 12, 2006 resultmg in beginning the process of designating the building a historic site. On January S,2007,the I ISPB initiated the study and investigation of I the Oasis "Office" Building for possible recommendation to City Council for "Class 1" designation_ Patrick McGrew (McGrew/Atchitectute) was comnvssioned to undertake the evaluation, which resulted in the Historic Site Designation Application dated March 2007. On July 10, 2007, the I-ISPB considered the application (HSPB-55 The Oasis Commercial Builditg) for designation as a "Class 1 Historic Site". At the hearing the property owner voiced concern regarding the pending action and its potential long-ten% implications, and requested a Continuance to allow time for an independent evaluation. As a result, Lyle Commercial conttacted this cuttent study,wbich commenced on August 2,2007. II. BACKGROUND AND SETTING Section 8.05.020 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code provides the definition of a historic site as:Any real property such as a building,a site,including but not limited to archways,tiled areas atid similar architectural elements; an archeological a cavadon or object char is unique or significant because of its location,design,setting,materials,workmansbip or aesthetic effect,and: L•� I I History 1- That it is associated with events that have made a meaningful contribution to the nation, state or local history,or Z. that is associated with the lives of persons who mndc meaningful contribution to national, i state or local history;or Architecture 3. That reflects or exemplifies a Particular period of national,state or local history;or E 4. That embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type,period or method of consttuction;or 5. 112at represents the work oC a roaster builder, designee or architect whose individual genius influenced his age;or that possesses high artistic value;or I G. That zepresents a significant and distinguishable mt47 whose components map lack individual distinction;or Archeology 7_ That has yielded or may likely to yield infoxm2tion important to national, state or local history or prehistory. A Class 1 Historic Site may also qualify for historic designation at the federal state or county level. I 111, PFEVio17S FINDINGS Pursuant to the 2004 Reconnaissance survey, the consultants, AzcbutecttiH, Resources Group (ARG) stated that the Oasis Office Building (referred to erxoncously as the Oasis Commercial. Building) appears to meet the level of significance accessaty for individual listing for individual.National.Register of Historic Places, or California Rctp'ster of Historical Resources eligibility,at the local level,as " (1) an interesting example of mid-centuty modem commercial architecture, (2) 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 wain commercial street. (3) Further,the building is the work of master architect, E. Stewart Williams, and interior designer, A. Quincy Jones, thus has elevated the significance fox its association with a prolific local architect and designer of nadonal prominence.'This is an exceptional rumple of its type,period,or method of construction°' i The associated Primary Record(DPR 523A) listed 1924• as the date of construction; that it is altered Atom the original design, and assigned a status code of 5S3 (ineligible, but of local interest The Bxiklanov SCmawe and 01�recf (DPR 523B) form stated that the common name was Krels Building/Oasis Room; the architect as E. StCWaxt Williams and interiors by A. Quincy Jones; and although again providing the 5S3 status code, ideatified the applicable National Register Cziteria as A (Events) and C (Distinctive Characteristics and Work of a Master). The Condanuaria»Sheet states that the building was constn}cted in 1945; that it has a 1 I I i bigh degree of integrity; that it Ls the work of master architect E. Stewart Williams and interior designer A. Quincy Janes. i In March 2007, Patrick McGrew concluded, that this building is eligible for listing in the local,Califo,�+ and National Rcgistcrs as follows: � I Criterion 1 Events (or patterns of events) that may have made a meaningful consnbution to the nation, state or community. McGrew stated that the Oasis Commercial Building-(sic) is an important example of mid-century commercial development in Palm Springs. The building represents the overall development from the 1940s to the 196Or,and contributes to the scale and character of she e70Y main commercial street Ar .rnch, it is associated vith the pattern of events that have made a meaningful caniribicsion to she community, thereby qualifying it as eligible for luting on the local state or National Registner. Criterion 2: Persons who trade meaningful contriburion to national, state or local history. Milton Kreis was an important merchant in downtown Palm Springs, at one,time owning and/or operating five drug stores or restaurants along Palm Canyon Drive...Kreis was (a) figure of importance in California and Palm Springs,and the Oasts Commercial Building was associated with his accomplisbnheuts..As sitch, the hadlding is associated with a person of importance to the commnniLy,shovhy qualzYying v for the local, Calafar=, and National Rgistner. Criteria 3-7:That teflects or exemplifies a particular period of national, state,or local history; or that embodies the &stiuctive chatacteristics of a type,period, or method of construction; or that represents the work of a toaster builder,designees,artist,or architect whose individual genius influenced his 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 characteristics of Palm Springs commercial buildings of the 1940s-1960s. It also reptesents a construction method of light steel framing represented by physical features such as freestanding columns and other significant details of the Late International Style architecture...These traits commonly occur in the important buildings of the period that line Palm Canyon Drive. The nrGjectpropery contains euougb of tbosc characte?isfiu to be considered a true representative of its ype,period, and method of canslraction These characterzcbrs are expressed in specific tff ws inr&ding the form, praportion, struchere, plarg style and materials." IT- Stewart Williams is a master architect, and is gen=11y recognized for greatness in Iris fiend..."Tbc 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 nn artistic ideaL The Oasis Commercial Building successfully embodies the concepts of the Late International Style atebhtceture. Because the building embodies the akswimve cbaracterictirs of Palm Springs comniertial arrhitesture, and because it is the work of a master architect, and beeat se itpossesses btah xlisfsc valuer, it qualifies ar eldgibk for li ring on the iota!, Califonna,mid National Rogutner." Criterion 8:That has yielded or may ltlrely to yield information important to national,state or local history-or prehistory. This criterion most commonly applies co properties that contain or are likely to contain information bearing on important archeological research