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1 Sagewood Condominiums , 1972
Donald Wexler, Architect
North Sunrise Way and Vista Chino, Palm Springs, 92262
Application for Historic District Designation
Prepared by Claude Peck and Steven Keylon
for the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation
April 17, 2025
2 Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  4
DESIGNATION CRITERIA  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 5
SUMMARY  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  6
APPLICATION  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  8
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE  ................................ ................................ ...........................  10
SUMMARY  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  10
HISTORY  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  12
CHARACTER DEFINING FEATURES  ................................ ................................ .....................  39
CONTRIBUTING ELEMENTS  ................................ ................................ ..............................  40
NON -CONTRIBUTING ELEMENTS  ................................ ................................ ....................  40
HISTORIC CONTEXT  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  42

...... ................................ ....................  40
HISTORIC CONTEXT  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  42
BACKGROUND / HISTORIC CONTEXT  ................................ ................................ ............  42
APPENDIXES  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  54
I. GARDEN APARTMENTS CONTEXT STATEMENT  ................................ .......................  54
II. RIVERSIDE COUNTY ASSESSOR’S MAP  ................................ ................................ ........  73
III. SAGEWOOD GOOGLE EARTH VIEW  ................................ ................................ ..........  75
IV. SAGEWOOD SITE PLAN WITH ADDRESSES  ................................ ..............................  76
V. SAGEWOOD UNIT NUMBERS/APNS  ................................ ................................ ............  78
VI. SAGEWOOD HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN  ................................ ........................  81
VII. TRACT HISTORY  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  83
VIII. DESIGN GUIDELINES  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 88
IX. NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH AND MEETINGS  ................................ ......................  90
X. HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS  ................................ ................................ ...........................  91
XI. CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHS  ................................ ................................ ............  94

...................... ................................ ...........................  91
XI. CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHS  ................................ ................................ ............  94
XII. BIBLIOGRAPHY  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  109
3 ACKNOWLEDG MENTS :
We are grateful for assistance on this application to the following people and
organizations:
• Tim Atzinger, former Sagewood HOA president
• Joey Carman, chair, Sagewood HOA Architecture Committee
• Robert Caragher, John McKenna, David Haugland, Blair Harley , and Steven
Turley, members of the Sagewood HOA Architecture Committee
• Renee Brown, director, Palm Springs Historical Society
• Gary Wexler, artist, designer, son of Donald Wexler
• Sidney Williams, writer, editor, design curator
• Alan Hess, architectural historian, writer
• Steven Keylon, architectural historian, writer, preservationist
• Hank Hudson, photographer, designer
• Marc Muntifering, current Sagewood HOA president
• Robert K. Alexander, Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design,
architecture  department chair and curator of archives/special collections,
including Wexler papers
• Frank Lopez, archivist and librarian, Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture
and Design Center
• Ron Duby  and Barbara Marshall, for proofreading the document
4
A contemporary aerial view of the Sagewood superblock shows twenty -seven buildings with four condos  each,
three pools , and a tennis court. The green belt at right between Chia and Sandalwood is 250 feet at its widest
point. (Photo from Google Maps)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This Historic Resources Report is submitted by the Homeowners Association of

green belt at right between Chia and Sandalwood is 250 feet at its widest
point. (Photo from Google Maps)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This Historic Resources Report is submitted by the Homeowners Association of
Sagewood Condominiums, which is applying for Historic District designation under
the City of Palm Springs Historic Preservation Ordinance, Municipal Code 8.05.09.
The property is located in the Rogers Ranch neighborhood of Palm Springs,
California, just south of the intersection of N. Sunrise Way and E. Vista Chino, and
bordered by N. Sunrise Way to the west, E. Chia Road to the south, and N.
Cerritos Drive to the e ast. It is listed as City Section 12, Tract 4432.
The resource comprises 107 one -story condominium homes, constructed from
various materials, including stucco, wood, brick, aluminum, and glass, in twenty -
seven separate four -condo  buildings on eighteen acres of fee -simple land.1 It opened
1 Sagewood was orig inally 108 units, bu t two units have been combined .
5 in 1972. The developer was Levitt & Sons of California, and the designer was noted
Palm Springs architect Donald Wexler. The construction contractor was Kaufman
and Broad.
This report uses interviews, primary and secondary sources, and firsthand
observations to assess Sagewood's eligibility under the City's criteria for
designation as a Historic District.
DESIGNATION CRITERIA
Sagewood was not identified as a potential historic resource in the Palm Springs
Historic Resource Survey Inventory and Context Statement of 2015 (Final Draft
2018). Th is nomi nation  finds that the subject district is eligible and appropriate for
Historic District designation. As detailed below, the resource meets four of the
city's seven criteria for consideration. Sagewood (c.) "exemplifies a particular

strict is eligible and appropriate for
Historic District designation. As detailed below, the resource meets four of the
city's seven criteria for consideration. Sagewood (c.) "exemplifies a particular
period of national, state or local history;" (d.) "embodies the distinctive
characteristics of a type, period or method of construction;" (e.) "presents the
work of a master builder, designer, artist or architect whose individual genius
influenced his age, or that possesses high artis tic value;" and (f.) "represents a
significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual
distinction."
The individual resources in the proposed district also meet criteria for integrity of
location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association, as
stipulated at 8.05.090 C.2 of the ordinance.
After three informational public meetings with owners and city preservation
officials in late 2023, Sagewood homeowners voted 76 to 19 (with 13 no replies)
to pursue  Historic District designation. Those signed paper ballots are available for
review .
6 Sagewood has the distinction of being among the few multi -housing projects by the
prolific Palm Springs architect Donald Wexler and, by some accounts, his finest.
Wexler's detailed site plan of homes and green space is "textbook perfect,"
according to land scape designer Ron Gregory, who worked with Wexler on
numerous projects (but not Sagewood). "While most Wexler projects convey the
general style I associate with Don's work, Sagewood has managed to preserve that
quality in an especially attractive manner,"  Gregory said in a 2021 interview. "The
development looks fresh and interesting, much as it did when the homes were
originally sold, but likely even better now."

y in an especially attractive manner,"  Gregory said in a 2021 interview. "The
development looks fresh and interesting, much as it did when the homes were
originally sold, but likely even better now."
Artist Gary Wexler believes his father never visited Sagewood between its opening
and 2010. That year, he and his father walked through the complex while compiling
a project list in conjunction with a Palm Springs Art Museum  exhibition . "The one
overriding comment my father made about Sagewood at that time was how pleased
he was that they kept it as a park -like environment, with the extreme greenbelt,"
Gary said. "Nobody would do that today. Every developer nowadays would put a
whole ne w phase [of housing] in that green belt."
SUMMARY
This evaluation finds Sagewood eligible for listing as a Palm Springs Historic District
under PSMC 8.05.0 90. Sagewood's landscape, site plan, and buildings retain  a high
degree of integrity and exemplify the defining characteristics of mid -twentieth -
century Desert Modernism. Therefore, they  merit consideration as a Palm Springs
Historic District.
7
A 2024 image shows the simple elements — turf, plantings of varying heights, slumpstone walls, troweled
stucco, shade overhangs, Douglas fir horizontal accent strips, flat rooflines with metal flashing, rooftop HVAC
enclosures, wooden gates, recessed entry ways — used by architect Donald Wexler to compose pleasing
volumes in tune with the desert and mountains. (Photo by Claude Peck)
8 APPLICATION
9
10
Several building types can be seen in this aerial view of the west end of Sagewood, with Sandalwood Dr. at
right. The two at the upper right are the “B3” plan. At left is a four -unit Type A building.
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
SUMMARY

in this aerial view of the west end of Sagewood, with Sandalwood Dr. at
right. The two at the upper right are the “B3” plan. At left is a four -unit Type A building.
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
SUMMARY
The property is located in the Rogers Ranch neighborhood of Palm Springs,
California, just south of the intersection of N. Sunrise Way and E. Vista Chino, and
bordered by N. Sunrise Way to the west, E. Chia Road to the south , and N.
Cerritos Drive to the east. It is listed as City Section 12, Tract 4432.
Sagewood consists of 107 one -story stucco, wood, brick, and glass condominium
homes in twenty -seven separate four -unit buildings on eighteen acres of fee -simple
land. It opened in 1972.
11 The developer was Levitt & Sons of California, and the designer was noted Palm
Springs architect Donald Wexler. The construction contractor was Kaufman and
Broad.
An undated photo shows Palm Springs Airport before the main terminal (by Wexler, opened in 1966) was
built. At center right, northwest of the airport, is the then -empty land where Sagewood and other condos were
built, m ainly in the 1970s. Wexler and Harrison designed a subdivision of seventy -five single -family modern
homes, El Rancho Vista Estates, just northeast of the airport.
12 HISTORY
1959 General Plan:
Sagewood is an outstanding, remarkably intact example of mid -twentieth -century
condominium development in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.
In the late 1950s, only about 5.6 percent of Palm Springs residents lived in multi -
family housing, according to the City of Palm Springs' 1959 General Plan. A city goal
at that time was to add more such options to its overall housing mix to respond
to Palm  Springs' transition, in the 1960s and '70s, from an exclusive resort

lm Springs' 1959 General Plan. A city goal
at that time was to add more such options to its overall housing mix to respond
to Palm  Springs' transition, in the 1960s and '70s, from an exclusive resort
destination to a more egalitarian community attractive to vacationers, snowbirds,
retirees, and year -round residents.
Federal and California laws passed between 1960 and 1964 legalized the concept
of the condominium and made it possible for buyers to get mortgages (and
mortgage insurance) on properties that combined individual ownership with shared
walls, shared upkeep, a nd community amenities such as pools, spas, landscaped
grounds, playgrounds, and tennis courts.
The passing of these laws coincided with President Eisenhower signing the 1959
Indian Leasing Act, which permitted certain tribes, including the Agua Caliente, to
lease their lands for up to ninety -nine years. Suddenly, hundreds of acres of
undeveloped and  relatively inexpensive parcels of land attracted developers seeking
to build this type  of housing to meet the surge in popularity of the condo option.
"The construction of condominiums and an influx of retirees would change the
community and help Palm Springs serve as a regional and national model for
retirement," notes Lawrence Culver in his 2012 book The Frontier of Leisure .
Culver argues that Palm Springs'  outsized influence extended well beyond the
Coachella Valley. "Resorts such as Palm Springs were as important to the formation
13 of modern American suburbia as the early suburbs of New York such as
Westchester County…. Palm Springs pioneered new architectural and urban forms
replicated not just at other resorts but at cities across the United States."
Sagewood reflects and expands on such earlier multi -family Garden Apartment

s pioneered new architectural and urban forms
replicated not just at other resorts but at cities across the United States."
Sagewood reflects and expands on such earlier multi -family Garden Apartment
communities in Palm Springs and nearby towns as Sandcliff Garden Apartment
Homes (Sherwin Barton, 1964), Sandpiper ( Palmer &  Krisel, 1958 -69), Royal
Hawaiian  Estates  (Wexler & Harrison, 1960), Country Club Estates (Jones &
Emmons, 1965) and Canyon View Estates (Palmer & Krisel, 1962 -65).
Sagewood also aligned with the city's desire, as expressed in numerous General
Plans and plan updates, to incorporate more affordable options into its housing
mix, which had previously tended to be dominated by a monoculture of upscale
single -family homes.
"Multi -family residential development played an important role in transforming
Palm Springs from a resort town to a residential community. That transformation
occurred during the 1960s and 1970s, but its roots can be seen as early as 1955."
(City of Palm Springs Citywide Historic Context Statement, 201 8)
14
Saying , “This is Levitt living ,” the home builder Levitt and Sons of California advertised the then -new Sagewood
condos in early 1973. Sagewood remains the sole multi -housing complex developed by Levitt in the Coachella
Valley.
Developer and Contractor:
Also of historical note is Sagewood's developer, Levitt & Sons of California, a
division of the world's largest homebuilder, responsible for Levittown and other
massive , and controversial,  postwar subdivisions in Pennsylvania and New York.
In 1970, Levitt & Sons sought to expand from the East Coast into fast -growing
Southern California. In 1971, its newly established California branch acquired

subdivisions in Pennsylvania and New York.
In 1970, Levitt & Sons sought to expand from the East Coast into fast -growing
Southern California. In 1971, its newly established California branch acquired
eighteen acres of vacant land near the northwest end of Palm Springs Airport. It
enlisted Wexler to  draw a site plan and design a community of 10 8 condominium
homes.2 Although Kaufman and Broad actually built the complex, Levitt remained
involved in marketing  the finished homes. The firm completed about two dozen
other housing projects elsewhere in California during the 1970s, but Sagewood
remains the sole Levitt development in the Coachella Valley. Given Levitt's
reputation for building architecturally nondes cript, low -cost postwar suburban
2 Sagewood is now 107 units. Two units have been com bined into a single unit.
15 housing, Sagewood stands out for its distinctive and refined site plan, landscape,
and architecture.
Architect:
Donald Allen Wexler (1926 -2015) was an American architect renowned for his
pioneering contributions to midcentury modern architecture, particularly in Palm
Springs, California. Born in South Dakota in 1926, Wexler grew up in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, where h e attended North High School. Following graduation, he served
in the Navy during World War II. After the war, he took advantage of the GI Bill
to study architecture at the University of Minnesota, earning his Bachelor of
Architecture in 1950. His education  placed him among the first generation of
American architects trained entirely within the principles of modernism. Walter
Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus and later head of Harvard's Graduate School of
16 Design, once praised Minnesota's architecture program as producing some of the
best students to enter Harvard.

