HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY
A MUCH NEEDED UPDATE TO THE CITY’S HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY
The first step to protect historically significant architecture is to check to see if it’s been included in a community’s survey of historic resources.
The City of Rancho Mirage conducted its first historic resources survey in 2003 after Richard Neutra’s Maslon House was razed. The loss of this architectural masterpiece led to the founding of Preservation Mirage and was the subject of our 2025 documentary short. The survey was a critical first step in preserving Rancho Mirage’s vibrant architectural history, but it was limited by the fact that surveyors weren’t granted access to most gated communities. In the past two decades, many more sites have become eligible to be considered historically significant.
In 2023, the City agreed to update the historic resources survey after strong advocacy by Preservation Mirage. Urbana Preservation & Planning conducted the update with input from Preservation Mirage founder Melissa Riche. Urbana reviewed the existing survey and prepared new documentation which recommends the inclusion of additional historic sites. The citywide survey focuses on properties at least 45 years old, though more recent properties that have exceptional significance may be included.
The proposed update adds more than 50 sites to the survey and many corrections have been made to the original report. In spring of 2025, the updated report was presented to the City’s Historic Preservation Commission, which will review the document (and possibly request changes) before sending it on to the City Council for final approval.
If your property has been included in the survey, you may pursue a nomination for Historic Designation. When a site has been designated, the property receives a plaque to be mounted on the exterior of the structure. The designation is also noted by the City’s planning department. That means anytime a permit is filed (e.g., a permit for construction or demolition), the City’s planning department won’t approve it until the plans are carefully reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission, allowing the City to intervene if needed. City designation also paves the way for application for the Mills Act, which may result in a 60% reduction in property tax bills.