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Monday, San Francisco Small Business Council Resolutions considered to be supported another planet entertainmentSuggested changes for 100-year-olds Castro Theater.
After hearing the overwhelming majority of in-person and virtual public commenters expressing opposition to the resolution, the committee voted unanimously 6-0 to postpone the resolution to a later date.
Announced earlier this year, Another Planet Entertainment will take over programming and overhaul the theater, while ownership remains with the Nasser family and Bay Properties Inc.
According to committee chair Sharky Laguana, APE was invited to give a presentation on its proposed changes. Many commissioners said this was the first time they had heard of the conflict over changing the Castro Theater.
Sharky Laguana, Chair of the Small Business Council. | Image: SFGovTV
Before his speech, Laguana responded to criticism the committee received via email before the meeting. “Before we start, I want to turn the temperature down,” Laguna said.
The committee will discuss “Resolution to Support Another Planet Entertainment. “
“Whereas, while maintaining its historic character, maximizing the use of space and expanding the use of the Castro Theater is critical to its long-term financial stability; therefore, now,” reads part of the resolution.
“In any event, the Small Business Council supports Another Planet Entertainment’s proposal to update the Castro Theater to improve accessibility, enhance programming, and enable the Castro Theater to continue serving the LGBTQ+ community for 100 years,” Resolution ends.
Many commissioners and public speakers questioned why the project was put before the Small Business Council in the first place. Public speakers urged the committee to wait until the historic preservation committee and planning committee review the project before backing a resolution.
Image: SFGovTV
Public speakers also criticized the APE for its lack of transparency and for not announcing committee hearings at its meetings. August 11 Town HallMany public speakers said they had only heard of the hearing three days earlier, thanks to information provided to them by a city worker.
“I still don’t understand why this is before our committee now,” Commissioner William Ortiz-Cartagena said.
“I will be in charge of why this is on our agenda,” Laguana said. “This particular building has had a particularly big impact on Castro’s small business community, which was suffering even before the pandemic. It has had an impact.” Laguana cited Castro’s 37 percent store vacancy rate and a 50 percent drop in sales tax revenue.
The presentations were attended by APE Senior Vice President Mary Conde, APE Commercial Vice President Dan Serot and Assistant General Manager Casey Lowdermilk. APE CEO and co-founder Greg Perloff and the Nasser family were not in attendance.
APE’s presentation began with a brief introduction, followed by a 13-minute video on the challenges facing the Castro Theatre and plans for the renovation.
Proposed renovation Includes the removal of orchestra-level seating and its replacement with a four-story platform section with moveable seating; removal of concession stands in the lobby area; expansion of women’s restrooms; improved ventilation and electrical systems; addition of changing rooms on the first floor; and possible addition of an elevator , which can be accessed from the lobby level to the second floor.
Rendering of the proposed standing room floor plan. | Image: Another Planet Entertainment
During the hearing, Serot acknowledged that when APE announced it would take over the historic theater, it was not well prepared for the public backlash.
“Unfortunately for us, we don’t see it as a community center. Rather, as a commercial enterprise,” Serot said.
Responding to APE’s presentation, Laguana said: “We need you to succeed… We want it to be here for hundreds of years to come.”
However, Laguana called on APE to do more community outreach. “I want to see a bridge to the community and really engage with the community on these issues,” Laguana said.
Another Planetary Entertainment assistant general manager Casey Lord Milk. | Image: SFGovTV
The commissioners heard from about 20 public speakers, all but two of whom were critical of the APE and urged the commission to withdraw or pursue the resolution at a later date.
Initially, public comment would be limited to one minute per speaker, but LaGuana agreed to two minutes per speaker after activist Michael Petrelis protested.
Many public speakers have denounced APE’s plans to eliminate orchestra-level seating. At the hearing, APE said they had not yet decided what type of temporary seating would be installed.
To make removal and installation of the seats easier, APE said the seats will be stored on-site in a new room in a former boiler room at the rear of the theater.
Queer public historian Gerard Koskovich shares his concerns about the proposed changes and their impact on the LGBTQ+ community and culture.
“Classic movie theater seating at the Castro Theater is not accidental, it’s not random, it’s not trivial,” Koskovic said. “That’s what conservationists have defined as a defining feature of this space.”
“That’s what tells you it’s a movie theater,” Koskovic added. “It’s a critical thing before the historic preservation committee and planning committee consider it.”
Queer public historian Gerard Koskovich. | Image: SFGovTV
“When I hear APE talk about bringing in ‘new populations’ or ‘specific populations,’ I know what they mean,” Koskovic said. “What they mean is there’s a lot of straight rock concerts where they’re going to get drunk and 1,400 of them are going to flock to the streets of Castro.”
Koskovic asked how this would affect not only small businesses nearby, but also Castro’s culture.
Many commenters also questioned whether the Berkeley-based APE is considered a small business or a San Francisco business.
In this regard, Laguana said, city administrative code Define an APE as a small business with 100 or fewer employees.
Castro Merchants president Dave Karraker called on the committee to “don’t treat this as an all-or-nothing proposition”.
“I want you to understand that this is not about a single business or building,” Karak said. “It’s about all of Castro’s businesses. It’s going to help those businesses survive. Castro needs the success of the Castro Theater.”
San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission The proposal is scheduled to be discussed on Wednesday, October 5th.The panel will also hear proposals from Region 8 Director Rafael Mandelman Extended placemark name For the theatre, existing orchestral seating will be included.
the next day, the Planning Commission Hearings will be held on proposed zoning changes to allow APE to introduce live entertainment.
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