Rare St. Regis Tour Presented

History enthusiasts can enjoy a rare tour of the old Saint Regis apartment building in Alamitos Beach and enter the rooftop solarium this coming Saturday, July 26.

The docent-led walk through the historic seven-story structure at 1030 E. Ocean Blvd will run from noon to 3 p.m., where guests will learn about the condominium building’s rich history, complete with archival photographs and records. Additionally, the solarium – or sunroom – will be open for a bird’s-eye-view of the beach and surrounding areas.

Due to fire regulations, the solarium closed in 1970 but the Long Beach Fire Department will allow entrance during this one-time event.

Presented by Long Beach Heritage and sponsored by the Port of Long Beach, The Saint Regis, the Alamitos Beach Neighborhood Association, and Councilwoman Cindy Allen, the nonprofit fundraiser aims to assist with restoration-funding and engage with the community.

Tickets can be purchased at lbheritage.org/events under “Jul 26 Summer of Architecture: St. Regis and One Time Only Solarium Tour 12:00 pm.”

“St. Regis is a 1922 Long Beach landmark building worthy of recognition and it deserves to be preserved,” said Kathy Bazz, who assisted Long Beach Heritage with tour planning and helped coordinate the volunteers and docents.

“We’d like for it to continue beyond another 100 years,” she added.

A mid-rise, Greek and Renaissance Revival style, the brick structure was “one of the first own-your-own co-operative apartments in Long Beach” described as the “finest west of the Mississippi” and was declared a Long Beach landmark in 1983. It became a condominium building in 2010 and survived the great earthquake of 1933 with minimal damage.

The architect and engineer, Joseph H. Roberts, who lived from 1898 to 1932, completed the design of Saint Regis in 1922 at the age of 24, according to records.

A prolific man who designed many buildings and homes in Long Beach during his short life of 34 years, Roberts reportedly recorded 450 designs by the age of 28 and continued another six years.