The San Francisco Planning Commission has approved plans to turn Nob Hill Theatre, a former LGBTQ+ burlesque venue, into a 3,824-square-foot ASC, according to a Dec. 15 report from the Bay Area Reporter.
James Chen, MD, an orthopedic surgeon who operates Advanced Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in San Francisco, purchased the space in 2018 for $2.7 million. It has been empty since.
The planning commission voted 7-0 to convert the space into an orthopedic facility with a 3,824-square-foot medical office space and a 3,418 ASC. Above the facility, four apartments totaling 6,056 square feet will be constructed.
Dr. Chen promised the building's previous owners that he would retain its history, according to the report. He will maintain the site's original facade, its original sign and auditorium, and he plans to install an exterior historical plaque, an interior historical display and a nighttime sidewalk projection that highlights the building's past uses.