Historic Site Preservation Board pauses plans to alter potentially historic 'Casa Wobada' ⋆ The Palm Springs Post

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*The owner of this property in the Warm Sands neighborhood is seeking to make alterations. A city board on Wednesday placed a stay on the request in order to consider it for Class 1 designation.*

The Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board (HSPB) on Wednesday placed a stay on a proposal to make major alterations to a potentially historic home in the Warm Sands neighborhood.

Known as Casa Wobada, the Spanish colonial style residence at 608 South Indian Trail was completed in 1937. Unique architectural features include two separate two-story portions on either end of a one-story entrance and living area.

Built around a central courtyard and swimming pool, the adobe-stucco home occupies one parcel, while the pool and gardens extend across two adjacent parcels.

Casa Wobada was originally constructed for artist Hal Forrest as part of a housing tract subdivided by Pearl McManus in 1933. Rooted in Hollywood’s early migration to the desert, the property evolved from an artist’s commissioned dream into a storied retreat for studio leadership and the entertainment elite.

It is currently designated as a Class 3 site, meaning it has been deemed eligible for historic designation based on its architectural style, its association with architecture firm Brewster & Benedict, and its believed connection to significant individuals from Hollywood’s Golden Age, according to a staff report.

In June 2024, the current owner purchased the home and submitted an application seeking to expand the north and west elevations, enclose the rear of the residence, and construct detached additions.

Because the property is a Class 3 site, requests for alterations trigger a municipal process that allows the HSPB to direct staff to evaluate whether the site should be redesignated as a Class 1 or Class 2 historic resource — designations that carry additional restrictions.

Any redesignation recommended by staff would require approval by both the board and the City Council. The owner is not seeking historic designation at this time.

City staff found the home may meet the criteria for historic designation. With four commissioners present, the board unanimously voted to place a stay of up to 120 days on the proposed alterations while staff prepares a historic resources report to bring back for further consideration.

One nearby neighbor voiced support for pausing the project, saying, “As a member of the neighborhood who looks at it constantly and sees it, I much respect the way it looks currently, and would hate to see it change radically.”