694 S Canon Dr., Palm Springs, CA

Property Description

This 1,170-square-foot single-family home was constructed in 1958 by developer Jack Meiselman through SonGold and remains in its original three-bedroom, two-bath configuration. Held by the same owner from the year of construction through the time of this documentation, it represents an unusually intact example of Meiselman’s late-1950s residential work — one that has never changed hands and, by all evidence, has never been substantially altered.

The structural logic of the home reads clearly from the exterior and within: exposed post-and-beam construction paired with tongue-and-groove ceilings establishes a straightforward architectural order, while clerestory windows draw diffuse light into the interior without sacrificing wall area — a characteristic strategy for managing the desert’s intense sun while maintaining a sense of enclosure. The floor plan has not been expanded or reconfigured, and the original architect’s footprint survives intact. A deep covered patio along the rear of the home frames mountain views to the south and east; western mountain views carry from the front elevation.

Original materials are present throughout and in period-correct condition. Vintage tile bathrooms in pink and aqua retain their original palette — a hallmark of late-1950s residential construction that survives in fewer homes with each passing year. The galley kitchen remains in its original configuration. An attached carport and enclosed storage structure are also original to the property.

No significant additions or modifications are documented. The home is presented in largely unaltered condition.

Development and Neighborhood Context

Little Beverly Hills is a small, cohesive enclave of approximately 84 mid-century single-family homes in south Palm Springs, developed during the late 1950s through a collaboration between two prominent regional builders: Jack Meiselman’s SonGold operation and the Alexander Construction Company. That dual-developer history gives the neighborhood an interesting internal variety — homes built by each firm share a common mid-century sensibility while reflecting slightly different design emphases — and makes it one of the few Palm Springs neighborhoods where the two most prolific MCM residential builders of the era worked in direct proximity.

The neighborhood sits on the south side of the city, where the mountain backdrop to the west and south is particularly dramatic and the residential scale remains intimate. Its character has been shaped in part by geographic coherence — the street grid is compact and the development boundaries well-defined — and in part by the consistency of construction dates, nearly all homes dating to a narrow window between 1957 and 1960.

Within the Meiselman archive, Little Beverly Hills represents the developer’s work at the transition from the mid-1950s into the early 1960s — a period when the core formal vocabulary of clerestory windows, post-and-beam structure, and compact efficient plans was being applied with increasing confidence. 694 S Canon, with its intact footprint and unbroken owner history, is among the better-preserved examples of that moment.

Do You Own This Home?

If you own this home, we’d love to add your home to the Meiselman Registry. Verified owners can claim their listing, add historical documentation, and connect with a community of preservationists and enthusiasts who share your appreciation for these remarkable homes. Please contact us to claim this listing!