Feb. 20 Daily Briefing: Addressing air quality, COVID-19 mitigation, behind the black wall, and more

Happy Thursday, everyone! We’ve seen some chatter (and received an inquiry yesterday) about what is being 3D printed off South Belardo Road near South Palm Canyon Drive, and we’re here to tell you it’s an art installation for Desert X. The piece, titled “Adobe Oasis,” is by artist Ronald Rael, who is using robotic 3D printing to create corrugated earthen structures — a reimagining of traditional mud-building techniques as a sustainable housing solution. The artwork is expected to be completed by the March 8 opening of this year’s Desert X show. Learn more here.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Sunshine In The Room” by James Bay (feat. Jon Batiste)

LEADING OFF

Commission considers measures to address vehicle idling, air quality concerns

The Palm Springs Sustainability Commission is looking into ways to tackle vehicle idling and its impact on air quality and public health.

Driving the news: Palm Springs officials are discussing potential measures to reduce vehicle idling, which contributes to air pollution and wastes fuel. 

• The city is exploring educational campaigns and possible regulations to limit unnecessary idling, particularly during hot weather and at schools.

Context: The commission’s discussion on Tuesday evening coincided with the city’s Architectural Review Committee (ARC) giving its approval for a massive 739,000-square-foot warehouse to be located at North Indian Canyon and 19th street. 

• It also comes at a time numerous drive-thru restaurants are working their way through the planning and permitting stages.

What they’re saying: Sustainability Director LP McCloy acknowledged the planned warehouse as a part of the discussion, noting, “[We want] to make sure we are monitoring and making sure that we are not seeing a lot of excessive idling of heavier duty vehicles due to those new facilities.”

How we got here: This isn’t the first time a potential vehicle idling ordinance has come up in Palm Springs. In the city’s 2016 Sustainability Plan, one of the steps to reduce emissions was to adopt a no idling policy for city vehicles in 2018 and apply the ordinance to commercial vehicles by 2020. 

Solutions: While no specific ordinance is being planned for the city right now, the commission hopes to begin efforts to educate people on reducing vehicle idling and plans to monitor vehicle idling associated with planned large commercial developments.

Dive deeper with our complete story

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BRIEFLY

😷 Desert Healthcare receives $197K COVID-19 grant

Desert Healthcare District & Foundation has been awarded a $197,000 grant from United Way to continue its COVID-19 mitigation efforts across the valley, focusing on testing, prevention, and community education for underserved populations.

• The grant, supported by Riverside University Health System, will fund home test kits, mobile testing sites, PPE distribution, and educational outreach through partner agencies including El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center and TODEC Legal Center.
  
• The partners, part of the Coachella Valley Equity Collaborative formed in 2020, will utilize social media and community health workers known as promotoras to reach residents where they live, work and worship.
  
• Bottom line: “While COVID-19 infections are no longer at peak pandemic levels, we know that the virus continues to be a health risk, especially for those who lack access to traditional healthcare facilities and services,” said Chris Christensen, Desert Healthcare District & Foundation CEO.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Modernism Week
Running through Feb. 23, Modernism Week returns for its 20th Anniversary. Featuring more than 350 events including the Palm Springs Modernism Show, CAMP, tours of iconic homes in more than 30 neighborhoods, and the popular Signature Home Tour.

Pet Vaccine Clinic
9:30 a.m. | Palm Springs Animal Shelter
The Palm Springs Animal Shelter invites you to bring in your pet for low-cost vaccines, including vaccines for rabies and canine influenza. They are also offering microchip implantation and registration. ($15-$25)

Nonesuch Nonfiction Book Club
2 p.m. | Palm Springs Public Library
Members of the book club will discuss this month’s pick: “It’s A Gas: The Sublime and Elusive Elements That Expand Our World” by Mark Miodownik. Find out how to join the book club here.

Art Museum Free Admission
5 p.m. | Palm Springs Art Museum 
From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., enjoy free admission to galleries and exhibitions, and explore the collection at your own pace. 

Elevate & Connect: A Black Business & Community Soirée
5:30 p.m. | Palm Springs Art Museum 
Enjoy an evening of music and community to celebrate the vital contributions of Black-owned businesses to our thriving community. Enjoy live music from Mo0d, an LA-based free jazz band and delicious bites provided by Mica’s Soul Kitchen. 

VillageFest
6 p.m. | Downtown Palm Springs  
The street fair features art, entertainment, shopping, and food. 

“My Fair Lady”
7 p.m. | Palm Canyon Theatre
Based on George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion, “My Fair Lady,” this classic tale shows us Eliza Doolittle, a low-class, Cockney, flower girl, transformed into an elegant lady when Professor Henry Higgins decides to teach her how to speak like a proper, upper-class woman. ($40)

Highway 111 Pavement Rehabilitation Project
Caltrans is working this year on rehabilitating the pavement of a large section of Highway 111. Check out the full map and see how your drive around town might be impacted.

View all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• Palm Springs International Pride Hockey Tournament at the Berger Foundation Iceplex on Friday.
  
• McCormick’s 78th Car Show & Auction at the Palm Springs Convention Center starting Friday.
  
• 38th Annual Black History Parade & Town Fair on Palm Canyon Drive on Saturday.
  
• Desert Pet Walk at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter on Saturday.
  
• Tayloraye Kaftans Trunk Show at Market Market on Sunday.
  
• Road Reconfiguration Project Community Meetings at the Demuth Community Center on Feb. 25 and 26.
  
• Agua Caliente Speaker Series: Language Revitalization at the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza on Feb. 26. ($15) 
  
• Friends of the Palm Springs Library Book Sale at the JC Frey Building at the Palm Springs Public Library on Feb. 28 and March 1.
  
• “Grand Concourse” at Dezart Performs starting Feb. 28.
  
• District 2 Community Meeting at Vista del Monte Elementary School on March 3.

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AND FINALLY …

If you’ve driven by a mysterious black metal wall in a neighborhood off Vista Chino and wondered what was behind it, you might want to watch this video by Local YouTuber “Steve in Palm Springs.”

Zoom in: Behind the wall, Steve found a striking new modernist vacation property featuring bold black exterior walls and aviation-inspired design elements that is nearing completion in the Ranch Club Estates neighborhood near the airport.

• The property, dubbed “The Black House” (not to be confused with the Blackhaus Hotel),  was designed by Cioffi Architect of Palm Springs.

Details: Steve got a look inside, thanks to a friendly contractor. He found that the property features both a main house and a casita, showcasing a mix of high-end materials including concrete, magnolia flooring, and custom stonework throughout.

• Vintage-inspired touches like 1960s-style stained glass in the bathrooms pay homage to Palm Springs’ architectural heritage.

About that wall: The exterior combines black and white corrugated metal with stone-lined hallways flooded with natural light through strategically placed windows.

What’s next: The property will soon join Palm Springs’ luxury vacation rental market, where guests will find not only a saltwater pool but also putting greens for mini-golf.