Roughly 100 people attended the City of San Diego’s first community workshop on the Ocean Beach Renewal Project Saturday.
That project is intended to provide a long-term solution for the 56-year-old pier, which has been damaged by storms in the past several years -- including the possibility of a full replacement.
"The Ocean Beach Pier has provided countless memories for people all around the world since it opened in 1966, but the harsh marine environment has caused major wear and tear over time," said Mayor Todd Gloria. "We are exploring the potential of replacing the pier because we value its importance to the community of Ocean Beach as an iconic attraction and an economic driver.
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"We hope that a long-term solution can provide a new landmark that works for all of San Diego as well as Ocean Beach," he said.
One of the residents in attendance was Celia Corral who goes by “OB Double C,” and told NBC 7 she has lived in the neighborhood for decades.
She has memories of fishing off of the pier with her mom and sister and said it’s important to save it for future generations to enjoy.
“It’s painful to see the damage it receives like each reoccurring storm,” Corral said. “I feel if it’s repaired properly, instead of just a little patch here and there, that it doesn’t really need to be torn down.”
Ken Baldwin is an architect who also lives in Ocean Beach.
“My banker is in OB, my lady that cuts my hair is in OB, my orthopedist is in OB,” Baldwin said. “I mean it’s all local. It really is like its own little town.”
A town, that he doesn’t want to see lose one of its most iconic attractions. He told NBC 7 that he is open to exploring new designs to replace the pier, especially if they take the environmental impact into consideration.
There were several activities for those at the workshop to partake in. One of them allowed attendees to place stickers on sections of a poster that read, “what is missing from the pier experience?”
Some of the squares with the most stickers were those for gathering spaces and outdoor dining. On the square that read “no pier,” there were zero stickers.
Based on the findings of a 2018 study by consultant Moffatt & Nichol, San Diego determined that pursuing a replacement of the pier is the best option considering "the ongoing costs of repairs, the need to modernize the existing facility and the anticipation of future sea level rise," according to a city statement.
The study examined the damage and deterioration of the structure and analyzed three options for the pier's future: repair, rehabilitate, or replace. It found various structural problems with the pier and determined that it had reached the end of its service life.
The Ocean Beach Pier Renewal project is in the preliminary engineering and planning phase and still needs to go through other phases including environmental permitting and other regional agency permitting, design, and construction.
The preliminary engineering and planning phase is expected to be completed this fall.
Upcoming public workshops will help consultants design the preferred alternative for the potential replacement of the pier. The first workshop is scheduled for Saturday, April 1, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road.
After the preferred alternative is completed, a detailed project schedule and cost estimate will be prepared. Currently, there is $8.4 million in state funding designated for the project and the city will pursue other state and federal grants, according to a city statement.
"Pursuing a replacement of the Ocean Beach Pier provides an opportunity to create a new, beloved structure that will serve the needs of San Diego residents and visitors well into the 21st century while honoring the legacy of the original pier," said James Nagelvoort, city strategic capital projects director.
The pier is closed to the public after being damaged by storms and high surf in January. The city will assess the full extent of the damage, both above and below the water's surface, once the storm season has passed and then make a decision regarding the potential for repairing and reopening the pier.
According to a city statement, crews may be spotted on the pier and in the water around the pier in the coming weeks and months as part of the investigative processes for both the potential repairs and replacement.
