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C Street Inn
The building in 2013
Map
Former names
  • Hotel Polhemus (1913–31)
  • Cecil Hotel (1931–90s)
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeApartment hotel (SRO)[1]
Architectural styleEdwardian Commercial
LocationCore
Address630–636 C St, San Diego, California, 92101, United States
Town or citySan Diego
CountryUnited States of America
Coordinates32°43′01.1″N 117°09′31.6″W / 32.716972°N 117.158778°W / 32.716972; -117.158778
Completed1913
Opened1914 (1914)
Cost$75,000
OwnerJax Properties LLC
LandlordJack Shah Rafiq
Height
Top floor6
Technical details
Structural systemConcrete and brick
Floor count6 above ground; 1 basement level
Design and construction
Architect(s)
  • Arthur J. Hamilton
  • Hamilton & Smith Brothers
DeveloperChaffey Concrete Construction Company
Known for
  • Class A
  • fireproof
Other information
Number of rooms100[2]

The C Street Inn, formerly known as the Hotel Polhemus and Cecil Hotel, is an affordable housing complex in downtown San Diego Core District that was vacated in 2022 due to egregious conditions. It was built in 1912 and opened in 1913 with 100 rooms.

Since the 2010s, the basement was utilized as a performance venue for the San Diego International Fringe Festival and it has been a filming location for independent films. In 2022, the city began a relocation process for all of the hotel's residents after it was vacated for its awful living environment.

Throughout the hotel's history, several minor fires caused damage, triggering temporary evacuations and it has been the location of numerous criminal incidents.

History

[edit]

Arthur J. Hamilton was the building's architect who also designed the Robert E. Lee Hotel.[3] The concrete building was erected in 1912 for $75,000. Hamilton & Smith Brothers planned for the first floor to be occupied by stores. Chaffey Concrete Construction Company was assigned to construct the building[4] located at 630–636 C Street[5][6][7] in Core, San Diego.[8]

1913–1930: Hotel Polhemus

[edit]
Artwork of the building in 1914

In 1913, Willis P. Polhemus owned the new building and the land it sat on.[9][10] R.B. Thorbus was the proprietor and manager in 1914.[9][11] Florence C. Thorbus ran the La Mesa School of Expression for Motion Pictures out of the hotel.[12]

In January 1920, the Industrial Welfare Commission held a meeting at the hotel, focusing on minimum wages for employed women in San Diego.[13] That same month librarian Mary Elizabeth Downey stayed at the Polhemus while in town to speak at the San Diego Public Library.[14] In 1921, A.P. Wilkinson sold the hotel to George A. Brown and J. H. Sprague.[15] In 1929, Hotel del Coronado room clerk Edgar P. Schiller was hired as manager after the Polhemus was leased to George W. Wood.[16]

1931–1990: Cecil Hotel

[edit]
See also: Cecil Hotel (San Diego)
The building in the 1930s

In 1931, the Cecil was relocated to the Polhemus building that was refurnished, redecorated, and expanded to 100 rooms from its former location.[2] Roland Schneider was elected secretary and former secretary Whitten was elected treasurer.[17] In 1934, Polhemus sold the property to an undisclosed buyer for $75,000.[10]

In 1990, a fire started on the third floor, which 25 tenants were evacuated. A cigarette from a new tenant caused a blaze of $2,500 in damages.[18]

1991–2022: C Street Inn

[edit]

In the 1990s, Hotel Cecil became known as the C Street Inn.[18][19] In 1998, the inn was damaged from a fire and 40 people were evacuated due to a cigarette igniting a mattress on the fourth floor.[20][21] In 1999, another fire broke out causing evacuation of the building. Police safely helped a man who jumped out of his hotel window to avoid smoke inhalation.[19][22]

In 2009, the hotel faced a default.[23] In 2014, a body was found by a maintenance worker after a guest complained of an odor. Police said it was not a suspicious death.[24]

Vacate and tenant relocation

[edit]

In 2022, the hotel had to be vacated for infestations of mold, rodents, fire hazards and horrid living conditions.[25][26] The city and attorney Mara Elliott said owner Jack Shah Rafiq and his company Jax Properties LLC[5][27][28] would be held responsible for covering the occupants' relocation costs that totaled $339,840.[25][29] Rafiq appealed and claimed the city wanted low-income residents out of the area.[1][30]

