Draft:Sandor (Sandy) W. Shapery
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Comment: Almost entirely based off primary sources and what look to be press releases McMatter (talk)/(contrib) 02:54, 18 June 2025 (UTC)
- Comment: In accordance with the Wikimedia Foundation's Terms of Use, I disclose that I have been paid by my employer for my contributions to this article. Melissaad (talk) 21:48, 17 June 2025 (UTC)
Sandor (Sandy) W. Shapery is an American attorney, real estate developer, and historic preservationist based in San Diego, California and Captain Cook, Hawaii.[1] He is known for his innovative real estate transactions, including a notable $22.5 million no-money-down acquisition of the San Diego Gas & Electric headquarters building,[2] and his extensive work in historic preservation projects throughout San Diego.[3]
Early Life and Education
[edit]Shapery was born in Chicago and moved to San Diego as a child, where he has lived for more than 60 years until his recent relocation to Captain Cook, Hawaii.[1] He graduated with honors from San Diego State University, majoring in Political Science and Social Psychology.[1] He subsequently attended the University of San Diego School of Law, where he graduated Cum Laude with a Juris Doctorate.[1] While in law school, he worked as a law clerk to prominent San Francisco attorney Melvin Belli.[1]
Legal Career
[edit]Shapery is licensed to practice law in the State of California and has practiced before the Supreme Court of the United States.[1] He was also licensed by the State of California as a real estate broker.[1] He is the sole interest holder of numerous corporations, partnerships and LLCs which hold his various business investments.[1]
Business Enterprises
[edit]Shapery Enterprises
[edit]Shapery Enterprises is the operating company for various corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies.[4] The company is involved in the ownership, design, and development of high-rise office buildings, high-rise hotels, commercial centers and raw land.[4] Shapery Enterprises also develops technological advances in transportation including vertical take-off aircraft, electric zero emissions conversion and upgrade of existing freight and passenger rail systems, and magnetic levitation train systems.[4]
Real Estate Development Career
[edit]Major Transactions
[edit]SDG&E Headquarters Building (1993-2017)
[edit]Shapery's most notable transaction involved the acquisition of the San Diego Gas & Electric 22-story headquarters building in 1993 for no money down during a severe real estate recession.[2] The complex deal structure included:
Initial Acquisition (1993):
- Purchased from New England Mutual Life Insurance Company for $22.5 million with no cash down[2]
- Created separate entities: one for building improvements, another for land lease/option[2]
- Issued $17 million in bonds through Minnesota Life Insurance Company at 5.2% interest[2]
- Structured to allow seller to report as cash-equivalent sale under accounting rules[2]
- Exercised land option for $1.00 immediately after bond transaction closed[2]
Partnership and Refinancing:
- Sold 49% limited partnership interest for $1.5 million in 1995[2]
- First refinance in 1998 with Tokai Bank for $17 million, generating $812,900 annual cash flow[2]
- Negotiated 10-year lease extension with Sempra Energy in 2005 ($4.11M-$5.36M annually)[2]
- Second refinance with Morgan Stanley, generating $46.2 million in distributions over 10 years[2]
Final Sale (2017):
- Partnership with Doug Manchester (2015-2017) after buying out original partner for $20 million[2]
- Sale to City of San Diego through Cisterra Development for $72.5 million[2]
- Utilized IRS Section 1033 exchange to defer capital gains taxes[2]
- Generated total returns of over $159 million in equity and cash over 31-year period[2]
- Reinvested proceeds into Mission Trails Apartments ($73.25M) and Driftwood Apartments ($14.85M) in 2020[2]
Notable Development Projects
[edit]Emerald Shapery Center (1990)
