Helios and King wrangle approval for Burlingame life science building

Helios Real Estate Partners and King Street Properties have taken a step forward with plans to build a 300,000-square foot life sciences building in Burlingame.

The San Francisco- and Boston-based developers won approval from the Burlingame Planning Commission for special permits for the eight-story research building at 1699 Old Bayshore Highway and 825 Mahler Road, the San Francisco Business Times reported. The project would replace three 1960s buildings.

Plans call for a 151-foot tall research and development building on 3 acres, with 16-foot ceilings and a seven-story parking garage.

The developers acquired the property centered around 1499 Old Bayshore Highway in 2022 for $45.2 million.

The joint venture aimed to build a Class A life science office campus of around 300,000 square feet with parking, public outdoor space and a café, then nixed the cafe to the consternation of commissioners.

A special permit is required for projects on Bayshore Highway that exceed 65 feet. With the project also exceeding the allowable floor-to-area ratio, the developers sought an exemption by providing a 6,900-square-foot public plaza, sea level-rise infrastructure, public art and a public trail along Mills Creek.

Commissioners questioned the public benefits with no cafe and only eight public parking spots.

Peter Banzhaf, co-founder of Helios Real Estate Partners, said he was unwilling to have a cafe conditioned as part of the approval process, but said he could offer more parking.

“We want to bring a full building user to Burlingame and the best way to do that is a blank campus,” Banzhaf told the Business Times.

The commission settled on the developer providing at least 20 daytime parking stalls and contributing $100,000 to upgrade Old Bayshore Highway frontage, near a shorebird sanctuary.

A timeline for construction was not disclosed.

The project is part of a larger life sciences and office development known as The Landing, proposed by Helios and King. The 503,500-square-foot development includes the 300,000 research building at 1699 Old Bayshore Highway, dubbed the South Building, according to its website. A North Building would include 203,500 square feet of offices at 1701 Old Bayshore.

— Dana Bartholomew

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