- The Palm springs Modern Committee and the Friends of the Town & Country Center have struggled to produce a compromise alternative to demolition that would meet the key goals that the Mayor has emphasized in recent months, namely, opening the Center to Palm Canyon Drive and providing a wide pedestrian connection between Palm Canyon and Indian Canyon Drives east from the Art Museum.
- The City’s own historic resources survey found the Town & Country Center to be a “rare and exceptional example of the Late Moderne style” by master architects that meets the level of significance necessary for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
- This google earth view shows that a direct view corridor from the Art Museum to the convention center is not possible because the convention center is actually north of Andreas Road. Wessman’s proposed new road from Palm Canyon Drive to Indian runs directly into the Spa Hotel and Casino. The view stops at Indian Canyon Drive.
- Architectural rendering prepared by Norma Samuelson, a professional architectural illustrator. Perspective of views and buildings, including the proposed high-rise Spa Hotel, are accurate based upon current information.
- The Town & Country Center is comprised of three buildings: the two-story north building with its curving canopy, shops, and apartments; the Town & Country Restaurant (now Zeldaz); and the south building now housing Grill-a-Burger and retail shops. As important as these three buildings are as one complete design by these architects, we propose that the south building be removed so that a wide plaza open to Palm Canyon Drive would be created.
- A restaurant such as Grill-a-Burger would be relocated to the plaza area with outdoor seating. The current courtyard landscaping would be rejuvenated and access to the Town & Country restaurant would be much more visible.
- A wide path from Palm Canyon Drive would meander southeast through the plaza to Indian Canyon Drive.
- It is important to recognize that opening Palm Canyon Drive straight to Indian Canyon Drive – and the tribe’s new hotel-casino retail center – without a slightly meandering path through the Town & Country Plaza as we are proposing would be to invite pedestrians to detour from downtown’s shops and instead walk directly to the Spa Hotel’s retail center. This would happen under Wessman’s proposal where a new road – that demolishes the Town & Country Center – leads straight into the Spa Hotel and its new shops.
- Although under our alternative one of Wessman’s pair of multi-story hotels would not be built, the other hotel tower could still be located on the northeast corner of the block as he’s proposed.
- With our alternative there will be important cultural properties located on both the west and east ends: the Art Museum and the Town & Country Plaza.
- We urge you to carefully consider this viable alternative for a Town & Country Plaza that will enhance the beauty of our downtown, provide a pathway to Indian Avenue, and highlight an important part of the city’s mid-century architectural heritage that is so important to our tourist industry.