A fire marshal and police attempted to get people out in April, but that was unsuccessful after they spoke with Rafiq. Tenants received a 10 day eviction notice in May that was not followed up.[31] Elliott announced in July that the building was a public nuisance and that residents would be relocated.[27][32] Neil Rico was living in the building at the time and claimed the situation was unfair to tenants who relied on the living quarters there to meet their fixed and limited incomes.[25] In August, a receiver was appointed control of the property.[27]

Basement

[edit]

The basement of the building has entrances from the main lobby of the hotel and a stairway from a business entrance on Seventh Ave.[33] In the mid 2010s, the basement was used as a performance venue called Gray Area Multimedia,[34][35] formerly known as Rosewood Five Studios at 1150 Seventh Ave.[36][37][38] The San Diego International Fringe Festival occupied the space in 2017[36] and Luke Pensabene managed the location.[35][39]

Pensabene helped produce several independent films that recorded principal photography in the basement such as South of 8,[40] The Phantom Hour,[41] Friend of the World,[35] Hacksaw,[42] Touch,[43] and Everybody Dies by the End.[44]

Criminal incidents

[edit]

In April 1916, after kicking several trash cans, Los Angeles resident William Haupt was arrested outside the building by Officer Tim Holcomb.[45] Later that year, a man was arrested for attempting to steal a tire from the building clerk's automobile.[46][47] In 1918, fifteen year old William Dowlar, who was a bellboy at the hotel, was arrested for stealing a $150 diamond, a kodak, and a fountain pen from a hotel guest.[48]

In 1921, Franklin McGuire was arrested for shortly after stealing over $100 worth of clothes from a room in the building.[49] In 1922, two armed men were arrested in downtown San Diego after briefly being pursued by police.[50] They were wanted for holding up the building's hotel clerk R. W. Smith. During the attempted robbery, there was a scuffle and a gun was discharged but no one was injured. The thieves had previously made off with a suitcase with $150 in clothes from the nearby Panama Hotel,[51] and were already wanted by police in Long Beach, California[52] after robbing an apartment clerk of $45,[53] and stealing a car in Sacramento.[50][54] They were set for a bail of $1,000 each[55] and were suspected in other recent thefts.[56]

In November 1924, four inmates awaiting trial for robbery charges in Oklahoma, were staying in the building. Detectives were alerted and questioned them in their room, but the men were able to mislead law enforcement that they were ranch owners traveling the country. On January 16, 1925, they robbed over $3,000 from the nearby San Diego Pantages Theatre.[57]

In 1931, night clerk P. W. Price was robbed at gunpoint on the second floor of the building.[58] In 1932, night clerks of the building and nearby Churchill Hotel were robbed within an hour of each other.[6]

In 1958, clerk Charles Sutter was robbed of $150 by the "Elevator Bandit" who forced him into the building's elevator and escaped while the elevator ascended.[59]

In September 1978, the building was one of ten hotels in the downtown area raided by the San Diego Police Department. Policewomen went undercover as prostitutes, rented rooms, and made 15 arrests.[60][61] That same month, Moses Franklin was arrested for assault in a room he shared with a teenage runaway from Tucson, Arizona.[62]

In 1992, William Dean Short, a prison escapee from Muskogee, Oklahoma, was caught and arrested in the building.[63] In 1999, Lt. Ray Sigwalt said San Diego police homicide was called after a 66 year old man died from a sixth floor fall into the building's air shaft.[64]

