Overview

Though altered, the Bay View Hotel #2 has stood at this location since 1888. amd has fumctiomed as a hotel and a retirement home during its long history.

Building History

R.D. Case erected the Bay View Hotel #1 in 1869 on this location, and it operated until 1887, when a new owner, PA businessman Joseph V. Collins, purchased the hotel in 1888 for $20,000.

Collins decided to build a larger hotel on the site, and moved this first hotel across the street so that it could serve as a private home. He replaced the modest, two-floor hotel with a sprawling, three-story, brick-faced building that had two Mansard-roofed towers. Collins owned the hotel until his death in 1913, and a new owner bought the property, renaming it the "Palms Hotel."

It operated under this name until the 1920s, when a couple, Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Ray, bought it for use as elderly housing. The Rays engaged in shady business practices during the 1920s, arousing the interest of law enforcement. Both were indicted and charged with grand larceny, embezzlement and obtaining money under false pretenses. During 1928 and 1929, they faced three trials, and escaped initial imprisonment either through the declaration of mistrials or acquittal. Mrs. Ray, however, was finally convicted of state criminal charges in 1929 by the CA Supreme Court, ending her luck at escaping punishment. The hotel had to be sold at auction in 03/1928, forcing many of its elderly inhabitants out without money or clear alternatives for housing.

It later housed the offices of the Welfare League of America and renamed the Rockwood Home for the Aged, operating at 509 12th Street in San Diego.

Alteration

Alteration

Most of the original hotel was moved across the street to serve as the residence of the hotel manager in about 1887. Portions of the original building remained in place and were reused in the new hotel. The web site of Shapery Enterprises.com undertook a history of the building and it indicated about the melding of portions of the old hotel with the new: "Collins had a grander vision for the hotel and in 1888 decided to move a part of the original two-story hotel across the block, where it would be used as a private residence for the hotel manager, while the remainder of the original building became incorporated into a newer, larger three-story brick and wood building, covering half a city block in its place. Portions of the 1869 hotel structure can still be seen where the old building was lifted up a level to be as tall as the new three-story structure while a new ground floor was added underneath. Old photos show a part of the original pitched roof of the 1869 hotel melded into the Victorian design of the 1888 addition." (See Shapery Enterprises.com, "The Historic Bay View Assisted Living Residences (Originally Known as the Bay View Hotel then The Palms Hotel)," accessed 07/02/2019.)

The building's historic use as a senior living facility enabled its rapid rehabilitation into contemporary elder housing. Shapery.com observed: "It was the misfortune of the elderly people swindled by the Ray's but a large benefit for the conversion of the property now into an assisted living/memory care facility. The California State Historic Building Code allows an owner to go back to any lawful use of the property that had existed in the past. The Rockwood Home for the Aged now allows the owners to operate the project as proposed without the need for any zoning variances." (See Shapery Enterprises.com, "The Historic Bay View Assisted Living Residences (Originally Known as the Bay View Hotel then The Palms Hotel)," accessed 07/02/2019.)

The two mansard-roofed towers were removed at some point, as were the wrought iron balustrades that trimmed the parapet. By 2019, new owners announced their intentions to return the building to use as senior housing, indicating their commitment to rehabilitating its original features. It was to be renamed the "Historic Bay View Assisted Living Residences." The web site of current owner Sandor W. Shapery, a lawyer and real estate investor, stated: "The property will be completely renovated and upgraded in preparation for its operation as an 83 suite assisted living and memory care facility. Contemplated improvements include the addition of a caged, period elevator along with a conventional second elevator for the convenience of residents, bathrooms and kitchens in every suite, and a completely new electrical and mechanical/air conditioning system. All original wood trim will be restored and materials that cannot be restored will be replaced with correct replicas. The original door locks will be replaced with the latest card reader system. All furnishing will be period designed pieces based upon original photos. A restaurant will be reintroduced on the ground floor in addition to the replacement of the two towers that once occupied the corners of the roofs, plus the addition of 1500 sq. ft. of rooftop public area. Sometime during the hotel's history the top floor of the original building, along with its pitched roof, was removed purportedly due to a fire. That portion of the third floor will be reconstructed to its original design." (See Shapery Enterprises.com, "The Historic Bay View Assisted Living Residences (Originally Known as the Bay View Hotel then The Palms Hotel)," accessed 07/02/2019.)

PCAD id: 22979