March 8 Daily Briefing: Plans for Gas Company building on hold, city needs citizens to step up, and more

TGIF, everyone, and Happy National Proofreading Day! We here at The Post are well aware of our shortcomings in grammer grandmère grammar. And while we may claim that typos are part of our charm, we know from the emails we get that they don’t go unnoticed, and we always try to learn from our mistakes. There’s a more significant lesson to be learned by all of us as we celebrate the proofreaders in our lives (Mark has been married to one for 30+ years), and that’s that it’s never a bad time to slow down and double-check your work. Doing so could be the difference between writing “Let’s eat grandma” and “Let’s eat, grandma.”

🎶 Setting the mood: “Clocks” by Coldplay

LEADING OFF

Preservation Board delays alterations to brutalist building for historic review

The Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board voted unanimously on Tuesday to impose a temporary halt on alterations to the striking brutalist Gas Company building at 211 North Sunrise Way. 

Driving the news: This decision initiates a review period to assess the building’s eligibility for historic designation, reflecting its status as a rare example of brutalist architecture in the city.

• The halt will last up to 120 days and comes as the building’s owner, the Mezrahi Trust, proposed transforming the site into a modern single-family residential home while preserving the building’s architectural integrity.

Context: The building was designed by renowned architect Robert Ricciardi and stands as a significant example of brutalist architecture with its stark, geometric lines and raw concrete construction.

Preservation efforts: The board’s decision to review the building’s historic status arises from its potential significance as an example of brutalist architecture. The current classification as a Class III site indicates potential historic value, with the possibility of elevating to a higher designation.

Of note: A representative of the family trust told the board that the architect working on the project previously sat on the historical board for the city of Glendale for 12 years, so she understands the importance and complexity of working with historic buildings

What’s next: It’s not known when the issue will be back before the board. It next meets on April 2. 

BRIEFLY

🏫 Council puts out the call for volunteers to serve on city boards and commissions

There are dozens of openings on city boards and commissions, giving civic-minded residents the perfect opportunity to give back to their community.

• The Palm Springs City Council is seeking applications from citizens interested in taking on a voluntary leadership role to serve on one of several city boards and commissions. The recruitment period is open now through April 30, 2024.
  
•  The following Boards and Commissions are currently recruiting: Administrative Appeals Board,Airport Commission, Historic Site Preservation Board, Human Rights Commission, Library Board of Trustees, Measure J Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, Public Arts Commission, Sustainability Commission, and VillageFest Board.
  
• Applicants must live, work, or attend school in the City of Palm Springs. In addition, applicants under the age of 18 will be considered. All appointees are subject to financial disclosure, including sources of income, property, investments, and gifts. 
  
• Details: An appointment to a board or commission is for a term of three years. To learn more about each of these advisory groups, visit the city website here.

🚔 Police pursuit involving helicopter ends in arrests

Palm Springs police arrested multiple suspects following a pursuit in the 400 block of Sunview Avenue Thursday afternoon.

• A police helicopter was deployed to assist in the operation in the Palm Springs neighborhood, triggering text and email alerts to city residents. 
  
• By 4 p.m., authorities confirmed that all suspects involved in the chase had been taken into custody.
  
• Bottom line: Details remain scarce regarding the number of suspects detained and the reason behind the vehicle pursuit.

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YOUR WEEKEND

ALL WEEKEND

A Case for the Existence of God
Friday – Sunday | Dezart Performs
This weekend is the last chance to enjoy “A Case for the Existence of God.” The story unfolds in a cubicle where two people unexpectedly choose to bring one another into their fragile worlds. ($55)

“Ellie”
Friday – Sunday | Desert Ensemble Theatre
A play about crime, punishment, and how men kill the thing they love, centering on two older men who are grieving the death of one of their wives. ($38)

“Sweeney Todd”
Friday – Sunday | Palm Canyon Theatre
An unjustly exiled barber returns to nineteenth-century London, seeking revenge against the judge who framed him. ($38)

Palm Springs Art Festival
Saturday & Sunday | Frances Stevens Park on Saturday
The festival will feature local and regional artists presenting their original artwork in all mediums of fine art and fine crafts. 