Walter
Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus and later head of Harvard's Graduate School of
16 Design, once praised Minnesota's architecture program as producing some of the
best students to enter Harvard.
After graduation, Wexler moved to Los Angeles and worked as a draftsman for
renowned architect Richard Neutra. While Neutra was known for his demanding
nature, Wexler later spoke highly of his first mentor, placing him alongside Frank
Lloyd Wright and Mies  van der Rohe as one of the great contributors to the field
of architecture. Under Neutra, Wexler primarily worked on Elysian Park Heights,
a large -scale public housing project designed in collaboration with landscape
architect Garrett Eckbo. His nine -mont h tenure with Neutra gave him valuable
experience in modernist principles and the practical skills required to run a private
architectural practice.
In September 1952, Wexler relocated to Palm Springs, intending only a brief stay ;
however, he soon found the desert landscape and architectural opportunities to be
compelling. He joined the office of architect William F. Cody, where he met Richard
A. Harrison, a USC graduate working as a draftsman. By February 1953, Wexler
and Harrison had fulfilled their apprenticeship requirements and decided to form
their own prac tice, pooling their resources —just $250 —to launch Wexler &
Harrison. Over the years, their f irm designed homes, residential subdivisions,
schools, banks, and offices, leaving a lasting mark on Palm Springs. In 1961, the
partnership was amicably dissolved, and Wexler continued as a sole practitioner
under Donald A. Wexler, A merican Institute of Architects (AIA) .
Wexler became best known for his pioneering use of steel in residential design. His

olved, and Wexler continued as a sole practitioner
under Donald A. Wexler, A merican Institute of Architects (AIA) .
Wexler became best known for his pioneering use of steel in residential design. His
Steel Development Houses, built in collaboration with the U.S. Steel Corporation,
were innovative, cost -effective, and particularly suited for desert living. Among his
many  acclaimed works, the Palm Springs Airport, completed in 1966, remains one
of his most visible contributions. Architectural writer Michael Stern described the
main terminal as "a temple of glass that frames the mountain," highlighting Wexler's
17 mastery of indoor -outdoor integration. The airport was added to the National
Register of Historic Places in 2021.
Over a career spanning more than fifty years, Wexler designed a wide array of
buildings, including schools (over thirty in total), office parks, banks, gas stations,
and homes for Hollywood celebrities like Dinah Shore, Alan Ladd, and Kirk
Douglas. His ear ly multi -family residential project, Royal Hawaiian Estates (1960),
showcased the influence of "tiki" modernism and featured landscape designs by
David Hamilton. The complex became Palm Springs' first designated residential
Historic District in 2010.
By the 1970s , as condominiums had become a  popular housing option in Palm
Springs, Wexler played a crucial role in their development, excelling in both site
planning and architectural design. His projects, such as Sagewood, The Rose
Garden, and Twin Springs, embodied his belief in creating housing  that was not only
functional but also attuned to desert living. Sagewood, in particular, demonstrated
his ability to deliver high -quality modernist design to middle  class buyers,

n creating housing  that was not only
functional but also attuned to desert living. Sagewood, in particular, demonstrated
his ability to deliver high -quality modernist design to middle  class buyers,
reinforcing his commitment to maki ng good architecture accessible. His work
reflected the ideals of modernism, which sought to provide well -designed homes
for a broad audience, much like the philosophy behind Albert Frey's Aluminaire
House, which was recently relocated to Palm Springs as a  permanent exhibit.
Wexler remained an influential figure in Palm Springs architecture throughout his
career. He won a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Palm Springs Modern
Committee in 2007. He was the subject of two books, a 2011 survey exhibition at
the Palm Springs Art Museum , and the 2010 documentary Journeyman Architect: The
Life and Work of Donald Wexler . He was inducted as a Fellow of the A IA in 2004,
cementing his place among the most respected modernist architects.
Even after his passing in 2015 at eighty -nine, Wexler's legacy continues to be
celebrated. His work, which seamlessly integrates architecture with the desert
18 environment, has had a profound and lasting impact on Palm Springs, the Coachella
Valley, and the broader field of modernist design. As architecture critic Christopher
Hawthorne noted, "It was Wexler, as much as any architect, who made Palm
Springs modern. "
Wexler's philosophy on architecture and preservation was both pragmatic and
insightful. While he recognized the enduring appeal of midcentury modernism, he
believed that not all buildings should be preserved solely because of age; rather, he
insisted, "It's not just about preservation. Just beca use it's 50 years old, that's not

midcentury modernism, he
believed that not all buildings should be preserved solely because of age; rather, he
insisted, "It's not just about preservation. Just beca use it's 50 years old, that's not
the whole story — it's whether it's good design that's worth preserving." This
thoughtful approach ensured that his contributions to architecture were not only
historically significant but also inherently valuable in shapi ng the built environment
of Palm Springs and beyond.
Site Plan:
Wexler's 1971 site plan study for Levitt gracefully distributes the (now) 107
condos, a mix of two - and three -bedroom units, four units to a "pod," across the
flat plot of land northwest of the airport.
Gently curving lengthwise through the middle of the site is a new road, Sandalwood
Drive, punctuated midblock by an oval island planted with palms and cact i, which is
dramatically lit at night. The street's east -west orientation creates a vital view
corridor that frames the towering San Jacinto range and the sunset -catching Little
San Bernardino mountains farther to the east.
"The site planning is textbook perfect, encouraging the visitor, and subliminally a
homeowner, to focus on a smaller area than if the street were laid out shotgun
straight," said landscape architect Ron Gregory in an interview. Gregory, who
worked with Wex ler on scores of projects (though not Sagewood) beginning in
the late 1970s, visited Sagewood for the first time in 2020.
19
Seen at sunrise from the east, a group of Sagewood homes glows golden and appears to nestle at the foot of
the San Jacinto range. (Photo by Claude Peck)
The condominiums on Sandalwood follow its bend, while those along Chia are
staggered slightly to break up that street's straight line. Wexler drew generous

he San Jacinto range. (Photo by Claude Peck)
The condominiums on Sandalwood follow its bend, while those along Chia are
staggered slightly to break up that street's straight line. Wexler drew generous
setbacks for all the units on the street. Smaller residential groupings cap the ends
of the subdivis ion along Sunrise and Cerritos.
20
Wexler’s site plan created a new street, E. Sandalwood Dr., gently curved, with a palm island. The streetscape
de-emphasized  the car in favor of view corridors to the east and west, a s well as  large windows/sliders facing
green space and patios. Most units are set back sixty feet or more from the street.
Open space occupies about one -third of Sagewood's total site, enabling the
development to boast just six units per acre, only slightly denser than in an average
tract of detached single -family houses.
One long park along the north side houses a pool, spa, and tennis court. A larger
green belt lies in the middle, between Sandalwood and Chia, and runs the entire
length of the site, two city blocks uninterrupted by any north -south street. Roughly
half of t he condos in the complex have windows and patios that face this park -like
area, which is crisscrossed  with concrete paths laid out in an angular, jazzy pattern.
21
With Sunrise Way at the left, the 1971 site plan is largely the same as what was built the following year. The
recreational building near the east pool (at right) was never  built. A west pool was built where the drawing
indicates a wading pool. (Drawing courtesy of Wexler archive, CalPoly Pomona)
One can clearly see at Sagewood the guiding principles of the Garden Apartment
typology, as expressed in the 1928 Radburn Plan by Clarence Stein and Henry

g courtesy of Wexler archive, CalPoly Pomona)
One can clearly see at Sagewood the guiding principles of the Garden Apartment
typology, as expressed in the 1928 Radburn Plan by Clarence Stein and Henry
Wright, including superblocks, separation of pedestrian and vehicle traffic, de -
emphasis of the automobil e, integration of green space , reduced street frontage,
and hierarchical design.
All of Stein and Wright's Radburn Plan principles are present at Sagewood:
Superblock  – large parcel with few or no through streets, which consolidated
green spaces for use by residents . Sagewood is an eighteen -acre superblock
surrounded by the main roads. There is a single private service road bisecting the
community, and from this, cars enter garage courts, around which residential
buildings are clustered. More garage courts are accessed from two surrounding
roads, N. Cerritos and E. Chia. Gara ge courts alternate with garden courts, which
open onto much more extensive greenbelts.
22 Specialized roads  – all auto circulation is on the perimeter, and garage courts
are for car storage. Sagewood is surrounded on three sides by public roads and has
one private road bisecting the site plan. From these roads, residents access garage
courts, which are essentia lly cul -de-sacs.
Complete separation of pedestrians and automobiles  – Pathways within
each residential circle and greenbelt provide safe pedestrian access, allowing users
to avoid encountering automobiles.
Houses turned toward gardens and parks  – this arrangement turned the
structures outside in, placing the living room windows toward the green spaces.
The primary living rooms feature large sliding glass doors opening onto private
patios, which face the garden courts or greenbelts. In contrast, secondary rooms

g room windows toward the green spaces.
The primary living rooms feature large sliding glass doors opening onto private
patios, which face the garden courts or greenbelts. In contrast, secondary rooms
like kitchens and bedrooms  face the garage courts or access roads.
The park is the backbone – large green spaces dominate  rather than streets.
Sagewood is a superblock with dwellings clustered around garage courts, which
alternate with garden courts. These open to much more extensive greenbelts  or
parks, which constitute the site plan’s spine. These  feature shared community
spaces, including large, landscaped gardens  for the community's enjoyment , as well
as community amenities like swimming pools and a tennis court. Patios provide a
private setting for interaction with th e landscape.
23
Full-height glazing, both windows and sliders, shrinks the distinction between indoor and outdoor spaces. This
two-bedroom unit has fourteen  feet of continuous glass between the living/dining space and the large walled
patio. (Photo by Claude Peck)
24
Two 1972 drawings by Wexler show the trapezoidal trash can enclosures (center) and rooftop enclosures for
HVAC. Also visible: the two heights for slumpstone patio walls; six feet (top) and 4½ feet (bottom). The full -
height windows shown at far right and far left were reduced to half -high ones, at the corners of the 3 -bedroom
units, possibly as a cost -saving measure. (Original drawings courtesy of Wexler archive, CalPoly Pomon a)
Architecture:
The single -story residences, a practical solution when land was more affordable,
offered residences at a human scale, preserved everyone's view of the mountains,
and allowed for privacy in walled patios. Of Wexler's three condo complexes done

olution when land was more affordable,
offered residences at a human scale, preserved everyone's view of the mountains,
and allowed for privacy in walled patios. Of Wexler's three condo complexes done
in the 1970s (which include Twin Springs and The Rose Garden), only Sagewood is
composed entirely of single -story buildings.
Writing about local architecture in Palm Springs Life  magazine in 2013, Michael Stern
touched on something evident at Sagewood: an overall understated approach.
25 "In Los Angeles, architecture often screams for attention," Stern wrote. "Palm
Springs architects worked sotto voce, so that their work would be in harmony
with, but not overshadow, the natural beauty of the desert. [Wexler] is considered
an icon who truly  practiced 'the honesty of modernism,' wherein the structural
elements of his buildings become the decorative elements as well." Sagewood's
architecture draws one's attention by being elegant rather than showy; pleasant,
not strident. Here, the site plan a nd landscape are transcendent.
Wexler's famed Steel houses, Stern added, "showcase his brilliance in creating small
houses that do not feel claustrophobic." It's easy to apply that observation to
Sagewood, where residences of 1,050 to 1,250 square feet are laid out so they
seem larger. Add patios as large as 700 square feet, often planted with citrus,
shrubs, and cactus, and that feeling is amplified. The place's low  density, with just
six units per acre of land, is comparable to standard single -family home plats.
The exterior textured stucco is a durable, low -maintenance material that
withstands extreme heat, requires infrequent painting, and reduces upkeep costs
for the HOA. The buff colors are warm, with contrast provided by substantial

s a durable, low -maintenance material that
withstands extreme heat, requires infrequent painting, and reduces upkeep costs
for the HOA. The buff colors are warm, with contrast provided by substantial
Douglas fir accent timbers  painted slightly darker and flush -set windows and sliders
in a dark bronze color. Exposed beams in carports and garages reveal the post -and-
beam construction method characteristic of Wexler's designs, including his own
house on nearby East Verbena Drive .
The flat roofs and orthogonal lines are crisp and unifying, giving a sense of elegance
and lightness that is trademark Wexler. Rooftop parapets are either flat or gently
slanted to conceal HVAC units and reflect the lines where mountain meets sky.
The slumpstone patio walls and canted trash  can surrounds are a simple material
that contrasts with the stucco and pays rectilinear tribute to an older California.
26 Elevations and Floor Plans:
A 1972 Sagewood sales brochure shows exterior elevations for the three -bedroom
Plan A homes and the two -bedroom Plan B homes. Most Plan A homes have
carports, while Plan B homes have shared garages. Variations (B -1, B-2, B-3, for
example) had mainly to do with the orientation of garages and carports .
27
28 Sagewood Floor Plans (A and B types):
Below is Wexler’s detailed floor plan for the four units in a “B” type building. The
patios on the end units measure more than 750 square feet. All party walls are
double -insulated  with sound -dampening material. The only difference between the
B1, B2 , and B3 pods is the orientation of shared two -car garages. Entryways are
indicated by numbers 1 through 4.
29 Below, a detailed floor plan for the four units in an “A” type building. These units

