HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD STAFF REPORT DATE: June 12, 2018 NEW BUSINESS SUBJECT: A CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL REQUEST BY GLENN & JUDITH HUDGENS, OWNERS, FOR ALTERATIONS TO 'THE HUGH STEPHENS RESIDENCE", A CLASS 1 HISTORIC SITE, LOCATED AT 645 EAST MORONGO ROAD, ZONE R-1-C, (CASE 3.4086, HSPB #76, APN 508-323-01 0). (KL) FROM: Department of Planning Services SUMMARY The owners are seeking approval to construct additions to the Hugh Stephens Residence to add bedrooms and an accessory dwelling unit ("ADU"). The Hugh Stephens Residence was designed in 1949 by the architectural firm of John Porter Clark and Albert Frey. The home was completed in 1950 with subsequent additions and renovations in 1956, 1986, and 2005. The City Council designated the property a Class 1 historic site on November 3, 2010 and approved a Mills Act Historic Property Preservation Agreement ("Mills Act Contract") for the parcel on March 7, 2018. RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Certificate of Approval as proposed. PRIOR ACTIONS: . Related Relevant Citv.Actions·bY Plannina. Fire. 'Bui/dina. etc ... ~ 1950 Date of construction. - 1956 Construction of the swimming pool. 1986 Construction of a covered porch and stone planter added at the main entry to the home. 2002 A serious fire nearly destroyed the home. Owners at the time had the home rebuilt based on the original architectural drawinas. April 27, 2004 Addition of a spa (hot tub). Dates unknown, The City's Building Department building permit database lists several c. 2003/4 other modifications to the Stephens Residence, however due to corrupted electronic files, the exact dates are unknown. These modifications include: Repair of fire damage (c. 2003), and a perimeter block wall. November 3, 2010 City Council designated the parcel a Class 1 historic site (HSPB #76). January 8, 2015 Installation of a 50 panel solar system w/200 amo electrical service Historical Site Preservation Board Staff Report June 12, 2018 Case HSPB #76/ 3.4086 MAA Page 2 of8 March 7, 2018 roved a Mills Act Contract for the arcel. BACKGROUND: The historic resources report dated February 2010 describes the historic significance of the Hugh Stephens Residence. The site is significant because of its association with architects Clark & Frey. It is also recognized as a relatively early and noteworthy example of a custom-built residence designed in the Modem architectural style and reflects the mid-20th century period of growth in Palm Springs when the Modern architectural style became the "architecture of choice" for many residential, commercial, institutional and civic buildings. The single-story three bedroom home is constructed of painted concrete masonry units that form both the exterior and interior walls. Unlike conventional concrete blocks that are typically 8 inches in height, 8 inches thick and 16 inches long, the concrete block units on the Stephens Residence are only 6 inches in height, which gives the exterior surface more of a "brick" look. Existing windows are steel-frame single pane casement and fixed units with natural anodized aluminum sliding glass doors. The roof is generally flat with generous eaves and a narrow fascia that gives a strong horizontal appearance to the home. The garage and living rooms have shed roofs set at a low angle. A design motif using 12-inch square glass blocks arranged in vertical and horizontal rows and 12 inch square openings in garden walls that extend beyond the perimeter of the structure gives visual interest to the otherwise simple detailing of the home. The spacing of the square windows and "punched openings" are generally equal (i.e. 12 inch window- 12 inch solid wall - 12 inch window), creating a strong grid-like "rhythm" to these openings. On the garage wall and adjacent to the main entry, the architect established a different grid-like pattern using protruding masonry units, (as seen in the photos below). The landscape palette is comprised mostly of mature desert shrubs and trees which, along with a masonry perimeter garden wall, provide ample privacy for the home from the surrounding streets. BELOW: COVERED ENTRY PORCH ADDED IN 1986. NOTE THE 121NCH SQUARE GLASS WINDOWS : .. ....., Historical Site Preservation Board Staff Report June 12, 2018 Case HSPB #76 I 3.4086 MAA Page 3 of 8 Dr. Hugh E. Stephens (1915- 1984) was one of the first medical doctors to establish a year-round practice in Palm Springs. He resided in the home until his death. Stephens' cousin was Sallie Nichols, whose father, Prescott "P T" Stevens was an early land developer in Palm Springs. 