Historic Site Preservation Board | December 2, 2025

The City of Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board convened on December 2, 2025, to discuss several agenda items related to historic site designations and alterations. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the public hearing for the historic designation of the Fallows Residence, a 1970s single-family home. Staff recommended a Class 2 historic merit designation due to limitations in the existing historic context for the period, but board members and public speakers advocated for a Class 1 designation, citing the home's architectural significance, its association with notable local figures including Dr. Lawrence Cohn, and its representation of late modernism and cultural history in Palm Springs. The board ultimately voted unanimously to recommend the Class 1 designation with expanded criteria. Additionally, the board reviewed a request for major alterations to a Class 4 site at 1090 West Cielo Drive and, following staff recommendations, took no action to halt the project. The meeting concluded with discussions on developing design guidelines for historic districts and upcoming board activities.