The lighted red sign Back in the 1920’s the Cortez Hill Neighborhood welcomed the construction of the El Cortez Hotel. Its history, architecture and its red neon sign visible from miles have made a landmark and point of reference out of this building. What started as a Hotel became a vacant dilapidated building, then an apartment complex to the now condo complex. The building became a staple to the 2-mile radius hilltop community that is now called Cortez Hill.