questions. The property must have characteristics suggesting the likehhood that it possesses r i confutation of Artifacts, soil strata,structural remains,or other natural or cultural features... It would not qualify as an historic resource under this criterioan" Integrity: integrity 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 tinder at least one of the criteria, but it must have integrity. The evaluation of integrity mast be grounded in an understanding of a building's physical features, and how they relate to the concept of integrity...or they do not Within the concept of integrity,there arc 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 requires knowing why, where and when a property is significant The seven aspects of integrity are: Location, Design, Setting, Materials, Wotkmanship, 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 tbesc aspects. And while the building has undergone numerous minor alterations since it was built,vitivally all of its character-defining features survive, with the exception of the Free-standing silhouetted signage. Observable alterations to the street level include ,replacement of the original tertx=o flooring and the installation of goardtails that inhibits flow to the shaded courtyard. The exposed columns with their mosaic tile coveting have been painted,but all of these changes are revel rdble. Since one of the historic door pulls survives, replicas costld be fabrwaled to replace missing ones. The building retains a hi h degree of inlegnty." I IV. RESEARCH METHODS � Following a review of the previous study, and the inventory prepared for the building pursuant to the 2004 survey, the National Keguter Bulletin 15 (Bulletin. 15), was followed. Bulletin 15 identifies five steps to be followed in deter+�g eligibility for nouunation/listing: J. Categorize the property. Determine whether the property is a district, site, building, structure, or object j 2. Determine which prehistoric or historic context(s) the property represents. A property must possess significance in American history, axcbitecture, ateheology, engineering, or culture when evaluated within the historic context of a televant 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 4. Determine if the property represents a type usually excluded from the National Register_ If so, determine if it meets any of the Criteria Considerations. (Phis does not apply to the Palm Springs Criteria£or Class 1 sites) � 9 I i 5. Detennine whether the property retains integrity. Evaluate the aspects of location, design, setting, worlananship, materials, feeling, and association that the property must retain to convey its historic significance. V_ OASIS OFFICE SUILDINC DESCRIPTION I Constructed in 1952, within the complex of the Oasis Hotel (designed by Lloyd Wright, in 1928),the Oasis Office Building required the demolition of the original Wright dining room, and the telocation of the McCallum adobe.The solid concrete, slip-form coastmcdoo Oasis buildings to the east remained, and were. connected to the new building via an elevator and open-air walkway at the second story. Thus, the new comet office building was designed to have four significant elevations—two of which were oriented to street traffic, and the other two to the hotel clientele. k' I 'fit i . i SatKL elwahon with a,#=nt Loyd VVr,ght Cams Hold(bolo:Slrabaen) It is tectaugular in plan,and constructed of concrete and steel-framing,with a flat roof. The Palm Canyon fagide is recessed fi:om the sidewalk, bebind mosaic tiled pilotis, supporting the cantilevered second story. The recess continues toward the centax of the structure, creating a courtyard, (open to the:office level above,) and allowing for additional storefronts. As with typical Mainstreet commercial buildings, retail was planned for the first story,while offices were designated above. Storefronts continued along the side and rent elevations.The display windows employed comer glazing and teak door handles. The side and rear elevations incorporated thice-part display windows with transoms into rubble stone veneers. The second story along Tahquitz Canyon was defined by extensive glazing, taldng the form of a curtain wall,with thtee-part steel-ftamed glaz ng units. The second story along the cast 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 Eton the hotel side of the complex,via a grand steel and concrete stair. P21M Canyon cl=i=(Ph=-shulm ) The esscrttL-d character-defining features of the Oasis Office Building were! the geometric concrete form; the integration of the incenox and exterior spaces within both the first and second stores; cornet windows; rubble stonc display windows; the grand stair; -ribbon windows;sunscreeoz;pilods;foe door hardware;A.Qutiacy Jones'Ktcis interior. Construction Chronology 1952-3 Original Construction.Williams,Williams&Williams Architects,Clark Frey Associate Architects, 1957 First Story Remodeling 1966 Drug Store Remodeling;Masonry Exterior Change 1973 First Story Remodeling;Remodeling of Storefronts,Ricluding Masonry Wainscoting 1974 Remodeling for Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge 1982 Caf6 Espresso Storefront Remodeling and Exterior Patio Remodeling 1984 Tenant Remodeling for P-Arn.Springs Cooldc Company 1986 Tire Damage to Clothing Store;Major Remodeling 1988 Remodeling for Candlemaker and TCBY 1989 Remodeling for Nightclub g 1991 Remodeling for johnme's Uppercut 1997 Exterior First Story Remodeling(Chris Mills,Architect) 1998 HVAC Remodeling(Chris Mills,Architect) VA- ARCHITPCT According to almost all contemporary references, including the McGrew and ARG evaluations, the atchitect of the Oasis Office Building was E. Stewart Williams. However, i i i according to building records, original drawings, and the Getty Research Institute's Julius Shulman Photographic Archive, the architect was Williams Williams and Williams. Schulman's records were fastidious in cataloging his photograpbs. Within the atchive, one finds three classifications £or Williams' projects: Williams Williams & Williams, E. Stewart Williams, and Williams&Williams. The Oasis Office Building was catalogued according to the former. The original. drawings (two of which survive and axe in the possession of the property � owner) list Williams Williams & Williuns as the architect, and Clark & Frey as associate architects. Furthermore, the initials "RJC", "RC" RIti'V ' 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 or development of this project_ McGrew notes in his evaluation, many similarities between the Oasis Office Building and I.eCorbusier's Villa Savoye. Prior to coming to the United States, Swiss-born Frey worked under the tutelage of the Master Architect, including the design of Villa Savoye. That may explain some of the similarities of the two buildings_ Harry Williams, himself, had considerable acclaim prior to arriving in Palm Springs, as a partner in the 120-person Dayton firm of Schenk&Williams. The firm was responsible for the design of countless buildings betwecu 1905 and 193E (43) clotting