“Keep Out” signs were posted on the east side of the 100 block of S. Palm Canyon Dr. in August of 1936, as a “virtual army of workman” labored in the extreme summer heat to complete La Plaza prior to the beginning of the season.
The development was the brainchild of Julia Patterson Carnell, sister-in-law of NCR founder John Patterson. Carnell hired Schenck& Williams out of Dayton, Ohio to design the mixed-use shopping center that still sits in the center of downtown Palm Springs.
Architect Harry Williams brought a skilled team of construction laborers with him from Dayton to work on the very tight schedule needed to meet Carnell’s goals of opening in time for the winter season.
Carnell, a frequent guest at the Desert Inn, funded the construction of the project with $1 million of her own money. The development when completed included 38 shops, 21 studio apartments, eight penthouses, a kitchen and dining room for guests staying in the residences, a theatre, a 150-car garage (built underground), servants’ living quarters, and a gasoline station.
La Plaza, as it is now called, still remains one of the most sought after retail spaces in downtown Palm Springs. The unique charm of the complex allows visitors a glimpse into the city of Palm Springs’ past.
There are a multitude of ways to Explore Palm Springs, which turned 75 in 2013. One of the more intriguing methods is by exploring Palm Springs history.
The Palm Springs Historical Society will share a weekly story whose time and place corresponds with today.
The Palm Springs Historical Society is located at 221 S. Palm Canyon Drive.
Visit www.pshistoricalsociety.org for more information.