A new cafe, bait shop and restaurant. Interconnected pathways that curve into the water and split into different levels to let people experience the ocean in different ways. And a design that builds on the original and extends farther into the sea.
These are some of the key design concepts that the city unveiled Saturday as part of its efforts to reimagine the iconic but crumbling Ocean Beach Pier and determine its future.
The final, preferred design concept was presented to the public at Liberty Station at the fourth workshop in a series of community events to get input on a long-term solution, after a 2018 study determined the aging structure was at the end of its service life. The pier has been shuttered since October due to recent storm damage.
Although the plan is not yet certain, both the community and city prefer to replace the pier due to the ongoing cost of repairs and need to modernize it. Officials on Saturday said a replacement is estimated to cost $170 million to $190 million.
The final design concept offers a pier structure distinct from any other in Southern California, including the Ocean Beach Pier’s current design, according to city officials.
It is the culmination of more than a year of work on a renewal project for the nearly 58-year-old pier, in which the city asked San Diegans to share their personal stories of what the landmark means to them, what it’s missing and what sort of pier experiences are important.
“We started this process with a blank slate, open to everyone’s ideas and desires for a potential replacement pier, and we feel like the preferred design concept represents the community input we received,” said Tyler Becker, a city spokesperson. “This state-of-the-art design holds core elements of the existing pier and pairs them with unique and innovative design features that will provide a whole new pier experience for generations to come.”
The final proposed design for a replacement pier incorporates preferred features from three potential design concepts released in September using public on them. More than 3,400 community surveys were submitted, and more than 600 people attended previous workshops.
The potential replacement pier would maintain the long, linear experience of the current landmark but add two curvy arms that extend the structure farther into the ocean.
It incorporates environmental constraints, including sea-level rise, and amenities community said they wanted, such as upgraded restrooms, fishing spaces, a surfers’ lounge and a revival of the historic Walking on Water Cafe.
The design features various deck areas with shaded seating and vista points, including an expanded deck and plaza for potential retail, dining and community spaces.
Like the original, the new pier would provide access from Niagara Avenue, but with improved accessibility for people with disabilities.
The design team asked visitors at Saturday’s community to give input on certain amenities, including lighting and shade options.
Those who could not attend can find out more about the design at OBPierRenewal.com and share their opinions through an online survey. The pier renewal project team will also continue to visit farmer’s markets and other local events to garner more public input.
The project will still need to go through environmental reviews and permitting. The city hopes to start building a new pier by 2026.
Worsening winter storms in recent years have led to more frequent pier closures and heightened the renewal project’s urgency. Storms this winter have caused significant damage, knocking down one of the pier’s pilings, a portion of the pile cap and large sections of its railing.
The shuttered pier will remain closed to the public until the city can stabilize recent damage. But city officials say any structural improvements will be more like a Band-Aid until the renewal project can move forward.
The city is waiting for a report from its marine structural engineer that will give a better idea of the potential options for stabilizing the pier. There is no timeline for when that will be completed or when the current pier will reopen.