the city's skyline. This included many residential strucanes (such as the home of Orville Wright), cburrhes, civic buildings; many corporate structures including all facilities for NCR, Frigidairc and Del= and the original buildings and structures associated with Wright-Patterson Air 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 design and massing, and application of ribbon windows, as the Oasis. Harry Williams' 1957 Desaw Sun obituary references the Oasis as one of his major designs. Harry Williams' son, E. Stewart; arrived in Palm Springs after seining in,the Navy, to loam about architecture. According to Stewart, he "...didn't know mything about architecture really when I carve out here in 1946. I only had bits of experience. I didn't know about zoning, about building codes, didn't know anything about constniction_ l 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 member, 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. Willivns noted in the"Prickly Peak'interview that it was not until the mid-50s, that he took the lead on design and client relations, while Roger focused on structures. Furthermore, during his luncheon speech.in 1999, Stewart stated, "T am also greatly indebted to my father,my brother Roger, and to my long time Partner John Clark for their help and counsel on the many projects that today are wrongly attributed to me alone", 1 Pilm Springs Life 1997 2 ASchivc,17AC American Institute of 2 n hitccts. 3 E.Stewart WMisms,FAIR Luncheon Speech,May 17,1999.(Archive,The American lmdrute of Architects) L 7,7 � V it V E.Stcwaft Williams-(pbotc:Shulman) Many local articles have been written about Stewart Williams, and many incorporate direct quotations. According to several, Stewart Williams was first exposed to Modernism while teaching at Bard College.There he icadLeCotbusier'sAMaebi7isforLAdiig and Towarek,aM� A7rbzwura by Walter Gtopius. According to Williams, "My interest in contemporary architecture has never wavered since those days. I ffiinl my philosophy of design tends to reflect that of I%fie-%van der Rohe more than that of Frank Lloyd Wright-though I've always liked Wright's selection of materials: COnrTetc, stone, wood and glass, rather than the steel, glass and stucco-covered geometric solids espoused by Corbusier and Gropius." "Perhaps I was most influenced by the work of Scandinavian architects like A21to, Asplund and Markelius, all of whom employed natural materials and carefully integrated the surrounding environment into their work." "I think it's fait to say that I learned something from 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 U-Fe (200) noted that his primary influences were the Deutschcr Werkbiuicl, unsuccessful Seidling houses, as Williams Realized that the Germans preferred beautiful woods, native stone and glass, mixed with colorful interiors...patterned fabrics,flowers,vines on houses. In the desext Stewart Williams work incorporated the following chal-'Ictenstics; • Variety of materials and textures-wood,concrete,stone,and glass • Subtle colorations and fonns • lareggration of indoor and outdoor space • Strong relationship to context/site • Clean lines • Natural treatment of materials-strong dislike of stucco and paint In reference 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 Lloyd Wright Oasis Hotel. In&c%its coostxuctioa obliterated the public view of 73 i i i 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,k remains unclear as to whom the actual design should be attributed to_ I Other Williams'Projects Harry Williams Atchitect 1940-1990 Office at the Plaza (Roger joined in 1945;Stewart joined in 1946) 1946 "Sinatra House,1149 Alejo(1145 via Colusa?),Palm Springs** • •PSHS Gymnasium,Palm Spriggs -'Tempi.Isaiah,332 Alejo,Palm Springs • (SCCA7A Ce�y�cnte of 1-ln�rar IY/IIUIY/) � i -Potter Chnic,1000 N Palm Cyn,Palm Spdngs''** •Higgins Residence,Palm Springs"** I "Bissonte T.)dge,260 W Vista Chino,Palen Springs Demolabed •Pepper Tree Tnn,Indian Cyn&Ceand Via Valmonte,Palm Springs all have eidher been remodeled bryond rec✓anidPon,ar demo&bcd" 1947(49) ffhc Colony by E,ari Cordrey,430 S. Cabuilla,Palm Springs** • -Palm Springs BascbaLl Rodco Stadium,Palm Springs** F i I i gCuce ofwillnm•W.IF�mx&n tr i,"me�[tie 6ihs(plwm:Slwlmau) r ,' i f Williams Williams&Williams 1950-1997 j (father Harry and brorher Roger office at the Plaza and later Ste 2.22 of the Oasis)) 1950s Primasilyresidenriab 1950 k(naled of a mllabmrs$on)Desert Hospital(1-30 beds),Palm Springs 1� i 1951 -Miner House,Thunderbird Country Club,Rancho NEmgc"* 1952 •Bligh I-louse,Thundcrbizd Country Club,Rancho h6rage** 1953 (50) •Interior of Plorsheim Shoe Store*k -Desert Muscutn,135 E T'ahquitz Canyon,Palm Springs .Note• Rwaiall Flenderson in Desert Magazine, Febmaay 1959, idenzifter' Alberi Fry of the architect, and Ilarg Wil F,='obituary does not lift it ar One of bif firm'Pmjeatr. -Oasis Office Building I •Oasis Hotel,New wing and dining room 1955(53) •Eelais House, 1030 West Gelo,Palm Springs"* (Class S butoric.rite)•k i i ' -Sutter House,Palm Springs xWilliams House,Palm Springs*;"* -Koerner House,Palm Springs** (noted ar outrtandino 1955(6) •Coacbella Valley Savings and Loan,393 South P21m Canyon,Pahn Splints Rear eleva&on zr similar to tbat of the Oasts I -(with Clark Frey&Cbamberr)Palm Springs City i Mll ■ •PSHS Auditorium,Palm Springs** •Hicks Centt;r, 1345 N.Palm Canyon, Palm Springs (dertrmyed by fare) Will Be Williams 19574973 focus=commcrciail 1957 -Santa re Savings and Loan,588 South Palm Canyon&Baristo,Palm Sprints 196'9 AL4TC de gn citation il/&W 1957(63) gKenastonHouse (noted ar outrtaridingg) .Krnarton primary residmo m Pacific Palrrades—dersgmd 4A.,Quincy Jens Not":wa tame.done as Oasis. 1953 mPSHS Library,Palm Springs' •CoD Gymnasium and Pool,Palm Desert** 175 I I I 1960(58) -Satter House,Palm Springs** (noted ar autstandzng) i xSanta Fe Savings&Lo m,Palm Springs*:r. 1961(64) -Coachella Savings&1. an(2^' ,555(499)S Palm Canyon,Palm Springs ** 1966PortlandCement.4rsodadon1-LvardforCmniveUseofConc z(fYf&ll�' (Fashzngton MutxaR)Consi&e d a monument to PS Moikrnum,twtcard emage 1963 -Oasis Hotel Reat Wing,Palm Springs(demolished) •Desert Hospital Addition(60 beds),Palm Springs** 1964 •(mith Albert Frey job Porter Clark&Robson Chambers)PS City Hall Addition, Palm Springs Riverside County Administ ntion&Corms Building,Indio** •(Pith Clark-Frey dam•Chambers)Palm Springs f erial Tramway, Mountain Station*,** 1966-76 •(nnthArnfstmiq&Porter)Craft on HiDs College,Yucaipa 1973 findPlace aeeardA7liIC*," 1969 •(4*b jobs Cart JF/a hg)College of the Dcsrrt,Palm Desert ^Santa Fe Savings&Loan,Palm Springs Williams Clark&Williams 1972-1990 1972 -Palm Springs Cq Hall addition 1976 -Sin La Fc Savings&Loan (I-Story steel,appears to float abovegrounr�•jlddr•<u-ccilzngslar,•,North,* lodrstrzes sunscreens,stuinlcys handrail) • -Palm Springs Arc Museum 101 Museum Drive,Patin Springs AI41C SpecalAwarri aj•Lxee&nce(photo ref mnos Roger as architect) N`illiams noted it to be one of his favoriteProjeLtr 1982(4) -Palm