The City of San Diego has unveiled a refined design concept for the new Ocean Beach Pier, following a collaborative process with the community that lasted over a year and a half. The design, which nods to the character of the original pier while ushering in modern touches, resulted from four community workshops aimed at soliciting public input.
Elif Cetin, Acting Director of the Engineering and Capital Project Department, expressed the city's commitment to realizing the community's vision. "More than 18 months ago, we set off on an extensive community outreach campaign to find out what the people of Ocean Beach and across San Diego wanted to see in a potential replacement Ocean Beach Pier, and here we are with a final design concept in place," Cetin said, according to an Inside San Diego report. The updated concept retains the original's overall ambiance but includes improved lighting, shading, and fishing amenities based on community feedback.
The project now pivots towards the environmental permitting phase under the California Environmental Quality Act and will also enter the Environmental Impact Report process. Additionally, the project seeks funding, with $8.4 million already earmarked by the state. The estimated cost for the project ranges from $170 million to $190 million, a figure that encompasses the community engagement process and the construction costs.
Given the untenable state of the existing structure, marred by damage from high surf and storms, the city has opted for replacement over rehabilitation. The future pier will emulate the footprint of the existing one, yet with an elevated deck to withstand wave damage and rising sea levels. The timeline remains tentative, yet projections suggest preliminary designs and environmental studies could round out by the end of 2024, with a public review expected in the summer of 2025 and the bid process likely by late 2026. The pier has been closed since October 2023 following significant damage, including the loss of a support bracket, or "pile," as detailed in a city statement.
New signage warns visitors of the potential dangers near the structurally compromised pier, in line with municipal regulations regarding fishing piers. A 2018 study highlighted the pier's aged condition and suggested replacement, with the costs for repairs and rehabilitation escalating, underscoring the necessity of the current replacement initiative. Details and timelines for the Ocean Beach Pier Renewal project can be found on the project's dedicated webpage, OBPierRenewal.com.
