preserve - verb - to maintain in its original or existing state (Oxford Language)
Some of you (one or two?) who have been reading this blog religiously may recall that nearly two years ago, I sold my Jersey Cape Cod (built in 1939) to a Gen Z yuppy couple and relocated to SoCal. After a year, the two, who were originally head over heals with the design of the place, fell out of love and tore it down, only to replace it with a monolithic, modern McMansion. After at least two close friends of mine reminded me that in a capitalistic society, buyers have the right to do just about anything to the property after the deed has been signed over, I slinked away in silence with my tail between my legs, reluctant to acknowledge that they were right.
Well, last weekend, I took the tail out from between my legs and used them (the legs) to do a celebratory dance when I discovered that in some American communities, there are laws that preserve the design aesthetics in residential neighborhoods. Palm Springs, California, the iconic second home of various classic and contemporary celebrities, is one such community.
According to City of Palm Springs.gov., homes in Palm Springs "must adhere to aesthetic and design codes, especially regarding exterior colors on main streets and hillsides to preserve the city's iconic Desert Modern style, with the city's Code Compliance division enforcing rules on building design, zoning, and appearance, to maintain community standards." Some of the former residences of legendary citizens, such as Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant, and Sammy Davis, Jr. are designated as historic sites, adding another "layer of preservation for owners." If dilapidated houses must be torn down, they must be replaced with similar homes with the same look.
Respect for the integrity of what has preceded the present is a rarity. Just as not to castigate my home state of New Jersey entirely, there is a city called Plainfield–the former Hollywood, home to silent movie stars of the distant past– has a historic district of about one square mile that prohibits home owners from tearing down the Victorian architectural treasures that make the city unique.
If you want my two cents (and you may since the penny is now pass'e), these architecturally restrictive codes should be uniform throughout the country. If people want to build their own dream homes, they need to buy open land in order to do so. Why buy a perfectly renovated antique with personality only to destroy it because the new owners like the location, not the house? There is something nonsensical or just plain barbaric about that.
But then again, sometimes I think the country is going to the dogs, and perhaps it should. Some out there think that dogs are more humane than humans. As proof, I saw this written across a warehouse in letters that were each two feet tall:
BE MORE HUMAN
(and if in doubt)
BE MORE DOG
I rest my case.
#blog, #personal essay, #architecture, #aesthetic values, #real estate, #Palm Springs
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