Reader Richard L. sent us some photos this week of work getting underway on the back lot of the Alexandria Theater building at Geary and 18th Avenue. The back lot, technically 369 18th Avenue, is being prepared for construction of a new, 4-story mixed-use building with underground parking.

The new four-story development, dubbed the “Alexandria Residences”, will consist of two levels of underground parking with 122 spaces, approximately 4,800 square feet of retail spaces on the ground floor, and 43 dwelling units on the upper floors, including one, two and three-bedroom units. There will be 5 below market rate units in the building (e.g. affordable housing, the required 12% of the proposed dwelling units).

The 122 parking spaces in the building are for the apartments, customer parking for the new building’s ground floor retail stores and the possible movie theater that might be re-opened in the Alexandria Theater building, and for the restaurant that is also proposed for the theater building. The parking area will include 2 car share spaces and 6 handicapped spaces, as well as 20 bicycle spaces.

Other notable features about the building include: an interior courtyard on the second floor, future plans for solar panels on the roof, a 4350 sq. ft. rear yard, and private, small patios and yards for the ground floor units.

All new landscaping, including over a dozen trees, will be installed along 18th Avenue. Plans also show a bulbout near the back corner of the theater building that will enable a small park space to be installed with benches, moveable tables and chairs. There are also plans to install two large palm trees on either side of the theater entrance.

Download the Project Update Memo (2015)

The work currently being done on the lot is to shore the site, including some of the Alexandria’s foundation, in anticipation of building (and excavation) getting underway.

We do not have a timeline for the building’s completion, nor do we know if the plans to renovate the old building into a theater with commercial space, and a restaurant, are still in the works.

Nice to see something happening!

Sarah B.