Needs work and attention to detail
Let me begin this review by saying I knew beforehand the hotel was under new ownership when I booked the room. I knew it was the most reasonably priced hotel on Pacific Beach, and therefore would provide basic accommodations. I didn't expect a lot, but unfortunately the Pacific View Inn still fell short of my expectations. On the positive side, I agree with the other reviewers that if you are looking for a place right on the beach, the Pacific View Inn cannot be beat. But, the new owners have a ways to go to bring it up to speed. 
I noticed the hotel has been updated, primarily in the hallways, with fresh paint, wall art and light fixtures. Our room, too, had been recently painted but still smelled musty. We spent two nights and the maid never came to clean our room. Because we had ordered take out food, our leftover boxes, bags, etc. were left overflowing in the one small wastebasket the room is furnished with. We had a coffee maker but no cups to drink from. And if you are a light sleeper, beware that the plumbing at the Pacific View Inn is extremely loud (we all had to agree not to flush in the middle of the night so as to avoid causing other guests to be startled awake by the sound). Hot water was elusive during our stay and only one person actually got hot water for a shower. Because the hotel is located near several bars, expect a lot of rowdy folks out on the street late at night. Unfortunately, the windows in our room were old and the frames were rotting out, therefore providing no noise barrier (we learned the second night to turn on a fan that was furnished in the room, not for the breeze it provided but to help cancel out street noise). 
I can overlook a lot but perhaps the most concerning thing about the Pacific View Inn is that the staff seemed rather uninterested in us as guests. Nobody seemed to go out of their way to make us feel welcome or give us tips or information that might be helpful to us. For example, when we arrived we parked alongside the building to check in. Unbeknownst to us, it is a strictly enforced no parking zone and we nearly got a parking ticket. It would have been helpful for the staff member who checked us in to forewarn us, the new arrivals, of the hazards of parking on the street. When approached, staff tended to reply with the briefest possible response delivered in a friendly but detached tone. I would recommend the owners plan not only to upgrade the interior of the hotel but their friendly touch as well.