Parking, Traffic Top Neighbors' Concerns at Alexandria Site

By Carol Dimmick

A preliminary plan by representatives of Alexander Enterprises LLC, the new owners of the Alexandria Theater, to convert the theater to a mixed-use project was met with guarded optimism Jan. 27 from about 30 members of the Planning Association for the Richmond (PAR), who raised questions about the price of the new housing units and possible negative impacts on parking and traffic.

Drake Gardner, an architect with Zone Design, described a preliminary plan to convert the building and parking lot into a mixed-use project that includes 39 units of housing, a supper club and retail space. The plan also keeps one or two movie screens.

The fate of the 1,000-plus-seat triplex and its adjacent parking lot, a landmark in the Richmond District since 1923, has been a question mark since early 2004, when a group of more than 11 overseas investors bought the building for $6.5 million.

Gardner said the $20 million project, which could break ground as early as 2006, would restore the theater to its original glory by rebuilding the Reed Bros. 1930s facade. But concerns about the project arose after Gardner said the plan included 88 parking spaces, 39 of which would be for the housing units. Residents questioned whether the remaining 49 spaces would be enough for the restaurants, theater and retail spaces.

Others wanted more affordable housing and expressed disappointment when they learned that 32 of the units would be market rate.

David Heller, president of the Greater Geary Boulevard Merchant's Association, said he hoped the project would preserve two screens, which Gardner said was a possibility.

In an interview last year, city Planner Mary Woods said the owners would likely take advantage of a provision under the Planning Code called "planned unit development," which allows developers to move, and even reduce, the 25-foot rear yard requirement on large lots.

"They can play around with a smaller rear yard," said Woods, who said the Planning Code allows for flexibility with open space on lots of one-half acre or more.

In a related development, Richmond District YMCA representatives have expressed interest about moving into 20,000 square feet of retail space in the new development on the ground floor of the proposed housing complex. The YMCA, which owns the building across the street from the development, is looking for room to expand.

Patrick Luy, a broker with Coldwell Banker who put the deal together, assured residents that liquor, fast-food restaurants and large retail stores would not be suitable tenants.

Plans for a separate parcel, a single lot on the north side of the property which is zoned RH-2, is expected to be turned into two units of housing or sold to other developers, according to Gardner.

When the Alexandria is torn down, the Bridge, Balboa and Four Star theaters will be the only theaters remaining in the district.

The single-screen Coronet Theater on Geary Boulevard was purchased by the Institute on Aging in the summer of 2000 from United Artists. Plans are underway to build a low-income apartment complex with health and recreational services for senior citizens at the site.