Burlingame's new City Hall at 1440 Chapin Avenue opens to the public for regular business hours on Tuesday, Oct. 27, the city said.
Why it matters: The city says its nearly 55-year-old City Hall needed at least $35 million in repairs over the next decade, including seismic upgrades and asbestos removal, and was too small for its staff.
Visiting the new building
The old City Hall closed to the public at noon Thursday, Oct. 22, so staff could move. Staff are still answering questions by email and phone during the move, though responses may be slower, the city said.
Visitors enter from Chapin Avenue and can park in the ground-floor lot at the rear of the building, but not the parking garage. All city offices are on the third floor: Public Works, Finance and Community Development to the right of the elevators, and the City Manager, City Clerk, City Attorney and Human Resources to the left.
Council meetings
A new Council Chambers will be built on the first floor, but there is no construction timeline yet. Council meetings stay at the old City Hall through the end of 2026, then move to the Maple Room at the Community Center until the chambers are ready, the city said.
The deal
The city is leasing about 26,522 square feet and plans to buy the building on or before June 30, 2027, for $34.5 million. Swinerton Builders did the $3.7 million improvement work, which began in March. The building is less than two blocks from the old City Hall and near Caltrain, the city said. The San Mateo Daily Journal also reported the move.
Sources: City of Burlingame; San Mateo Daily Journal.