Commission initiates landmark designation for El Rey Theater in Ingleside

Shannon Ferguson of the planning department presented staff's recommendation to initiate landmark designation proceedings for the former El Rey Theater at 1970 Ocean Avenue in the Ingleside neighborhood. The department's report notes the theater's Art Deco design by master architect Timothy Pflueger, retention of many original design features from 1931, and eligibility under the commission's designation priorities for underrepresented property types and geographically underrepresented areas.

Therese Pleddy, preservation director of the Art Deco Society of California, explained the society's long-standing interest in the building and the research assembled for the nomination, while Dan Weaver of the Ocean Avenue Association and community publisher Alex Mulaney described neighborhood efforts to save and re-activate the theater. The owner's representatives, including John Goldman of Goldman Architects, said they support designation and intend to pursue restoration and potential state and federal tax-credit opportunities.

Commissioners moved to initiate designation and, after a second, voted unanimously to initiate the Article 10 landmark designation process. Staff said that, if initiated, the department will return with a resolution recommending Article 10 designation to the Board of Supervisors.

Next steps: Staff will prepare a designation report for subsequent hearing and potential Article 10 designation referral to the Board of Supervisors. Support letters and the nomination report were entered into the record to guide the next steps.