1 The parcel on which the Stephens Residence is located is an irregularly shaped %-acre lot east of South Palm Canyon Drive, west of South Camino Real and north of Sonora Road. l'ootel-- oo•..J:Huo Owner 1 HUDOEHS, GlENN ~ Ownor7 HUDOEHS. JUOITH w OwnorAd<R'II BINI! :11TH ST TULSA. OM WOI .77 oi.CRU 11/L IN LOTS Q & 00 t <ool o..sc Iota 0%1.'0:11 RANCitO ROY AU! No oiUnot> Ye•~ tts2 B-Aoe.o U:SSF a.. ldong'\J>I~ 0.07 L.otAI'eo~ t~w ' ~3 .541 I' 1077 .\CRESf L.dAIN t Colc l 32.4&1 SFIO 7~ ACRE Sf l...-.g R1C lloodlDM .\0 FlRMF'onoiiO -SC:tSIIO F.. Prop!ld.lol "'"' "'' ' 11•l.•4 Buftor ~fcati.Qn ... ~- A Slw'OdllotH MIIM!lfl NoiH 1 Prescott Stevens was a developer and land speculator who purchased a thousand acres from the Southern Pacific Railroad and is credited as the developer of the El Mirador Hotel in 1927. Historical Site Preservation Board Staff Report June 12, 2018 Case HSPB #76/ 3.4086 MAA Page 4 of 8 DETAILS OF THE APPLICATION. The proposed project is comprised of the following elements: • A 667 square foot addition comprising a bedroom, bath, new master bath and walk-in closet off the northeast corner of the home. • A new 448 square foot accessory dwelling unit ("ADU") with an attached single­ car carport located east of the home. • The existing landscape is proposed to be unchanged except for removal of certain trees and shrubs to accommodate the new structures. The applicant provided a copy of the site plan from the original Clark & Frey drawings for the Hugh Stephens Residence. A "future guest house" was shown west of the proposed house and a ''future bedroom" was denoted on the northeast corner of the house (see image following). The applicant's current project is very similar to what was envisioned on Clark & Frey's original drawings - a proposed guest house ("accessory dwelling unit") west of the main house, and a proposed bedroom addition off the northeast corner of the existing house with infill of the gravel yard between the house and garage. Although the original home is constructed of painted concrete block, the additions and the ADU are proposed to be of wood frame construction with a smooth stucco finish. In this way, the proposed additions will be visually differentiated from the existing home. The roof height of the proposed bedroom I bathroom additions are also slightly lower than that of the existing home, which also helps visually distinguish the original historic structure from the proposed additions. New metal sash windows are proposed in a narrow shadow line style similar to the original steel casement windows. The roof of the ADU is generally flat with a proposed shed roof at a steeper angle than those sloped roof portions of the existing home. The applicant provided the attached summary dated May 22, 2018 which further Historical Site Preservation Board Staff Report June 12, 2018 Case HSPB #76/ 3.4086 MAA Page 5 of 8 describes the project in detail and addresses the manner in which each component is consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Structures. ' r- --: --- ~- - - -- 1, ,f"li"TU r:. lo' O:::UIC"T HiCIUC.4 I-- ~-i .. .. lor:"· --:-t- I "' b- -~·-----•--- - 1 :-t. J :·-- ----. j (,' - -··--.,; -·· . :I :'· r ---:-- - - -:-1 1 : 1· I I L1 .;1 l i 11 I I I I ' I I I I I I \ j. BELOW: SITE PLAN FROM CURRENT APPLICATION SHOWING PROPOSED ADDITIONS NOTE THE NEW GUEST HOUSE AT THE LEFT AND NEW MASTER BEDROOM AT THE RIGHT. MORONGO ROAD Historical Site Preservation Board Staff Report June 12, 2018 Case HSPB #76/ 3.4086 MAA Page 6 of 8 BELOW IS THE NORTH (FRONT) ELEVATION SHOWING THE PROPOSED ADU (RIGHT) AND BEDROOM ADDITION TO THE LEFT a [1] a a [ITJ [ITJITDO gggggg : : : DOCODC ------------- -------------- E~P~~B . NORTH ELEVATION ANALYSIS: Pursuant to Palm Springs Municipal Code ("PSMC") Section 8.05.180 a certificate of approval by the HSPB is required for alterations to Class 1 historic sites. Below are the factors listed in PSMC 8.05.190 that the board must consider when evaluating such requests. (1) The historic value and significance, or the architectural value and significance or both, of the structure and its relation to the historic value of the surrounding area; The proposed additions are visually harmonious in their appearance to that of the original house but have been designed such that they can be visually distinguished from the original historic structure; the original house was constructed of concrete masonry units and the proposed additions and ADU are wood frame construction clad in stucco. Consistent fascia and eave details at the roof, narrow profile framed windows and other elements establish a consistent appearance without creating a false sense of historicity. The proposed additions will have membrane roofs, consistent with the roof type of the existing home. Where the square punched openings are proposed, they match in size and layout with those on the existing home and where the squares serve as windows, they are proposed to be glass block.