City says Safety & Justice Center structural rehabilitation entering rebuild phase after delays
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Summary
Facilities staff told council that after two years of structural rehabilitation and recent demolition work, reconstruction of the Safety & Justice Center is scheduled to start later this year; staff cited unseen structural issues and water infiltration that increased costs and delayed the schedule.
City facilities staff reported Sept. 16 that the long-running Safety & Justice Center rehabilitation is moving from stabilization and demolition into structural rebuild later this year. Charice Montgomery, senior project manager in facilities, said crews “secured the building for demolition” last summer and that the demolition phase is expected to finish next month. She told council the project encountered repeated unknown conditions — structural deficiencies resulting from water infiltration and poor original workmanship — that increased timelines and costs.
Montgomery said the project will restore the building’s structural integrity and bring it into compliance with the International Building Code’s essential facility requirements. She described the rebuild as including additional offices, meeting spaces and upgraded essential systems to meet long-term public-safety needs. City staff framed the work as part of a broader shift toward more proactive facility maintenance and lifecycle management after decades of deferred replacement.
Why this matters: The Safety & Justice Center houses municipal public-safety functions; stabilizing and rebuilding it is a major capital and operational priority. Staff said previous underinvestment in building maintenance created higher costs during rehabilitation.
What to watch for next: Staff said structural rebuild work is scheduled to begin later this year; council and staff will track costs and timelines as design and construction continue.