Clock is ticking for convention center

"It doesn’t ring like a sound idea to me," said Nagel, who was interested in researching other recreation uses for the space.

Councilman Michael Brownrigg was pretty sure the project would not pencil out but saw no downfall in allowing the developers to research the project.

Councilmembers Ann Keighran and Jerry Deal agreed. Keighran noted residents asked for a performing arts center during Bayfront planning meetings. Deal noted part of any potential earnings could be earmarked for recreation purposes, which currently do not have enough funding.

The agreement’s next steps were not outlined last night, but the nascent plan has a completion goal of four to five years.

"Where we’re at now is square two," said Dommer. "We need to lock in on a site so we know what we’re doing. The size of the site will control the size of the project. We need to do more market research. We know there is a demand for such a facility. We know the city is interested in it."

Although city officials gave the OK for the developers to begin working out a proposal for the site, the tentative approval came with many concerns.

"My concern is this is public land," said Nagel. "We’re entrusted to be sure they get some value out of it. I don’t think the golf center is going to be the best revenue generator, but on the other hand, I don’t see the public value of a conference center either. … What’s in it for us?"

For Dommer, the answer was simple. Burlingame hotels cannot accommodate conference space being requested, which this facility would offer, he said.

A center with 12 conference rooms of varying sizes ranging from 300 to 2,400 square feet, a ballroom, a 59,400-square-foot convention hall, 28,300 square feet for supplementary spaces like a lobby and rest rooms, a 1,200-seat theater and two restaurants is included in the current vision, all of which would be run by an outside group.

The 14-acre property includes a soccer field, 225 parking spaces, a golf practice range and putting green, a maintenance building and a small recreation building. If built, the convention center is proposed to take the 10 to 11 acres currently used for the golf practice range and putting green, leaving the other amenities in place. Development is estimated by the pair to cost $83 million. Land cost is not included in that estimate, since the land value or use agreement possibilities were unknown, Dommer explained.

The 14-acre site sits upon landfill, which was of concern to Mayor Cathy Baylock and Councilwoman Ann Keighran. Baylock worried about environmental impacts, while Keighran asked about the stability.

Brownrigg was concerned there was not a representative from the company which would run the proposed center on hand. This would be the person with whom the city would have a lasting relationship, he said.

Dommer felt it was too early for that since a site was yet to be secured.

Baylock was philosophically uncomfortable with losing the public open space and wondered if the city should study resident opinions on use of the site, an idea Nagel supported.

Burlingame was specifically chosen by the developers for the proximity to San Francisco International Airport.

Dommer described their hope to bring medium-size conferences and conventions, as well as a wide variety of performances, to the proposed center. Salamat added the hope is to create a business plan that would keep the center relatively full often.

Councilman Jerry Deal was interested in giving certain access to Burlingame groups should such a center be built.

Dommer and Salamat met with the city’s Economic Development Subcommittee, consisting of Keighran and Deal, Sept. 22 and submitted a proposal at that time, wrote Burlingame Economic Development Specialist Patricia Love in a Dec. 28 City Council memo.

In 1991, Burlingame commissioned a study to decide if a convention center was practical. It found 50,000 to 75,000 gross square feet of exhibition space could be supported. Such a development would likely operate at a deficit, Love wrote when summarizing the report.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.