The Street Seen: Delfina Hotel
530 Pico Boulevard @ 6th
The Delfina Hotel on Pico at 6th St is built in 1972, and then expanded in 1984.
1972 to 1974 Ramada Inn
In 1969, Beverley Hills developer I.M. Schuman (1904 – 1987)1 obtains a building permit for 10 story, 184-room hotel on Pico at 6th St.
The project includes, directly south of the hotel, a 3-story apartment building.2 The apartment building is atop 2-level shared parking (145 hotel parking spaces plus 100 apartment parking spaces on the lower level). The buildings are designed by Los Angeles architect Ben-Ami Shulman (1907 – 1986). Construction begins in 1971, and the budget-oriented Ramada Inn opens in 1972.3
1974 to 1979 Roman Inn
Sometime after 1974 (but before 1976), the 1972 Ramada Inn becomes the independent Roman Inn.4
1979 to 1984 The Inn at Santa Monica
In 1979, the Roman Inn under goes a $2MM renovation and becomes The Inn at Santa Monica.
1984 to 1998 Bayview Plaza Holiday Inn
In 1984 developer MKB Industries5 constructs a 72,400 SF, 10-story, 134-room hotel addition to the Inn at Santa Monica. As the addition exceeds existing zoning,6 a Development Agreement has to be negotiated with the City.7 The $14 MM addition is designed by Santa Monica architect Douglas A. Lowe. Santa Monica Morley Builders is the contractor. The hotel is managed by Biggs Hotel Group under the Holiday Inn brand. The Bayview Plaza Holiday Inn opens in time for the 1984 Olympics.
The hotel is briefly closed after the 1994 Northridge earthquake, and seismically strengthened in 1996.8
1998 to 2004 Four Points by Sheraton
In 1998, the Bayview Plaza Holiday Inn is re-flagged as a Starwood brand Four Points by Sheraton.
2005 to 2013 Sheraton Delfina
In 2004, following an $11 MM renovation, the three-star Four Points by Sheraton is repositioned as the four-star Sheraton Delfina.
In 2010, Regis Properties9 sells the 310-room Sheraton Delfina to Pebblebrook Hotel Trust10 for $103 MM (roughly $333,000 per room). The Sheraton (a Starwood brand) flagged property continues to be managed by the Viceroy Hotel Group,11 which has managed the property since 2003.
2013 to 2024 Le Méridien Delfina
In 2013, following another renovation, Starwood announces the return of Le Méridien brand to Southern California with the repositioning of the Sheraton Delfina as the Le Méridien Delfina.
In 2016, Marriott gains the Le Méridien brand as part of its acquisition of Starwood. So, the Le Méridien Delfina is owned by Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, and is operated by Viceroy Hotel Group under the Marriott Le Méridien brand.
Isidore Mannie Schuman (in suit) at Ramada Inn (1973)
In 1984, the property is subdivided into separate parcels for the hotel (520 Pico Blvd APN 4289-011-043) and for the apartments (1920 6th St APN 4289-011-044 - an air lot - the ground and parking belong to the hotel).
The rent-controlled Bay on 6th apartment building is permitted in 1969 for 97 units. Under the terms of the 1984 Development Agreement, 6 affordable rental units are added, bringing the 3-story apartment building to a total of 103 units.
It is useful to keep in mind the distinction between (a) the hotel owner, (b) the hotel operator, and (c) the hotel brand or flag.
The origin of the name “Roman” is unknown - but it would be simple to change the signage from “Ramada Inn” to “Roman Inn.”
Santa Monica based developer Kambiz Babaoff’s MKB Industries owns the property in 1982 as Roman Properties.
Both the existing Inn at Santa Monica and the 32,000 SF vacant site to the west, are zoned R4 (High Density Residential). Hotel is an allowable use, but the maximum building height is limited to 4 story / 50 ft.
The Development Agreement (DA), which is pending since 1982, is between the City and Roman Properties. The City decides a DA is desirable as (i) the project provides enhanced revenue to the City, (ii) increases employment opportunities, and (iii) has less traffic than certain other uses. As part of the DA, the hotel main entrance is moved from from 6th to Pico. Parking is free for guests, hotel users, and employees. Two 3-unit apartment buildings on Bay (see 1963 Sanborn) are moved off-site, and 6 units of affordable housing are added to the Bay on 6th apartments. Certain obligations terminate 25 years (2009) from Certificate of Occupancy, others in 40 years (2024) from Certificate of Occupancy.
The hotel is on the City’s Seismic Retrofit List for evaluation.
Regis Properties is an investment group headed by Los Angeles real estate developer and hotelier Brad Korzen of the Kor Group.
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust also owns the Viceroy at 1819 Ocean Ave which it acquired when it acquired LaSalle Hotel Properties in 2018.