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Illegal Demolition of Historic San Ysidro Hotel!
July/August 2023
 San Ysidro Hotel, 1909. This photo documents an important historic gathering. “The first colony meeting, was held in the open air within 30 minutes of the arrival of the pioneer party. Speakers stood upon the hotel porch and lighted the fires of social, intellectual, and spiritual aspiration which have ever since been burning.” William E. Smythe, founder of Little Lander colonies, journalist, and author of the 1908 History of San Diego, 1542-1908.
 "The San Ysidro Hotel was first established in 1910 by a man named George Beecher. The hotel became the location where William Smythe auctioned off the land for his utopian Little Landers. The 300 colonists who lived here began to call the town 'San Ysidro' after the patron saint of farmers." - Barbara Zaragoza, from San Ysidro and The Tijuana River Valley, Arcadia Books. |
 The 106-year-old hotel in more recent times c. 2022, awaiting historic designation and community use. |
 Where 106 years of San Ysidro history and cultural heritage stood, demolished illegally in June 2023. All photos courtesy Friends of San Ysidro |
Jack Gechter of the Friends of San Ysidro very recently alerted SOHO that the early 20th-century San Ysidro Hotel, 133 W. San Ysidro Boulevard, was illegally demolished in late June 2023.
The community had been working to have this beloved cultural and historic site added to the City of San Diego’s Register of Historical Resources.
After learning of the illegal razing, SOHO notified both the city’s Historical Resources and the Code Enforcement authorities about this violation. Notably, we were told the City of San Diego had not granted any permits for this demolition. Officials have launched an investigation and will do a comprehensive review of what happened.
This is the extent of what we know about this sad illegal act as we complete the July-August 2023 issue of Our Heritage News. We will update you when we learn more.
SOHO is deeply concerned about this irreparable loss inflicted upon our shared heritage. Below you’ll find poignant recent and historic images provided by the Friends of San Ysidro, serving as a somber reminder of what has been lost.
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