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San Francisco Sues Developer of ‘Sinking’ Tower

Claims builder didn’t disclose problem to condo buyers.

The City of San Francisco is filing a lawsuit against the developer of the “sinking” Millennium Tower, claiming it knew the building was sinking and tilting, but did not tell condominium buyers who spent millions of dollars on luxury residences. Since its construction and completion eight years ago, the 58-story tower has sunk 16 inches into soft soil at its base, and has a slight tilt. The developer, Mission Street Development, has made hundreds of millions of dollars selling the luxury condo units. “They went ahead and sold condominiums for a handsome profit without telling the buyers about the situation,” a resident of the building told The New York Times. “This is every homeowner’s worst nightmare.” A spokesman for Mission Street says the claims in the lawsuit have “no merit” and that the sinking was caused by the construction of a nearby rail station, which removed water from the ground. “The city attorney’s action today has nothing to do with protecting public safety, the building, or its residents,” the spokesman said.