Supervisor Connie Chan Introduces Legislation to Landmark the Alexandria Theatre’s Historical Resources
On Tuesday, District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan introduced legislation to landmark the Alexandria Theatre’s historical resources. The Alexandria Theatre was built in 1923, closed its doors in 2004 and has remained vacant ever since.
“The Alexandria Theatre is a beacon of the Richmond District, welcoming visitors to the west side for the past 100 years, but it has been neglected for nearly two decades,” said Supervisor Connie Chan. “This historical landmarking legislation will strategically preserve key elements of the theater while paving the way for the rest of the building to be developed to benefit the community.”
The Alexandria Theatre, located at 5400 Geary Boulevard, 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, chandeliers and mural represent the beautiful history of San Francisco. This legislation preserves these historic features while making way for the rest of the building to be developed.
“The Alexandria Theatre building is an iconic part of the Richmond district and I hope to see it given a second life, and continue to serve the neighborhood for another 100 years,” said Woody LaBounty, Richmond Neighbor and Historian.
The original 2000-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 was abandoned.
Supervisor Chan has met with the owner of the Alexandria Theatre and will continue to work with them and relevant city departments to help facilitate a plan for the theater with the goal of preserving the critical physical features of the theater while opening up the rest of the parcel to housing.
Categories: Press Release
Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon 
This blighted eyesore should have been torn down ages ago- it’s depressing and sad and decrepit- I loved seeing movies at the Alexandria- but I would also love to not see abandoned vandalized royten carcass of a building mouldering away for another twenty years. Adding a layer of ”historical value” will make it harder for anyone to build there. Please. Someone run against Connie Chan and Sandra Lee Fewer.
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Tear it down. Stop trying to pretend to preserve a history no one cares about in order to control what kind of development occurs there. We need to put land to practical use
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Bravo!!!
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I’m reading three peoples point of view that appear to have no appreciation of a Movie Palace, a historical tribute to the past and California’s culture. These three people do NOT speak for everyone. Yes, we need land use but to trade an apartment building for this landmark is wrong. This is a prime parcel of land and why not tear down this awful blight in the Richmond district? And why not tear down everything that is old and historical in our City? But history has told us that this is wrong. Two words, Fox Theatre. Probably nobody remembers this place as we are much younger than it’s demise took place. Does San Francisco have to lose all of it’s spirit? Are we to become a culture of tearing down anything that is old which has the possibility of beautification? Go ahead Connie Chan do your magic and make your district proud. Well, many of us.
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The Richmond Review/ Sunset Beacon reported that Sup. Chan introduced legislation to give the Alexandria Theatre Landmark Status. The Historic Preservation Commission will make a recommendation. Check out Clay Theatre , El Rey, Castro Theatre (not the seats). The Alexandria’s sign was never landmarked, and is now gone. Should any part of the building be saved?
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