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County moves to negotiate purchase of Burlingame site to speed reopening of sobering center amid split public reaction
Summary
San Mateo County staff were directed to pursue negotiations on a roughly $13 million Burlingame property that previously housed a sobering center, a move intended to allow quicker reopening of local detox/sobering services. The board did not authorize a final purchase and public comment was sharply divided between supporters of moving the project and advocates for the previously approved El Camino site.
San Mateo County supervisors on April 7 gave county staff direction to pursue a purchase agreement and further negotiations for a roughly 2‑acre property in Burlingame — parcel addresses listed as 1501–1521 Beayshore Highway, 1533–1545 Beayshore Highway and 818–826 Mer Road — with the stated goal of reopening a sobering/detox facility more quickly than a new build at an approved El Camino site.
County Executive Mike Caligie told the board the sellers provided a letter of intent for $13 million and that the parcel contains three buildings and substantial parking. Caligie said the property formerly hosted a program called First Chance, and ‘‘we believe we could get First Chance up and running relatively quickly,’’ while noting roofs and some systems would require inspection and possible upgrades.
The proposal is intended to provide a faster operational path than the El Camino Real site the county previously supported for Horizon Treatment Services, which has a state grant tied to a new construction plan. Caligie said the county and Horizon discussed subdividing the Burlingame property so Horizon could use state grant funds to buy part of the parcel — ‘‘we would seek approximately half of that, which I believe is 6.5 [million], which I believe they have in the grant for purchasing,’’ he said.
Horizon’s chief program officer, Daria, described Horizon’s model as a medical, evidence‑based treatment provider offering detox and residential care with typical lengths of stay of 30–60 days. ‘‘We are committed to the 69‑bed program and are open to further discussions,’’ she told supervisors.
The board stopped short of authorizing a purchase. Multiple supervisors emphasized the need for additional due diligence, state confirmation about grant flexibility and clarity on costs that the county would retain if the parcel were subdivided. Supervisor Mueller explained her position to colleagues: the direction to negotiate preserves flexibility and ‘‘will allow us to make an ultimate decision with all of that information readily available.’’
President Corzo, while not opposing negotiations, asked that any large county investment also be paired with a one‑time county commitment to expand services that address immediate resident needs — housing help, food assistance, immigration legal services and healthcare access — citing looming state and federal policy changes she said could affect tens of thousands of residents.
The public comment period was lengthy and polarized. Supporters of the Burlingame site — including some public‑health advocates and residents of nearby neighborhoods — praised its prior use as a sobering center, highway access and proximity to Mills Peninsula Hospital. ‘‘This site gives you something the current proposal does not: a clear and realistic path to be operational,’’ said one speaker who supported the Burlingame parcel.
Opponents of moving the Horizon project away from the El Camino location said the originally approved site is better located for transit access and closer to downtown services; many speakers who live near the El Camino site said they welcomed the facility in their neighborhood and warned that relocation could delay getting services online. Several speakers called on supervisors to prioritize timely service delivery and equity for people with substance-use disorders.
No final purchase vote took place. County staff will return with results of property due diligence, detailed cost estimates (including potential renovation, demolition and any project‑labor implications), updates on state grant conditions and a clearer plan for how a subdivided purchase would be structured. The board’s initial direction preserves the option to move forward but requires staff to bring back the additional information necessary for a formal decision.
What happens next: staff will negotiate a purchase and sale agreement if feasible, seek state clarity on whether Horizon’s grant can be applied to a subdivided parcel, and return to the board for any required approvals. The board emphasized the county’s goal of reopening sobering/detox capacity as quickly as possible while balancing fiscal transparency and community concerns.