In 2022, the city alleges that excessive criminal activity was reported in the building. Police responded 190 times over a three year period since May 2019, spending 465 hours to address burglaries, public intoxication, and other nuisances.[65][66][32]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Davis, Dillon (2022-07-25). "Downtown hotel with 'deplorable' conditions vacated by city". KSWB-TV. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
  2. ^ a b "Hotel Cecil in San Diego moves into new place". Imperial Valley Press. 1931-01-03. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-10-06 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Local Architect Dies Suddenly: A. J. Hamilton, Designer of Polhemus Hotel, Succumbs to Heart Disease". San Diego Union. 1930-02-22.
  4. ^ "Contract Let For Six-Story Hotel". San Diego Union and Daily Bee. 1912-07-14. Retrieved 2024-10-08 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  5. ^ a b Jennewein, Chris (2022-07-26). "City Attorney Orders Crumbling SRO Hotel Downtown to Be Vacated". Times of San Diego. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
  6. ^ a b "Hotels Lose $60 To Bandit: Robber Carefully Wipes Away Fingerprints". The San Diego Sun. 1932-04-02. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-10-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO Historical Resources Board" (PDF). California Historical Resources Inventory Database. 2003-11-07. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  8. ^ "State of California - The Resources Agency DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION PRIMARY RECORD" (PDF). California Historical Resources Inventory Database. 2003. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  9. ^ a b "Hotel lease and furnishings sold to Kansas man". San Diego Union and Daily Bee. 1920-06-27. Retrieved 2024-10-08 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  10. ^ a b "Cecil Hotel Sold". The San Diego Sun. 1934-02-12. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-10-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Here It Is --- Look!". The San Diego Sun. 1914-03-27. p. 17. Retrieved 2024-10-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Thorbus, Florence C. (1915-07-08). "La Mesa School of Expression for Motion Pictures". Daily Times-Advocate. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-10-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "To explain details of women's wage law". San Diego Union and Daily Bee. 1920-01-06. Retrieved 2024-10-08 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  14. ^ "Prominent Librarian to Speak Tonight". The San Diego Sun. 1920-01-13. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-10-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Big Reality Deals Are Consumated". The San Diego Sun. 1921-04-04. p. 4. Retrieved 2024-10-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Hotel is Leased". The San Diego Sun. 1929-01-07. p. 10. Retrieved 2024-10-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Mosher Takes Office Tonight". The San Diego Sun. 1931-01-19. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-10-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ a b "25 Evacuated During Apartment Blaze". The Los Angeles Times. 1990-06-21. ProQuest 281178609. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  19. ^ a b "Man leaps to escape hotel fire". North County Times. 1999-07-24. p. 23. Retrieved 2024-10-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "40 evacuated when fire damages downtown hotel". San Diego Union Tribune. ProQuest 271616823. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  21. ^ "Early morning fire rousts hotel guests; none injured | Burning mattress in 4th-floor hall". San Diego Union Tribune. ProQuest 271623161. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  22. ^ Hughes, Joe (1999-07-24). "Fire routs residents | 1 injured in 2-alarm blaze at SRO hotel; halogen lamp cited". San Diego Union Tribune. ProQuest 271643843. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  23. ^ Lewis, Connie (2009-07-06). "Number of Hotel Foreclosures, Defaults Increasing". San Diego Business Journal. p. 4. ProQuest 226944527. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  24. ^ Kucher, Karen (2014-12-01). "Body found in downtown SD hotel". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 2024-10-04. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  25. ^ a b c Ramirez, Jasmine (2022-07-25). "Downtown San Diego hotel to be vacated due to rodents, mold, other hazards". KFMB-TV. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
  26. ^ "Downtown San Diego hotel to be vacated due to `deplorable' conditions". KGTV. 2022-07-25. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
  27. ^ a b c Figueroa, Teri (2022-09-30). "San Diego City Attorney seeking penalties from owner of downtown hotel declared 'public nuisance'". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 2022-09-30. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
  28. ^ "Downtown News Briefs – Feb. 2023". SDNews.com. 2023-02-08. Archived from the original on 2023-03-27. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  29. ^ "Ayuntamiento: Propietario de hotel de 109 años de antigüedad en el centro de San Diego recibe orden para ayudar a reubicar a 72 ocupantes". Telemundo San Diego (20) (in Spanish). 2022-07-26. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
  30. ^ "Downtown San Diego hotel to be vacated because of 'deplorable' conditions". KPBS Public Media. 2022-07-25. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
