Geary housing plan is concern to neighbors

A housing development for seniors at the site of an old Geary Boulevard movie theater is raising concerns among some neighbors, who fear the six-story project is a harbinger of bigger, denser developments on the Richmond District's main thoroughfare.

Greg Hylton, president of the Jordan Park Improvement Association, says he has long respected his neighbor, the Institute on Aging, a nonprofit that helps seniors live independently through various services.

But Hylton said his organization opposes a plan by the institute to build a 150-unit building at the site of the closed Coronet Theater in partnership with nonprofit developer BRIDGE Housing.

"I think developers are watching this very closely and they're going to see if this project gets approved at this height, and if it does they're certainly going to start making inroads along the Geary corridor," he said.

The plan calls for replacing the 1,350-seat closed Coronet Theater and the 93-space parking lot at Arguello Boulevard with a Mediterranean-style building that includes a senior health center and 30 supportive housing units for very frail seniors managed by the institute and 120 affordable senior units managed by BRIDGE.

Dr. David Werdegar, president of the institute, said the design was dramatically changed to address neighbors' concerns, but he said the project was not made smaller because the size fits well on Geary.

"I think [Geary is] such a wide corridor it can take, in strategic locations, bigger buildings," he said. "You hear gross exaggeration of Manhattan-ization, which I think is unfair."

Peter Winkelstein, a board member of the Planning Association for the Richmond, said the group has endorsed the project despite some neighbors' concerns. He said it's too early to tell exactly how Geary will be redeveloped down the road. He doesn't believe this proposal is precedent-setting.

"But," he added, "it may be part of a future pattern."

Tom Earley, BRIDGE's development director, said the project's location will serve the Richmond's large elderly population well and the boulevard's transit is an asset for residents and employees who won't need to drive.

"But by no means is this unlocking the flood gates of development," Earley said.

Coronet project at a glance

The Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board will hold a hearing on the demolition of the Coronet Theater on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.

The Planning Commission will hold a hearing Thursday on the draft environmental impact report for the project at 1 p.m.

By the numbers

IOA bought site in 2000 for $8.5 million

$60 million project; (Bridge will spend roughly $35 million and IOA will pay $25 million)

30 supportive housing units for frail elderly and 120 affordable senior units

67 parking spots

Expected to start construction in 2006 and finish in 2008

E-mail: efancher@examiner.com