Springs City Hall addition 1986(3) ^Frilx&Sidney Williams Housc (Hated as o:dstandnp) 1987 fzrrt honor award Masony Irutltttte ofCaloraza in ennjunct w desert chapterATA* 1989 •Graff Radf»td House,Rancho Mirage (noted as oxtstandzng) 1994-6 (with CRisMill)Palm Spiv pas Art Museum Chase Ait Wing • .Exhibit far.l~.Alfl nomination(See4lon 3,Exhi7rifs) *�Lis,of cited Sign#Fcart Projects(FAIR IVonrinalioa) ***ldentifzed on(Blemertan)Cal Po�i Pomona BiblivaVby on Desert Modernzsm i I I I VI. CONTEXT I Based on its style, the Oasis Office building is associated with the context of Palm Sptinggs Modemiscq a style introduced by early wealthy vacwionets seeking the deseat oasis for thee second homes;and then promoted by newly arrived architects, the Furst of whom was ]ohn Porter Clark [19321, followed by Albert Prey [1934]), and then Harry J. Williams in 1940. Williams was joined by sons Roger in 1945, and E. Stewart in 1946.Leading architects from outside of the Coachella Valley added to the palette,including such names as Jobe Lautner, Richard Neuter, R.M.Schindlex, Paul Williams, Weltou Beckett, Richard Pereira, Charles L.uckman 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 'excluded residential, resort, commercial and institutional examples. � The International Style, as seen in Palm Springs manifested itself for its extensive use of glass,deep overhangs,and the integration of indoor and outdoor spaces,and informality_ It often was oriented towards mountain views and the integracton of water features. Examples of this style in Palm Springs included the following- (Cm 4metedpnor to 1958[30year—slandardfor q far ekgiR&]Underltued) 1920s Name Architect I923 Oasis Hotel Lloyd Wright 1928 El Mitedoc Hotel 1930s 1932 El Encanto Apartments Marshall 13.W llinson 1933-5 Kocher-Samson Building Prey&Kocher 1935 Community Church Charles Tanner 1936 Ship of ncc Desert E•etle Webster&Adrian Wilson 1938 Grace Lewis Miller House Richard Neuba 1938-9 Welwood Murray Idbraty John Porter Clark 1939 Clark House John Porter Clark 1939 Palm Springs Wotueu's Club John Porter Clark 1940s 1940 Fey House Albert Prey 1941 Cahwla Elewentary School Albertt Frey&Robson Clark 1945 Racquet Club Albert Nxey 1946 Loewy House Albert Prey S:Robson Clark 1946 Edgar J.Kaufman House Richard Neutta 1946 Villa Hermosa Resort Albert Troy 1947 San Marino Pel Marcos)Motel William F.Cody 1947 Bullocks Department Store Walter Wunleman&Welton Becket 1947 Tennis Club.Additions A.Quincy Jones&Paul R.Williams 1948 Towm and Descrt H.W.Bums i 1948 Biltmore Hotel Fred Mouboff I 1949 St Maul's in the Desert Clark&Frey I 1950s 1950 Town&Country Center A. Quincy Jones& Paul R. Williams 1952 Chambers Rouse Clark&Frey 1952 L'Hozizon)Hotel Wtltiain F.Cody, 1952-7 Palm Springs City Hall Albeit Frey&John Potter Clark and Williams,Williams&Williams 1953 Desert Museum Albert Frey 1956 Ocotillo Hodge Alexander Co_&William Krisel&Dan Saxon Pahncx I 1956 Casey-PirozziHouse Albert Frey 1957 Twin Palms,ttact homcs Palmct&Krisel 1957 Huddle Springs Restaurant William F. Cody 1957 Christian Science Church .Albert Frey 1957 hnpala Lodge Hsieh ICautur I 1958 Robinson's Department Store Richard Pereira&Charles Lockman 1959 City National Bank Victor Gruen Associates 1959 Spa Bathhouse&Hotel William Cody, Donald Wexler.,Ricbard IIazn,on 1960s I 1960 Alpha Beta Shopping Ccntcr Albert Frcy 1960 666 Palm Canyon Drive office Howard&Lawrence Lapham 1960-62 gas starioa North Palm Canyon Wiliam F_ Cody 1961-62 Experimental steel houses Donald Wexler&Richard Harrison 1962 The House of Tomottow Don Saxon Pahver&William Krisel 1963 Frey n IIouse Albcrt Ficy 1963-65 Tramway gas station Albert Frey&Robson Chambers 1964 yellow brick iite station Hugh Kaptor 1968 Elrod House John Laumer 1968 St Thetesa parish Church William Cody 196E-70 Max Palevsky House Ciaig Ellwood 1970s 1973 Bob Hope Horne John LAutner 1975 Palm Springs Library Centex William Cody b i V I I. INTEGRITY u The requisite seven aspects or qualities that define integrity as described by McGrew, include: Location, Design, Seeing, Materials, Workmanship, Fccling and Association. The Locatiion remains intact for the Oasis Office Belding, as it has not been moved. However, as indicated in Section v, it has undergone numerous remodel' . Significant character- defining features have been removed (storefronts, display windows, terrazzo, planters, flooring, doors and hardware, and metal sunscr-cen), 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, con" to statements made in earlier assessments,limited integrity of Design remains. The Setting is the physical environment of a historic ptoperty,and refers to the character of the site, and the relationship to surrounding £eaturces and open space. Setting often refets to tb e basic physical conditions under which a property was built and functions it was intended to serve. Thane 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 Oasis Hotel Complex, serving not only street traffic, but the hotel guests, as well. It was intended to have four distinct elevations with associated storefronts and entrances,visually tied to intimate pathways for guests moving between their tooms, pools, and dining building. These relationships no longer remain. The dining building, resort landscaping and surrounding casims have been demolished; and the rear storefronts have been Lridosed and significantly modified, so as to now appear as a standard rear elevation of a commercial building. The building is now clearly oriented merely to Palm Canyon Drive.Hence,it no longer tetains integrity of seeing. Materials are the physical elements that were combined or deposited during a particular period or time, and in particular pattean or configuration to farm a historic property. Primary cxtadot materials remain in-place in many locations. Some elements however, have been clad with paint or stucco, some stonework has been 1:ennovcd, as well as the exterior. terrazzo paving matei7als. The interior designed by A. Quincy Jones, no longer stands. Hence,the material integriLy is fair. Wotlmtanship is the physical evidence of crafts of a particular culture,of people during any given period of history or prehistory, and can be applied to the property as a whole, or to individual components. Evidence of slLillcd workmanship 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 pilods, the detailed construction of the rear staircase, the refined A. Quincy Jones interior, and the metal awnings. Of these features, some of the stone remains, although most inset display windows have been in-filled; some of the corner windows remain; two doors retain their: original handles; the ,mosaic tilt is no longer visible due to paint applicagon; 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 dminishccl ` i I i Bech3og is a property's expression of the aesthetic or historic sense of a particular period of time_ It results from the presence of pbysical features that when taken together, convey the propetty's historic character. As such, the feeling of the Idstotic building has been lost with the demolition of thereat buildings and landscaping, and their interrelationship to the Oasis Office Building. The integrity of feeling has further been matted with the significant xetaodclmg to this building, and those within its block The integrity of feeling is therefore fair. Associatioo is the direct link between the important historic event or person and a historic property. As this building is considered significant for architecture, as an example of mid- century Intemational Style/Mid-centuzy Modcmism, it is not associated with a specific event, or person, but a period of development in the City of Palm Spiags. As such, the Oasis Office Building retains integrity of association with the period of mid-ccntuuy commercial design and development I I I I I I I i I i I I i 0 I i VIII. