Some homeowners inside downtown’s El Cortez created a web site to explain their battle to stop construction on a building 40 feet away. From Save the Historic El Cortez:
There is no right to build anything on the El Cortez block because of a covenant that protects it until 2025.
That isn’t stopping Peter Janopaul and his lobbyists from promoting this ugly building to the City Council, the CCDC,the CCAC the Planning Commission and the HRB.
I think this is definitely a pay for play situation here. I think that there’s some shady dealing going on. My husband and I got married on the back terrace. It’s so beautiful, and the El Cortez is a wonderful events center. I was born and raised here in San Diego, and I remember seeing the building in utter decay. I was so excited to hear that a developer was going to restore the building. Such a wonderful thing for a San Diego cultural landmark. And now this? Hasn’t Janopaul read that the developments that are currently being built downtown are not selling as fast as hoped, and that some of the developers have not decided to construct their projects? Not a wise business move in my book.
Very interesting play on this. Who started the site? How has it grown?
Janopaul was just given an “onion” for historic preservation by the San Diego Architectural Foundation for promoting this proposed project. Maybe now, CCDC will wake up and smell the onions.
The residents knew that building was going to be build and bought at their own risk.
After living there before they were converted we were told all of these details and I wonder why they are not suing because the homeowner dont get any revenues from the businesses there.