Lee, Robert E., Hotel
Also known as: Commodore Hotel; Lyceum Theater
Why it's listed
Built in 1913 at the corner of Third Avenue and F Street in downtown San Diego, this four-story concrete building combined the Robert E. Lee Hotel with the Lyceum Theater. Engineer Willis J. Dean designed it during the building boom before the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. The exterior follows an adapted Classic Revival style, with a bracketed cornice, belt course and ornamental spandrel panels. Inside, the 437-seat theater has a full stage and fly space, and the upper floors hold 94 hotel rooms. Its interior partitions of metal studs and plaster may have been the first of their kind in San Diego. The nomination describes it as the only known theatrical hotel built in the city and the oldest local theater built for dramatic productions. Over the years it hosted stock companies, vaudeville, Spanish-language drama and decades of burlesque. Most original fabric above the ground floor survives, though the storefronts have been altered. At the time of nomination, the city proposed to demolish it for a parking structure.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the only known San Diego example of a "theatrical hotel," a type more common in large eastern cities. It is the only known remaining work of engineer Willis J. Dean and the second oldest surviving theater in the city. It also contributed to the city's theatrical history, including the first Spanish-language dramatic theater in San Diego (1915).
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 80000844, listed May 31, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 815 3rd Ave. and 314 F St., San Diego |
|---|---|
| County | San Diego County |
| Listed | May 31, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000844 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Willis J. Dean, Engineer |
| Architectural style | Adapted from Classic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and fully occupied in 1979; at the time of nomination it was threatened with condemnation and demolition by the city for a parking structure. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 32.71384, -117.16167 (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 80000844.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.