B2 , and B3 pods is the orientation of shared two -car garages. Entryways are
indicated by numbers 1 through 4.
29 Below, a detailed floor plan for the four units in an “A” type building. These units
have three bedrooms. Small internal atriums double as light courts. Numbers 1 -4
show the placement of carports. (Images from Wexler archives, Cal  Poly Pomona)
Landscape:
The landscape at Sagewood exhibits the best of its type and is one of the finest
examples in the Coachella Valley. Because of its low -density and thoughtful design,
residents of Sagewood enjoy life in an oasis of simplicity, serenity, and beauty,
surrounde d by a classic plant palette typical of mid century  Palm Springs. This
landscape's design is credited to landscape architect David Hamilton, arguably the
most important practitioner working in mid century  Palm Springs. Landscape
architect Ron Gregory, who wo rked with Wexler on numerous projects (though
not Sagewood) beginning in the late 1970s, stated in a 2020 interview that he was
"almost certain" the landscape architect at Sagewood was David Hamilton.
30
Hamilton, the first university -trained and licensed landscape architect to live and
work in the Coachella Valley, collaborated with the finest architects of the day,
often with Donald Wexler, and was well -respected and sought after during the
years Sagewoo d was designed and built.
Reporting on the community's opening in 1972, the Desert Sun  noted that architect
Donald Wexler was chosen because of his "understanding of desert architecture.
Palm Springs has fostered a new kind of low -profile California architecture. It's a
kind of look that complements the configuration of the terrain, as well  as the subtle
desert colors." Wexler's architecture was kept deliberately simple —here, the site

alifornia architecture. It's a
kind of look that complements the configuration of the terrain, as well  as the subtle
desert colors." Wexler's architecture was kept deliberately simple —here, the site
plan and landscape are elevated to co -starring roles.
From the perimeter of the property, enclosed by manicured multi -trunk olive trees,
residents drive into landscaped garage courts to access their condominiums.
Planting adjacent to dwelling units is denser, with varying shades and textures of
green —Pittospo rum tobira, Natal plum, and pyracantha among the shrubs. These
are enlivened by spots of flowering color, including lantana, bougainvillea, Spanish
bayonet, aloe vera [ A. Barbadensis ], and desert milkweed. Select areas feature
collections of cacti.
31
Taller trees (palm, eucalyptus, Aleppo pine) step down to shorter ones (olive, ash, California pepper , and
flowering pear) closer to residences.
Contrasting this are bucolic open green spaces, acres of green grass dotted with a
palette of drought -tolerant trees, often Mediterranean species. These are suitably
adapted to the desert climate —there are at least twenty -four different tree species
at Sag ewood, and today, about 450 trees total. A hierarchy of trees was established,
starting with a towering skyline of Washingtonia robusta  and native Washingtonia
filifera  palms, their fronds shining and shimmering against the backdrop of majestic
San Jacinto . Palms are typically grouped by species in pairs, clusters, or short rows.
Groups of eucalyptus and Aleppo pine screen undesirable views to the north and
shade the inviting green grass meadows. Several enormous ash trees were removed
in recent years, vict ims of the shot hole borer. Silk oak is another large signature

undesirable views to the north and
shade the inviting green grass meadows. Several enormous ash trees were removed
in recent years, vict ims of the shot hole borer. Silk oak is another large signature
tree that has suffered. Decorative jacaranda and evergreen flowering pear add color
and interest to the tree palette.
32 Though some of these tree and plant species have fallen out of favor with today's
landscape designers, those still existing  should be retained as essential elements in
Hamilton's design. Sagewood represents a prime and pristine example of classic
midcentury  Garden Apartment landscape architecture by Palm Springs' leading
landscape architect, and every attempt should be made to preserve it.
DAVID HAMILTON, ASLA:
David Hamilton was born in Detroit in 1926. After serving in the Navy during
World War II, Hamilton attended Michigan State University, graduating in
December 1950 with a BS in Landscape Architecture. Before graduating, his wife
Helen saw an advertisement from the City of Palm Springs for an opening in the
Planning Department, and she encouraged Hamilton to apply. Soon hired, he served
as a draftsman in the Palm Springs Chief Planning Department, where he worked
from 1951 to 1953. From 1953 to 1957, he work ed as a site planner and landscape
architect for Quintin Engineers, Ltd in Los Angeles. He returned to the desert in
1957, working for the County of Riverside's Planning Commission's new satellite
office in Palm Desert. Hamilton was then recruited back to Palm Springs by Hy
Raines, Director of Planning, and Pete Peterson, City Manager, returning as
assistant planning director, a newly formed position created with Hamilton in mind.
33
Sagewood’s west pool, looking west, with E. Sandalwood Dr. at right.

nd Pete Peterson, City Manager, returning as
assistant planning director, a newly formed position created with Hamilton in mind.
33
Sagewood’s west pool, looking west, with E. Sandalwood Dr. at right.
In 1960, Hamilton left the Planning Department to open his own landscape
architecture office. A member of the ASLA since 1951, he had been grandfathered
in when licensure was developed in 1953. One of his first projects was the Royal
Hawaiian Estates condominium development, done in collaboration with Donald
Wexler and Richard Harrison. Hamilton and Wexler would work together on many
projects, including the Palm Springs Airport, the Steel Houses, and Professional
Park. When Donald Wexler was asked in 2 011, he said, "I always requested of my
clients that David Hamilton be hired from the outset. He was the best."3 Hamilton's
work included residential, commercial, and civic properties, some examples being
Ocotillo Palms Estates, Demuth Park, Raymond Cree Junior High School, the
Outdoor Memorial at Desert Memorial Park, San Diego Federal Savings and Loan,
the Living Desert, and The Diplomat condominiums. David Hamilton passed away
in La Quinta on January 10 , 2017, after a short illness. He was ninety years old.4
3 Steven Keylon, Interview with Donald Wexler, February 25, 2011
4 Biographical David Hamilton information from Steven Keylon, Interview with David Hamilton, February
13, 2016 .
34 Community Amenities:
Each unit has a patio, many planted with citrus, offering private interaction with the
landscape. In the common areas, there are opportunities for public interaction, with
pools and a tennis court to foster community.
HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS:
The photos  below, though undated, appear to be from the mid -to-late 1970s. The

here are opportunities for public interaction, with
pools and a tennis court to foster community.
HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS:
The photos  below, though undated, appear to be from the mid -to-late 1970s. The
vintage mailboxes have been replaced with more modern boxes grouped along
Chia, Cerritos , and Sandalwood. One feature shown is the relatively small size of
street -facing windows (top left), in accordance with Wexler’s view that large glazing
should focus on mountain views, patio gardens , and communal green spaces.
(Photos courtesy of Palm Springs Historical Society)
35
36
37 Contemporary Photographs:
An aerial view of the green belt around the west pool/spa and walking paths leading to it from various
directions. (Photo courtesy of Greater Palm Springs Realtors)
38
Wide, angled, shared concrete drives help move cars away from streets and adjacent to homes in
accordance with principles of the Garden Apartment dating to the early twentieth  century. The front
entryways at right are set back from E. Sandalwood Dr., creating a more varied and pleasing
streetscape.
(Photo by Henry Connell)
39 Changes and Alterations Over Time:
The original solid entry doors were recessed and shaded by overhangs. Some owners have added
screens or second security doors. Many entry doors are placed within small interior courts or open off
private patios. (Photo courtesy of Greater Palm Springs Realtor s)
CHARACTER DEFINING FEATURES
Sagewood is defined by many of the elements of what has come to be known as
Desert Modernism and, in particular, the understated elegance of designs by its
architect Donald Wexler.
40 CONTRIBUTING ELEMENTS
● Low-slung, single -story post -and-beam buildings with flat rooflines,
orthogonal massing and volumes, shade overhangs, extensive glazing, Douglas

s
architect Donald Wexler.
40 CONTRIBUTING ELEMENTS
● Low-slung, single -story post -and-beam buildings with flat rooflines,
orthogonal massing and volumes, shade overhangs, extensive glazing, Douglas
fir accent timbers, and practical and cost -efficient construction materials
(stucco, wood, slumpstone, flush aluminum windows and sliders, recessed
entry doors,  and large walled patios ).
● Spacious shared outdoor space that includes verdant greenbelts, a variety of
large and small trees, three original pools/spas, original pedestrian walkways,
and smaller plantings closer to residences.
● Twenty -seven separate structures with 107 residences, four to a “pod.”
● Original “lollipop” light posts throughout the campus, both along streets
(Chia, Sandalwood , and Cerritos) as well as in interior shared drives.
● Original zig -zag slumpstone wall along Sunrise, inset with iron fencing.
● Original carports and shared garages.
● Original entry courts and solid doors.
● Rooftop enclosures to mask HVAC units.
NON -CONTRIBUTING ELEMENTS
● All three pools/spas have fencing that was added later as an insurance
requirement.
● Some recessed entry doorways have had second doors added to enhance
security in the ungated community.
● As part of a two -to-one renovation, one unit converted a carport to a garage.
● Some original wooden patio gates have been replaced by metal ones. Over
time, gates with scrollwork and other non -contributing elements should be
replaced by simple, unadorned designs approved by the architecture
committee and the city.
● Address numbers are not uniform throughout the complex. Original address
numbers are difficult to determine, so the HOA recommends that over time,
all numbers be of a simple, modern font of a certain size.

ss numbers are not uniform throughout the complex. Original address
numbers are difficult to determine, so the HOA recommends that over time,
all numbers be of a simple, modern font of a certain size.
41 ● Shared mailbox depots are not original.
● Some solid front doors have been replaced by doors employing glass or
plexiglass panels. Architectural guidelines stipulate recommended door
replacement specs.
42 HISTORIC CONTEXT
To qualify as a Palm Springs Historic District, the contributing structures must be
significant; that is, they must represent a significant part of the history, architecture,
or archaeology of an area, and they must have the characteristics that make them
a good representative of properties associated with that aspect of the past. The
significance of a historic district can be adequately understood wh en evaluated
within its historical context. Historic contexts are those patterns or trends in
history by which a specific district is understood and its meaning (and ultimately its
significance) within history is made clear. To decide whether a district's contributing
properties are significant within their historic context, it must be determined which
facet of history the district represents; the significance of that facet of history;
whether the subject district has relevance in illustrating the historic context; how
the district illustrates that history; and an analysis of the physical features the
contributing properties in the district possess to determine whether they convey
the aspect or history with which they are associated. If the subject district
represents an important aspect of the area's history (under any of the seven criteria
recognized by the Municipal Code) and possesses the requisite quality of integrity,

iated. If the subject district
represents an important aspect of the area's history (under any of the seven criteria
recognized by the Municipal Code) and possesses the requisite quality of integrity,
then it qualifies as a historic district.
BACKGROUND / HISTORIC CONTEXT
The relatively short history of Palm Springs can be organized into three more or
less distinct periods that include Prehistory, the Settlement Period, and the Modern
Period. It is within the context of the last period that Sagewood will be evaluated.
Historic Resources Group ’s 2018 Citywide Historic Context Statement & Survey
Findings  establishe s The Modern Period (1925 -1960s): This period can be
considered to have begun with the construction of the area's first "modern"
structure, Rudolph Schindler's Paul and Betty Popenoe Cabin in 1922. During the
post-WWII era, Palm Springs' economy prospered th rough tourism. Hollywood
celebrities discovered the desert oasis and patronized its hotels, inns, nightclubs
and restaurants; celebrity -seeking tourists soon followed, transforming Palm
43 Springs from a sleepy village into an increasingly cosmopolitan environment. In the
1960s -1970s, multi -family residential development played an important role in
transforming Palm Springs from a resort town to a residential community. By the
late 1960s the  vacation home trend was in full swing. By 1967, Palm Springs was
growing from a population of 20,000 in the off -season to 50,000 during the winter
tourist season. The City of Palm Springs was the first in the state and one of the
first resort communities in the nation to legalize condominiums as a new form of
vacation housing. The popularity of the condominium in Palm Springs hinged on an

the first in the state and one of the
first resort communities in the nation to legalize condominiums as a new form of
vacation housing. The popularity of the condominium in Palm Springs hinged on an
aging population of empty nesters and retirees who liberated themselves from
single -family residences in the suburbs. T hey vacationed or took up residency in
condos where upkeep and maintenance were low and amenities were built -in.
Amenities included tennis courts, pools, and/or country club membership. The rise
in popularity of timeshare arrangements (where a property cou ld be shared across
a consortium of "owners" lowering costs even more) contributed to the growth of
condominiums in Palm Springs.
ARCHITECTURE (Criteria 3 – 6)
(That reflects or exemplifies a particular period of the national, state , or local
history)
The buildings of the proposed Sagewood historic district represent a specific
building type and exhibit stylistic markers that place them directly in the historic
context of Palm Springs' Modern Period. Sagewood is a prime and largely intact
example of a particular building type and th e significant modernist architecture for
which Palm Springs is widely known. It is also a prime example of a Garden
Apartment type of community, a type of planning that became popular in the
Coachella Valley beginning in the mid -1950s but truly gained mome ntum after the
landmark Indian Long -Term Leasing Act of 1955 and the 1959 Indian Leasing Act,
which allowed for land leases of up to ninety -nine years. As such, the contributing
structures  in the district may be viewed as an essential  component of the historic
44 trends that have come to define Palm Springs' image as a vacation resort destination

