In 2015, I started an informal group for homeowners in Rancho Mirage who wanted to share experiences of living in historic homes. I had been living at our midcentury Tamarisk Ranchos home for a couple of years. While writing historic nominations and hatching the idea of a book on the architecture of Rancho Mirage, I became aware that, in general, people were unaware of the city’s strong midcentury architectural heritage. |
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In 2002 the City of Rancho Mirage commissioned its historical resources survey, following the destruction of the Maslon House by Richard Neutra. Since then little had happened in preservation terms; starting a group felt like a necessary next step. After two years of group meetings, in November 2017, we became Preservation Mirage, a registered 501 (c)(3) non-profit, in order to raise our profile in the community and to ‘get serious’ about education and advocacy. We had about 30 members, including five board members. Today, we have 11 board members and more than 800 newsletter subscribers, including 192 donor members, 24 of whom support our organization at the highest PRESERVATIONIST level, for which we are incredibly grateful. In 2020, just before the pandemic, Preservation Mirage was given a ‘Rising Star’ award by the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce. In spite of subsequent lockdowns, we stayed connected to members via informative and entertaining Preservation Sessions, held on Zoom; there are now 11, all available on our YouTube channel. We produced the first ‘Historic Architecture Map’ of the City of Rancho Mirage, delivered to all Rancho Mirage households in 2021 and available to residents and visitors ever since. We created a ‘New Residents Guide’, mailed quarterly, realtor flyers, and organized home and walking tours during Modernism Week and throughout the year. After more than five years as either President, Vice-President, or Secretary, I am stepping down from the Board of Directors in July. Personal commitments mean I can’t devote as much time to the organization as before. Now it’s time for our new president, Dan Allen to apply his skills and enthusiasm to take Preservation Mirage into the future as he described in our last newsletter. I will transition to a new ‘advisory board’ which will allow me to focus on research, and writing historic nominations for important homes, while continuing to advise on strategy as needed. I am incredibly proud of everything our board has achieved since 2017. We are on the brink of reaching several major goals, about which we hope to reveal more soon. With the significant growth in Preservation Mirage membership, the influx of new homeowners who share our interest in the city’s architectural legacy, and our ongoing outreach to both the community and city council, we have been able to truly make an impact at every level. With your continued support and the leadership provided by our notably adept Board of Directors, all of whom share my passion for our city’s architectural legacy, we expect to continue on this path for many years. I look forward to seeing many of you in the Fall. Enjoy your summer, wherever you are. |
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Melissa Riche Founder and President Emeritus |
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Preservation Mirage board President Dan Allen and Melissa Riche were interviewed by George Smart of US Modernist during Modernism Week in February. Listen to their views on preservation in Rancho Mirage in the podcast below. | | |
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PRESERVATION SESSION – “GOING, GOING, GONE” – ARCHITECTURE AND PRESERVATION IN RANCHO MIRAGE |
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During Modernism Week, Melissa Riche gave a talk about important architecture in Rancho Mirage that’s been lost to demolition or aggressive remodels in the last 40 years. The recording is now available on YouTube for those who could not join us for the May Preservation Session on Zoom. Don’t forget that all our previous sessions are up on YouTube, so why not catch up with them all this summer, while you’re lying on the couch escaping the heat, or sipping a cold one under a beach umbrella! | | |
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LAS CASUELAS NUEVAS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS The Delgado Family is celebrating 50 years since the opening of the Rancho Mirage location, ‘Las Casuelas Nuevas.’ The building, on Hwy 111, was designed by then-unknown, now universally celebrated designer Arthur Valdes. Valdes owed much of his early success to designing in Palm Springs - first for the Delgado family, then for the hotel that is now the Omni Rancho Las Palmas. Eventually, he became internationally known, working for leading resort clients like Ritz Carlton or the ‘One and Only Palmilla’ in Los Cabos, Mexico. Valdes specializes in a Hispanic style that we associate with these two landmarks in our own city. Here’s how Las Casuelas Nuevas looked in the early days, the core building is very much still there. |
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OPENING THE GATES OF DESERT BRAEMAR Our last in-person event of the season, ‘Opening the Gates of Desert Braemar’ was a resounding success: quickly sold out and attended by more than 100 guests and residents who found out more about this charming, innovative 1957 community. Melissa Riche gave the background about the architect John C. Lindsay and architecture as well as the reason for building cooperatives in the late 50s - before condominium laws were passed. Adele Cygelman, the author of ‘Arthur Elrod: Desert Modern Design’, followed with her insights into the interiors for model homes and private residences at Desert Braemar by famed designer Arthur Elrod. Steven Keylon, historian, author, and editor of ‘Eden’ magazine (for the Cultural Landscape Foundation), rounded off the talks by explaining the ‘garden village’ concept, its importance, and its design history. Preservation Mirage guests were then led on walking tours of the community by Desert Braemar and Preservation Mirage docents. |
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Massive thanks to everyone at Desert Braemar - in particular Melissa Lundgren - who shared the original initiative for this tour with Kim Martin - and then saw it through to its triumphant finale. If you missed it, stay tuned because we believe Desert Braemar might be open to a Modernism Week tour. |
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ADVOCACY UPDATES We’re delighted to report that the Historic Preservation Commission for the City of Rancho Mirage recently approved the designation of the Hoagy Carmichael Residence at Thunderbird Country Club. Thank you to the homeowners whose passion and enthusiasm for architecture at Thunderbird helped to make this happen. |
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MEMBERSHIP Preservation Mirage went through membership changes last year and we thought we’d remind you of the options. If you have been receiving emails and newsletters for a few years but haven’t taken the next step to be a ‘donor member’ we encourage you to do so to help support our goals. Of our 800 ‘newsletter subscribers,’ nearly 200 are now ‘donor members’ who pay an annual membership fee ranging from $50 for the ADVOCATE level, $150 for an INDIVIDUAL, $275 for a HOUSEHOLD, and $1,500 for our PRESERVATIONIST level. Donor members receive advance ticket access for cocktail parties, events, and tours. If you are a newsletter subscriber, consider becoming a donor member and make a meaningful commitment to Preservation Mirage. |
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PRESERVATION MIRAGE BOARD & COMMITTEE UPDATE In June the board appointed Scott Goldstein as Secretary, taking over for Melissa Riche who had been temporarily filling the role. We are currently looking to backfill our Membership committee chair. |
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PRESERVATIONIST MEMBERS We would like to thank our PRESERVATIONIST members for their generosity and support: Joseph Bartush, Mike Boone, Susan and Tom Corson, Annette Cumming, Scott and Ella Goldstein, Lyn Goldstein, Lori Goldstein, Jay Hart and David Mazer, Patrick Jordan, Scot and Lance Karp, Stephen and Margie Kulp, John A. MacMahon, Philip Monaghan, Ken and Ann Moyle, Perry and Kim Shwachman, Kurt and Kelly Walecki. |
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We are a section 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 82-3717476) and your donation may qualify as a charitable deduction for federal income tax purposes, please consult your tax adviser or the IRS. |
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