Bakersfield City Hall

Bakersfield City Hall
City Hall
Alternative names	City Hall South
General information
Type	Seat of local government
Location	Bakersfield, California
Address	1501 Truxtun Avenue
Coordinates	35°22′22″N 119°01′10″W / 35.37278°N 119.01944°W / 35.37278; -119.01944
Completed	1954 (1954)
Design and construction
Owner	City of Bakersfield
Architect	Robert Eddy

Colonel Thomas Baker Memorial
Memorial in front of City Hall
California Historical Landmark
Designated:	January 3,1944
Reference #:	382

City Hall North is where many city services are located.

Bakersfield City Hall (which is also referred to as City Hall South) is the center of government for the City of Bakersfield, California. It houses the Mayor's office and the City Council Chambers. It is located in the Civic Center, Downtown. A statue of Colonel Thomas Baker, the city's founder, is in front of the building and is marked as a California Historical Landmark #382.^[1] Many of the city's departments and officials are located in City Hall North, which is one block west of City Hall South.

History

The current City Hall was completed in 1954, after the old structure was destroyed in the 1952 earthquake.^[2] Interestingly, the old City Hall was too small and the city had started planning a new structure one year earlier. By the early 2000's, the city had again outgrown the existing building. Many of the city's departments and officials were at various locations throughout the city. The city decided to reconsolidate these services back to downtown.^[3]

A new building downtown was estimated to cost $18 million. Because the city was already committed to a variety of construction projects, it was decided to purchase an existing building nearby and remodel it for the city's needs. The Borton, Petrini & Conron building, constructed in 1995, was purchased for $4.5 million, and cost $1.4 million to remodel. It's name was changed to City Hall North. Many of the city's departments and officials (including the City Manager) were moved into it. The old City Hall was renamed City Hall South, although it is still the official seat of power for the city. The Mayor's office and the City Council Chambers remained in the old building, which is required by the City Charter. The Department of Water Resources would continue to remain at its existing location in Southwest Bakersfield.^[3][4]

References

1. ^ Kern. California Office of Historic Preservation. Accessed: 04-12-2011.
2. ^ Hoover, Mildred, Kyle, Douglas. Historic Spots in California. Stanford University Press. Stanford, California: 1990. ISBN 0-8047-4482-3. Page 134.
3. ^ ^{a b} Burger, David. Building to Slowly Become New City Hall. The Bakersfield Californian. December 29, 2006. Accessed: 04-12-2011.
4. ^ Geluso, James. Check Out the New Look - And Cost - of Our New City Hall. The Bakersfield Californian. December 19, 2008. Accessed: 04-12-2011.