Cracks in foundation delay opening of new Public Safety Building

The opening of the new San Francisco police headquarters in the city’s Mission Bay neighborhood has been delayed, in part because of cracks discovered in the foundation of the building, a spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Public Works said.

Stormy December weather revealed leaks in the foundation of the $243 million Public Safety Building, SFDPW spokeswoman Rachel Gordon said.

The building, which will house the new SFPD headquarters and Southern Station and a new fire station, was supposed to open late last year but is now expected to open sometime in March, Gordon said.

City officials have said the Public Safety Building is necessary because the current police headquarters at the Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant St. is not up to seismic codes.

Mayor Ed Lee has called it:

“One of the most dangerous buildings we’re still forced to use.”

San Francisco voters in 2010 passed a bond measure to fund the new Public Safety Building, located at Third and Mission Rock streets.

Gordon said the cracks in the foundation of the new building have since been repaired and were under warranty as part of the agreement with the building’s contractor.

Gordon said:

“We’re glad that we found out now before the building is occupied.”

An opening date for the new building has not yet been set but will come before the San Francisco Giants’ season starts across McCovey Cove at AT&T Park in April, she said.

Although the San Francisco police headquarters will move next month, some divisions of the Police Department will remain at the Hall of Justice, as will criminal courtrooms, two county jails and the district attorney’s, medical examiner’s and adult probation offices.