A GROUP OF developers supported by political powerbroker Joe O'Donoghue are trying to tear down a historic 1926 theater in the Western Addition to build condos. It's a bad idea, and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors ought to revoke the demolition permit.

As Rachel Brahinsky reports on page 15, the Harding Theater at Divisadero and Hayes was designed by the Reid brothers, who were also the architects behind the Fairmont Hotel and the 1909 Cliff House. It's empty now, but a group of local small-business owners want to renovate the 1,200-seat theater and add an art gallery and café and storefront retail. That's a far better use than high-end condos. It's encouraging to see the small-business community stepping forward to work with Sup. Ross Mirkarimi on a progressive-neighborhood issue. Save the Harding!