District leaders eye purchasing old school
By Heather Murtagh
Purchasing a campus local leaders sold off in the '80s for $8 million is just one option for a new Burlingame Elementary School District Office before the Board of Trustees tonight.
Potential proceeds from the sale of the 45,000-square-foot district office at 1825 Trousdale Drive and up to $3 million in Measure A funds could be used to build a new district office a topic the Board of Trustees will revisit tonight. Talks of a sale split the trustees earlier this year. If a sale did happen, the majority of the trustees agreed that a new district office built at Burlingame Intermediate School was the best option. Now a new, more expensive option is before the trustees: purchasing Hoover Elementary School which was closed in the '70s and sold in the '80s.
The old campus could offer a solution to two of the district's problems: a need for a new district office and, potentially, a place to house the growing number of children.
Trustee Marc Friedman explained the district was previously interested in the site but did not have the funds to purchase it. The site is now available. That coupled with the increasing enrollment projected to continue on its upward swing is just one option discussed for a possible new office.
In February, a number of other options for a new location were shared in case the district did decide to sell.
Buying land and constructing a building is estimated to cost $5.9 million, according to a staff report by Chief Business Officer Robert Clark. Renovating an existing building is estimated to cost $5.5 million.
Two alternatives, previously the most popular with the board, included building an office on the Burlingame Intermediate School campus. Building on the lower area along Quesada Way would cost an estimated $3.8 million. The cost escalates $1 million if the district office is placed atop the tennis courts on the north end of the site. Lastly, the district could build a two-story building on its current site for an estimated $3 million.
Paying for the move could come from a combination of places.
About two years ago, the district began considering a new location when they were approached and offered money for the current office. An appraisal was done, which matched the offer. Legally, the district needed to offer the building to all public agencies. A second appraisal was done in the meantime raising the building's value. The Peninsula Health Care District was the only offer.
Closed session discussions about the purchase have been held for quite some time now. Although a dollar amount has yet to be made public, Clark wrote the offer would allow the district to pay off the mortgage and net $2 million in proceeds.
If the district opted for the Hoover site, the $3 million in Measure A money earmarked for the district office would go for the sale. The additional $3 million could come from bond money or be financed.
The board meets 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9 at the District Office, 1825 Trousdale Drive

– Written by Lorne