Sept. 15 Daily Briefing: Hotel proposal, homicide arrest, Native tourism success, and more

Happy Monday, folks, and welcome to the start of Hispanic Heritage Month! Celebrated from September 15 to October 15, the month honors the significant contributions and influence of Hispanic culture on our nation’s achievements, culture, and history. In the Coachella Valley, we’re fortunate to live in a vibrant center for Hispanic and Latino culture, so there will be plenty of ways to celebrate the month (read what Visit Palm Springs recommends here). In Palm Springs, you can kick things off this week with a free paint night at the Demuth Community Center on Wednesday and then head to PSHS on Friday for performances from the Spanish Honor Society, Ballet Folklórico, and the school’s dance team (details here).

🎶 Setting the mood: “Fresh“ by Summer Camp

LEADING OFF

Commission to consider permits for large hotel, residences in Midtown

The Palm Springs Planning Commission on Tuesday will consider whether to approve permits for a resort hotel and residential development with as many as nine stories. The project would replace a Midtown parking lot with 257 hotel rooms, 132 condominiums and a standalone restaurant.

Driving the news: The commission is scheduled Tuesday evening to review the proposal for 847 East Andreas Road, located between the Hilton and Renaissance hotels and just south of the convention center.

• City staff are recommending approval of permits for the project by Nexus Development Inc. on the 5.64-acre site.

The details: The L-shaped building would include three swimming pools, a rooftop terrace, event lawn and indoor meeting spaces.

• The hotel would occupy seven stories on the west wing with a rooftop social club, while residential condos would rise nine stories on the east wing.

Environmental review: An initial study found the project’s potential impacts can be mitigated to less than significant levels, though biological resources, cultural resources, geology and transportation required additional mitigation measures.

Tribal conditions: The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians attached approval conditions requiring native California fan palms in landscaping and a tribal monitor during all ground-disturbing activities.

By the numbers: The development would provide 500 parking spaces using a joint-use model, including 100 underground spaces and a five-level garage.

What’s next: If approved, the project would advance to the Architectural Review Committee for detailed review of building design and materials.

• Staff noted the development would generate new sales, occupancy and property tax revenues while supporting nearby convention center operations.

Read our complete story

BRIEFLY

🚔 Police make arrest in reported homicide case

• Palm Springs police arrested a 48-year-old city resident in connection with a homicide that killed a 64-year-old man on Friday in the 500 block of Avenida Cerca. Officers found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound inside a vehicle at approximately 6:50 AM after responding to a report of a possible drive-by shooting.
  
• Police attempted CPR on the victim, but he died at the scene near the intersection of Avenida Cerca and Corozon Avenue. The suspect was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center on homicide charges following the investigation.
  
• Details: The victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Police are seeking additional information from the public and ask anyone with tips to contact Detective Alexander Doherty at 760-323-8142 or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 760-347-7867.

🚨 Bomb threat temporarily closes part of downtown on Sunday

• A 54-year-old Cathedral City man was arrested Sunday after telling a restaurant employee there was a bomb in his vehicle parked near the Sonny Bono statue in downtown Palm Springs. The incident occurred at approximately 2:51 p.m. in the 150 block of South Palm Canyon Drive.
  
• Police Chief Andy Mills said officers on foot patrol quickly responded and detained the man after he made the threat. Authorities closed multiple roads while the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team and a K-9 unit investigated the vehicle.
  
• Bottom line: Nothing suspicious was found during the investigation. Police cleared the scene at 4:40 p.m., reopened all affected roadways, and removed the suspect vehicle. The man was booked on charges of making a bomb threat.

🏈 PSHS comes back on the road, remains unbeaten

• Palm Springs High School’s football team defeated the Colton Yellowjackets on the road, 49-42 on Sept. 11, improving to 4-0 and maintaining their perfect record after finishing 3-7 last season.
  
• Palm Springs quarterback Bishop Miller threw four touchdown passes with one interception and finished with 213 passing yards. The Indians have scored 176 points total this season. 
  
• Next up: Palm Springs will host Yucaipa at 7 p.m. Thursday.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Mahjong Monday
1 p.m. | Social Cafe & Play Lounge
Come play the American version of Mahjong with others. Play Lounge has two mats and sets, but feel free to bring your own. 

California Community of Men’s Monday Coffee
4:30 p.m. | Play Lounge & Café
Join the group for coffee, chat, and chew! No RSVPs necessary.

Happy Hour with Leanna and Miguel
5 p.m.| V Wine Lounge and Martini Bar
Join Leanna and Miguel for a night of dancing to jazz, Latin, pop, disco, and more. ($5)

Architectural Review Committee 
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
The ARC meets to review and make recommendations on building and landscape design to the Planning Commission, City Council and city staff. Find tonight’s agenda here.

District 2 Community Meeting
5:30 p.m. | Vista Del Monte Elementary School
Councilmember Jeffrey Bernstein will host a meeting to give city updates and update residents on goals for next year and beyond.

Adult Tap Dance Class
6:30 p.m. | Leisure Center Dance Studio
Adult intermediate tap starts at 6:30 p.m., and “absolute beginners” adult tap is at 7:30 p.m. Two left feet are optional. ($20)

See all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• Annual Business Expo & Taste of Palm Springs on Wednesday
  
• Cinema Diverse starting Thursday and running for two weekends
  
• Palm Springs Women’s Jazz Festival on Saturday
  
• Free shredding event at the convention center on Saturday, Oct. 4
  
• One Night Out Paris benefitting The Foundation for PSUSD on Oct. 4 
  
• Junior Ranger Expo at Indian Canyons on Oct. 11
  
• Spooktacular 5K/10K Run at Ruth Hardy Park on Oct. 11
  
• Pride on the Page on Nov. 1

Submit your event here

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AND FINALLY …

If you’ve noticed more tourists asking directions to the Agua Caliente Cultural Center lately, there’s a reason beyond Palm Springs’ usual appeal – the local tribe has tapped into what’s becoming a major economic force across the country.

Driving the news: According to an article in ICT, Native tourism has emerged as a $15.7 billion industry nationwide, with tribes from coast to coast discovering that visitors are hungry for authentic cultural experiences that go well beyond casino floors.

• In Palm Springs, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians joins tribes like the Cherokee in North Carolina and Seminoles in Florida in pairing gaming resorts with cultural attractions.
  
• In fact, the local tribe has drawn more than a million visitors to its Downtown Palm Springs spa and cultural center since the facilities began opening in 2023.

The bigger picture: One in four Indigenous-owned hospitality businesses now focuses on tourism, according to the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association, as international visitors especially seek out everything from traditional foods and dark sky viewing to Native fashion and “slow tourism” experiences.

Why it matters: As national parks reach overcapacity, many Native communities positioned at gateway locations are becoming destinations themselves, offering visitors deeper connections to the land’s original inhabitants while strengthening tribal economic independence.