Kocher-Samson Building

Kocher-Samson Building – On September 22, 2008, PSPF President Ron Marshall made public comment before the Palm Springs Architectural Advisory Committee (AAC) regarding a proposed unsympathetic addition to the historic Kocher-Samson building (1934).

The Kocher-Samson building, designed by Albert Frey and A. Lawrence Kocher, is considered Palm Springs’ first modernist building. The AAC voted unanimously to send the proposed addition back for “restudy” and recommended to the applicant that the owner of the building consider restoring this historic property. A member of the public attending the hearing graciously volunteered to do a preservation master plan for the building pro bono.

The Kocher-Samson building has not been designated as a Class 1 site even though a compelling and well-researched application for the designation was submitted in February 2008 by architect Patrick McGrew. The city’s Historic Site Preservation Board (HSPB) deleted the Kocher-Samson building from its list of 2008-2009 priorities for designation because, according to the HSPB chair, the owner “does not desire to pursue designation at this time.”

Most cities designate historic properties based on the objective merits and view such buildings as historic resources to be protected. Unfortunately, the Palm Springs city council continues an informal policy that allows the current building owner’s preferences to trump the historic and architectural merits of designation.