BEVERLY — It’s been five years since the project began, but the city harbormaster’s new waterfront Office still isn’t finished.

Beverly Public Services and Engineering Commissioner Michael Collins explains, however, that’s because finishing the building at 11 Cabot St. was pushed back due to other projects his department had to complete within a much stricter timeline.

“We should have it done in the spring, at least the first floor,” Collins said, noting there is now a four-member crew working on the project.

The building is situated near the foot of the Beverly-Salem bridge on the public pier at Ferry Way Landing, next to a small park. On the other side of the park is the old McDonald’s restaurant, which is where the harbormaster’s office is currently located.

The newer site will house the harbormaster’s office and public restrooms on the first floor, while the upper levels will be finished at a later time, according to Collins.

“Quite frankly, the harbormaster is up and running in a building right now,” he said. “It’s not like we’re completely without facilities down there.”

That site — 1 Water St. — will ultimately house a new restaurant if the city can attract the right bidder. The city had to cast aside a proposal during the last round of bids, but plans to craft a new request for proposals soon. In the meantime, the working conditions inside the building are far from ideal.

Ward 2 City Councilor Estelle Rand said she was in the harbormaster’s office on Monday. Along with not being well-heated, she said, Harbor Master Daniel McPherson had buckets set up to catch water leaking through the roof — some of the leaks were near exposed electrical wires.

“Just from a safety point of view, we have a city employee working in a building that is not safe,” she said. “I think that alone should prioritize the completion of the new office.”

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