. As such, the contributing
structures  in the district may be viewed as an essential  component of the historic
44 trends that have come to define Palm Springs' image as a vacation resort destination
and the center of crucial  midcentury  architecture, i.e., a  historic  trend that
exemplifies a particular period of the national, state or local history. The
contributing properties within Sagewood qualify for listing as a Historic
District on the local registry under Criterion 3.
Criterion 4:  (That embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or
method of construction)
"Type, period, or method of construction" refers to the way certain properties are
related to one another by cultural tradition or function, by dates of construction
or style, or by choice or availability of materials and technology. To be eligible under
this criterion, a property must clearly illustrate, through "distinctive characteristics"
a pattern of features common to a particular class of resources. "Distinctive
characteristics" are the physical features or traits that commonly recur in individual
types, periods, or methods of construction. To be eligible under this criterion, a
property must clearly contain enough of those characteristics to be considered a
true representative of a particular type, period, or method of construction.
Characteristics c an be expressed in terms such as form, proportion, structure, plan,
style, or materials. The contributing properties in Sagewood are eligible under this
criterion as they represent a fine example of a particular building type (specifically,
the "Garden Apa rtment" type of multi -family dwelling, particularly as a
condominium) that established itself in the resort community of Palm Springs from

of a particular building type (specifically,
the "Garden Apa rtment" type of multi -family dwelling, particularly as a
condominium) that established itself in the resort community of Palm Springs from
the start of the 1960s onwards. The structures of Sagewood also qualify under the
theme of Modern architecture becaus e they possess distinctive characteristics that
comprise the many qualities of the style, such as overall horizontality, the
expression of structure, expansive amounts of glass, and the use of inexpensive,
machine -produced materials (i.e., stucco, aluminum , glass). The contributing
properties at Sagewood qualify as a Historic District on the local registry
under Criterion 4.
45 Criterion 5:  (That presents the work of a master builder, designer, artist, or
architect whose individual genius influenced his or her age or that possesses high
artistic value)
Work of a Master:
Considered to be one of the most important and influential California mid century
architects, with a portfolio of hundreds of built structures and multiple awards for
architectural excellence, Donald Wexler, FAIA, has left an impressive legacy of
design that continues to inspire and influence new generations seeking to build
more susta inably and efficiently without sacrificing livability. As designed by Donald
Wexler, Sagewood can, without a doubt, be considered the work of a "Master."
Properties possessing high artistic values:  High artistic values may be
expressed in many ways, including areas as diverse as community design or planning,
engineering, and sculpture. As an example of the maturing modernist movement
and as a fully realized Garden Apartment community, Sagewood expre sses those
modernist ideals to a level of excellence and confidence that, in total, could easily

e of the maturing modernist movement
and as a fully realized Garden Apartment community, Sagewood expre sses those
modernist ideals to a level of excellence and confidence that, in total, could easily
be considered an aesthetic ideal. The desert modern building style and construction
method brought to Palm Springs b y an influential handful of postwar architects and
builders is evident at Sagewood on various levels:
● Low-density, stucco -clad, post -and-beam single -story residences unified by
neutral color, horizontality, generous use of full -height glass, shade
overhangs, finishes, building style, flat roof lines, flush -mounted exterior
windows, and a human scale.
● A carefully drawn site plan with setbacks, internal drives, a superblock, and
fenestration that de -emphasizes the street, tames the automobile, and
focuses on green space, view corridors, pedestrian walkways , and the
outdoors.
46 ● A classic Southern California landscape design (attributed to David Hamilton)
that primarily utilizes Mediterranean, desert natives, and other hardy,
drought -tolerant species.
● Ample space devoted both to private and to shared community and
recreational areas.
Sagewood has one of largest greenbelts of any Palm Springs condo complex, as well
as offering larger -than-usual walled patios for private enjoyment of the outdoors.
For its high artistic values, Sagewood qualifies for listing as a Historic District
on the local registry under Criterion 5.
INTEGRITY
Integrity is the ability of a property to convey its significance. To be listed in the
local registry, a property must not only be shown to be significant under the
criteria, but it also must have integrity. The evaluation of integrity is sometimes a

ts significance. To be listed in the
local registry, a property must not only be shown to be significant under the
criteria, but it also must have integrity. The evaluation of integrity is sometimes a
subje ctive judgment, but it must always be grounded in an understanding of a
property's physical features and their relationship  to its significance. Historic
properties either retain integrity (that is, convey their significance) or they do not.
The definition  of integrity includes seven aspects or qualities. To retain historic
integrity a property will always possess several, and usually most, of the aspects.
The retention of specific aspects of integrity is paramount for a property to convey
its significance.  Determining which of these aspects are most important to a
particular property requires knowing why, where, and when the property is
significant. The following sections define the seven aspects and explain how they
combine to produce integrity.
LOCATION
Location is the place where a  historic  property was constructed or the place where
a historic  event occurred. The relationship between the property and its location
is often important to understanding why the property was created or why
something happened. The actual location of a historic property, complemented by
47 its setting, is particularly important in recapturing the sense of historic events and
persons. Except in rare cases, the relationship between a property and its historic
associations is destroyed if the property is moved. Sagewood was laid out and
built at its current location and has not been moved. No substantive
additions or demolitions have occurred. The subject property retains
integrity of location.
DESIGN
Design is the combination of elements that create the form, plan, space, structure,

d. No substantive
additions or demolitions have occurred. The subject property retains
integrity of location.
DESIGN
Design is the combination of elements that create the form, plan, space, structure,
and style of a property. It results from conscious decisions made during the original
conception and planning of a property and applies to activities as diverse as
communit y planning, engineering, architecture, and landscape architecture. Design
includes such elements as organization of space, proportion, scale, technology,
ornamentation, and materials. A property's design reflects historic functions and
technologies as well  as aesthetics. It includes such considerations as the structural
system; massing; arrangement of spaces; pattern of fenestration; textures and
colors of surface materials; type, amount, and style of ornamental detailing.
Sagewood retains nearly all of its  character -defining features and has integrity as a
well-preserved example of Desert Modernism as applied to a Garden Apartment
condominium complex. Its look today conveys very clearly the design intentions of
architect Donald Wexler. As was true in 1972, the resource is notable for its flat
roofs, slumpstone patio walls and trash  can enclosures, cantilevered overhangs for
shade, stucco exterior walls in buff brown (Dunn -Edwards Steveareno) with
contrasting Douglas fir strips in a darker hue (Dunn -Edwards Hawk Brown),
absence of extensive exterior decoration, ample flush -mounted gla zing including
sliders and full -height windows.
The three pools, three spas, and tennis court, connected by jazzy concrete
sidewalks, are as stipulated in Wexler's site plan. Pool fencing was added later. The
site study below shows two swimming pools and a wading pool. It has a shared

is court, connected by jazzy concrete
sidewalks, are as stipulated in Wexler's site plan. Pool fencing was added later. The
site study below shows two swimming pools and a wading pool. It has a shared
48 pool building at the east pool, which was never built. Pool fences were added later
to comply with insurance regulations, as is often the case with shared pools.
With setbacks, wide shared drives, parking plazas, carports, and garages, the aim of
de-emphasizing streets full of parked cars remains intact.
Trees and shrubs have grown, and some have been replaced. However, the classic
Southern California landscape of the district, which includes many species of large
trees (Aleppo pine, towering California palms, California pepper, eucalyptus)
tapering to sma ller ones (olive, lantana, Spanish bayonet, pyracantha) remains
intact.
Alterations include pool fences, wooden patio gates, and the evolution of the
landscape. (The Sagewood HOA's landscape committee has a policy of one -to-one
tree replacement, and some pool surrounds and greenbelt edges have been
converted from turf to deser t scape to conserve water.) Some original doors have
been replaced with complementary newer ones, and some owners have added
metal security doors outside of the regular entryway doors.
Alterations require the approval of the HOA's board and its architecture
committee , and guidelines in place for more than twenty years seek to retain and
maintain the defining characteristics of the original complex.
Cumulatively, these modifications do not compromise the design integrity of
the site layout and have only a minimal impact on the architecture of the
individual buildings that contribute to the district. Based on the extant
historic character -defining feat ures and overall design of the subject

have only a minimal impact on the architecture of the
individual buildings that contribute to the district. Based on the extant
historic character -defining feat ures and overall design of the subject
property, it retains its appearance from the period of significance. The
subject property maintains its original design integrity .
49 SETTING
Setting is the physical environment of a historic property. Whereas location refers
to the specific place where a property was built or an event occurred, setting refers
to the character of the place in which the property played its historical role. It
involves how, not just where, the property is situated and its relationship to
surrounding features and open space. Setting often reflects the basic physical
conditions under which a property was built and the functions it was intended to
serve. In addition, the way in which a property is positioned in its environment can
reflect the designer's concept of nature and aesthetic preferences. Sagewood's
immediate surroundings have seen significant development in fifty -three years, but
with the airport to the east,  a large wash between the resource and the northwest
end of the airport has remained undeveloped. Commercial development nearby ,
has been planned thoughtfully, affording Sagewood owners easy access to groceries
and other essentials . The subject property  retains  the integrity of the
setting .
MATERIALS
Materials are the physical elements that were combined or deposited during a
particular period of time and in a particular pattern or configuration to form a
historic property. The choice and combination of materials reveal the preferences
of those who cre ated the property and indicate the availability of particular types

attern or configuration to form a
historic property. The choice and combination of materials reveal the preferences
of those who cre ated the property and indicate the availability of particular types
of materials and technologies. Materials used in the 1972 construction – troweled
stucco exterior walls, dark bronze flush -mounted aluminum window and slider
frames, shade overhangs, trash  can enclosures, Douglas Fir accent strips, wood
entry doors, carports, drives, walkways, plantings, gates, slumpstone walls, rooftop
screen walls, glazing – remain largely intact. While many original sliding doors and
windows have been replaced with dual -pane safety glass, the association grants
approval only for aluminum -frame doors/windows in the correct color. (Some vinyl
replacement windows on the campus were installed before the advent of
architectural guidelines.)  The resource retains the integrity o f materials.
50 WORKMANSHIP
Workmanship is the physical evidence of the crafts of a particular culture or people
during any given period in history or prehistory. It is the evidence of artisans' labor
and skill in constructing or altering a building, structure, object, or site.
Workm anship can apply to the property as a whole or to its individual components.
It can be expressed in vernacular methods of construction and plain finishes or in
highly sophisticated configurations and ornamental detailing. It can be based on
common traditio ns or innovative period techniques. Workmanship is important
because it can furnish evidence of the technology of a craft, illustrate the aesthetic
principles of a historic or prehistoric period, and reveal individual, local, regional,
or national applicat ions of both technological practices and aesthetic principles.

