Blog – Page 13 – Palm Springs Preservation Foundation

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.

sandcliff-photo-pspf-john-lewis-marshall

Courtesy John Lewis Marshall

IN THE MEDIA

August 10, 2016, Desert Sun (Sandcliff)

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.

Sandpiper-Courtesy-Jim-Schnepf-Photography-e

Courtesy James Schnepf / Palm Springs Project