Gateway Estates

By Deiter Crawford

Sitting at the cities northernmost end nestled under Mt. San Jacinto is one of Palm Springs' most historic neighborhoods. The Desert Highland Gateway Estates are predominantly an African-American community where most of the city's black population has lived since the early 1960's. The Gateway Estates subdivision built by the Southland Development Co. from 1959-1961 (architect yet to be discovered) is a small track of approximately 70 homes, 1248 sq.ft. in size with distinctive Desert
Modernism features. These homes have been preserved mostly by neglect. There are 3 different floor plans.

Distinctive Desert Modernism Features:

•Decorative concrete blocks that provide both form and function

•Open breezeway connecting the home to the Carport

•Floor to Ceiling Windows

•Crisp clean lines and soaring clerestory windows

•Open floor plans connecting indoor and outdoor living spaces

•Post and beam construction

•Private pools, rectangular or free form in shape

• Light and bright abundance of windows

•Exteriors finished with two-tone wood, patterned brick, native stone or decorative concrete block