During the final years of the 19th century society's view of hotel life transformed from one of disgust and disdain to admiration. No longer the abode of the damned, they were where one went for all manner of functions. By the early 20th century it was actually fashionable to reside permanently in hotels. Thus it seems natural that hotels would be built specially for residents.

Such was the case with the Lee Plaza. Essentially an apartment building with hotel services the Lee Plaza rivaled even the Book-Cadillac in grandeur. Fame was fleeting. The changing world that created it would also in turn destroy it.