Commission approves adaptive reuse plan for Alexandria Theatre and new mixed‑use building

The Planning Commission voted unanimously on April 25 to approve the adaptive-reuse and mixed‑use redevelopment at 5400 Geary Boulevard that will restore the Alexandria Theatre and build a four‑story mixed-use building on the adjacent lot.

What was proposed: The project includes preserving the theatre’s character-defining interior and marquee, creating a new roughly 200‑seat theater space and restaurant platform, adding about 4,800 square feet of new ground-floor retail, and constructing a four‑story building with 37 residential units (including four inclusionary affordable units) and two levels of underground parking.

Sponsor and preservation commitments: Architect Jonathan Perlman described plans to preserve terrazzo floors, murals and decorative plaster while removing non‑historic 1976 additions; he said the work follows Secretary of the Interior standards and is intended to be reversible where appropriate. Public commenters and neighborhood groups generally supported the plan as a long-awaited revitalization of a key commercial corner.

Conditions and commission action: Commissioners expressed concerns about future ownership changes and interim security; the commission added conditions requiring security and maintenance of historic elements and a requirement that any future substantial changes to materials or architectural details return to the Planning Commission. The motion to approve with those conditions passed 5–0.