[edit]Shapery designed and developed the Emerald Shapery Center, a mixed-use high-rise complex featuring a 30-story office tower and 27-story hotel connected by a 100-foot glass atrium.[5] The project was extensively covered in the media, with The New York Times featuring it in "An 'Emerald City' for a growing skyline: Eight green towers in a hotel-office center."[6] The San Diego Tribune covered the project in "Crystal clear."[7] The distinctive hexagonal architecture was based on crystal formations and featured innovative design elements.[8]
The project received significant media attention, being featured on the covers of 41 publications.[8] Additional coverage included California Construction News,[9] Real Estate Journal,[10] San Diego Daily Transcript,[11] San Diego Metropolitan,[12] The Daily Aztec,[13] and San Diego Union Tribune.[14]
W Hotel San Diego (2002)
[edit]Shapery developed the W Hotel, combining 21-story new construction with 263 hotel rooms and suites with the historic renovation of an 1892 steam laundry building.[15] The project was completed in December 2002 and was one of the early W Hotel locations in the chain's expansion.[15]
Current Holdings and Recent Acquisitions
[edit]Mission Trails Apartment Community (2020): 208-unit property in Del Cerro purchased for $73.25 million with financing from Fannie Mae at 2.81% interest-only.[2] Annual net income has grown from $1.37 million (2021) to $3.2 million (2025).[2]
Driftwood Apartments (2020): 24-unit property in Crown Point, Pacific Beach purchased for $14.85 million.[2] Property generates annual net income of approximately $629,000 (2024).[2]
Hampton Inn Kailua-Kona Bay Hotel: Purchased the former Uncle Billy's Kona Bay Hotel in Hawaii for $21 million in 2021, with planned $34 million renovation to convert to Hampton Inn franchise.[16] The project has received extensive media coverage including Yahoo Finance,[17] Hotel Magazine (New Zealand),[18] Travel and Tour World,[19] Pacific Business Journal,[20][21] Hotel Management,[22] Travel Age West,[23] and Big Island Now.[24]
Transportation Technology
[edit]Magnetic Transport Systems
[edit]An affiliate of Shapery Enterprises, Magnetic Transport Systems develops technological advances in transportation including electric conversion and upgrade of existing rail systems with LSM/LIM technology, high-speed magnetic levitation trains and induction charging for electric drive vehicles.[25]
MagRail Technology
[edit]MTS has developed MagRail, an electromagnetic railroad propulsion system that is zero emissions and reported to be 2.5 times cheaper than diesel operations, based on U.S. Energy Information Agency cost analysis.[26] The system features Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) technology using three-phase electric windings in 18-foot concrete beams attached to existing railroad crossties.[25]
Shapery Gyronautics Corporation
[edit]Shapery has developed a gyrostabilized computer-operated vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) passenger vehicle intended for air transportation.[27] The technology has received NASA funding through its Revolutionary Aerospace System Concepts division for development and testing of the VTOL engine system.[28]
Historic Preservation Work
[edit]Shapery has been recognized as one of San Diego's most prolific historic preservationists.[3] In 2011, he received the People in Preservation Award from Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO), which noted he had "personally saved through purchase, restoration, rehabilitation, and renovation, more buildings from SOHO's Most Endangered List and from internal watch list than any other person in SOHO's history."[3] In 2016, he received the California Preservationist of the Year Award for his re-creation of the 1915 Historic Electriquette used in Balboa Park's 2016 Centennial celebration.[3]
Major Historic Preservation Projects
[edit]South Park Commercial Center - Collection of historic buildings including Fire Station #9 (1912) - oldest standing fire station in San Diego, Burlingame Garage (1914), Rose Grocery Building (1924), and Munter & Munter Gas Station (1925).[29]
Other Historic Projects:
- Queen Anne Victorian home in Pacific Beach (1970)
- Victoria Square (1976) - Four historic buildings converted to office and restaurant use[30]
- Bay View Hotel/Palms Hotel - Conversion to assisted living facility[31]
- Lyon Building and Lyon Rental (15th Street Apartment Hotel)[32]
- Del Mar Castle (1925) - Complete restoration with design awards[33]