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION Previous evaluations stated,that the Oasis Office Building was significant as " (1)an interesting example of mid-century modem commercial architecture,(2) 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 mein commercial street. (3) Further, the building is the work of master 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 exceptional example of its type,period,or method of construction." ARG(although rated it SS3-ineligible) j Discussion (1,2)This building is an interesting example of mid-century Interoational Style (Modern) in Palm Springs and the associated post war development; however it has been significantly altered, and no longer retains adequate integrity for individual listing_ Better examples exist of the style. (3)'iberc is no confi=atioa that this building could be primarily attributed to Stewart Williams, rather it appear to bate been a collaboration (as had been commonplace) of the local architects, Haug, Roger and Stewart Williams with Albert Prey and John potter Clark. Better examples of Williams Williams & Williams buildings remain, including the Coachella Valley savings and Loan at 383 South palm Canyon, and several award-wivaing projects.The Oasis Office Building was neither published,nor recognized as outstanding.. Finally, the discussion of the interior by Jones, is irrelevant, as no element of his design remains in the building. As such, the rating of rated it 5S3 —ineligible, appears appropriate_ McGrew concluded that this building is eligible for listing in the local, California, and National Registers as follows: Criterion 1 Events The Guildzng repro rats the overall development from the 1940r to the 1960s and contribraw to rho reale and character of the ay's main eommernal street..As nfeb, it is associated aaiith dre pattern of events that bane trade a meaninVid<orstribredon to the community, thereby gnalafying it as ela�ihle for wring on the local state orNatianall�cauasviee: Criterion 2: Persons who made meaningful contribution to national, Staate or local history. Milton I{ccds was (a) figure of imporuance in California and Palm Springs, and the Oasis Commercial Building was associated with his accomplishments. flr sucfi, the building it associated sarith a person of importance to the community, thereby qaaliowA it far the loazl, California, and National R?c ftnvs. Criteria 3-7: Because the Guilding embodies the dutincdve charucteristio of Palm Springs commercial arvbikawe, and because it is the work of a master arrhi&4 and because it possesses high ariist e valuer, is garalifres as eligible for lusting on the local,California'andNationalRegisft*s" i Integrity. "...And while the building has undergone numerous minor alterations since it was btdlt� virttually all of its character-defining features survive, with the exception. of the free- standing silhouetted siguage_Observable alterations to the street level include replacement of I the original tetra=o flooring and the installation of guatdrails that iabibits flow to the shaded courtyard. The exposed columns with their prosaic file covering have been painted, but all of these ebanger are ranerdble Since one of the historic door pulls survives, npdcas could be fabricated to replace mi shjr ones. The building retains a bigb degree of integrity.°' Disewsiow Criterion I This building is an interesting example of mid-century International Style (Modem) in Palm Springs and the associated post max development; however it has been significantly altered, and no longer retains adequate integrity for individual listing. Better examples exist of the style. i Criterion 2.Although the building housed of a time one of the drugstores operated by Milton Kreis,it was neither owned,nor burls by him.As such this association is not appropriate for historic significance,Furthennore,nodiiag remains of the original design of the drugstore. Criteria 3-7: "I"bere is no substantaton tbat 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 ambitects, Harty, Roger and Stewart Williams with Albert Frey and John Portcr Clark. Better examples of Williams Williams & Williams buildings remain, including the Coachella Valley Savings and Loan at 383 Soutb Palm Canyon, and several other award-winning projects. The Oasis Office Building was neither published, nor recognized as outstanding. i Integrity: the conclusions leached by McGraw are incorrect, most of the character-defining features no longer remain, and the building lades the requisite historic integrity- The discussion of recoustructon is irrelevant, as almost anything can be reconstructceL Evaluation of the integrity of a building is based on current conditions,rather that potential. I In conclusion, although the Oasis Office Building is an example of the Midcentury International Style in palm Springs, it is not the best example, and does not retain the necessary historic integrity_ As it terrains unclear as to what direct contributions Stewart; Harry,of roger Williams,--or Albert Frey or John Porter Clary the claim that it is the work of a Master, ctaaot be substantiated. Better intact examples of the architecture of the Williams family remain in Palm Springs, including the Coachella Valley Savings and Loan, which possesses similar features to the Oasis. As such, the Oasis Office Building does not meet the Criteria for listing as a Class I Historic Site. Mff Coachc➢a Va➢ey SM1ving;and Lon Bu➢di,�,Rt i i i I BIBLIOGRAPHY "I949'I'he Colony:A Studio Apartment Group-Palm Springs,California",fLr/atcrhrmfI{crord,Nov.1949. pp.124-129, `1956 Williams House-Palm Springs,Ca8fom41",LorAngrkr L'xomixcr ARG."City of Palm Springs Historic kesonrces Survey'2004. The Ameriaw Institute ofArchitecrs Lhbruy and Archives,W;shingtan,D,C. .'LrliikQum[FoRrm 1954,p208-9. Architectural Record,July 1932-,P,37.39, Architceturs]kecoad,july 1951.p,124-126. Aber,Michael,ed,Irrlcrrorr Handbook forHinoricBrrrldigs-Nawo L4 Fark Service,1988, Auer,Mrha4 ed.lNknarr Flmrdboak forR4rameB44knga, VaAew A,National Park ScrvicS 1993. Blemcatoa"Bi�liography on Desntf Moderxdsm". hrtn://swnv.csnpmm�na/-hlemerrnn/P+Jm�+20$Ilriap�/PSBih.html Bowker,RB-AmerirxxfLdikeu Oirtrinry.1970. City o(I?Am Springs Building Departmmt Pilcs City of Palm SprinL5 Planning Departmmr Files Cygelmm,Adele.PaG.rSprin sModme New Yoric Ri,=IL 1999. "Great Profile Provides Thralls For Oasis Guests",Darn San.January 24,1941. Gidtl.lhrs✓nrFoalrm6+�a++d�xii+�Rb+ mpcttyr lbn!I-Tara tI+.M2oelLSioi r.