ft, illustrate the aesthetic
principles of a historic or prehistoric period, and reveal individual, local, regional,
or national applicat ions of both technological practices and aesthetic principles.
Examples of workmanship in historic buildings include tooling, carving, painting,
graining, turning, and joinery. The original Wexler drawings provide detailed
descriptions of the high -quality workmanship required when the complex was
constructed . They specified Grade 1 Douglas Fir to be used in "all framing lumber,"
including joists, posts , and beams, for one example, as well as in the 1 1/2" x 11"
horizontal accent strips used throughout the property.
While desert modern design eschewed decoration common to older building
styles, the workmanship at Sagewood shows in more subtle ways, such as the
durable, low -maintenance troweled stucco exterior walls and overhangs, the sturdy
slumpstone patio walls in h eights of six feet and four -and-a-half feet, and the
carefully designed landscape of turf, trees , and shrubs.
Considerable workmanship goes into the fenestration of a place like the subject
property, where each unit has two to four sliders and generous amounts of full -
height stationary glass. Most of the three -bedroom units feature half -high corner
windows in the living rooms, and many of the two -bedro om units include as much
as fifteen feet of continuous glass between living space and capacious private patios
(some measuring more than 700 square feet).
51 Wexler's  drawings specify additional steps during construction to make Sagewood
more livable, including measures to reduce noise  between neighbors. For example,
party walls between condos in the four -unit pods were specified as having two

ps during construction to make Sagewood
more livable, including measures to reduce noise  between neighbors. For example,
party walls between condos in the four -unit pods were specified as having two
standard 2 -by-4 walls, separated by "½ -inch thick 'Kaiser’ sound -deadening board
and ½ -inch thick gypsum board.” (1972 drawings by Wexler at Cal Poly Pomona
archive) . If good fences make good neighbors, so does good sound insulation.
By preserving most of its character -defining features, Sagewood continues
to convey the innovative design and building methods of its designers and
developers, who sought to contain costs by standardizing materials and
methods of construction. Integrity of  workmanship is maintained.
FEELING
Feeling is a property’s expression of the aesthetic or historic sense of a particular
period of time. It results from the presence of physical features that, taken
together, convey the property’s historic character. For example, a rural historic
district r etaining original design, materials, workmanship, and setting will relate the
feeling of agricultural life in the nineteenth century. A visitor from wintry Minnesota
recently commented, “There is nothing like walking back from the east pool in late
afterno on through that huge green belt shadowed by tall Aleppo pines, in February,
in my bare feet!”
Sagewood's feeling comprises many parts that make for a welcoming whole. As
Wexler once said: “If you’re going to build a house, make sure you’re comfortable
in it, that you love it, regardless of what anyone says. Do people like living there? If
they don’ t, you haven’t done a very good job.”
As laid out and built, Sagewood offers multiple pleasures that suggest it as a place

it, regardless of what anyone says. Do people like living there? If
they don’ t, you haven’t done a very good job.”
As laid out and built, Sagewood offers multiple pleasures that suggest it as a place
to find the ineffable “good life.” The gracious proportions, various textures, volume,
and massing make pleasing compositions, stepping up and back from grass to low
shrub s to trapezoidal trash enclosures, warm patio walls, citrus trees and then
52 shade overhangs, right -angled corners, and flat rooflines, the rooftop screen walls,
the shiny palms and then, not too far off, the San Jacinto mountains. Turning from
busy Sunrise onto E. Sandalwood Drive, often with most cars tucked away from
the street,  instantly gives a feeling of what the French call “luxe et calme.” In the
early morning, it’s common to see groups of dog owners walking together. The
pools are splash -happy busy on hot days, at least “in the season.” At night, when
lights throw jazzy cac tus shadows onto broad expanses of stucco, the effect is as
dramatic as the stars and planets overhead.  The subject property retains
integrity of feeling.
ASSOCIATION
Association is the direct link between an important historic event or person and a
historic property. A property retains association if it is the place where the event
or activity occurred and is sufficiently intact to convey that relationship to an
observ er. Like feeling, association requires the presence of physical features that
convey a property’s historic character. For example, a Revolutionary War
battlefield whose natural and man -made elements have remained intact since the
eighteenth century will re tain its quality of association with the battle. Because
feeling and association depend on individual perceptions, their retention alone is

ts have remained intact since the
eighteenth century will re tain its quality of association with the battle. Because
feeling and association depend on individual perceptions, their retention alone is
never sufficient to support eligibility of a property for the National Register. The
resource property remains close ly associated with its beginning more than fifty
years ago. Now, as then, the complex comprises owners who rent, owners who
are year -rounders, and owners who use their condo as a vacation home for part of
the year.
While real estate prices have increased plenty, condos here remain within reach of
middle -class buyers, as was confirmed  in the early 1970s. People here come from
all backgrounds and walks of life – dancers, journalists, nurses, teachers, artists,
Hollywood creatives, videographers, CPAs, bus drivers, and pastors, to name a few.
53 Sagewood retains a low density  that is fast disappearing in newer developments
where land costs demand higher density and, often, two -story condos. It still
combines the home -like privacy and seclusion of a private residence with shared
amenities and easy access to the outdoors.
Sagewood  continues to retain integrity of association from its period of
Significance.
INTEGRITY SUMMARY
This report evaluated the 1972 Sagewood condominiums for eligibility as a historic
district under the City Historic Preservation Ordinance. For the reasons outlined
above, the subject property, one of the best and best -preserved multi -housing
projects in m aster architect Donald Wexler’s influential portfolio of postwar
Desert Modernism, is eligible for local designation as a historic district.
Sagewood is significant for its whole as a district built in the same year (1972) on a

er’s influential portfolio of postwar
Desert Modernism, is eligible for local designation as a historic district.
Sagewood is significant for its whole as a district built in the same year (1972) on a
single parcel, and comprised of housing units, streetscape, hardscape, landscape,
and shared community spaces. It was conceived, designed, laid out, and built as a
low-density complex of 10 7 homes in twenty -seven buildings of four homes each,
and it is as a whole that Sagewood constitutes a resource.
Despite small changes at individual units (house numbers, gates, doors, lights, a few
rooftop solar installations) the resource retains to a remarkable degree its original
defining characteristics (exterior materials and color, site plan, single -story
buildings, proportions, massing, flat roofs, slumpstone walls, walkways, logo,
generous cantilevered shade overhangs, large amounts of glass, ample greenspace
and open areas, pools and spas).
Sagewood meets four of seven of the City of Palm Springs Criteria for Evaluation
of historic districts. It “exemplifies a particular period of national, state or local
history;” it “embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of
construction;” it “presents the work of a master builder, designer, artist or
54 architect whose individual genius influenced his age, or that possesses high artistic
value;” and it “represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components
may lack individual distinction.”
The individual resources in the proposed district also meet the criteria for integrity
of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association, as
stipulated at 8.05.090 C.2 of the ordinance.
APPENDI XES
I. GARDEN APARTMENTS CONTEXT STATEMENT

riteria for integrity
of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association, as
stipulated at 8.05.090 C.2 of the ordinance.
APPENDI XES
I. GARDEN APARTMENTS CONTEXT STATEMENT
Garden Apartment Architecture: Origins, Evolution, American
Adoption, and Coachella Valley examples
Garden Apartment architecture, a distinctive residential typology that blends the
conveniences of urban living with easy access to nature and open green space, has
its roots in early twentieth -century planning ideals. Originating from European
urban reform  movements, particularly Ebenezer Howard's work , this architectural
form evolved through key influences in the United States. The Radburn Plan ,
developed by Clarence Stein and Henry Wright, played a crucial role in shaping the
American version, particularl y in the development of  public housing projects. After
99-year leases were introduced on tribal land in 1959, these tenets were used for
the Garden Apartment -type developments that soon proliferated in the Coachella
Valley.
Ebenezer Howard and the Garden City Movement
The concept of Garden Apartments traces its philosophical and practical origins to
the ideas proposed by Ebenezer Howard, an English urban planner and social
reformer, in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In his seminal work,
To-Morrow: A Peaceful Path to Real Reform  (1898) , later rebranded as Garden Cities
of To-Morrow (1902) , Howard introduced the concept of the "Garden City," a new
kind of urban settlement that aimed to combine the best elements of both city and
55 country living. His vision was to create self -contained communities surrounded by
green belts with harmoniously integrated residential, commercial, and recreational
spaces.

ements of both city and
55 country living. His vision was to create self -contained communities surrounded by
green belts with harmoniously integrated residential, commercial, and recreational
spaces.
The Garden City model rejected the overcrowding and unsanitary conditions of
industrial cities while avoiding the isolation of the rural countryside . Howard
proposed that these communities should feature spacious residential
neighborhoods with access to ample green spaces and agricultural land yet remain
well-connected to larger urban centers via efficient transportation networks. This
ideal, focused on providing healthy and pleasant living conditions for the working
and middle classes, inspired many archit ects and planners worldwide.
The Three Magnets from Ebenezer Howard’s  1902 book “Garden Cities of To -morrow ”
While Howard’s garden cities were largely theoretical in scope, his ideas had a
profound influence on  urban and suburban planning worldwide.
The Radburn Plan: Clarence Stein and Henry Wright
The American adaptation of Howard's Garden City ideas took shape in the work
of Clarence Stein and Henry Wright, two prominent architects and planners who
sought to modernize urban living in the United States. In 1928, Stein and Wright
56 developed the Radburn Plan, an influential residential layout that aimed to address
the pressing issues of urban sprawl, traffic congestion, and the need for better
access to open spaces.
The Radburn Plan, conceived for a new community in New Jersey named Radburn,
adapted Howard's Garden City concepts for the American context. Radburn's
layout was revolutionary in its emphasis on separating pedestrians and automobiles
to enhance residents' safety and quality of life. Residential units were clustered,

r the American context. Radburn's
layout was revolutionary in its emphasis on separating pedestrians and automobiles
to enhance residents' safety and quality of life. Residential units were clustered,
with buildings grouped around shared courtyards and communal green spaces,
often referred to as  "gardens" or "greens." The streets were designed to be car -
free, with automobiles relegated to per ipheral roads, keeping pedestrian paths
central to daily life.
This plan emphasized the importance of nature in urban living. Extensive green
spaces (designed by landscape architect Marjorie Sewell  Cautley) surrounded
Radburn residents, and parks were strategically  placed throughout the community
to promote recreation, relaxation, and a  healthier lifestyle . The homes themselves,
typically low -rise, two - or three -story Garden Apartments, were designed to offer
privacy, light, and air, creating an environment conducive to social interaction and
individual retreat.
The Radburn Plan, a landmark achievement in American urban planning, resonated
with many architects and urban planners , and is still studied to this day .
The following key principles of the Radburn Plan were revolutionary in their
approach to residential layout:
1. Separation of Pedestrian and Vehicle Traffic  – “Towns for the Motor Age”
The core idea of the Radburn Plan was the separation of pedestrian and vehicular
traffic. This was achieved by designing streets where cars accessed homes via cul -
de-sacs, keeping motor vehicles away from the main living areas. Pedestrians used
dedicated p athways that ran through the center of the neighborhood, often
alongside green spaces or communal areas. This arrangement enhanced the safety
of residents, particularly children, and allowed for a more serene and walkable

ugh the center of the neighborhood, often
alongside green spaces or communal areas. This arrangement enhanced the safety
of residents, particularly children, and allowed for a more serene and walkable
environment. Stein and Wright aime d to create a more pleasant and sustainable
57 living experience where residents could move freely within the community without
the constant threat of cars.
2. Superblocks
The Radburn Plan utilized superblocks — large parcels of land divided into smaller,
more manageable enclaves.  These enclaves were typically centered around cul -de-
sacs, creating a network of pedestrian -friendly areas within each superblock. Each
enclave had its own central green space or courtyard, which was designed as a
gathering point for residents. Superblock s enabled greater privacy and reduced the
volume  of traffic passing through residential areas. This structure also facilitated the
development of c ommunal spaces and neighborhood interaction while maintaining
a sense of separation from the surrounding urban environment.
3. Green Space Integration
Homes were oriented to face shared parks, gardens, or courtyards, maximizing
residents' access to nature and providing central areas for relaxation and social
gatherings. In many cases, these green spaces served as the “heart” of the
neighborhood, where ch ildren played, families socialized, and the overall sense of
communal life flourished.
4. Hierarchical Design
A hierarchical approach to design started with the smallest unit —the individual
houses within each “enclave.” These homes were arranged around central green
spaces or courtyards, creating small, semi -private zones within the larger
neighborhood. These encl aves then combined to form blocks, which were further

hese homes were arranged around central green
spaces or courtyards, creating small, semi -private zones within the larger
neighborhood. These encl aves then combined to form blocks, which were further
grouped into superblocks, ultimately contributing to the broader neighborhood
structure. This allowed for a precise organization of spaces, with smaller, intimate
areas providing privacy and larger, mor e communal spaces encouraging social
interaction. The plan's structure made navigating the neighborhood easy, with
distinct residential, recreational, and communal zones.
58 5. Reduced Street Frontage
The amount of individual street frontage per house was minimized. The design
reduced the need for long stretches of street -facing properties by utilizing cul -de-
sacs (“garage courts”) and shared green spaces (“garden courts”). This not only
enhanced the ae sthetic quality of the neighborhood but also reduced the feeling of
congestion that often accompanies traditional urban grid systems. With less
emphasis on streets and more on green spaces and pedestrian pathways, the
Radburn Plan created a more peaceful a nd expansive living environment, allowing
for a greater connection to nature and a stronger sense of community.
Together, these principles of the Radburn Plan represented a significant shift in
urban design, emphasizing the importance of green space, pedestrian accessibility,
and the separation of vehicles from residential areas. The plan’s emphasis on
creating self -contained, human -scale neighborhoods with clear spatial hierarchies
and shared communal spaces influenced many subsequent housing developments,
particularly in the United States.
The U.S. Adoption of Garden Apartment Models for Public Housing

