San Diego's new downtown main library, which opened to the public September 30, 2013, apparently will wind up costing a million dollars more than originally expected.
The reason, as city officials phrase it? "Changes in scope and unforeseen conditions encountered during construction," according to a report to the City Council.
Documents indicate there were additions and "change orders" shortly before the iconically domed library opened and shortly afterward.
In 2005, the nine-story East Village project's estimated price tag rose 24 percent, to $185 million, because of escalating steel, concrete and oil costs.
The city’s contract with Turner Construction called for a timeline of 912 calendar day, but all the changes and setbacks pushed the library's completion forward another 167 days.
Now, city staff and the builders have reached a $1 million settlement on the cost of construction delays.
Officials say the money will come from outside contribution funds left in the "capital improvement" project's budget.
The settlement is scheduled to go before the City Council's Infrastructure Committee Tuesday, a preliminary step toward approval by the full Council.