“POTUS”
Friday – Sunday | Coachella Valley Repertory
Enjoy a hilarious modern-day political farce fresh from Broadway and just in time for election season. ($50)

“The Woman in the Mirror”
Friday – Sunday | Revolution Stage Company
This dark, uplifting comedy is adapted from Dayna Steele’s best-selling book, “Surviving Alzheimer’s with Friends, Facebook, and a Really Big Glass of Wine.” ($25)

“Mid-Century Moderns”
Friday & Sunday | Revolution Stage Company
Catch this homegrown musical comedy this weekend at Revolution Stage Company. (Tickets start at $55, but you can get $20 off using promo code REV20 at checkout.)

TODAY

“Barbie”
10 a.m. | Palm Springs Public Library
The library is screening Greta Gerwig’s film “Barbie,” which garnered eight Oscar nominations including Best Picture, Best Song, and Best Production Design.

“Oppenheimer”
1:30 p.m. | Palm Springs Public Library
The library is also screening Christopher Nolan’s film “Oppenheimer,” a film with 13 Oscar Nominations, the most this year, including nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role, and more. 

Peggy Lee Walk of Stars Dedication
2 p.m. | South Palm Canyon Drive
Singer Peggy Lee will be honored with the 467th star on the Walk of Stars.

SATURDAY

Certified Farmers’ Market
8 a.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center
The farmers’ market is open for business on Saturday with local farmers and vendors offering fresh agri­cul­tural and related products.

How Hollywood Fought the War – On-Screen and Off
1 p.m. | Palm Springs Air Museum
True stories of heroism and patriotic sacrifice from the men and women who took their fight off the screen and into the combat arena, and how the movies depicted their service both during and after the war. 

SUNDAY

“Hollywood’s Biggest Night” Party
3:30 p.m. | TRIO Palm Springs
Proceeds from the party, hosted by Meteorologist and “Eye on the Desert” host Patrick Evans and dynamic hostess and local celebrity, Bella da Ball, will benefit AAP-Food Samaritans. ($150)

SAVE THE DATE

• Amy’s Purpose 2nd Annual Mixer at Willie’s Modern Fare on March 12.
  
• The AI Revolution at Agua Caliente Cultural Museum on March 13.
  
• “The Wizard of Oz” March 15 – March 17 at Palm Springs High School.
  
• Richard M. Milanovich Legacy Hike and 5K Run on March 16 at South Palm Canyon Drive and Acanto Drive.
  
• Darkstar Rising Experience March 20 and March 27 at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

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AND FINALLY …

This weekend, many of us are setting their clocks forward an hour (and yes, that means you lose sleep), but things could have looked a lot different if the Palm Springs if the Chamber of Commerce had its way in the 1940s. 

Looking back: According to this 2017 story by Renee Brown — republished by The Desert Sun last week — in 1946 Palm Springs tried to extend daylight for tourists to alleviate the early evening dip in temperatures that often sent tourists scurrying back to their hotels when the sun dipped behind the mountains.

Zoom in: “Sun Time” set clocks forward an hour starting in November. The move was backed by the Chamber of Commerce and residents and was approved by the City Council in a 6-1 vote after a public hearing demonstrated apparently overwhelming support. 

Yes, but: Despite local enthusiasm, the change led to confusion among tourists, residents, and especially within sectors like transportation and freight, where synchronizing with standard time zones is crucial.

The end: Bars also faced challenges adapting to “Sun Time,” with establishments required to operate on Pacific Standard Time regarding alcohol service. Just 51 days into the 120-day trial, the Chamber of Commerce requested to end the experiment due to growing confusion within the community.