Copyright©2006

From a City report prepared for a May 1989 Historical Site Board meeting considering historical designation:

“The El Cortez Hotel, built in 1926 [1927], represented a very remarkable Spanish Colonial Revival style hotel when it was constructed. A very notable fact is that approximately one-third of the population of the City toured the hotel when it initially opened. The hotel has hosted foreign dignitaries, presidents and others in its day. Though the hotel suffered greatly in the hands of Harry Handlery, the owner in the 1950's, he was certainly a notable individual in the history of the hotel and San Diego.”

Minutes of that May 1989 meeting reflect that although the Board supported historical designation, the National Park Service was balking at determining the El Cortez eligible for National Register status because of the 1950's additions. (Some board members wanted some 50's elements preserved - particularly the glass elevator and the neon roof sign.) Therefore the board's designation motion was withdrawn so that these issues could be resolved. National Register eligibility is a requirement for a "qualified historic rehabilitation tax act project" (very valuable income tax credits based on the cost of rehabilitation).

The hotel was subsequently designated as City Historical Site No. 269 by Resolution on July 25, 1990:

“WHEREAS, The Historical Site Board based its designation of the El Cortez Hotel on its long time status as the City's 'landmark hotel', its association with many local and national significant personages (including Richard T. Robinson, Jr., the original owner, and Mr. Handlery in the 1950s); its being the focus of many significant local events and its significance as a local work of prominent Los Angeles architects, Walker and Eisen.”

On January 17, 2002 after a substantial Certified Rehabilitation project was completed in 2000, the El Cortez became a National Register Site on the basis of its 1927 period of significance. From its National Register application:

“The El Cortez Apartment Hotel (El Cortez) qualified for the National Register of Historic Places under 'Criterion C: Design/Construction,' as a property which embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period and method of Spanish Colonial Revival or Spanish Renaissance construction, the only one of its kind design in San Diego by the noted Southern California architectural firm of Walker & Eisen. Designed by the firm between October and December 1926, the El Cortez Apartment Hotel was constructed by the William Simpson Construction Company in 1927. It features such characteristics indicative of the Spanish Colonial Revival style as an asymmetrical facade in massed block form with a dominant, central tower element; a rich, recessed and arched doorway of cast stone flanked by ornate columns; smooth plaster exterior walls with decorative molding; double-hung and quatrefoil windows; false balconies; flat root with pilasters topped with Corinthian columns, finials and roofline cresting, a dentil course, intricate cross work; courtyard; and tiled terrace area.”

The Problem!

On January 19, 2006 developer Peter Janopaul submitted a Centre City Development Permit application to build an abomination consisting of 74 (later amended to 84) condo units on the terrace of the now restored building that, if allowed to be built, would destroy the northern view of this Historic landmark.

This is the terrace area where Peter Janopaul wants to build 84 condos and excavate
for 3-4 levels of parking garage right next to the Historic El Cortez!

Everything you see on the terrace would go away which would include the historic swimming pool
and all of the trees including two palm trees that are over 60 years old!