ATTACHMENT C
(Owner Letters and Disclosures)
c/o PMI-Coachella Valley
777 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite
200-93 Palm Springs, CA 92262
City of Palm Springs
Planning
Department Services
3200 E Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm
Springs, CA 92264
RE: Mills Act Contract
Dear Sir/Madam:
Please accept this letter of intent on behalf of the homeowner's association of Country Club Estates of
Palm Springs to enter into a Mills Act contract with the City of Palm Springs for OW
NER:
ADDRESS:
Sincerely,
Board President, Country Club Estates of Palm Springs
Country Club Estates
Kenneth Griffiths and Grant Wilson
1995 South Camino Real, Palm Springs, CA 92264
Mills Act Application – Homeowner Letter for 2455 Southridge Dr
William Grimm & David Brinkman
2455 Southridge Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92264
DrGrimm@MDVIP .com
October 4, 2025
City of Palm Springs Planning Department
Attn: Historic Preservation Officer
3200 E Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs, CA 92262
Dear Historic Preservation Officer,
We are writing to formally express our intent to apply for a Mills Act contract for our property located at 2455 Southridge Dr, Palm Springs, CA, which has been designated a Class 1 Historic Resource by the City of Palm Springs.
Known as the Garber Residence, this roughly 2,700-square-foot custom-designed single- family home was completed in 1970 by architect Richard A. Harrison, with interior design by Arthur Elrod, both of whom are celebrated contributors to Palm Springs’ architectural legacy. The Garbers owned the house until their passing, and it was acquired by us, the current owners, in December 2023. Remarkably, the home has undergone very few changes and has been maintained, making it a nearly intact example of Harrison’s work and a rare preservation opportunity.
The Garber Residence was designed on an eight-foot grid and constructed in the post-and- beam style. It features a spacious combination living-dining room with a fireplace, an adjacent study, two bedrooms, and two-and-a-half bathrooms. The house utilizes simple yet elegant materials to create an exceptional custom home: dark brown-painted wood posts and beams, 8”x6”x16” off-white split-face concrete block, heavily-textured off-white stucco, terrazzo, and anodized bronze-tinted aluminum-framed glass sliding doors, fixed glazed panels, and windows. While much of the house has a flat roof, the central volume over the spine of the house features a pitched roof covered in terra-cotta barrel roof tiles.
The fireplace is embellished with white dolomite stone veneer. Although preliminary plans called for a white crushed rock “Tropicool” roof, this was replaced during construction with Granada “Ramon” one-piece straight barrel (smooth) tiles, as indicated by architect Harrison on the as-built drawings.
The Garber Residence is located in Southridge Estates, a development that exemplifies a pivotal shift in Southern California residential planning during the 1960s. As flat, easily accessible land became scarce, developers turned to hillside locations, made feasible by engineering advancements that reduced cost and increased safety. These elevated sites offered panoramic views and became highly desirable. Southridge Estates stands as a notable example of this trend, combining dramatic topography with architectural innovation.
Dr. Harry Garber, the original owner, was a distinguished physician and community member. Born in Chicago in 1923 to Polish immigrants, he overcame humble beginnings to become a Board Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a Full Professor at USC. He served in both World War II and the Korean War, practiced medicine in Japan and Chicago, and ultimately settled in Palm Springs in 1970, where he continued his medical practice until 2000. He was also a trained cantor and opera singer. His wife, Betty Garber, a Northwestern graduate and marriage and family therapist, was featured in a 1987 Desert Sun article that highlighted their life in Palm Springs, including their early role in developing Southridge Estates. Their home was one of the first built on the hilltop, with neighbors such as Bob and Dolores Hope.
As the homeowners, we are committed to preserving and restoring the property in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. The Garber Residence’s materials represent the best of Midcentury Modern design. The original materials survive entirely intact and are the focus of our preservation efforts.
Our 10-year maintenance and preservation plan for 2455 Southridge Drive encompasses a comprehensive range of restoration activities. Structural work includes repairs to drywall and masonry, ensuring the building’s integrity. Electrical and plumbing upgrades are planned alongside HVAC system installation to modernize essential infrastructure. The kitchen will be restored with preserved cabinetry, historically accurate countertops, and fixtures, while the original flooring materials will be reproduced. Bathroom restorations focus on initial repairs, preservation of vanities and cabinetry, refinishing countertops, and restoring fixtures and tilework. Interior finishes will be refreshed with paint, restoration of historic lighting, and reproduction of original flooring. Exterior efforts involve initial clean- up, gardening, pool heater installation, fencing and gate repairs, engineering assessments, landscaping, pool renovation, and preservation of stucco, wood, and painting. Window restoration and replacement are included, as well as roofing repairs and installation. The plan also accounts for ongoing operating expenses such as maintenance ensuring the property remains well-preserved and functional over the decade.
The property tax savings afforded by the Mills Act will be reinvested directly into these preservation efforts. We have already begun planning for phased restoration work and will consult with preservation professionals to ensure all improvements meet historic standards.
We understand and accept the responsibilities of entering into a Mills Act contract, including the 10-year term, annual renewal, and periodic inspections by city staff. We are committed to full compliance and transparency throughout the duration of the contract.
Thank you for considering our application. We look forward to working with the City of Palm Springs to preserve this important piece of our architectural heritage.
Sincerely,
William Grimm David Brinkman
William Joseph Grimm
50% of The Brinkman Grimm Trust
David John Brinkman
50% of The Brinkman Grimm Trust