- Riviera Hotel - Converted to Staybridge Suites[34]
Civic Involvement
[edit]Shapery has served in numerous civic roles including San Diego Chamber of Commerce Infrastructure Committee member, former Vice Chairman of SANDAG Stakeholders Working Group, advisory member to SANDAG Transportation Committee, member of Advisory Committee to San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, charter member of Southern California Leadership Council, Board of Directors of Save Our Heritage Organization, Board of Directors of La Jolla Institute for Immunology, and member of Kona Kohala Chamber of Commerce.[1]
Banking
[edit]Shapery was one of the founders of First National Bank, which was noted as the largest initially capitalized bank at the time in United States history.[1]
Personal Life
[edit]Shapery shares his time with his wife Rebecca between homes in San Diego, Hawaii, and Aspen, Colorado.[1] He has substantially relocated to Hawaii in recent years.[1]
Recognition
[edit]- Listed in Who's Who in California[1]
- Listed in National Directory of Who's Who in Executives and Professionals[1]
- 2011 People in Preservation Award from Save Our Heritage Organization[3]
- 2016 California Preservationist of the Year Award[3]
- Featured in numerous publications for architectural and development work[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Sandor W. Shapery biographical documentation, Shapery Enterprises
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Member's Spotlight: "31-Year Timeline of No-Money-Down Transaction," Shapery Enterprises documentation
- ^ a b c d e f Save Our Heritage Organization, "2011 People In Preservation Award Winners," SOHO Awards Documentation
- ^ a b c Shapery Enterprises company documentation
- ^ Shapery Enterprises website, "Emerald Shapery Center" (https://shaperyenterprises.com/Projects/RealEstate/EmeraldShaperyCenter/index.shtml)
- ^ The New York Times, "An 'Emerald City' for a growing skyline: Eight green towers in a hotel-office center," May 15, 1988
- ^ The San Diego Tribune, "Crystal clear," April 18, 1988
- ^ a b c Emerald Shapery Center project documentation, Shapery Enterprises
- ^ California Construction News, "Emerald Shapery Center becomes latest addition to San Diego skyline," September 14, 1988
- ^ Real Estate Journal, "Shapery crystallizes: San Diegan develops with new age flair," April 24, 1989
- ^ San Diego Daily Transcript, "Mid-July opening scheduled for Emerald-Shapery Center," April 6, 1990
- ^ San Diego Metropolitan, "Emerald Shapery Center and Pan Pacific Hotel," July 1, 1990
- ^ The Daily Aztec, "Alum's dream towers over downtown," September 30, 1991
- ^ San Diego Union Tribune, "Arizona firm buys Emerald high-rise," February 25, 1995
- ^ a b W Hotel San Diego project documentation, Shapery Enterprises
- ^ Hampton Inn Kailua-Kona project documentation, Shapery Enterprises
- ^ Yahoo Finance, Hampton Inn Hilton debut Hawaii coverage, January 2025
- ^ Hotel Magazine (New Zealand), "Hampton Inn set for Kailua-Kona," February 10, 2025
- ^ Travel and Tour World, "Hampton Inn Kailua-Kona Bay unlocks a new chapter for Hilton in Hawaii arriving summer 2025"
- ^ Pacific Business Journal, "Hawaii's limited-service hotels on the rise," February 7, 2025
- ^ Pacific Business Journal, "Kona Bay hotel to undergo $30M renovation," January 23, 2025
- ^ Hotel Management, "Hawaii hotel rebrand Hampton Inn"
- ^ Travel Age West, "Hampton Inn Kailua-Kona Bay"
- ^ Big Island Now, "Business Monday: Breathing life back into Kona Bay Hotel once known as Uncle Billy's," December 9, 2024
- ^ a b Magnetic Transport Systems technical documentation
- ^ MagRail Technology financial analysis based on U.S. Energy Information Agency data
- ^ Shapery Gyronautics Corporation project documentation
- ^ NASA Revolutionary Aerospace System Concepts collaboration documentation
- ^ South Park Commercial Center project documentation, Shapery Enterprises
- ^ Victoria Square project documentation, Shapery Enterprises
- ^ Bay View Hotel project documentation, Shapery Enterprises
- ^ Lyon Building project documentation, Shapery Enterprises
- ^ Del Mar Castle project documentation, Shapery Enterprises
- ^ Riviera Hotel project documentation, Shapery Enterprises