Costs For San Diego Government Tower Elevator Repairs Soar

San Diego City Council members approved a contract extension with Otis that adds US$1 million to the original US$3 million budget for emergency repairs to the elevators serving the Civic Center Plaza — an 18-story, midcentury office tower housing more than 800 city employees — ordered more than five years ago, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. City real estate officials were told in 2019 that the condition of all six elevators serving the tower posed a “serious safety risk” to San Diego workers, and the city signed a no-bid contract with Otis to complete the work by 2022. Issues including the COVID-19 pandemic, asbestos and installation of a new HVAC system, waylaid plans to complete the work by that time, however. Michael Zuccet, a former City Council member who now represents thousands of workers as general manager of the San Diego Municipal Employees Association, said he is not surprised the work is taking so long, since asbestos removal must be performed when the building is empty, and the city is understaffed. The new target date for completion is December 2025.