 One of his preoccupations one the construction of "the largest hotel in Southern California" on Tenth Street in Los Angeles, a development that was never completed because of economic conditions.It was noted in 1904 that Hammel and Denker had been partners "in all their hotel and farming ventures, and when Hamel died his partner continued to administer the partnership as before until he, too, died.And even then it was a necessity almost to deal with the two estates as a single entity."