City Of Fremont Approves Purchase Of Downtown Office Building

FREMONT, CA — The city of Fremont approved the purchase of a 23,000 square foot office building located next to city hall for $6.54 million during an Aug. 15 special meeting.

In a presentation during the meeting by Assistant City Manager Christina Briggs and Economic Development Director Donovan Lazaro, Briggs said the purchase represented a "strategic opportunity" for the city to "advance several long term goals."

Located at 39180 Liberty St. in Fremont’s downtown district, the city said it could consider possibly converting the building into a new city hall sometime in the future.

Briggs spoke on numerous projects that had been either completed, are under construction or that have been approved by council, including a new civic center.

"It provides the framework for steering multiple phases of redevelopment of the city's downtown properties ultimately contemplating a multi-story, modernized city hall with expanded council chambers, a new home for the FRC (Family Resource Center), potentially a parking garage to support expanded downtown commercial activity and of course our downtown events center."

While the building currently has several commercial tenants its possible that some city departments could be relocated into the building as space becomes available, Lazaro said.

"Purchasing the site would allow for the city to strategically consolidate it's administrative operations within the current city hall area while adding a key parcel that would enhance the overall redevelopment viability of the city's existing properties," Lazaro said. "

According to the city, should it choose to use the office building for a new city hall, the current city hall site would be redeveloped into mixed-use housing that would contribute to Fremont’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment.

Council unanimously approved the purchase.

To watch the city council meeting in its entirety, click here.