Committee recommends landmarking of Grand Theater in the Mission

The Land Use & Transportation Committee voted on Feb. 12 to recommend that the Board of Supervisors designate the Grand Theater at 2665 Mission Street as a landmark. Chair Mirna Melgar moved the committee's positive recommendation, which passed with Vice Chair Dean Preston and President Peskin joining her in a unanimous 3-0 vote.

Anna Herrera, speaking on behalf of Supervisor Ronan, said the designation would recognize the theater's long history as a neighborhood movie house and its role in the Mission Corridor and Cultural District. Planning staff member Pilar LaValle told the committee the Historic Preservation Commission unanimously recommended landmark designation after a November 15, 2023 hearing, noting the theater's 1940 construction and Streamline Moderne architectural features.

Barry Through, executive director of Gray Area Foundation for the Arts, which operates the theater, described Gray Area's decade of stewardship and recent investments to restore architectural features and the marquee. He told the committee Gray Area uses the space for film, performance, education and exhibitions and said the organization sees the designation as a key protection for continued community use. According to the testimony in the record, Gray Area cited economic-impact figures for its programming and operations; those figures were stated in testimony and are reported here as described by the speaker.

The committee's recommendation sends the ordinance and Planning Department findings under Planning Code Section 302 and other relevant provisions to the full Board of Supervisors for final action. The Board is expected to consider the item on its Feb. 27 agenda unless the full Board schedules it otherwise.