Hotel Sandford Rehabilitation
- Project Address: 1301 5th Avenue San Diego, CA 92101
- Project Owner/ Developer: San Diego Housing Commission & Civic San Diego (formerly CCDC)
- Owner Contact Name/ Email: Ted Miyahara tmiyahara@sdhc.org
- Project Architect/ Designer: Heritage Architecture & Planning
The historic Hotel Sandford was built in 1914. It was changed to affordable senior housing in 1989. The San Diego Housing Commission and CCDC (now Civic San Diego) joined forces in 2009 to acquire the hotel in an effort to ensure it would remain as affordable senior housing.
Exterior building restoration work included exterior painting to return the building to its original color scheme, restoration of the historic wood windows on the fourth floor, replication of two historic flagpoles at the roof, restoration of the historic festoon lighting, replication of the historic wood storefront at the 5th Avenue hotel entrance, sidewalk replacement, street lighting, and landscaping.
Interior restoration work included complete interior painting to return the public spaces and resident rooms to period appropriate color schemes, replication of missing decorative paint and stencils in the main lobby, installation of period-style light fixtures in the lobby and hallways, and installation of refurbished historic furniture. In addition to the restoration work, the building was rehabilitated to allow continued use for senior housing. Seismic anchors were installed at each floor level to comply with the city’s Unreinforced Masonry ordinance. Other code improvements included installation of a disabled accessible improvements and dedicated units.
Many energy efficiency upgrades were also completed such as installation of compact fluorescent light bulbs throughout, replacements of older mechanical units, and replacement of plumbing fixtures in all 130 resident rooms with new low-flow fixtures. A new shared resident kitchen, computer room, bulk storage locker room, game room, and library were also added and all interior furniture, flooring, and finishes were replaced.
The newly restored building serves as an affordable living option for seniors with updated housing units in a more sustainable and accessible environment. It provides an opportunity for the public to enjoy the architectural beauty of a revitalized San Diego historic landmark as it looked when it first opened its doors almost a century ago.
