The reopening of the San Francisco Public Library\u2019s Mission Branch is now slated for October, according to an update given by the library\u2019s facilities director, John Cunha, to the library commission last week.<\/p>\n
Andrew Sohn, an architect at the Department of Public Works and the project\u2019s director, told Mission Local in October that the renovation\u00a0was expected to be mostly complete by March of this year, with an opening date to follow shortly after.<\/p>\n
The latest delay comes as a result of utility hookups, according to Rachel Gordon, the Department of Public Works\u2019 spokesperson.<\/p>\n
\u201cPG&E energization is happening this week, so we are just now getting power. Power hookup was the primary driver of the delay,\u201d Gordon wrote to Mission Local. \u201cOnce power is on, we can start to commission all the building systems. The interior casework and finishes also could not be completed without the power.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 110-year-old building, one of seven libraries deemed a San Francisco landmark, closed for renovations in 2020 but pandemic-related delays meant that construction didn\u2019t start until the summer of 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mission Local reported<\/a> in 2024 that the construction was delayed by months due to neighbors\u2019 concerns about over \u201cshoring\u201d and \u201cpinning\u201d of the structure, amongst other factors.<\/p>\n During last week\u2019s presentation, Cunha said the project\u2019s budget is now at $40.7 million. This is up from the total cost of\u00a0 $34.08 million<\/a> posted on the Public Library\u2019s website. Gordon said in October 2025 that the construction cost alone was $24.7 million<\/a>.<\/p>\n