clear spatial hierarchies
and shared communal spaces influenced many subsequent housing developments,
particularly in the United States.
The U.S. Adoption of Garden Apartment Models for Public Housing
The Garden Apartment model was found to be fertile ground for application in the
United States during President Roosevelt’s New Deal era. During the Great
Depression, the federal government sought solutions to the widespread housing
shortages and poor livi ng conditions many urban dwellers faced. The Garden
Apartment model was adopted by the United States Housing Authority (USHA)
for planning public housing developments nationwide, as  it offered a promising
alternative to the dense, overcrowded tenements of the late nineteenth century ,
and for slum clearance .
Garden Apartments in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, a city known for its sprawl and complex housing challenges, has long
been a prominent site for innovative architecture. The region’s USHA public
housing Garden Apartment developments, designed by the leading architects and
landscape architects  of their day, were among the finest in the country.
59 In the late 1930s, several privately funded Garden Apartment communities were
built aimed at the middle -class. Garden Apartments in car-centric Los Angeles
played a pivotal role in integrating Garden City principles with the city's distinct
landscape and modern architectural trends, becoming an essential model for
affordable, community -oriented housing.
WYVERNWOOD
The first of these was Wyvernwood , located in eastern Los Angeles, i n the Boyle
Heights area. Designed by architects David J. Witmer and Loyall F. Watson  and
landscape architect Hammond Sadler  and completed in 1939, the “superblock”
development contained 1,102 units in 143 buildings spread over approximately

tects David J. Witmer and Loyall F. Watson  and
landscape architect Hammond Sadler  and completed in 1939, the “superblock”
development contained 1,102 units in 143 buildings spread over approximately
seventy acres. More than 75 percent of the property was devoted to open green
space, lawns, trees, and recreational facilities.
The landscape and site plan were the stars, with architecture playing a supporting
role. Therefore, the architecture was most often kept deliberately simple. The
aesthetic simplicity of these buildings and their abundant surrounding greenery
created a harmonious blend of urban and suburban living.
60 BALDWIN HILLS VILLAGE
Baldwin Hills Village, located in Los Angeles, was opened in 1941 and is considered
a prime example of Clarence Stein’s Garden City principles. Stein was the
consulting architect, alongside lead architect Reginald D. Johnson, and Wilson,
Merrill, and Alexander, Associated A rchitects. The landscape architect was Fred
Barlow, Jr.
Baldwin Hills Village is a meticulously planned residential community spanning 67.7
acres and comprising 627 one -, two -, and three -bedroom units distributed across
ninety -seven buildings. Designed as a single superblock with no through streets, it
measures  approximately 1,100 feet in depth and 2,500 feet long, enclosed by public
roads . The layout arranges buildings around the perimeter to form alternating
courtyards. This strategic design fosters a central green space made possible by the
absence of through  streets. Although garage courts connect the development to
the surrounding streets, they are designed to limit vehicular intrusion.
The internal green spaces of Baldwin Hills Village are preserved for pedestrian use,

h garage courts connect the development to
the surrounding streets, they are designed to limit vehicular intrusion.
The internal green spaces of Baldwin Hills Village are preserved for pedestrian use,
with garage courts alternating with garden courts that face the central green. The
front doors of all units open onto these courtyards or the central green rather than
onto parking areas, ensuring a tranquil, pedestrian -friendly atmosphere. Each unit
features an individual ground -floor entry, private patios, and, in some cases,
balconies. The units are notably spacious, with larger -than-average living and
bedroom areas for their time, functional but compact kitchens, fireplaces in many
units, and separate dining rooms.
The landscape plays a fundamental role in the design, with three large greens
totaling approximately 6.5 acres at the community's core, intended for passive
recreation. The project dedicates more than 70 percent of its land to open space,
reinforcing its a esthetic and social goals. Landscape architect Fred Barlow, Jr.
employed drought -tolerant Mediterranean and native plants to delineate pathways,
create privacy, and enhance the overall ambiance with a low -maintenance yet
structured arrangement.
61
Recognizing the growing reliance on automobiles, the development team sought to
prevent cars from dominating the environment. Architect Robert E. Alexander
articulated the goal at Clarence Stein’s direction, ensuring the automobile remained
62 a "servant instead of a master," seamlessly integrating vehicle access without
compromising the project's tranquility.
Baldwin Hills Village has received widespread acclaim for its innovative design. It
was featured in the Museum of Modern Art’s "Built in the USA" exhibit in 1944 and

omising the project's tranquility.
Baldwin Hills Village has received widespread acclaim for its innovative design. It
was featured in the Museum of Modern Art’s "Built in the USA" exhibit in 1944 and
recognized by the museum as one of the most significant architectural works in the
country  in 1946. That same year, it received a Distinguished Honor Award from
the Southern California Chapter of the A IA. It was designated a Los Angeles
Historic -Cultural Monument in 1977 and was later designated  a National Historic
Landmark in 2001. In the mid -1970s, the community transitioned to condominium
ownership and was renamed Village Green, thereby solidifying its legacy as a
pioneering model of residential planning and landscape integration .
PARK LA BREA
Although Park La Brea was not the first Garden Apartment community built in Los
Angeles, it remains the largest and due to its central location in Mid -City, one of
the most recognizable.
Constructed in 1944, "Parklabrea" (as it was initially known) is Southern California’s
only multi -family development by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, which
also created Parkmerced in San Francisco, Stuyvesant Town in Manhattan,
Parkchester in th e Bronx, and Parkfairfax in Alexandria, Virginia, among other
notable developments .
At the time of its completion, the Los Angeles Times  noted that the design of the
complex was "in keeping with the California climate for outdoor recreation," with
only 18 percent of the land allocated to buildings and every living room offering a
view of a vast park.
Park La Brea’s architects, Leonard Schultze and Associates and Earl T. Heitschmidt ,
designed refined structures that present a modern take on the Colonial Revival

room offering a
view of a vast park.
Park La Brea’s architects, Leonard Schultze and Associates and Earl T. Heitschmidt ,
designed refined structures that present a modern take on the Colonial Revival
style. The landscape, conceived by Tommy Tomson —who also shaped some of Los
Angeles’ s most notable landscapes, including Union Station —further enhances the
community’s distinct character.
63
While originally envisioned as a low -rise development featuring only two -story
buildings, the postwar housing shortage prompted the addition of eighteen
thirteen -story towers in 1950 on the site's eastern half. Park La Brea includes nearly
4,500 units today, making it the largest multi -family residential complex west of the
Mississippi River.
GARDEN APARTME NT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE COACHELLA
VALLEY
After World War II, Garden Apartments became less common in Los Angeles due
to the dearth of open space on which to build them, and public perception, which
increasingly eyed them suspiciously as “socialist” housing. The influence of Garden
Apartments prol iferated in the Coachella Valley, however, especially after the 1959
signing of ninety -nine-year leases for Agua Caliente tribal land. The Agua Caliente
Band of Cahuilla Indians  has long held a deep connection to the land surrounding
Palm Springs.
Like many Native American tribes, the Agua Caliente’s ability to control their land
was severely limited for much of the twentieth century, primarily due to a complex
history of dispossession and restrictive federal policies. One of the tribe’s most
64 significant achievements was securing long -term leasing rights for their lands, first
through twenty -five-year leases and later, in 1959, through ninety -nine-year leases.

One of the tribe’s most
64 significant achievements was securing long -term leasing rights for their lands, first
through twenty -five-year leases and later, in 1959, through ninety -nine-year leases.
These leases played a pivotal role not only in the economic empowerment of the
tribe but also in shaping the future development of the Coachella Valley. The
achievement of the ninety -nine-year leases opened vast swathes of land for
development, transforming Palm Springs and the surrounding area into a booming
resort and commercial hub. The  distinctive checkerboard pattern of the tribe’s
land, with the Agua Caliente owning every other square mile in the region, created
unique opportunities and challenges for development and land use, shaping both
the tribe’s future and the valley's growth.
Co-ops, “Own Your Owns,” Condominiums, and Garden Apartments
The advent of long -term leases on tribal land coincided with the emergence of new
concepts of homeownership aimed at the middle classes. The history of housing
cooperatives (co -ops) and condominiums dates back centuries, with roots in
collective ownership and community living arrangements. Housing cooperatives
emerged in the nineteenth century as a response to the effects of industrialization
and urbanization, particularly in Europe and the United States. Early co -ops were
formed by workers who sought affor dable housing through collective ownership.
By the early twentieth century , co-ops had gained popularity in major cities like
New York, where limited -equity cooperatives were developed to provide
affordable homeownership options for middle -class families and the management
of exclusive high -end real estate for the wealthy.
Condominiums have an even older lineage, tracing back to ancient Rome, where

ble homeownership options for middle -class families and the management
of exclusive high -end real estate for the wealthy.
Condominiums have an even older lineage, tracing back to ancient Rome, where
multiple owners could possess individual units within a shared building. The modern
condominium concept, however, gained prominence in the mid-twentieth century .
In the United States, the first condominium law was enacted in Puerto Rico in 1958,
followed by the Federal Housing Administration’s endorsement of condominium
ownership in 1961. This legal framework enabled individual ownership of units
while maintaining shared responsibi lity for common areas, making condominiums a
more  attractive alternative to traditional homeownership.
65
Los Angeles Times ad, November 20, 1955.
66
Desert Braemar in a January 1, 1959  aerial photograph.
UCSB Frame Finder. Flight AXM_1959, Frame 6W -157
The first cooperatives created in the Coachella Valley also happened to be Garden
Apartments. The first documented example was Desert Braemar,  which opened
in Rancho Mirage in 1957. Designed by architect John Lindsay, Desert Braemar
would have 100 one -, two -, and three -bedroom units on a twelve -and-a-half-acre
parcel. The structures were similar to those at Baldwin Hills Village: primarily two -
story rowhouse buildings, with some units having one -story additions at the end,
creating a more human -scale appear ance. The site was a sizable wedge -shaped
superblock  with only two through streets; parking was either in garage courts
accessed from the central through streets or in carports on the perimeter roads;
an ample,  landscaped open green space with pedestrian pathways served as the
67 backbone of the property. The buildings had all primary living spaces facing garden

in carports on the perimeter roads;
an ample,  landscaped open green space with pedestrian pathways served as the
67 backbone of the property. The buildings had all primary living spaces facing garden
courts, with secondary service rooms facing private patios. The heart of the
community was a swimming pool, office, and community room.
Also in 1957, the Desert Holly cooperative apartments (now a Historic District)
opened in Palm Springs. Although not technically a Garden Apartment (the site
plan resembles a bungalow court), the relatively small complex of fourteen units
on one acre features one -story bungalows surrounding  a shared community space
with landscaping and a swimming pool.
A typical court at Sandpiper. William Krisel Papers, 1935 -2014,
The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Accession no. 2009.M.23
Once established, cooperative Garden Apartment developments began springing
up all over the desert floor. The largest and most successful of these early Garden
Apartment communities was Palmer & Krisel’s Sandpiper,  which opened in
phases beginning in 1958. Initially offered as “Own Your Own” units, later phases
were advertised as condominiums. Construction was completed by 1969.
68 Spanning forty -nine acres, Sandpiper consists of 306 units strategically arranged
within eighteen distinct “circles.” These circles follow a thoughtful design approach
that enhances both privacy and communal living. The residences within Sandpiper
vary in size, ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 square feet. Architecturally, they include
materials such as decorative concrete block, shadow block, and screen block —each
showcasing unique textures and patterns. Additional distinctive elements include
clerestory window s, extensive glass areas, detailed eave structures, and flat roofs.

dow block, and screen block —each
showcasing unique textures and patterns. Additional distinctive elements include
clerestory window s, extensive glass areas, detailed eave structures, and flat roofs.
In designing the site plan for Sandpiper, architect William Krisel was directly
influenced by the design for Baldwin Hills Village, the most fully realized of Clarence
Stein’s Radburn Plan principles.5 As an architecture student at the University of
Southern California just before World War II, Krisel studied the development
during construction. He later used those principles while planning Sandpiper. All of
Stein’s Radburn Plan principles are present a t Sandpiper:
Superblock – large parcels with few or no through streets, which consolidated
green spaces for use by residents . Sandpiper is a forty -nine-acre superblock,
surrounded by the main roads. Private service roads branch from these main roads,
allowing residents to access the garage courts. These access roads and garage
courts define the garden courts, which feature open l andscaped areas.
Specialized roads – all auto circulation is on the perimeter – feature garage
courts for storing cars. The residential units surround the eighteen garden courts,
with parking located at the perimeter. These dead -end access roads serve as cul -
de-sacs.
5 William Krisel, telephone interview with Steven Keylon, April 17, 2015.
69
In this 1977 aerial, the eighteen “circles” (a .k.a. “garden courts”) at Sandpiper show how the first phases,
beginning in 1958 (seen at right) feature smaller units, while the size of the Garden Apartments grew as
subsequent phases were completed. UCSB Frame Finder. Flight TG_77V_2, Frame 77V -14, January 2 4, 1977.
Complete separation of pedestrian and automobile. Pathways within each

