At the time it was built (late ’teens) the Casa Grande provided wide views of San Diego. The residential hotel was originally named Churchill Apartments and is believed to have been constructed by the owner of a lumberyard once located across the street.
The flag pole is now long gone, as are the balconies and decorative cornices. The balconies may have been removed when the city widened University Avenue, and the cornices may have disappeared because of a mistaken attempt to “modernize” the structure or because of revised earthquake codes.
The property has been owned for the last 13 years by HBA President Bob Grinchuk and his partner Reuel Olin.
