San Diego, California – For nearly a century, the California Theatre has loomed over downtown San Diego, first as a jewel of the city and now as a symbol of its neglect. Opened in 1927 and once nicknamed the “cathedral of the motion picture,” the building dazzled audiences through the golden age of film and later hosted concerts before shutting its doors in 1990.
Today, the once-grand landmark is fenced off, its windows boarded, walls covered in graffiti. From her high-rise office overlooking the site, City Attorney Heather Ferbert is blunt: “This isn’t serving downtown, this isn’t serving the city. It’s a vacant building.”
On Wednesday, San Diego officials announced a legal settlement that could finally decide the theatre’s fate. The agreement between the city and Caydon Property Group, the Australian developer that owns the building, gives the company two options: sell the property or tear it down…