  31. ^ Warth, Gary; Cook, Morgan (2022-07-27). "Hotel residents say future uncertain as they face eviction from building city says is unsafe". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 2022-07-27. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
  32. ^ a b Elliott, Mara W. (2022-07-25). "Downtown Residential Hotel Ordered to Vacate" (PDF). City of San Diego.
  33. ^ Cook, Morgan (2022-08-24). "Some tenants of downtown hotel fear city eviction will lead to homelessness". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 2024-10-04. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  34. ^ "Friend of the World at Gray Area Multimedia - filming location". Sceen It. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  35. ^ a b c Stone, Ken (2020-07-25). "San Diego's Spielberg? Q&A With Director Brian Butler Near Sci-Fi Film Premiere". Times of San Diego. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  36. ^ a b Eadie, Bill (2017-06-27). "Handicapping the Fringe – San Diego Story". San Diego Story. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  37. ^ Accomando, Beth (2016-06-23). "Survival Guide To San Diego International Fringe". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  38. ^ Smith, Jeff (2016-06-30). "SD Fringe: Recommendations for final days". San Diego Reader. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  39. ^ "Irontree Films – We're Filmmakers from San Diego". Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  40. ^ Golden III, Lee B. (2015-10-29). "Watch The New Trailer For Tony Olmos's Grim Crime Pic, SOUTH OF 8". Film Combat Syndicate. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  41. ^ Charybdis Pictures (2019-08-02). Making Movies - Behind the Scenes of "The Phantom Hour" (Video). Retrieved 2024-10-05 – via YouTube.
  42. ^ DeFellipo, Michael (2019-09-15). "Review: Anthony Leone's "Hacksaw"". Horror Society. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  43. ^ Brewer, Mac (2022-07-05). "Teaser & Poster for Short Horror Thriller 'Touch' by Justin Burquist". Horror Society (Press release). Archived from the original on 2022-07-06. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  44. ^ "Everybody Dies by the End". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  45. ^ "Maybe They Don't Have Garbage Cans in L.A." The San Diego Sun. 1916-04-10. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-10-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ "Here, There and Everywhere". The San Diego Sun. 1916-07-07. p. 7. Retrieved 2024-10-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ "Six Months". The San Diego Sun. 1916-07-07. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-10-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ "15 October 1918 —". San Diego Union and Daily Bee. 1918-10-15. Retrieved 2024-10-08 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  49. ^ "Wore the Clothes". The San Diego Sun. 1921-03-29. p. 6. Retrieved 2024-10-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. ^ a b "Armed Men Admit Polhemus Holdup". The San Diego Sun. 1922-10-07. p. 25. Retrieved 2024-10-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  51. ^ "Armed Pair Admit Hotel Holdup Job". The San Diego Sun. 1922-10-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-10-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  52. ^ "Men Arrested In South Identified As Wanted Here". The Long Beach Telegram and The Long Beach Daily News. 1922-10-17. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-10-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ^ "Pair Identified as Bandits by Beach Resident". The Los Angeles Times. 1922-10-17. p. 38. Retrieved 2024-10-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  54. ^ "Robbers caught on city street confess charge". San Diego Union and Daily Bee. 1922-10-08. Retrieved 2024-10-08 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  55. ^ "Hold Alleged Bandits". The San Diego Sun. 1922-10-10. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-10-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  56. ^ "5 Robberies in 48 Hours; Thieves Flee". The San Diego Sun. 1922-10-06. p. 4. Retrieved 2024-10-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  57. ^ "Convict Admits Robbing Local Pantages Theatre". San Diego Union. 1925-12-03.
  58. ^ "Thug Takes $31 in Hotel Theft". The San Diego Sun. 1931-01-05. p. 16. Retrieved 2024-10-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  59. ^ "Elevator Bandit Suspect Held in Long Beach". San Diego Union Tribune. 1958-01-21.
  60. ^ Garlington, Phil (1978-09-15). "Police Raid 10 Downtown Hotels". The Los Angeles Times. p. 19. Retrieved 2024-10-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  61. ^ Garlington, Phil (1978-09-15). "Downtown Hotel Raid". The Los Angeles Times. p. 23. Retrieved 2024-10-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  62. ^ "Man Accused". San Diego Union Tribune. 1978-09-28.
  63. ^ "Escaped Convict Arrested at Hotel". The Los Angeles Times. 1992-05-13. p. 189. ProQuest 281562790. Retrieved 2024-10-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  64. ^ Hughes, Joe (1999-08-13). "Man, 66, found dead on hotel landing". San Diego Union Tribune. ProQuest 271663672. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  65. ^ "Owner of 'Squalid' 109-Year-Old Hotel in Downtown San Diego Ordered to Help Relocate 72 Occupants: City". KNSD. 2022-07-25. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
  66. ^ Berjan, Sarah (2022-07-25). "109-year-old hotel in Downtown San Diego to be vacated due to 'deplorable' conditions". ChulaVistaToday.com. Archived from the original on 2022-07-26. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
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