Garden Apartments grew as
subsequent phases were completed. UCSB Frame Finder. Flight TG_77V_2, Frame 77V -14, January 2 4, 1977.
Complete separation of pedestrian and automobile. Pathways within each
residential circle provide safe pedestrian access, allowing users to avoid
encountering automobiles.
Houses turned toward gardens and parks – this arrangement turned the
structures outside in, placing the living room windows toward the green spaces .
The primary living rooms feature large sliding glass doors facing the garden courts,
while secondary rooms like kitchens and bathrooms face the garage courts or
access roads.
The park is the backbone – large green spaces dominate  rather than streets.
The center of each of the  eighteen circles features beautifully landscaped park areas,
each with a unique swimming pool design and an adjacent pool pavilion serving as
the community heart of each circle. Other public recreational amenities, such as
70 pitch and putt courses and shuffleboard, are also included. Patios provide a private
setting for interaction with the landscape.
Sandpiper was the gold standard of Garden Apartment development in the
Coachella Valley and had a profound influence on all subsequent Garden
Apartments.
Garden Apartment Principles For an Entire Community: Canyon
Country Club
Following President Eisenhower’s landmark 1959 legislation that permitted ninety -
nine-year lease terms on Indian land, Canyon Country Club emerged as the most
significant Indian lease land development in Palm Springs history. This law reshaped
the local real estate landscape, signifying Palm Springs’ response to the growing
trend of golf -driven, high -end residential developments migrating further down the
valley.

istory. This law reshaped
the local real estate landscape, signifying Palm Springs’ response to the growing
trend of golf -driven, high -end residential developments migrating further down the
valley.
The master plan for Canyon Country Club, charted by architects Wexler &
Harrison, landscape architect David Hamilton, and golf course architects William
Bell & Son, drew inspiration from the Garden City community design principles.
The principles of this m ovement were particularly well -suited to the unique desert
environment of Palm Springs and the evolving leisure sports culture of the 1960s.
With more than 500 acres of land newly available due to the advent of Indian land
leasing, Canyon Country Club was poised to become a premier community. When
the master plan for the Canyon Country Club was developed, the developers
carefully incorporated a range of diverse housing options to attract a broad
spectrum  of buyers. Alongside spacious lots for luxury single -family homes, they
allocated large parcels near the golf course for a resort hotel, rental apartments,
and cooperative “Own Your Own ” apartme nts.
The first multi -family development within the Canyon Country Club neighborhood
was the Canyon Country Club Colony, designed by architect Raymond Levanas in
1963-64. This complex bordered the lush green space of the golf course, setting
the stage for future  residential projects. Recognizing the potential of the area,
developers like Roy Fey began acquiring leaseholds on adjacent tracts of land,
71 leveraging the significant investments being made by First National Realty and
Construction in building the subdivision’s infrastructure, including streets, single -
family homes, a golf course, clubhouse, and a hotel.

nificant investments being made by First National Realty and
Construction in building the subdivision’s infrastructure, including streets, single -
family homes, a golf course, clubhouse, and a hotel.
Roy Fey’s Canyon View Estates (Palmer & Krisel, 1963 –66) was one of the earliest
developments to expand the master plan’s vision. Initially planned as a 225 -unit
complex, the development, built in multiple phases beginning in 1962, was reduced
by forty -five units to incorporate additional open space, resulting in the lush, park -
like environment that remains today. Built between 1963 and 1966, Canyon View
Estates expanded on the master plan’s vision, offering an alternative to the
traditional private homes w ith pools that characterized Palm Springs. As architect
William Krisel noted, the development catered to a growing demand for low -
maintenance, stylish residences that were ideal for part -time inhabitants seeking
the benefits of resort -style living without the burden of property upkeep.
In Palm Springs Life  (July 2013), architect Krisel was quoted: “Roy Fey, who was my
client and a builder, discovered he could get a piece of property near Canyon
Country, and we could do a condominium there. He was, of course, thinking of a
multistory apartment building, but I immediately said I didn’t think that was
appropriate. I thought phasing from single -family homes to condos should be a
gradual step where it really was a single -story building with your own individual
front door and your own terrace a nd parking space, but there would be common
recreational facilities such as swimming pools.”
An advertisement in the November 1965 issue of Palm Springs Life  introduced “The
Wonderful World of Canyon View Estates,” adding, “Prestige homes for people of

nal facilities such as swimming pools.”
An advertisement in the November 1965 issue of Palm Springs Life  introduced “The
Wonderful World of Canyon View Estates,” adding, “Prestige homes for people of
prestige, who appreciate the very best. Spacious and fully carpeted, these homes
are replete with custom cabinetry, all electric kitchens, private patios, indiv idual
carports and service areas — specifically developed by Roy Fey for those that enjoy
carefree gracious living among gracious friends.”
Canyon View Estates was quickly followed by Philbert Corporation’s Country Club
Estates (Jones & Emmons, 1964 -65) and Dominick Sfregola’s Villa Roma (James
Schuler & Associates, 1963 -64). Each of these communities incorporated Garden
City principles, adapt ing them to the desert setting with a strong emphasis on
72 swimming pools as focal points for social and recreational life. With their
harmonious blend of architecture and landscape, these developments reinforced
Canyon Country Club’s identity as a premier residential destination.
As the 1960s transitioned into the 1970s, the Canyon neighborhood continued to
evolve, offering increasingly sophisticated amenities. Roy Fey’s Canyon Estates
(Charles Du Bois, 1969 –76) exemplified this trend, featuring its own golf course,
clubhouse, and community tennis courts, which by the early 1970s had become a
defining feature of luxury desert living. These developments emphasized a carefree,
resort -style existence where homeowners could enjoy well -maintained communal
spaces without the burden of ext erior maintenance.
Integrating golf courses, swimming pools, and tennis courts within these residential
complexes created a seamless blend of natural beauty and recreational

without the burden of ext erior maintenance.
Integrating golf courses, swimming pools, and tennis courts within these residential
complexes created a seamless blend of natural beauty and recreational
opportunities. The abundant green spaces, combined with meticulously designed
landscaping, enhanced t he neighborhood's aesthetic appeal, further solidifying
Canyon Country Club’s status as an idyllic retreat within Palm Springs.6
6 Treinen, Steve. Canyon Country Club: History and Design of Palm Springs' Garden of Eden, Palm
Springs Preservation Foundation, 2025.
73 II. RIVERSIDE COUNTY ASSESSOR’S MAP
74
75 III. SA GEWOOD GOOGLE EARTH VIEW
76 IV. SA GEWOOD SITE PLAN WITH ADDRESSES
77
78 V. SA GEWOOD UNIT NUMBERS/APNS
Below are the street addresses, APNs, square footage, and other data for all 107
units at Sagewood. The yellow highlight indicates two units on Cerritos that were
combined into a single condominium around 2019.
79
80
81 VI. SA GEWOOD HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN
This historic preservation plan for Sagewood includes these recommended
improvements that should be coordinated with the city’s Historic
Preservation Officer:
1. Enforce standards for window and sliding door replacement with the
proper architecturally approved, anodized bronze frames.
2. Ensure that when gates to patios and entry courts are replaced, they do
not include excess ornamentation and adhere to architectural guidelines.
3. Recommend HVAC units that are lower in height as replacements for
expired units so as to minimize the units’ appearance above the existing
rooftop enclosures.
4. Enforce the stipulated HOA colors when replacing front doors, security
doors and garage doors.
5. Establish uniformity (in size and style) of address numbers on Sagewood

xisting
rooftop enclosures.
4. Enforce the stipulated HOA colors when replacing front doors, security
doors and garage doors.
5. Establish uniformity (in size and style) of address numbers on Sagewood
buildings when the campuswide repainting project commences in the near
future.
6. Hire a landscape designer familiar with the landscaping projects of Donald
Wexler to bring Sagewood’s green space into accordance with California
State Assembly Bill No.  1572 regarding drought –mitigation standards
beginning in 2029.
7. Replace on a one -to-one basis dead trees with drought -resistant species
that are as similar to the originals as possible.
8. Recommend that rooftop solar panels be angled as low as possible to
minimize their visual impact on Sagewood’s flat roofs.
9. Repair and maintain fascia, stucco , and slumpstone fencing to retain the
architectural character of Sagewood.
10. Maintain, repair , and replace the original lollipop lights on the streets
and borders of Sagewood.
11. Enforce the architecturally approved door handles for all replacements
on front doors.
82 12. Continue to require Sagewood homeowners to file required variances
for all exterior changes to units for approval by the Sagewood board and
its architecture committee , working with city preservation officials.
83
After some years under another owner, Trav Rogers and partners reopened Rogers Ranch in 1951, hosting
private parties, trail rides, fundraisers, dances , and barbecues. The two -story brick and adobe building dates to
the late 1930s. It was across Sunrise from the Sagewood condos  and is now the site of the Ranch Club condos.
(1951 photo by Gayle Studios for the Desert Sun)
VII. TRACT HISTORY
Early Days at Sunrise and Vista Chino
When it opened, Sagewood stamped a new character on its immediate

te of the Ranch Club condos.
(1951 photo by Gayle Studios for the Desert Sun)
VII. TRACT HISTORY
Early Days at Sunrise and Vista Chino
When it opened, Sagewood stamped a new character on its immediate
surroundings, turning the area on Sunrise Way south of Vista Chino from
sparsely developed Recreational Wild West to handsome, low -slung Desert
Modern Residential.
Trav Rogers, a colorful civic booster, crooner, rodeo promoter , and
entrepreneur, rode into Palm Springs in the late 1920s. He and others formed
the Desert Riders for fans of horseback riding. The group attracted numerous
civic leaders and radio and film stars. After buying land across N. Sunrise Way
from the future S agewood site, Rogers and partners later developed Rogers
Ranch (“Where the West Still Lives”). Sagewood’s neighborhood is known
84 today as Rogers Ranch. Vintage photographs show large gatherings at the
property, which featured a two -story adobe -style building flanked by stables.
Attractions included trail rides, rodeos, a restaurant, bar, barn dances,
concerts , and cookouts that drew dude ranchers, horse people, city slickers,
and movie stars.
The late 1940s saw the establishment of the memorably named Mink and
Manure Club, founded by Rogers and actor Bill Gargan, and Noel Clarke’s
Ranch Club. Regulars at these hot spots may have sported Stetson hats and
tooled leather boots but they were more R hinestone Cowboy than home -
on-the-actual -range. Famous club members included Bing Crosby, Ginger
Rogers, Jackie Cooper , and Clark Gable. Always game for a PR stunt, Gargan
in 1948 announced an annual contest to name a Miss Mink and Manure.
This all took place in the neighborhood where Wexler lived.
“The Ranch Club was just down the street from our house,” Donald Wexler

in 1948 announced an annual contest to name a Miss Mink and Manure.
This all took place in the neighborhood where Wexler lived.
“The Ranch Club was just down the street from our house,” Donald Wexler
recalled in “The Good Life.” In 1955 , he built a glassy modern post -and-beam
house on Verbena, where he and his wife, Lynn, lived for thirty -eight years
and raised three sons — Glen, Gary,  and Brian. “Before we had an in -ground
pool, we spent a lot of time there. All our home movies show us at the Ranch
Club pool with the other families. It was a good life, living in Palm Springs.”
Gary Wexler remembers riding his Stingray bike on open land that later
became home to Sagewood.
First with partner Richard Harrison and later with his own firm, Wexler in
the 1960s realized some of his best-known  commissions, notably the
pathbreaking prefabricated Steel Homes and the Palm Springs Airport main
85 terminal. Wexler’s handsome, understated 1963 Palm Springs Medical Center
across the street from Sagewood was later overbuilt by Desert AIDS Project,
removing from view any vestiges of the spare horizontal building with slender
columns supporting a street -facing shade portico.
Trav Rogers partied at the reopening of his Rogers Ranch in 1951
with his wife, Winnie, at right. (Desert Sun photo by Gayle Studios)
Levitt & Sons Buys Land
By the early 1970s, Rogers Ranch was gone, and a new Spanish -style condo
development, called the Ranch Club, opened on the site.
At about this time, Levitt & Sons, the large East Coast home builder, staked
a claim in the burgeoning Southern California real estate market. It opened a
86 California branch and bought eighteen largely undeveloped acres near the
northwest end of the runway of Palm Springs Airport.

m in the burgeoning Southern California real estate market. It opened a
86 California branch and bought eighteen largely undeveloped acres near the
northwest end of the runway of Palm Springs Airport.
Preferring a Palm Springs architect to one from Los Angeles or elsewhere,
Levitt & Sons hired Wexler to develop a site plan and design for a condo
complex on the land.
Since Sagewood opened, condo development has continued, moving gradually
northward toward Racquet Club and San Rafael.
Sagewood’s designer, Donald Wexler, is widely acknowledged to be one of a
small group of arch itects who put Palm Springs on the map as a mecca for
midcentury modernism.
“Wexler sealed the link between progressive architecture and the city’s self -image,”
wrote the Los Angeles Times ’ architecture critic in a 2015 obituary for Donald
Wexler.
Wexler was involved with the look and feel of Sagewood to a degree not always
seen in such developments, beginning with a highly evolved and thoughtful site plan,
creation of the gently curved East Sandalwood Drive through the middle of the
superblock comp lex, and proceeding through the exterior elevations, the four -unit
“pod” system used throughout, as well as the floor  plans for the four basic interiors,
and the patios.
87
Clinics and a pharmacy were part of Wexler’s gracefully porticoed 1963 Palm Springs Medical Center,
across from the current -day Sagewood condos. Now overbuilt as part of the Desert AIDS Project.
(Photos courtesy of Wexler archive at Cal Poly  Pomona)
Wexler homes and buildings are routinely featured during popular Modernism
Week tours and events, including at Sagewood. He has been the subject of several
books, monographs, museum exhibitions , and a documentary film.

