Sept. 10 Daily Briefing: Extension for Uptown project, Council preview, local sand helping OC beach, and more

Welcome to Wednesday, where we have an early heads up about a beloved Coachella Valley tradition that’s taking a different form this year. Organizers of the annual Our Lady of Guadalupe Pilgrimage have canceled the 30-mile march from Palm Springs to Coachella that typically draws 10,000 participants each year, citing growing safety and immigration enforcement concerns for their community members. While the streets won’t see the familiar procession this year, parishes are stepping up with local masses and intimate celebrations, proving that faith and community spirit can adapt and flourish even when participants are under threat.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Three King Fishers” by Gábor Szabó 

LEADING OFF

Commission grants 2-year extension for stalled luxury condo project

The Palm Springs Planning Commission voted 5-2 Tuesday night to grant a two-year extension for a stalled luxury condominium development on North Palm Canyon Drive. The decision gives Old Las Palmas Partners LLC until April 2027 to begin construction on its project.

Driving the news: The mixed-use development would feature 24 residential condominium units and 5,411 square feet of commercial space at 575 North Palm Canyon Drive, located between The Chicken Ranch and Copley’s restaurants. The project’s original entitlements were set to expire April 10.

Why the delay: Developer Peter Mahler told commissioners the project faced setbacks due to its custom nature and challenges securing committed buyers. He said the exteriors are standardized but interiors are fully customized “at a level of an online hotel.”

• Mahler has eight committed Palm Springs residents looking to downsize, who he expects will purchase approximately 14 units.

The opposition: Commissioners Carl Baker and John Morrill voted against the extension, with Baker questioning the project’s viability and citing empty commercial spaces elsewhere on Palm Canyon Drive.

What’s next: Under city code, this represents the final possible extension for the project. Mahler said his group has already spent $4.5 million and expects to need eight to 12 months to complete final plans and obtain city approvals.

• Developers must obtain a grading permit within the extension period to keep the project viable.

Dive deeper with our complete story

BRIEFLY

🏛️ Council back in session tonight after August recess

• The Palm Springs City Council will consider authorizing the Convention Center Modernization Project and much more this evening in its first regular meeting since July. 
  
• On the consent agenda, councilmembers will consider approving the purchase of eight electric trucks and accepting additional federal grant money for the airport’s baggage handling system. Among other regular business items, councilmembers will hear an appeal of a decision over shade structure on a former gas station building.
  
• Your say: The regular meeting (see the agenda here) begins at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way. Residents may attend in-person, view the meeting live on the city’s YouTube Channel, or watch on cable channel 17. Comments can be submitted online using this form, by emailing the city clerk, or by calling 760-323-8204.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Parent Support Group
10 a.m. | Leisure Center
Built for parents at all stages, this group is designed to foster relationships in a drop-in-drop-out style.

Jefferson Fisher Virtual Book Talk
11 a.m. | Virtual
Join in (and be ready to take notes) for an afternoon virtual conversation with communication expert Jefferson Fisher, as he chats about his book, The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More.

City Council
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
The Palm Springs City Council meets this evening in closed and open session. Check out the agenda here. 

Leanna and Miguel at The Secret Speakeasy
6 p.m. | The Velvet Rope
Get ready to experience a hidden gem where the drinks are flowing, the music is swinging, and the vibes are just right. Don’t miss out on this event every Wednesday night that will transport you back to the roaring heyday of mid-century modern Palm Springs.

The Dreamboats
7 p.m. | Agua Caliente Casino
This sensational quartet of Canadian lads is rewriting the musical playbook, effortlessly fusing the essence of Chuck Berry and The Wonders to create a sound that’s nothing short of modern retro revival magic.  ($20)

See all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Thursday starting at 8:15 a.m.
  
• Healthy Desert Healthy You Environmental Summit on Thursday and Friday 
  
• Annual Business Expo & Taste of Palm Springs on Sept. 17
  
• Cinema Diverse for two weekends this month, starting Sept. 19
  
• 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

Submit your event here

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AND FINALLY …

Who knew that the solution to Orange County’s beach erosion problems would come from the desert? Last week, the Orange County Transportation Authority began trucking sand from Palm Springs to reinforce the vulnerable San Clemente coastline, proving that sometimes the best beach sand comes from places where the closest thing to an ocean is a resort swimming pool.

Driving the news: More than 300 truckloads carrying approximately 3,400 cubic yards of Palm Springs sand are being delivered to San Clemente’s shoreline as an emergency measure to protect the coastal rail line from ongoing erosion.

• This initial $900,000 sand placement is just the beginning of a much larger effort that could eventually bring up to 540,000 cubic yards of sand to the area, pending additional permits and approvals.

The backstory: San Clemente’s eroding bluffs have repeatedly forced closures of a rail line that has operated largely uninterrupted for more than 125 years, creating headaches for Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink passengers.

Why it matters: The rail line serves as a vital link in Southern California’s transportation network for passengers, freight, and military assets, making its protection a regional priority.