Cortez Hill circa 1953 The Vintage San Diego photos were taken by Joe Courtney and are from the Stephen Grooms collection.  The El Cortez Hotel on 7th Avenue and Ash Street before the glass elevator was installed in 1956  The photos above and below, courtesy of Pea Hicks, look west to the KFMB building on 5th and Ash   Looking south on 7th Avenue from Ash Street |