| Bakersfield City Hall | |
|---|---|
| 2011 Bakersfield City Hall.JPG City Hall |
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| Alternative names | City Hall South |
| General information | |
| Type | Seat of local government |
| Location | Bakersfield, California |
| Address | 1501 Truxtun Avenue |
| Coordinates | |
| Completed | 1954 |
| Design and construction | |
| Owner | City of Bakersfield |
| Architect | Robert Eddy |
| Colonel Thomas Baker Memorial | |
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Memorial in front of City Hall
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| California Historical Landmark | |
| Designated: | January 3,1944 |
| Reference #: | 382 |
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.
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]