Architectural committee approves 60-unit condo complex with design conditions ⋆ The Palm Springs Post

*A 60-unit housing complex at the site of a long-vacant lot that at one time housed a Shilo Inn is moving forward.*

The Palm Springs Architectural Review Committee (ARC) voted 4-0 — with two member recusing themselves — to approve a 60-unit condominium complex off North Palm Canyon Drive Monday night, but not without requiring significant design improvements to address concerns about the project’s visual appeal and energy efficiency.

The development, proposed by Monaghan Palm Canyon, LLC at 1875 North Palm Canyon Drive, will feature residential condominiums alongside a community clubhouse, pool area, and dog park in the Little Tuscany neighborhood.

Located on 4.3 acres, the development site previously contained a Shilo Inn, but its buildings were ordered torn down by the city in 2021 after the planned Tova Hotel and Beach Club never came to fruition.

The committee’s approval came with conditions requiring the developer to integrate textured materials from the clubhouse into residential buildings, implement comprehensive solar control solutions, and address concerns about building aesthetics.

“I wish I felt better about this. It is a little bit bleak from an elevational standpoint, and it is craving some enrichment of texture that could be consistent and could help with these rather tall elevations,” Committee Member John Walsh said. “It is missing a level of refinement.”

ARC members praised the clubhouse’s design which features stone accents and pitched roof elements.

Monday’s meeting was the final opportunity for architectural review as the Palm Springs City Council has adopted a three-hearing limit for residential projects. If the project was not approved, a denial would trigger a council appeal where the committee’s design concerns could be overlooked.

The development now moves to the plan check phase, where city staff will ensure the architectural conditions are properly implemented.

Committee members noted that while the high-density development presents design challenges, proper attention to materials and solar control could create an attractive community amenity.

“The laudable challenge of high density comes with the obligation to create interest and differences in units yet keep it unified,” one member said in supporting the motion for approval.