RESOLUTION NO._____
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM
SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING THE CULLERTON-
CHADDICK RESIDENCE, LOCATED AT 572 WEST SANTA ELENA
ROAD, AS A CLASS 1 (LANDMARK) HISTORIC RESOURCE
HSPB #165, SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS (APN 504-282-012).
THE CITY COUNCIL FINDS AND DETERMINES AS FOLLOWS:
A. WHEREAS, Chapter 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code allows for the designation of historic sites and districts; and
B. WHEREAS, Jonathan Wurtzel submitted an application seeking historic site designation of the Cullerton-Chaddick Residence located at 572 W. Santa Elena Road; and C. WHEREAS, on October 6, 2025, members of the Historic Site Preservation Board (HSPB) and City staff conducted site inspections of the proposed historic resource; and D. WHEREAS, on October 7, 2025, a noticed public hearing of the Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board to consider Case HSPB #165 was held in accordance with applicable law; and
E. WHEREAS, at said hearing, the HSPB carefully reviewed and considered all the evidence presented in connection with the hearing on the project, including, but not limited to, the staff report and all written and oral testimony and voted unanimously to recommend that the Council designate The Cullerton-Chaddick Residence a Class 1 (Landmark) historic resource; and F. WHEREAS, on November 12, 2025, a noticed public hearing of the Palm Springs City Council to consider Case HSPB #165 was held in accordance with applicable law; and G. WHEREAS, at the said hearing, the City Council carefully reviewed and considered all the evidence presented in connection with the hearing on the project, including, but not limited to the staff report and all written and oral testimony.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS RESOLVES:
SECTION 1: FINDINGS – PART “A”, CRITERIA FOR HISTORIC RESOURCES.
Evaluation of the Application. Pursuant to Municipal Code Section 8.05.070 (C,1,a), the City Council shall evaluate the application and make findings in conformance with the following criteria:
Criteria for the Designation of Class 1 Historic Resources. A site, structure, building or object may be designated as a Class 1 historic resource, provided both of the following findings (“a” and “b”) are met:
a. The site, structure, building, or object exhibits exceptional historic significance and meets one or more of the criteria listed below:
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November 12, 2025
572 W. Santa Elena Drive is a single-family home designed by architect William F. Cody. The site placement of the home responds to the surrounding views while ensuring privacy, and the swimming pool and spa were also done by Cody. In a recent remodel of the home, the roof was replaced with shake shingles, the exterior was painted in a pink buff color, and the existing carport structure was removed. The following is an analysis of the criterion and integrity findings for historic designation.
(Criterion i) The resource is associated with events that have made a meaningful contribution to the nation, state, or community;
No meaningful event is associated with this site, thus does not qualify under Criterion i. (Criterion ii) The resource is associated with the lives of persons who made a meaningful contribution to national, state or local history; Based on the information provided in the report, the Cody remodel of the home was associated with Patrick Sullerton and Harry Chaddick. While it is unclear why the property was co-owned by both individuals, address information reveals that they each had separate homes in the area.
Chaddick was a local developer that worked with Cody extensively throughout the 1960s and 1970s in Palm Springs, and it was likely this relationship that connected Cody to this project.
Since the home was not a permanent address for either individual, this criterion is not met. (Criterion iii) The resource reflects or exemplifies a particular period of national, state, or local history;
Cody was influenced by the works of Cliff May which exposed him to vernacular architecture of California. He tried to create a convenient and comfortable design incorporating views, light and nature. Cody also explored simple forms and gentle sloping roofs to minimize the appearance of the structure. 1 This home exemplifies the intersection between the vernacular style of architecture and the progressive ideas of Modernism. City Council finds Criterion iii is met. (Criterion iv) The resource embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction;
Unlike the National Register criterion concerning construction, the Palm Springs evaluation of construction addresses the type (of construction), the period (of construction) and the method (of construction). The home was constructed using conventional methods and no new building materials or technology was specifically identified in the report. Criterion iv is not met. (Criterion v) The resource presents the work of a master builder, designer, artist, or architect whose individual genius influenced his age, or that possesses high artistic value;
Architect William F. Cody arrived in Palm Springs in 1942 and became one of the key figures for the Palm Springs School of Desert Modernism. Some of his more seminal works in the desert 1 City of Palm Springs Citywide Historic Context Statement “Post-World War II Palm Springs (1945-1969)”, 169.
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November 12, 2025
include the Del Marcos Hotel (HSPB #78) on West Baristo Road, the Abernathy Residence (HSPB #86) on North Phillips Road, and the Goldberg Residence on Southridge Drive (HSPB #135). Cody’s genius and influence, when it comes to design, is that it continually evolves. This home, for example, demonstrates layering of textures, geometries and natural materials which is completely different from the Euclidean approach used at the Goldberg Residence. This resource is a good representation of the architect’s versatility during his years of prominence, thus Criterion v for historic significance is met.
(Criterion vi) The resource represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction, as used in evaluating applications for designation of historic districts, for parcels on which more than one entity exists; or
The resource is not within a historic district and does not qualify under Criterion vi. (Criterion vii) The resource has yielded or may be likely to yield information important to national, state or local history or prehistory.
No information has been provided on any pre-historic significance of the site.
SECTION 2: PART “B” ANALYSIS OF HISTORIC INTEGRITY.
Analysis of Integrity. (PSMC 8.05.070 (C,1,b). The site, structure, building, or object retains one or more of the following aspects of integrity, as established in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards: integrity of design, materials, workmanship, location, setting, feeling, or association.
