Historic SF theatre to turn into affordable housing site

Hamza Fahmy
·2 min read

(KRON) — The 100-year-old movie palace known as “The Alexandria” officially announced its plans of turning the historic site into a 76-unit residence. Much of the building on the corner of 18th Avenue and Geary Boulevard in San Francisco will also be affordable housing, announced San Francisco District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan on Wednesday.

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Over the past two decades, multiple efforts have been made to develop the space. The San Francisco Planning Department even approved a plan for a community housing site in 2021, but due to the pandemic, it never materialized.

In January, Chan got The Alexandria property approved as a historic site with SF’s Historic Preservation Commission. Although preserving the site can complicate future development plans, it will also preserve the property’s Egyptian-inspired architectural style.

“I want to thank our Richmond District neighbors for their patience and trust in our work on developing the Alexandria Theatre and preserving its history,” said Chan. “We now can take this monumental step to build the housing that is much needed in Richmond and turn a new page to remembering our history.”

The Alexandria Theatre first opened in November 1923. Its original 2,000-seat interior was converted to a three-screen multi-plex in 1976, and it continued until it was shut down in 2004. The theater was one of San Francisco’s last remaining historic neighborhood movie palaces, which were known for its bright lights and elaborate architectural designs.

“The Richmond deserves more housing while having a piece of its history persevered,” said Chan, who has represented the Richmond District since 2021. “We still have more work ahead of us to get to the finish line, and I am committed to continue supporting this process until we get this done.”

The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office will draft the development agreement, which will be facilitated by the San Francisco Planning Department. TimeSpace Alexandria, LLC has already created a design concept for housing that would preserve the theater’s historic features and build 76 units, including on-site affordable housing.

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