Villa Roma Garden Homes 2500 South Sierra Madre, Palm Springs, CA 92264
Completed in 1964, Villa Roma Garden Homes is a 69-unit condominium complex designed by James K. Schuler & Associates and built by Orange County developer Dominick Sfregola. The complex has stood as one of south Palm Springs’ best-known landmarks owing to its quirky and highly visible Roman-themed design.
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On February 21, 2023 the Palm Springs city council approved (3-2) the historic designation of Villa Roma. Making public comment in support of the designation were PSPF board member Ron Marshall, PSPF board advisor Steve Vaught, PSModCom board member Peter Moruzzi, and a host of enthusiastic Villa Roma homeowners. At 69 units, Villa Roma becomes the city’s eighth, and largest, residential historic district.
On September 6, 2022 the Palm Springs’ Historic Site Preservation Board voted unanimously (4-0, with one recusal) to recommend to the city council the designation of Villa Roma Garden homes as a Historic District.
On July 5, 2022 the city of Palm Springs’ Historic Site Preservation Board met to further discuss the Villa Roma Garden Homes historic district nomination including the proposed verbiage of the city council resolution on the topic. The HSPB’s discussion was greatly informed by previously submitted letters from PSPF board member Steven Keylon in which he expounded on the importance of the garden apartment building type to the development of Palm Springs. Additional public comment by PSPF board member Gary Johns emphasized the uniqueness of some of the architectural detailing of Villa Roma. PSPF advisor and nomination author Steve Vaught also greatly aided in the HSPB’s lengthy discussion. Ultimately, the HSPB voted 5-0 to approve a much-strengthened resolution. To read PSPF board member Keylon’s letter of June 10, 2022 click here. To read PSPF board member Keylon’s letter of July 4, 2022 click here.
On June 7, 2022 the city of Palm Springs’ Historic Site Preservation Board met to discuss the Villa Roma Garden Homes historic district nomination. PSPF board advisor and nomination author, Steve Vaught, made a compelling case for historic designation and rebutted, in detail, the negative city staff report. PSPF board members Gary Johns and Ron Marshall made public comment in support of the nomination. Most noteworthy, almost twenty Villa Roma homeowners made public comment in support of the nomination. The HSPB voted unanimously (4-0) to recommend designation of the condominium complex to the city council.
On May 31, 2022 PSPF advisor and renowned author, Alan Hess, wrote a letter to the city of Palm Springs’s Historic Site Preservation Board describing the importance of Villa Roma Garden Homes to the architectural legacy of southern California. To read the letter click here.
On August 19, 2021, the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation (acting as agent for the owners) submitted the 63-page Historic District nomination for the Villa Roma Garden Homes to the city of Palm Springs.
On November 24, 2020, the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation board of directors assigned the task of writing the Historic District nomination for the Villa Roma condominium complex to PSPF board advisor Steve Vaught.