The report provides an evaluation of the site relative to the seven aspects or qualities of historic integrity, as recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. The seven aspects or qualities include location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. The report concludes that the site retains a high degree of integrity and is further analyzed below:
1. Location:
The home designed by William Cody is in its original location on the lot; therefore, the integrity of location is met.
2. Design:
The original residence was designed as a ranch-style home that was expanded by 800 square feet and completely remodeled. The report describes the design by Cody as a seamless integration of contemporary design with Palm Springs vernacular traditions. The home uses building materials like masonry blocks, rough-hewn board-and-batten siding and wood shake shingles, similar characteristic found in the vernacular architecture of California, but also in integration of white terrazzo flooring, floor-to-ceiling glass doors, and concrete screen blocks.
The home is elevated on a plinth with asymmetrical columns supporting a deep overhang. The openings on the walls are large expanses of glass, but the pitched roof has shake shingles.
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Pathways and entrances have geometric shapes, and texture is created from the stucco surfaces, stacked concrete blocks and extruded wooden beams. Cody uses vernacular building materials in a modernist way that creates architectural interest. One element that was removed is a pergola structure in the parking area in 2020. Based on the findings in the report, City Council finds the home retains its integrity of design by Cody.
3. Setting:
The setting of the home in the Chino Mesa Estates tract is surrounded by ample open space, and the neighborhood context consists of similar sized lots for single-family residential development. To the west of the lot is the land owned by the Desert Water Agency. The home retains its original setting.
4. Materials:
The home was built with materials that were commonly used during this period. The integrity of the slump stone walls, exterior stucco, floor to ceiling glazing, wooden beams and terrazzo are intact.
5. Workmanship:
While conventional methods of construction are utilized, the attention to detail allows for seamless transition of materials from the interior to the exterior. City Council finds the integrity of workmanship remains intact.
6. Feeling:
The home’s modest scale to the surrounding context and use of materials represents the architect’s original design response to the Modern Movement in the desert. The integrity of feeling remains strong.
7. Association:
The property is associated with architect William Cody, as well as the Mid-century Modern Movement of the post-World War II period. The integrity of association remains unchanged.
SECTION 3: DEFINING HISTORIC CHARACTERISTICS
In considering a recommendation for historic resource designation it is important to distinguish those physical elements that are original or from the period of significance that contribute to the resource’s historic significance from alterations, additions or features that were added at a later time that may be sympathetic to the original character, but which may create a false sense of historicity. Distinguishing original character-defining features from non-original elements aids the HSPB when it is tasked with evaluating future alterations to the historic resource.
The following is a list of character-defining features identified by the City Council:
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Character-defining features of the resource are as follows:
Site placement of the home
Home on an elevated plinth
Low slung pitched roofs clad in split wood shakes
Rectangular stucco columns throughout
Massive, angled wood beams connecting entry columns
Screen block elements made of rectangular concrete bricks in varied orientations Vertical rough-hewn board-and-batten siding with alternating narrow and wide battens Cruciform-shaped swimming pool and matching cruciform spa (original to Cody's 1965 design)
Original white terrazzo pool deck mirroring the cruciform layout Slumpstone retaining walls throughout property
Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and fixed-pane windows throughout Floor-to-ceiling folding wood doors with piano hinges, concealing wet bar (interior) Ceiling sections of rough-sawn wood with translucent white stain Mirrored panels above doors
Matching fireplace designs in living room and den (interior) Seamless transitions between interior and exterior spaces Strategic window placement framing garden views
Extension of materials (particularly terrazzo) from inside to outside Multiple access points to outdoor spaces from nearly every room Recessed light fixtures with the Fresnel lens
Areas identified as original locations with exposed aggregate concrete paving Original hardware on the front door
Entry experience includes the progression from the motor court, turning 90 degrees under the walkway with an extended overhang towards the front door Non-contributing elements:
Entry gate and matching gate outside of the den’s sliding doors Sliding glass doors at rear of the garage
Firepit and waterfall area
Exposed aggregate motor court paving and paving inside garden areas SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
The proposed historic resource designation is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical changes to the environment, directly or indirectly.
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SECTION 5: CONDITIONS THAT APPLY TO HISTORIC SITES:
According to Section 8.05 of the Municipal Code, the following shall apply to a Class 1 Historic Resource:
1. It shall meet the definition of a Class 1 historic site as outlined in Municipal Code Section
8.05.020.
2. An archival file on the property shall be maintained by the City.
3. It may be qualified as ‘historic’ at the federal, state, and/or county level.
4. The structure/site may not be modified, nor objects removed without following the procedures outlined in Municipal Code Section 8.05.110 “Demolition or Alteration of Class 1 and Class 2 Historic Resources – Certificate of Appropriateness”.
5. A marker explaining the historic nature of the site may be installed at the site in a location viewable from the public way.
6. Compliance with all rules and regulations for Historic Sites and Historic Districts under Chapter 8.05 of the Municipal Code shall be required.
7. The site shall not be further subdivided.
8. The City Clerk shall submit the Council Resolution to the County recorder for recordation within 90 days of the effective date of the Council’s resolution.
Based upon the foregoing, the City Council hereby designates The Cullerton-Chaddick Residence located at 572 W. Santa Elena Road, a Class 1 (Landmark) Historic Resource (Case HSPB #165).
ADOPTED THIS TWELFTH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025.
SCOTT STILES
CITY MANAGER
ATTEST:
BRENDA PREE, MMC
CITY CLERK
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CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, BRENDA PREE, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that Resolution No. ____ is a full, true, and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs on _______________________, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Palm Springs, California, this ______ day of ______________, _________.
BRENDA PREE, MMC
CITY CLERK