-rm+rrr in Ihr Par!F 1�nrr Deparunmr of the Interior,National Park Service,National Register,T-risrnry and F,dueatiou,1979,revised 1990,1996,1998. S.irid:Cur[f¢�n ✓S mtd DoamxirliRn Prn ,rtie.r A.mmmtrd mt!%+Sirm(mn!PrROR;.Depar®mt of the Iniaior,National Park Service,National Regisrer,Hirmry and F&cstriou,1989, Jester,Thomas T.,ed BmGJngMokrials:Hirtog and Conn zyox.National Reds Service/MeGntvr-Hilt F$md=oa,kandall."They Learn About the Desert in Palm Spry_."Dcacrt Mngnsine+February 1959,p.12-13. Mess,Akm and Andrew Danish.Palm Springs Weekend.Chnonidc Boolcs,2001. Historic photographs,Palm Springs IEsmrical Sodcry. "Hotel has[ash flow problem"Defelt Sun.October 6,1981 "IIotel the Oasis".Derort Smi.Febntaty 14,1941- Jandl,IL Ward PR.`lBRkICax TIRsf T B:.Kehahslrlaxxg IRICRORlR I-IufnRLBulldlm3S-Idrxn�eiig C.bmnrfenpeflxinL&lcmcRk.National Park Service,1988. Julius Shulman Photngnphic Collectiou:Shulman Series IT Archirccrs 1')3&1999,Rox 154 Folder 13,1953 Wllinms, Willis ns&WlMstrs!Oasis Office Building(lob 1523).Gcrry Research Inoinua Julius Shulman Phow pphic Collectiou:Shulman Series LI Architects 1936-1999,Box 156 Polder 13,1953 Williams, Williams&Williams:Oasis Office Building Gob 1573),Getty Research Insdtutc I4ataoka,M>lm"PS Plaanco Reim Hal rl Pxojecl Aid",Desert Sur-October 73,7977. Library of Congtcss,I-IAA8/1-TA 13R Collection Morroo,W,Brown 111,The Secretary of the Interiads St ndaids for Rclutbilitation with Illustrated Guidelines for f Rehabilitating Historic Buldiu�rs National Park Service,19P National Park Service."Secretary of the Inraiog's Sl=dards for Evaduatwn" "yt finktn!�..rF.,CrRlrr�l99d 7 Genmhe FvnmernnnL D49aatmezit of the Interior,National Park$erviceNclson,Lee H, Preservation Brief 17:Arclti1nc4a4 Character-Identifying the rlrsual Aspects of,Historic BuMiags as an Aid m Prescrvmg Their Character.National Park Service,1988."Notes on Church Devgo",ArcEtertant Fomm,December 1949. "Oasis Hotel Complete Improvements Desert Sun,Fchnnary 14,1941. "Oaa-i.,Hotel Finally Sold Desert Sun,July 14,1968. "Oasis Hotel Opens New Addition",Dram Sun-October 16,1964. "Oasis Hotcl Sold,also Business Block',Desert Sun,July 14,1968. Obit E Secwagt WI1Lv ,7bc Derv!SRx,September 18,zoos. Palm Sprivgs City Council Resolution No.15424 "Palm Springs dears way for city's first rkysempef'Press-Enterprise.July 28,1963 Palm Spring Preservation Pda.F.Sreueur WManns: A Tribute to His Life and Work,Novmrher 2005. Palm Springs ITimimT Society Archives Pan,Jode.`c&rchhectund Icon:E.Stewart Williams'Life is Buda on Modern Architectrua"Tlic bescn'S:m,November 16, 2003 Patenaude,Richard E,SmffRcpon to I iistoxic Site P=urvatioa Board.January 14,1985 Pewrace,Nicholrus.. 1-1;mV ofB 4$Rg Typw,Orford:Oxford L7nwersity Press.1997- Piitorra/7lvindMadp^�.•ne,Mama 41959,pp.10.11. Prrrnzvtg t/x Rand Prot 1-=-,1995. Prr.,re qMe Ee l Pan'n.IIPEF,2000. Pxidtly Pear#19:Iutcrvicwwirh Kager and Sunvart Williams `Rester Fire",Plerr nkxpriur.October 23,1992. "•SafctyAward",1)uertSmx January 9,1991. Schenk&Williams,http://www.emporis.cam/m/cd/cm/?id=scAacackwrlliaros•dapron-0h-usa i i � ¢s i "The New Ilotrl Oasis",PcGn Spr.'ngr Villogrr.jannary 195S. f°1'he New Oasis",Pnbn Spr+gr IrJ/dgm Qcwba 195° WJlitims,E.Sterv:rel."FASA Award Luncheon Tal le',May 17,1999. Tmppin;Andrea."Once Upon a Time in the West"by.Modernism Magsrine.Spring 2005 Williams,Williams&Williams.Fast Floor Reflected Ceiling Plan,dated October 15,195Z revised jauuary 22,1953. Williams,Williams&Williams.Second Floor Plan,dazed Octobc 15,1952,revised jaauary 22,IM-1- William,Williams&Willisms-Souch Half of Firsr Floor,dazed Octohcz 74,1952,rcviycd January 12,1953- Wright,Lloyd.Copies-of Working Drawinl,•s for ilarimda(Oasis Hotel),October 14,1923 Woo,Blaine."a Sm t Williams,9S;➢efined Sleek Warm Style of Desert Arcbitc=cr Los Angeles Times,Ocrober 1S, 2005. 1925 phomgraph,Palm Springs Idistoricsl Odenclac,1985 "BacfFE=xy ofthe Hotel Industry".http://w 1thnrtu-cdu/blum/history/ hnn:/Rinvw.hWftinn.cdu/�suhivanm/+mjpJ+rhnl�dhol[y hm9 hnn://.hluffrnn.erhi/—.enlhvnnm/wri�hlnnnis/enm:•.hinil I her.//.vvw,f�,g.,v/exlul+iL•/I ecusares/1n004.htmf h I 1p—LLv ru-aro-here.cgna/arclutcF,r/frccmar)3,4Mr htr]+-.( +v\`/.Y.'JapJi;ly.clnlLi�n�•dWnhr http . hr,I21 Evyy,laolrmy cnmLlarhumi,l7nnhotn/1,Wrishral lP_¢ I S+ � v i I i i i I i i i I i I I i I Appendix A: Biography of E. Stewart Williams i i E. (Emerson) Stewart Williams November 15,1909 j Bom Dayton,OH ro Harry&Una Williams 1928 Graduated from Steele High School,Dayton,OR 1933 Bachelor.of Axchileclure duce,Comell University 1934 Nfastut of.Architecture degree,University of Pennsylvania 19348 Insnnctor Bard College Rear!`A Machine for.Lining" C cCo f xnur and Tovards a New Anhitcrl-rn•- G7np ru 1938 European Grand Tout 1939-41 Draughtsman,Raymond Loewy,NYC June 30,1940 Married Mari Sclayltem,WoodsLocl;NY 1942-1946 Navy:-Mare Island Naval Yard,SF(sapecvised dry dock constriction) Note:Liceasure application ststes 1941-1943 Schenk&Williams,Dayton 1946-1950 Draughtsman,Marry Williams Architect,Palm Springs August 25,194 9 Passed Califbram Architecmee Licensure Exam q-iesnre# 1194) October,18,1950 MewbecslvpAmerican Institute of Architecis gruulcd Proposed by Henry L Egeu(a likely Coradl rlarrma6e ar he sr abed fami&rily wivh Slewat: fort yearn)and hir ,father,Ha?g 1950-1957 Williams Williams&Williams 1957-1969 Williams&Williams January 1, 1966 Transferred ATA membership From the Suuthem Califouila Chapter to the newly- formed Inland Califoxiiia Chapter 1969-1938 Williams Clark&Williartas j 6985 Roger Williams and John Clark Retire j 1988 A1A Emeritus status is granted ;Stewart works out of his home 1999 Admitted into the American Institute of Architer.`ts'College of Fellows Died 2005 Children Geoffccy Williams Mari Anne Paschualetd Erik Williams i i i I i I i Appendix B: Original Plans of the Oasis Office Building i 07 GJ fir.-.,... j .[•I LI ~ — .fly ` '-1.— 4 b'r1 ......... 1.••,, 1 'L�,. i S?:c1 l�'.�-� L SS_.E YI.�°''.�-`•� - ,[.S�,v.:ii�r'L`; -1-..�� '� 1; L.__ .`i� _ I�' _ ^u� .��. . s IIi is s �'"-.I i . . 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Qj IT lit Lail : ..'._::. .:.r._:_. it _-r=`_-^..•.!•.�__ _ I •w��� x�--�• f 'III _ ' Md FkX 1 , rI l� •' a` F.ISn'�T_LLV!_v-€ELl<3[P_Gk111V_�AIZ I- Tll•. _ •• IIIn;�1ntt��4MfI.lITIIi CC'h ••• n .R L c LID I I I I I i I I I i i I Appendix C: Photographs of Existing Conditions I ,`� J�iE S��;'�?'•W ^ivy— s•'r��i�-'�rw��'���"� ''+'`�"��� Srw :�,w'�'='':.�[rk1�5`� .V�"lr 5�i✓pq(�����^,��r^G•� �IV `.�, "}i}l (@,�14�FlV'V•• .:4Tw�:17:�gf..µ.ny+'bx' a , I 1 i View ol'Talaquim C.myon&Palm Canyon r1marioa I Tabgw=Canyon Elnadoa � n �ggp�. , ;iWN ........... ME, 14E t , i i P.rg1 1�!