Blog – Page 12 – Palm Springs Preservation Foundation

Royal Hawaiian Estates

Post author By user
Post date September 28, 2020

Royal Hawaiian Estates 1774 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92264

Royal Hawaiian Estates is a 40-unit complex comprised of 12 separate buildings on five acres. Designed by the architecture firm of Wexler & Harrison in 1960, the complex blends the modernist aesthetic with Polynesian architectural detailing (including “tiki apexes” and “flying sevens”). With the help of the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation (most notably PSPF board member Patrick McGrew) the complex became the city of Palm Springs’ first residential historic district in 2010.

REFERENCES

Read the nomination

On October 10, 2014 Royal Hawaiian Estates held a ceremony on the grounds of the complex celebrating the installation of their historic district marker. Attending the ceremony was architect (and honorary PSPF board member) Donald Wexler, FAIA.

On February 3, 2010 the Palm Springs city council voted 4-1 (Pougnet, Hutcheson, Foat and Weigel supporting) to approve the designation of the Royal Hawaiian Estates as the city’s first residential historic district. PSPF President Ron Marshall made public comment in support of this significant “first” in the life of the city. Architect Don Wexler also attended the city council meeting in support of the nomination. We congratulate the residents of the Royal Hawaiian Estates on this historic achievement and recognize former PSPF board member Bill Lewallen for his key leadership in this effort.

On October 26, 2009 PSPF wrote a letter to the city’s Historic Site Preservation Board strongly supporting the historic district designation of the Royal Hawaiian Estates (RHE) condominiums. The 12 buildings and 40 units that make up the RHE complex were designed by the architectural firm of Wexler & Harrison in 1960, and are a wonderful example of Polynesian or “tiki”-inspired modernist architecture. RHE was prominently featured in PSPF’s 2002 tribute journal Desert Polynesia: A Tiki Weekend in Palm Springs. To read the PSPF letter click here.

IN THE MEDIA

Summer 2011, CA Modern (Royal Hawaiian Estates)
November 11, 2009, Desert Sun (Royal Hawaiian Estates)
October 14, 2009, Desert Sun (Royal Hawaiian Estates)
Fall 2008 Issue CA Modern (Royal Hawaiian Estates)

Historic Districts

Sandcliff

Post author By user
Post date September 28, 2020

HISTORIC DISTRICTS

Sandcliff Garden Apartment Homes 1800 Barona Road, Palm Springs, CA 92264

The 40-units of Sandcliff Garden Apartment Homes were the first “garden apartments” to be zoned for medium density development in the area of south Palm Springs along Barona Road and south of Highway 111. Developed by the Berkeley Square Company and designed by Sherwin L. Barton, Sandcliff is a superb example of “Desert Modern” architecture and the “lifestyle” condominium complexes that became so popular throughout Palm Springs in the 1960s. Sandcliff has remained remarkably intact since the completion of its construction in 1964. Aside from its architectural significance, Sandcliff represents a historical moment in Palm Springs’ urban development.

REFERENCES

Read the nomination

On February 3, 2016 the Palm Springs city council voted unanimously to approve the creation of the Sandcliff Garden Apartment Homes Historic District. PSPF board member Ron Marshall and Sandcliff homeowner Kitty Mahon made public comment in support of the designation. Sandcliff becomes the city of Palm Springs’ fifth historic district.

On May 12, 2015 the city of Palm Springs’ Historic Site Preservation Board met and voted 7-0 to forward a proposed resolution to the city council to create the Sandcliff Garden Apartment Homes historic district.

On March 16, 2015 PSPF delivered the Sandcliff Garden Apartment Homes historic district nomination to the city’s Planning Department.

On March 6, 2015 the Sandcliff HOA provided PSPF with various documents of owner support indicating that 37 of the 40 Sandcliff homeowners supported pursuing historic district designation.

In late October 2014, Melissa Riche (a PSPF member, design writer and public relations consultant specializing in architecture and real estate) was engaged by the PSPF board to research and author the Sandcliff Garden Apartment Homes historic district nomination.

On April 26, 2013, and again on October 5, 2013, Sandcliff Homeowners Association (HOA) representatives met with PSPF representatives to discuss the process of becoming a Palm Springs historic district.

Courtesy John Lewis Marshall

IN THE MEDIA

August 10, 2016, Desert Sun (Sandcliff)

Historic Districts

Sandpiper (Circles 11 & 12)

Post author By user
Post date September 28, 2020

HISTORIC DISTRICTS

Sandpiper Condominiums Circles 11 and 12 Hwy. 74 & El Paseo, Palm Desert

While all of the buildings in the Sandpiper Condominium complex were designed in the modernist vernacular, because the complex was built over an extended period of time (1958-1969) by different builders, various “circles” have unique characteristics and histories. Specific to this nomination, Sandpiper Condominium complex Circles 11 and 12 (Palmer & Krisel, 1965) consists of 16 buildings (32 units) and represents one of Palm Desert’s most intact examples of modernist architecture. Architectural features include flat roofs, expanses of glass and novel uses of concrete screen block and Shadowal block.

REFERENCES

Read the nomination

On March 2, 2014 the Homeowners Association of Sandpiper Circles 11 and 12 held a dedication ceremony to celebrate their complex’s May 2013 historic designation by the city of Palm Desert. Former Palm Desert mayor Jan Harnik attended the celebration.

On May 23, 2013 the Palm Desert city council voted unanimously (5-0) to designate Sandpiper Condominiums Circles 11 and 12 an historic district. PSPF board member Ron Marshall made public comment before the council and lauded the scholarly nomination written by PSPF board member and architect Jim Harlan. Marshall also thanked and recognized Sandpiper owners Barbara and Bernie Cain, and Jim West for their assistance and enthusiastic support of the nomination.

On April 30, 2013 the Palm Desert Cultural Resources Preservation Committee voted to forward the Sandpiper Condominiums Circles 11 and 12 historic district nomination to the Palm Desert city council. PSPF board member Jim Harlan attended.

On March 26, 2013 the Palm Desert Cultural Resources Preservation Committee conducted a work shop to discuss the Sandpiper Condominiums Circles 11 and 12 site visit. PSPF board member Ron Marshall and Sandpiper resident Bernie Cain made public comment and answered questions from the public regarding a host of topics.

On March 16, 2013 Sandpiper resident Bernie Cain hosted the Palm Desert Cultural Resources Preservation Committee’s site visit to Sandpiper Condominiums Circles 11 and 12.

On February 26, 2013 the city of Palm Desert’s Cultural Resources Preservation Committee conducted a “work shop” to discuss the historic district designation process with regard to Sandpiper Condominiums Circles 11 and 12. PSPF board member Ron Marshall made public comment explaining PSPF’s mission and the foundation’s interest in assisting the Circles 11 and 12 homeowners association with their pursuit of designation. Sandpiper residents Bernie and Barbara Cain also offered background information on the designation effort from a homeowner perspective.

On January 7, 2013 the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, in partnership with the Dunlin One Home Owners Association of Sandpiper Condominiums (Circles 11 and 12), delivered a 29-page historic district nomination to the city of Palm Desert. The nomination was prepared by PSPF board member Jim Harlan.

On December 7, 2012 PSPF board members Jim Harlan and Ron Marshall, and Dunlin One Home Owners Association representative Bernie Cain, met with the city of Palm Desert’s Director of Building and Safety to discuss the city’s policies regarding cultural resources and historic districts.

Courtesy James Schnepf / Palm Springs Project