Contemporary Jewish Museum names its date

San Francisco's Contemporary Jewish Museum officially announced its groundbreaking date: Wednesday, July 19.

The museum, which had long named only "summer of 2006" as a potential groundbreaking date, plans a celebratory event during the day featuring architect Daniel Libeskind and, potentially, Mayor Gavin Newsom.

In late January, the museum demonstrated it had amassed enough money to cover the $28 million tab for the new structure's "core and shell." Prior to groundbreaking, it will have to demonstrate the ability to cover the museum's $44 million price tag.

As of February, the San Francisco Redevelopment Authority confirmed the museum had surpassed $33.3 million in fund-raising.

Museum officials hope to cut the ribbon in early 2008.