`n�rTi\'r'y"a n:lc�y�r.8tirl y 4 i �r' �,1� ilk. a�'^i �,-1?i•�", n',ti�.i��:�"F.d^, •t 1' ��,'�r,, S I:i rli ^�g"+�-' � � I.,nftAr✓ _ � 'icy'-"•-==C= Y,;:v SInMCx�ni�Q}('r�mcr ot•Palm Canyon.md Tah uirr.Can on 11 I t y wt Sto�efianc mth Vrcw co Crrunyard , t'71 Scorefmst will.V�rw In Cnu=ci I 1 t i StoecFinat and Pitons ,'€' � �'iyF4Vlrr�Ft;.°, � 4' {�'gy,5 LC fit'•ii�+lfti5i:`-I$sY.�'!''�Yii I I Alley Elevation �yi�Li'..f";'','Y);;,�•'ir`4$�3.>4:ZH�`.ti;r7�:.l�-.i v.y '^y,:, uri.�.,^� Ali It y.• � . ryf+i�'_.� Fee "�_'°.{ ,,i;i'ir%;'lii�'':3�`.`-fkhSSi'� J.y •n 1 *`,.'' pp ^. '! a,l.4w ^Vir, �, 1:;" ?LN:' w, , eFS �-." .."I:��r$(y�1 p �.I��.f�.-.y.:�\v����.��:�]i=7[�,k�•�-w,��� � ��riJ di.d:_j"i^!.;�r :�� r�;lr�r'S•:f','�) -:. ;' 1W' ,'�. c.,k. II f , I ? '��} "frl'Ai}�f,F94 �pkfj 1YjAy h1 l ............. ' "t�,.i: 1 .I�•�ti rt�Vi,:yy'al �.�r'1 S`MRy%y{�"��y.'..!`,°4���� q��I�Y�SPT�iY':�J=,.1•�i`f4p�'+�IYii 4.�1 .�r�rF�"• iC �C "��:�Ir1.Y:;l�tr1,�;��r.➢.�1�+41tSb 'Cry Isritirv•'. Vv�s��j.,:;i,°d:Cr:SyiFyyS,1.y{lY� � �l"�•7c"x"' ^".ay'M�e^S�.'t.��Ft�if 4BkG.r�sn:.��,'� r •¢.• Re lacrsenc l7aor f-IanJle I> E If 1 S 1�'ifi�x i � . . tl a..,,}�,.•'F�, ('r(^1°e;�.,ply I 1 .I ��.��. `.��"'•L1>•^ry 'I x�tr.?irt a s, VA, ]Lmloumem 1Jnae i-i:v:11L •Y-�r J'y' �A'�' vs I Aw • f�`!}:j;,r na:.5 4, �,rl^':(;,�z.._ili'i:{.`�'.{;fP'i t�'!'•:N h.'� J}Ip�;•. TITS OASIS OFFICE BUILDING PALM SPRTNGS, CALIFORNXA AN ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE AND 1- USTOI0f_ INTEGRITY popped by Andrea Urbas,M_A rch 700 E.-Redlands BlvcL,Ste. U-149,Redlands,CA 92373 34CFR41.q.Nacdia Rlsco tAadutc ,Arc6i[ec[uey Aed6 wtaal TTwq.I•Ustory,Comn��Snq C.6 ,Flastoue Pmscmam .d I•Ti=ic Psse Sion Plan ar .y State of California—The Resources Agency primary# DEPARTMENT OF PARKS{1Np RECRFATION. HRI# , 7 PRIMARY RECORD Trinomial" NRHP Code WS3 .......�..—i Statu oe 5_ � Other Listings, _. � ... s.W _ ...-- Review.Coda Reviewer Date Page 1 of 3 Resource Name or#:(Assigned b recorder)9 g y r) Oasis Commercial Building P1.Other Identifier: offices of architects Williams, Williams, and Williams _ P2. Location: ❑Not far Publication N Unrestricted a.County Riverside and (P2h and Plc or P2d.Attach a Location Map as necessary.) b. USGS 7.5'Quad Palm Springs Date 1996 T ; R _ 114 of 1/4 of Sec B,M, c. Address 101-127 South Palm Canyon Drive City Palm Springs Zip 92262 d. UTM: (Give more than one for large and/or linear resources) Zone 11 mEl mN e.Other Loeational Data: (e.g.,parcel#,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,setting,and boundanes) Originally constructed as the Oasis Commercial Building, this elegant two-story building was designed In a Modern architectural style by architect Stewart Williams, with interiors by A.Quincy Jones and was built as an expansion of the adjacent Oasis Motel to the south_ Occupying a prominent corner of Palm Springs main commercial street, the 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 at the northeast corner. Exterior building materials consist of smooth stucco for the exterior walls,metal-framed window wall sections, and vertically hung corrugated metal panels with metal posts forming the second floor"piano nobile"on the east, street-facing elevation. Fenestration consists of a series of metal framed window wall sections for the first and second floors, and an expansive horizontally placed ribbon window composed or three rows each containing 19 steel 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 the original design. 3b. Resource Attributes: HP6- 1-3 Story Commercial Building P4. Resources Present R Building Cl Structure ❑Object 11 Site ❑District ❑Element of District ❑Other(lsolates,etc.) P5a.Photo or Drawing(Photo required Description of Photo; for buildings,structures,and objects.) (View,date,accession#) View Southwest August 2003 P6. Date Constructed/Age and Sources: '`''��,-;•S•y,,,ij!)-'`,<;, " ;; a'.Y' _ T' Historic L_.I Prehistoric [ Both +� 1924! Palm Springs HSPB List(1987) for Oasis Tower P7.Owner and Address: � G.,,. V,d..t°"�Jjr,lt'�: •f.e,ji,. ��f' 'W1 "ir Oasis 45175 Panorama Dr #E ' Palm Desert, CA 92260 r_I - lii,nrW:-0S,eE lu_r,' nErWSs.�.i[ P8.Recorded by: Maley/PetrinMnsleyiW atson - Architectural Resources Group Pier 9, The Embarcadera "r. ,.ir;• _ ! - -.i' _"' J �y¢tl� San Francisco, CA 94111 ? sq•I=j'r �t' _ _ ""'� P9 Date Recorded: August 2003 +•;'r�!+t-`rs _ P10.Survey Type a Describe) 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, .ttachments: ❑None ®Continuation Sheet ❑District Record ❑ Rock Art Record ❑Other(List) ❑Location Map ®Building, Structure, and Object Record ❑Linear Feature Record ❑Artifact Record ❑Sketch Map ❑Archaeological Record ❑Milling Station Record ❑Photograph Record DPR 523A(1/95) State of California—The Resources Agency Primary# . _ PARKS AND RE:CpEAT HRL#DEPARTMENT OF _ ION .,..-.,P.` _. ... .,...-- BUIt,D4NG, STRUCTURE,IAND OBJECT RECORD ' lge 2 of 3 NRHP Status Code 5S3 _ Resource Name or#: (Assigned by recorder) Oasis Commercial Building B1, Historic Name: Krels Drugstore Building/Oasis Room _ 82. Common Name: Oasis Commercial Building B3. Original Use: Commercial _ B4. Present Use: Commercia_1 05.Architectural Style: mid-century Modern 136. Construction History: (Construction date,alterationS,and date of alterations) This building was constructed in 1952 87, Moved? 2 No ❑Yes n Unknown Date: Original Location: 63. Related Features: Exterior seating area" B9a.Architect: E. Stewart Williams, Interiors by A. Quincy Jones b Builder: Unknown B10.Significance: Theme commercial architecture/development Area Palm Springs Period of Significance 1940.7960 _ Property Type commercial building _ Applicable Criteria A, C (Discuss importance in terms of historical or archnectural context as defined by theme,period,and geographic scope"Also address integrity) For centuries the habitat Of the Agua 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 1933 did the village of 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, Little 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 1960s- 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 full-scale hotels,smaller inns, nightclubs and restaurants prospered. Concurrently, from the 1940s through the 1980s, 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, Modernist-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 10605. (See Continuation Sheet) B11,Additional Resource Attributes. H_P6- 1-3 Story Commercial—Building B12. References: Architectural Resources Group, City of Palm Springs Historic (Sketch Map with north arrow required.) Resources Survey Summary Report,2004. (report contains full bibliography) "_ �rn'rm SG,inila 613. Remarks: n. _L A_miO_o _U I e i i Maley/Pctrin/Tinsley/Watson PnlLmp�r.Dr. ,,� 814. Evaluator: Architectural Resources Group ; ;- ;.3.__._. .��JS' FL.L9Pn,�c.��y��.