Supervisor Connie Chan and Owners of Alexandria Theatre Announce Plan for the Theater

On Sept. 19, District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan, joined by the owners of the Alexandria Theatre (5400 Geary Blvd.), TimeSpace Group LLC, announced they are exploring a Development Agreement (DA) to develop 76 units of housing with affordable housing on site, and efforts to preserve the history of the Theater, based on the conceptual design to convert the theater into housing. The DA, a contract between the City and the property owners, will allow the City to ensure that the project contains community benefits including affordable housing and historic preservation. 

“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,” Chan said. “With the commitment to community benefits and open dialogue between the District 1 team and Timespace Group, we now can take this monumental step to build the housing that is much needed in the Richmond and turn a new page to remembering our history.”

Since Chan took office in 2021, she and her team have been working with Mr. Yorke Lee and TimeSpace Alexandria, LLC, historic preservationists, city staff about options and ways to develop and improve the site.  

“We are excited to stand here today with Supervisor Chan and announce the plans to revitalize the Alexandria Theatre. I am grateful to Supervisor Chan for her continued support and advancing the conversation. We look forward to working with the city to move this project forward,” said Yorke Lee, TimeSpace Alexandria, LLC. 

In January of this year, unprecedented storms caused damage to the blade sign on the front of the Alexandria Theatre and the property owner were issued a notice of violation which later affirmed by the Board of Appeals. After the sign was removed, and in order to continue the conversation around preservation and development of this historic property, Chan introduced legislation to landmark the theater’s historical resources. This legislation was passed by the Board of Supervisors and sent to the Historic Preservation Commission, leaving open the opportunity to continue the conversation around this development agreement. The item is before the Commission for a decision on Wednesday, Sept. 20. Chan has asked the Commission for a continuance on the item to allow the City to draft the DA with the TimeSpace Group. 

The Development Agreement will be drafted by the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office and facilitated by the San Francisco Planning Department. TimeSpace Group has already created a design concept for housing that would preserve historic features of the theatre, and build 76 units, including on-site affordable housing. 

The original 2,000-seat interior of the Alexandria Theatre was converted to a three-screen multi-plex in 1976 and continued to run new releases until it was shuttered in 2004. Over the past two decades, there have been multiple efforts to develop the space, most recently a plan to turn the theater into a multi-use building including a community pool. This was approved by the San Francisco Planning Department, but due to the pandemic, this plan did not materialize. 

The Alexandria Theatre was built in 1923 in the Egyptian Revival architectural style and designed by one of San Francisco’s leading architectural firms, Reid Brothers. The theater is one of San Francisco’s last remaining historic Neighborhood Movie Palaces, which were known for their bright lights and elaborate character. Its marquee, blade sign and other character defining features that represent the beautiful history of San Francisco.