Grand-Horton Hotel
Also known as: Horton Hotel
Why it's listed
Built in 1887 at the height of San Diego's land boom, this three-story hotel at 332 F Street was designed by Comstock and Trotsche. Its brick-veneer front has twin projecting bay windows, cantilevered wood balconies with cast-iron railings, a mansard roof and an ornate bracketed cornice. Inside, the rooms are arranged around a two-story skylit lightwell with a carved wood grand staircase. The ground floor has been altered, but most original fabric survives on the upper floors. The nomination describes it as the city's only remaining hotel in the commercial Italianate style and one of few surviving works by its architects. The building also housed the Chamber of Commerce exhibit hall from 1890 to 1895, and it hosted the Natural History Society and other local groups. Its residents included newspaper editor William H. Porterfield and Ed Fletcher. At listing it faced possible demolition for a parking structure, while the owners planned rehabilitation.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of the finest commercial Italianate buildings in San Diego and the only remaining hotel in that style. It is also one of the few surviving works of Comstock and Trotsche. It is tied to the 1887 boom, early downtown development, civic organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, and prominent San Diegans.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80000842, listed June 20, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 332, 328 and 334 F St., San Diego |
|---|---|
| County | San Diego County |
| Listed | June 20, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000842 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Comstock and Trotsche, Architects |
| Architectural style | Commercial Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good with minor deterioration; ground floor holds two bars and upper floors are hotel rooms. The nomination says it was threatened with condemnation and demolition for a city parking structure. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 32.71384, -117.16135 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80000842.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5561396
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.