Community Church of Palm Springs – Palm Springs Preservation Foundation

Buildings to Watch

Community Church of Palm Springs 283 South Cahuilla Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262

The Community Church of Palm Springs was designed by architect Charles Tanner in 1935. On February 21, 1954 President and Mrs. Eisenhower worshiped in the church during a week-long visit to Palm Springs. The church was designated a Class 1 historic site by the city of Palm Springs in 1989.

On July 10, 2023, after years of delays and setbacks, the Palm Springs city council approved new terms for the project. Referred to as the Orchid Tree Hotel, the project was reportedly scheduled to break ground in October 2024. To read the KESQ news report click here.

On April 28, 2022 another severe fire broke out at the Community Church of Palm Springs.

On April 20, 2022 demolition of the non-historic structures was underway.

On November 18, 2021 a Palm Springs city council staff report chronicled, in part, the protracted negotiations occurring between the city and the developer (including delays created by COVID).

On July 7, 2020 and March 3, 2020, the city’s Historic Site Preservation Board approved the demolition of non-historic structures at 239 West Arenas Road and 200 South Cahuilla Road as part of the proposed redevelopment and adaptive reuse of the Community Church and Orchid Tree Inn.

On November 8, 2016 the city’s Historic Site Preservation Board reviewed revisions to the previously approved applications for the repurposing of the Community Church and the Orchid Tree Inn to be combined and operated as one hotel with accessory commercial on an overall 3.1-acre site.

On May 17, 2014 at the city’s first celebration of National Preservation Month, the owner of the Community Church of Palm Springs announced his plans for the rehabilitation of the church and the adjacent Orchid Tree Inn. The next day the Desert Sun newspaper reported that the Community Church of Palm Springs “could rise from the ashes as a new luxury boutique hotel in the Historic Tennis Club neighborhood.”

On October 2, 2013, prompted by the Community Church of Palm Springs fire, PSPF President Erik Rosenow wrote a compelling “Valley Voice” which expressed concerns about the city’s non-existent enforcement of the Vacant Building ordinance. To read the Op-Ed piece click here.

On September 18, 2013 the Community Church of Palm Springs was the victim of a severe fire. The church (featured on page 28 of PSPF’s Class 1: A Guide to the Designated Class 1 Historic Sites in Palm Springs booklet) had been vacant for many years. The Community Church fire occurred on the heels of two other suspicious fires in important buildings: the historic Chart House Restaurant building in Rancho Mirage and the Carnell Building on Palm Canyon Drive.

Palm Springs has suffered from a string of suspicious fires over the years that go as far back as the historic El Mirador Tower and Albert Frey’s Premier Apartments. We will keep you informed as developments on the Community Church fire unfold.