On Thursday, the Castro Merchants voted to conditionally assist Another Planet Entertainment‘s (APE) proposed modifications to the 100-year-old Castro Theatre.

The vote got here on the identical week that the SF Board of Supervisors Land Use Committee delayed its vote for two weeks on updating the landmark status of the historic Castro Theatre. And it additionally is available in every week {that a} main determine in San Francisco’s drag world, Heklina, passed on, and the organizers count on to make use of the theater for a celebration of her life that has but to be introduced. The vote handed with two abstentions and one no vote.

Castro Merchants president Terrance Alan initially made a three-part movement which included: the preparation of an financial influence report, a contractual settlement between the Castro Merchants and APE, and that APE agrees to proceed good-faith participation within the negotiations convened by Supervisor Mandelman’s workplace.

“I think it achieves the consensus of the room and shows that a democratic process finds compromise,” Alan informed Hoodline. “The work ahead is in the details, and this shifts a lot of responsibility to the Supervisor. I believe he is up to the task with the continued support and counsel of his constituents.”

Inside the Castro Theatre. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline

“It leaves many of the members of the Castro Theater Coalition without direct support and my hope is that the theater continues to be available for the community and embodies its values,” added Alan. “The celebration of life for Heklina is a perfect example of an event for which we have no other space. Making sure that the theater is available for community gatherings is critical and nothing in our motion supports that.” 

APE senior vp Mary Conde, vp of enterprise affairs Dan Serot, and Castro CBD committee member Joe Sangirardi offered the proposed modifications to the Castro Theatre.

Jen Reck, Castro LGBTQ Cultural District (CQCD) co-chair and SF State professor, represented the Friends of the Castro Theatre Coalition who’ve voiced issues over the shortage of LGBTQ-specific programming and elimination of the orchestra-level seats. [Full disclosure: Steven Bracco, Hoodline’s Castro reporter, is a board member of the CQCD and member of the Castro Theatre Coalition.]

Ultimately the second a part of the movement was eliminated by Cliff’s Variety co-owner Terry Asten Bennett. Asten Bennett additionally moved to amend the primary half to require APE to submit its financial influence report back to District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman’s workplace for approval. At the assembly, Conde claimed they’ve already carried out a report.

Hoodline reached out to Supervisor Mandelman’s workplace for remark however didn’t instantly obtain a response.

When requested in regards to the financial influence reporter, APE spokesperson David Perry tells Hoodline “the data is being compiled and will be delivered to Supervisor Mandelman’s office in the next few weeks.” “At such time, the release of that data is the purview of the Supervisor’s office.”

The financial influence report, generated by the National Independent Venue Association asks three questions – regional inhabitants, venue capability, and annual patrons.

“We are in contact with [Mandelman’s] office to provide him support and follow up so that our membership can be informed of the progress,” stated Alan.

“My goal as CMA president is to provide real economic data to our members on the impact that an APE-managed Castro Theater will have on the business community, which is hurting from COVID repercussions, inflation pressure, interest hikes, and stagnant tourism,” added Alan.

“Personally, not as president,  I want guarantees that the community will continue to have fair access to the theater for the 356 ‘days’ that APE will not program events and the nearly 200 ‘nights’ the theater will be dark,” stated Alan. “[A]nd why APE continues to stonewall negotiations with the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, formed to ensure that historic culture isn’t completely erased by changes to the neighborhood fabric over which we have influence.”

Hoodline readers will recall this conditional approval comes after the Castro Merchants declined last fall to signal a letter in assist of APE’s proposed modifications to the 100-year-old Castro Theatre.

Despite a conditional vote, Perry wrote in a statement that “Castro Merchants vote to fully support Another Planet Entertainment in their plans to renovate, restore and revitalize the Castro Theatre including their plan for adaptable seating.” “Another Planet commits to continue its good faith efforts to work with Supervisor Rafael Mandelman’s office including offering details of the economic impact of their operation of the theatre.”

“Thank you to all the small businesses in the Castro and the Castro Merchants,” added Perry. “We are honored by your faith and look forward to restoring the Castro Theatre to its historic architectural glory and its historic place within the cultural life of the city including vibrant offerings for the film and LBGTQ+ communities.”

In response to the vote, CQCD co-chair Stephen Torres informed Hoodline that the CQCD “supports all coalition members, including the Castro Merchants Association, as they seek to hold APE accountable as stewards of our beloved Castro Theatre and it is more than valid to ask for the kind of data an economic impact report would provide before pledging full support.”

“As we have in our own communications with APE, we reiterate the urgency and gravity that Supervisor Mandelman and the Land Use and Transportation Committee conveyed to APE this week and look forward to verifiable facts and enforceable commitments to this vulnerable community already made more vulnerable by their continued lack of investment, activation, and programming,” added Torres.

It’s been over a yr since APE has taken over the programming of the Castro Theatre, whereas possession stays with the Nasser household and Bay Properties Inc.

APE has proposed much-needed renovations of the uncared for Castro Theatre, together with eradicating the orchestra-level seating and changing them with four-tiered sections of platforms with detachable seats.

The newest rendering of the proposed seating flooring plan. | Image: Castro Theatre

In January, APE released new renderings of its proposed modifications to the seating, which features a motorized raked flooring. Last month, APE launched a abstract of its community benefits package. Hoodline took a tour of the Castro Theatre in March which included prototypes of the proposed chairs.

APE states that it “pledges that 33% of programming at the theatre will be devoted to film screenings and film festivals.” APE previously told the San Francisco Chronicle that it intends to host 175 occasions per yr — leaving the theater darkish for roughly 190 days.

Last week the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District (Castro CBD) circulated a petition amongst Castro space retailers in assist of APE’s plans.

At Monday’s listening to, Castro CBD treasurer Ralph Higgins said over 100 companies had signed on. Higgins and Castro CBD govt director Andrea Aiello declined to offer Hoodline with a full checklist of supporters.

In half, the petition states, “We, the undersigned, support Another Planet Entertainment’s proposal to restore the historic Castro Theatre. Another Planet is committing $15M to restore the historic theatre back to its original glory.”

“The petition gives a voice to business owners who are not able to spend hours attending public hearings,” Higgins informed Hoodline. “The petition signatures were collected only to present at hearings.”

In response to the petition, Alan informed the Bay Area Reporter, “I want a process that is voted on by the members in the open member meeting we just had. I am disappointed the CBD joined Another Planet in jumping the gun by distributing the petition to merchants that was not worded carefully.”