-��— Date of Evaluation: August 2003 �.. iy 12 00 n y E.hfnna_Rd g.. - — - �.r� l�ad nrm (This space reserved for official comments.) i ,_— z fib;^•�.ti�l ) VJIPanU_WSY __ _ �Ir��1�i W G91115Si�DI �_ (I�'S�N iQ q Vill,uol.Sq� l l ��pi. IE on w 111[rti'11 pia ORThliwn,evnny_Nnv�iunT�r i I""I i_I i I3PR 523B(1/95) - '. ('' .Y. J State,of'California—The Resources Agency Primary H - DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION,' HRI# CONTI N UATION''SH E ET ' 'I Trinomial _. ._ ige 3 —of 3 Resource Name or#: (Assigned by recordor) Oasis Commercial Building Recorded by Maley/Petrin/7insley/VVatsorArch. Resources Group Dale August 2003 Continuation ❑ Update Bi0, Significance Continued The building originally known as the Milton F. Kreis Drugstore reflects the context of commercial development in this area from the 1940s to the 1950s, The budding was built in 1948. The structure retains a good degree of integrity, despite minor necessary changes relating to storefront modification, i.e. railings abutting the sidewalk for outdoor seating areas. The location, soling, 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. Because of the building's visual quality, history, intact setting,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. �02 pAL,.4 SA v City ®f Palm Springs V � + Office of the City Clerk 3200 F,T:ihduirz Canyon Way • Palm Springs, California 92262 C`"IIPC) Tel. (760) 32o-S204 • rez (760) 322-8332 • Wet) wwwpalmspnngs-ca.gov NOTICE OF CONTINUANCE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the meeting of June 17, 2009, Public Hearing Item No. 1.A. PROPOSED DESIGNATION OF THE OASIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING AT 101-121 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE AS A CLASS 1 HISTORIC SITE (RSPB 55) The City Council continued the public hearing to Wednesday, July 22, 2009, at the Council Chamber, City Hall, 3200 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 6:00 p.m., June 18, 2009, as required by established policies and procedures. James Thompson City Clerk HAUSEWC-CMI-learing NoticesWOTICE OF CONT- Oasis Commercial Bldg 2009-06-17.dac Post Offtce Box 2743 0 Palm Springs, California 92263-2743 �O pALMsA4 c V N k QtV Council Staff Re ort c-0[r�oRN�p DATE: June 17, 2009 PUBLIC HEARING SUBJECT: DESIGNATION OF THE OASIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING AT 101-121 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE AS A CLASS 1 HISTORIC SITE (HSPB 55) FROM: David H. Ready, City Manager BY: Office of the City Clerk SUMMARY: The item was noticed to be heard at the June 17, 2009, meeting. The applicant has requested this item be continued to July 1, 2009. RECOMMENDATION: 1. Continue the Public Hearing to July 1, 2009, with no public testimony. 2. Direct the City Clerk to post a Notice of Continued Public Hearing, XIAmes Thompson City Clerk David H. Ready, Esq., Ph.D. City Manager 10� CITY OF PALM SPRINGS PUBLIC HEARING NOTIFICATION 0 CITY CLERK'S DEPARTMENT Meeting Date: June 17, 2009 Subject: Oasis Commercial Building HSPB 55 — 101-121 S Palm Canyon Drive AFFIDAVIT OF MAILING I, Kathie Hart, CMC, Chief Deputy City Clerk, of the City of Palm Springs, California, do hereby certify that a copy of the attached Notice of Public Hearing was mailed to each and every person on the attached list on May 28, 2008, in a sealed envelope, with postage prepaid, and depositing same in the U.S. Mail at Palm Springs, California. (34 notices) I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Kathie Hart, CMC Chief Deputy City Clerk AFFIDAVIT OF PUBLICATION I, Kathie Hart, Chief Deputy City Clerk, of the City of Palm Springs, California, do hereby certify that a copy of the attached Notice of Public Hearing was published in the Desert Sun on May 30, 2009. 1 declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Kathie Hart, CMC Chief Deputy City Clerk AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING I, Dolores Strickstein, Secretary, of the City of Palm Springs, California, do hereby certify that a copy of the attached Notice of Public Hearing was posted at City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Drive, on the exterior legal notice posting board and in the Office of the City Clerk on May 28, 2009. 1 declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Dolores Strickstein Secretary NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF PALM SPRINGS Proposed Designation of"The Oasis Commercial Building" 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive as Class 1 Historic Site 55 and Notice of Exemption from CEQA Applicant: The City of Palm Springs NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, California, will hold a public hearing at its meeting of June 17, 2009. The City Council meeting begins at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs. The purpose of the hearing is to consider a recommendation of the Historic Site Preservation Board to designate the building at 101-121 South Palm Canyon Drive (The Oasis Commercial Building) as a Class 1 Historic Site. ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: This request is categorically exempt from review pursuant to Section 15331 (Historical Resource Restoration/Rehabilitation) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as the proposed designation meets the conditions outlined for preservation of a historic resource. The application is available for public review in the Planning Services Department, City Hall, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6-00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. REVIEW OF PROJECT INFORMATION: The staff report and other supporting documents regarding this project are also available for public review at City Hall between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Please contact the Office of the City Clerk at (760) 323-8204 if you would like to schedule an appointment to review these documents. COMMENT ON THIS APPLICATION: Response to this notice may be made verbally at the Public Hearing and/or in writing before the hearing. Written comments may be made to the Historic Site Preservation Board and/or the City Council by letter (for mail or hand delivery) to: James Thompson, City Clerk 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262 Any challenge of the proposed project in court may be limited to raising only those issues raised at the public hearing described in this notice or in written correspondence delivered to the City Clerk at, or prior to, the public hearing (Government Code Section 65009[b][2]). An opportunity will be given at said hearing for all interested persons to be heard. Questions regarding this case may be directed to Craig A. Ewing, AICP, Director of Planning Services at (760) 323-8245. Si necesita ayuda con esta carta, porfavor Ilame a la Ciudad de Palm Springs y puede hablar con Nadine Fieger telefono (760) 323-8245. es Thompson, City Clerk L A QPM1 sp�� Department of Planning Services w E .F Vicinity Map Cq<l AAOAN�p S 6ELAROO RD ANDREAS RD � z w p y � Z � Q U J a TA UITZ DR TAHQUIT DR TAHQUITZ DR TAHQUITZ DR TAHQUITZ DR E TAHQUITZ CANYON WY K p p � O Q W Of z T � U m � Q a ARENAS RD ARENAS RD ARENAS RD ARENAS RD ARENAS RD ARENAS RD Legend K 0 z 0 400' Buffer g o z � � U Project Area17 g g 4 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 107