ildings are routinely featured during popular Modernism
Week tours and events, including at Sagewood. He has been the subject of several
books, monographs, museum exhibitions , and a documentary film.
In 2012, Wexler’s prefabricated Steel House No. 2 on the north side of town was
placed on the National Register of Historic Places, the first midcentury modern
building in Palm Springs to achieve that status.
88 VIII. DESIGN GUIDELINES
The city stipulates that a historic district shall have design guidelines that include
“development standards, aesthetic standards and approval criteria that assist in
preserving the character of the district and contributing structures therein.”
(8.05.090 A3b)
The subject property’s Homeowners Association has detailed architectural
guidelines that owners may use to steer decisions about exterior renovations,
maintenance, and improvements to their properties. The guidelines, available on
the owners’ portal and up on request, were most recently updated and approved
by the Board in October 2023.
The guideline s objectives are as follows:
This document is a guide for the members of the Sagewood Homeowners Association
(“HOA”), the Architectural Committee (“AC” or “Committee”), the Sagewood Board of
Directors (“Board”), and Sagewood homeowners for presenting applications for and
making decisions regarding propo sed architectural and landscape improvements. These
Guidelines are not intended to be all inclusive and it is ultimately up to the Board of
Directors to determine whether a proposed improvement meets the criteria and
objectives under the Sagewood Bylaws, R estated Declaration of Establishment of
Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for Sagewood Homeowners Association (CC&Rs)
and all other governing documents.

nd
objectives under the Sagewood Bylaws, R estated Declaration of Establishment of
Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for Sagewood Homeowners Association (CC&Rs)
and all other governing documents.
Sagewood is a mid ‐twentieth -century residential community, designed by Donald Wexler,
which reflects regionally oriented contemporary architecture inspired by the International
Style, now popularly called “Desert Modern ” or “Mid‐century Modern. ”
The intent of these Guidelines is not to inhibit individuality and creativity, but to promote
continuity and preserve Sagewood’s unique mid ‐century design, while improving the
89 appearance and enhancing the overall aesthetics and living environment within
Sagewood. These Guidelines apply to all external alterations, including landscaping, made
by homeowners.
Sagewood owners who wish to make exterior changes to their units must first file
a variance request with photos, renderings, diagrams, mechanicals , and project
scope to the HOA’s Architecture Committee through Sagewood’s management
company. The committee evaluates each request “as to whether such improvement
is compatible with Sagewood’s unique mid ‐century architectural design and style,
quality of workmanship, size, use of materials, color and construction details
relative to surrounding Private Residences  and Sagewood as a whole.”
Using this criteria, the Architecture Committee recommends to the Board either
approval or disapproval. In cases where a variance is denied, the committee typically
advises the owner about needed modifications to the proposed work. The final
decision on al l such variance requests rests with the full Board. If approval is
granted, the owner is required to have the work done in a prompt and professional
manner with licensed contractors.

al
decision on al l such variance requests rests with the full Board. If approval is
granted, the owner is required to have the work done in a prompt and professional
manner with licensed contractors.
The Architectural Guidelines cover larger projects such as rooftop HVAC systems,
sliders, rooftop solar, windows, doors, patio walls, carports, garages, and
landscaping, as well as smaller ones like lights, gates, house numbers, paint colors,
and EV car ho okups.
These guidelines are updated and revised as needed to reflect changing times, such
as the growing popularity of renewable energy sources, including rooftop solar
panels.
90 IX. NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH AND MEETINGS
As required by the City, the subject property has conducted extensive outreach
and education prior to submitting this application for Historic District status.
In 2023, following lengthy discussions among Board members, Architecture
Committee members, and owners over the past year, all owners were emailed a
set of Frequently Asked Questions regarding the process and implications of
seeking Historic District status. The FAQ was posted to the owners’ website and
updated as new informatio n became available. It provided information about the
designation process and its implications for owners, renovations, real estate values,
the future of the Wexler design, the Mills Act, potential costs to owners, and more.
Three well -publicized meetings were held with owners and Historic Preservation
city officials Ken Lyon and Sarah Yoon.
At meeting one (9/20/23, with several Board members and twelve Sagewood
owners present), Ken Lyon presented about the process, intent , and guidelines of
historic designation for “places of historic significance.” He answered questions

al Board members and twelve Sagewood
owners present), Ken Lyon presented about the process, intent , and guidelines of
historic designation for “places of historic significance.” He answered questions
about whether exterior changes would be more restrictive under designation.
At meeting two (9/27/23, with seventeen homeowners present), Sarah Yoon
reviewed criteria for designation and reviewed costs and details of getting a
Certificate of Appropriateness from the city for exterior changes in a historic
district. As outlined, some “blanket var iances” would allow the HOA to approve
variances for oft -requested changes such as new windows, sliders or doors without
added fees to owners. The city is revising its Mills Act guidelines, Yoon said, to
stress that money saved by Mills Act p roperty tax relief is to be used over time by
owners to make exterior property improvements aimed at preserving and
maintaining the place’s architectural significance.
91 At meeting three  (10/4/23, with thirteen owners present), Sarah Yoon discussed
the designation timeline and took questions about its impact on landscape changes
and the cost of applying for a Mills Act contract for owners in a historic district.
With support of a supermajority of Sagewood owners, and with detailed
architectural guidelines already in place, gaining historic district status would
preserve and extend the life of a unique place that both reflected its immediate
past and had an outsize d influence on the region and the country.
X. HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
One of the 1972 building permits issued to Levitt & Sons of California for the condo residences.
Based on the area notation (4.992 square feet), this permit would have been for one of the four -unit

S
One of the 1972 building permits issued to Levitt & Sons of California for the condo residences.
Based on the area notation (4.992 square feet), this permit would have been for one of the four -unit
structures on the corner of Chia and Cerritos, which has t hree-bedroom units larger (at 1,248 square
feet each) than the 1,050  square  feet, two -bedroom ones. Two requests were made to Palm Springs
for original building permits at Sagewood and this is the only one they returned that was dated 1972.
92
This October 1971 map (of Section 12, Tract 4432) from the City Planning Department shows the
overall layout of Sagewood, including the new road, Sandalwood Drive, that divided the site into three
setions spanning a superblock between Sunrise Way and Cerritos. As built, no roadway connected
Chia to Sandalwood at midblock.
93
Screenshot of [undated] early map of Sagewood showing addresses, rough site plan and pools.
Screenshot 2024 -10-29 at 12 -04-50 AEX32 Print - Sagewood Condos_Microfilm -5.pdf.png
94 XI. CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHS
The west end of Sagewood’s largest green belt, looking west, with original lollipop lights and angled walking
paths. Taller trees and palms at the center step down to shrubs and cactus nearer to the walls of individual
units. (Photo by Claude Peck)
95
Lights and plantings enhance Sagewood’s after -dark appeal. This unit on Chia has the distinctive corner
windows and carport. The metal gate at left is not original. (Photo by Claude Peck)
96
A slumpstone wall is a dramatic backdrop to the shadow of an agave.
97
A large patio enclosed by slumpstone walls at a two -bedroom unit is typical at Sagewood, where the outdoors
can be enjoyed privately or in shared pools and green spaces. Roof overhang helps shade full -height glass at

osed by slumpstone walls at a two -bedroom unit is typical at Sagewood, where the outdoors
can be enjoyed privately or in shared pools and green spaces. Roof overhang helps shade full -height glass at
right. (Photo by Claude Peck)
98
Post-and-beam construction expressed at the garage of a two -bedroom unit with recessed entry, newer gate,
desert planting and rooftop HVAC enclosure. The stucco is a slightly lighter color than the Douglas fir strips.
99
The replacement gate at this two -bedroom unit is one that has been used by other owners, with approval of
the Sagewood Architectural Committee and Board. Guidelines ask that gates be simple, unadorned and of the
same height as the adjacent block walls. The simple, sans serif address numbers are in keeping with a desire
to have those be consistent throughout the complex
over time. (Photo by Claude Peck)
100
Carports and half -height living  room windows are features of units along Chia. (Photo by Claude Peck)
101
Wexler’s preference for residential fenestration is shown in above two images. Top shows smaller windows (one
in kitchen,  one in the guest bedroom) facing the drive, and above shows full -height windows and sliders facing
the patio and shared  green space. (Photos by Claude Peck)
102
An entry court at a two -bedroom condo in a “B Type” building. The metal security door is newer, with the
original door recessed behind it. The shared garage is at left, and the wall in the background separates this
entry court from a light court at the  neighboring condo. (Photo by Claude Peck)
103
As originally drawn, most of the slumpstone patio walls, like this six -foot-high one on E. Sandalwood Drive, had
slender  wooden inserts at the corners. The citrus trees are inside the patio. (Photo by Claude Peck)
104

, most of the slumpstone patio walls, like this six -foot-high one on E. Sandalwood Drive, had
slender  wooden inserts at the corners. The citrus trees are inside the patio. (Photo by Claude Peck)
104
Wexler specified evenly spaced decorative screeds, or vertical lines, for larger expanses of the troweled stucco,
as seen here along E . Sandalwood Drive. This subtle element adds interest while remaining modern and
minimal.  (Photo by Claude Peck)
105
Predawn view of units along Cerritos, with tall trees behind. This four -unit “pod” has a flat rooftop HVAC
enclosure,  as opposed to the slightly angled ones elsewhere. (Photo by Claude Peck)
106
Angular walking path zigzags through interior greenbelt planted with palm, Aleppo pine and more. The lollipop
lights are original.  View looks to the west pool/spa and San Jacinto range. (Photo by Claude Peck)
107
Double entry doors above, including the matching door handles, are original to some units. Current
architectural  guidelines advise against the scrollwork detail on the newer iron gate. (Photo by Claude Peck)
108
Newer gate (at left), with shade overhangs, full -height windows looking onto the park, and a
slightly slanted rooftop enclosure to disguise HVAC units. (Photo by Claude Peck)
109
Character -defining features of Donald Wexler’s Sagewood include right angles, play of sunlight and shadow,
cantilevered roof extensions, slumpstone enclosures for private patrios, and orientation to shared green spaces.
(Photo by Claude Peck)
XII. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books
Baron, Nancy, et. al., The Good Life: Palm Springs,  Berlin, 2014
Bricker, Loren Weiss and Sidney Williams, Steel and Shade: The
Architecture of Donald Wexler , Palm Springs Art Museum, 2011
Culver, Lawrence. The Frontier of Leisure: Southern California and the Shaping

cker, Loren Weiss and Sidney Williams, Steel and Shade: The
Architecture of Donald Wexler , Palm Springs Art Museum, 2011
Culver, Lawrence. The Frontier of Leisure: Southern California and the Shaping
of Modern America, Oxford University Press, 2010.
Hess, Alan, et. al., The Palm Springs School: Desert Modernism 1934 -1975 , Rizzoli, 2025
Howard, Ebenezer, Garden Cities of To -Morrow , Swan Sonnenschein & Co., 190 2.
110 McGrew, Patrick, Donald Wexler: Architect , Palm Springs Preservation
Foundation, 2010
Menrad, Chris, and Creighton, Heidi, William Krisel’s Palm Springs:
The Language of Modernism , Gibbs Smith,  2016
Peck, Claude, Sagewood: Donald Wexler’s Oasis for Living , 2022
Schnepf, James, Palm Springs Modern Living , Gibbs Smith, 2015
Stein, Clarence, Toward New Towns For America , Liverpool, U.P., 1951
Studies
City of Palm Springs Citywide Historic Context Statement, 201 8
Horak, Katie; Keylon, Steven ; Chase, C.E., Garden Apartments of Los Angeles,
Historic Context Statement,  Los Angeles Conservancy, 2012
Kane, Holly; Keylon, Steven; Loe, Sara, The Village Green: Cultural Landscape Report , Village
Green Owner’s Association, 2013.
Archives
Palm Springs Art Museum , Architecture  and Design Center
Palm Springs Historical Society
ENV Archives & Special Collections, Cal Poly Pomona, College of
Environmental  Design
Hennepin County Library, Minneapolis Special Collections
University of Minnesota School of Architecture and Design
Interviews
Sidney Williams , author and design curator
Alan Hess, author and architecture historian
Gary Wexler, son of Donald Wexler
Ron Gregory, landscape designer
Steven Keylon, author, historian, preservationist
Robert Alexander, professor of architecture, director of CalPoly Pomona archives
111 Newspapers
Desert Sun

nald Wexler
Ron Gregory, landscape designer
Steven Keylon, author, historian, preservationist
Robert Alexander, professor of architecture, director of CalPoly Pomona archives
111 Newspapers
Desert Sun
Los Angeles Times
New York Times
San Bernardino Sun -Telegram
Magazines
Palm Springs Life
Architectural Record
Internet Resources
Newspapers.com
Pspreservationfoundation.org
USmodernist.org