The dilapidated Alexandria Theater at 5400 Geary Boulevard which was approved for redevelopment over a year ago has been sold. And according to Jessica Zhao, a representative for the new ownership group, the buyers are focused on getting the residential component of the development underway.
As plugged-in people know, the approved plans for the project called for the existing building to be converted into a single-screen theater with retail on the ground floor and a 7,000-square-foot restaurant on the second, while a “Spanish/Mediterranean” styled building with 37 condos was to rise on the theater’s parking lot along 18th Avenue.
From the Richmond District Blog’s report:
Zhao says they are “taking a hard look at what is practical” for the main building, which includes discussions with the San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation (SFNTF) on the viability of having a small theater operate on the property. The SFNTF has helped save many neighborhood theaters in the city including our own Balboa Theater, the Clay Theater and Vogue Theater.
Zhao says that until that research is completed, nothing will be decided about how the commercial space will be used in the main building. When asked if the Alamo Drafthouse is still being considered as a partner, Zhao said that their first step is to consult with the SFNTF.
“We need to do more research to look at what will work best for this space,” Zhao said. “We also don’t want to have a bunch of empty storefronts there either.”
Shuttered in 2004, by 2010 the theater had become “a haven for homeless” with a crumbling façade, a boarded-up box office, and a once-vibrant entrance riddled with flies and the stench of urine.
As part of the project as originally proposed and approved, the theater’s marquee, blade, and art deco bode sign were to be restored along with the terrazzo flooring at the theater’s entry and its marble clad ticket booth.
Put a tower on the theater.
Residential, that is.
I love cinema and I mourn the passing of each of them. But Alexandria has been closed for more than a decade. How realistic is it to open a new cinema in this location? Unless people has a new concept like the New People Cinema in Japantown, I don’t see a rehash of the past can be sustainable there.
that would be a great subway stop
Why do we need to “save” the old theaters? Tear it down? We are not Los Angeles, movies were not created here, it is not some part of some San Francisco legacy, and there is nothing in the architecture of this theater that is worthy of recognition or preservation.
You must be new here. Anything over 20 years old is considered a historic resource.
Because it’s a beautiful old building, the likes of which aren’t built any more, and you have all of SoMa to screw up with your glass boxes. Let the neighborhoods have their landmarks and icons.
This is a “beautiful old building”? Have you actually been to this building?
Not pulling any punches with that dreary leaden sky in the picture 🙂
Truth.
I think they should embellish the proposed housing with more loggias scattered throughout. And different levels and more tile. Get that real California/Spanish/Mediterranean/Southern California look, and embellish the “Egyptian” architectural details of the theater. Paint the units white, not mauve and brown. I am tired of all this dark stuff that everyone is doing.
As for the movie theater, bring it back. With the Coronet gone, the Surf gone, those theaters on Clement gone, the Bridge is supposedly turning into a batting cage facility, all that is out there is the Star, well and the Balboa which has no heating system that works. Richmond merchants want to make the district, more of a destination. I think a movie theater in a neighborhood is always worth saving. Wish we had the Noe.
How much money has your family spent in the past 24 months at any of the small neighborhood theaters you mentioned?
i remember being one of maybe 10 people watching a movie there on a Saturday night before it closed, times have changed.
I remember watching midnight showings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show and Dawn of the Dead here.
As a Movie Theater , probably a really bad idea , But how about post renovation for Live Theater , with the 1st floor for a Dinning Space , and above that a Live Performance Space ?
I could see the City giving the owner some Tax breaks for them to take the space in a direction that might work , and also drive traffic to the local dinning spots ,
I like the idea of the Spanish Mediterranean exterior décor. Also glad that it will be commercial retail and anything related to commercial business and what ever might be used for. The Americanized Spanish Mediterranean, Americanized Mediterranean and Spanish Mission are still popular. Which was started down in Southern California and parts of the Southwest and even certain parts of Florida has a little of it(from what I have heard and seen on HGTV). I hope what ever they do with it, it will work and not be a waste of money. So that not just people from the Richmond neighborhood will go there. Even people from the Outer Sunset and Parkside.
The main people behind this project(might or will never see this this post), should also think about these words and terms. In helping them transforming that spot to look nice and great.
-grand
-contemporary
-families
-Mediterranean
-warm and inviting
-relax
-enjoyment
-creative
-architectural décor
-colorful plants
-cafe
-dessert
-rope lights
-village
-villa
UPDATE: Plans to Flood the Dilapidated Alexandria Theater