San Diegans’ Preferred Design for New OB Pier Is Longer, More Durable

Using new concrete techniques may be key to a new Ocean Beach Pier that can last 50-75 years, design experts said Saturday at a presentation on replacing the iconic structure.

Following more than a year of community engagement, the City of San Diego at a Liberty Station presentation revealed the preferred design concept that captures the features San Diegans expressed they would like to see in a new pier. 

Avoiding excessive maintenance is a goal.

Scott Jordan, a designer with Civitas, told a crowd of about 200: “We’re looking at strong, durable materials to make (the new pier) last as long as possible. We’re looking a different concrete and mixes.”

Jordan explained that the rebar within the pilings on the current pier weren’t coated or protected. When exposed to salt in the water, the rebar expanded and pieces of concrete flaked off.

Just using coated rebar alone will make a new pier much more durable.

Jordan spoke to the media after a presentation by the design team of their preferred design based on past workshop participants and then asked Saturday’s audience about lighting, retail choices, shade and the appearances of the entrance and end of the pier.

The new pier is about 2,000 feet long (compared to the current 1,971 feet). It will have a slightly wider deck width of 22 feet (vs. 20 now) and a shape similar to the existing pier, with curving arms on the western end. It is a hybrid of the proposed designs.

While the 58-year-old pier covers 54,000 square feet, the proposed one would be 76,000 with an elevated level (two tiers).

It includes a network of connected pathways, gathering places, new retail and dining opportunities and enhanced fishing opportunities.

While the artist’s rendition makes it look like the design is complete, Jordan said much more needs to be decided.

As part of Saturday’s event — the fourth workshop in a series — community members gave additional input on specific pier amenities not yet a part of the plan, including lighting and shade options.

A fifth public workshop is set for later this year.

This input, along with feedback gathered during an online survey over the next month, will help the design consultants finalize some of the project’s remaining features. People are encouraged to take the survey at OBPierRenewal.com. 
 
The presenters gave an estimated final cost of $170 million to $190 million.

A main problem with the existing pier is a dip in the middle.

“We’re estimating that we are going to have to raise the end of the pier about 10 feet, so it’s a straight shot to the end of Niagara Street, the design engineer said. The path’s grade would not be level.

The plan is to raise the pier to accommodate a future sea level rise and future wave action and to get above the flow area,” Jordan said. “We estimate that we have it covered for the next 50-75 years.”

Matthew Martinez of the infrastructure advisory firm Moffatt & Nichol told Times of San Diego that pre-stressed concrete along with added chemicals and new techniques would protect the core of the piles.

Meanwhile, stainless steel would be used for the railings.
 
Martinez says inserting the piles into the hard rock along the shore would be the most challenging part structurally. And the piles would be driven down 18 feet with a new pier, compared to 9 to 11 feet on the current structure.

All of this will be done battling the waves.

The verdicts of attendees?

Janelle Helms of Point Loma, at her first pier workshop, says she liked the design quite a bit.

“I like the variations — that there’s a small eating place,” she said. “I like the idea of the views from all sides.”

Safety is a key concern, she said, and added: “I don’t know quite how the money will come in for that, but I like the look quite a bit.”

The Best French Fries

Elizabeth Nesseler of Rancho Penasquitos for years has been doing recreational fishing off the OB Pier.

“I’ve been so sad it’s been shut down,” she said. “But it was on its way out. You could tell. What I really hope they bring back is whoever had the cafe license. I hope they get first bid because they had the best French fries.
 
“I like that they are keeping the two-arm feature, the big T,” which Nesseler says bring people back “who were fishing for sure, and it’s also good for people walking.” 

She wants sufficient fish-cleaning stations.

Cindy Keltner of Point Loma missed walking out and back.

“It’s great exercise, so I want something similar,” she said. “I have walked on it since it was built, a long time.”

Keltner called the pier an integral part of Ocean Beach: “It brings the community together. It’s an awesome resource to have and be able to access.”

Three designs were shown in a fall 2023 survey, with 3,700 taking part — 39% from central San Diego, 29% from Ocean Beach, 14% from north San Diego, 10% from east San Diego, 5% from south San Diego and 3% from outside the area,

The proposed design is “overwhelmingly what people seem to like and want,” Jordan said. “That was exciting to us. tIt showed that people were looking at something big and bold and unique. We weren’t expecting that. Were we pleased by it? Absolutely.”

Jordan listed that the key concerns of those who took the survey:

• Improved access
• Views back to shore
• Enhanced fishing opportunities
• Places for people to linger
• Shade

“This iconic structure is synonymous with Ocean Beach, and I’m thankful to the residents in that community and across San Diego who provided feedback to shape this design concept,” said Mayor Todd Gloria in a statement from his office. “Now we turn our focus to obtaining the necessary environmental permits and funding to make this community vision a reality.” 

A 2018 study determined that the pier has reached the end of its service life. As a result, the city is pursuing a potential replacement of the pier as the best option considering the ongoing costs of repairs, the need to modernize the existing facility and anticipation of future sea level rise. 
 
The current Ocean Beach Pier remains closed since it was damaged by high surf in October 2023. Over the winter storm season, it suffered additional damage, including losing one pile, a portion of a pile cap and large sections of railing.

Currently, the piles are 18 inches in diameter, spaced 30 feet apart. The preferred design has 24-inch piles, spaced 40 to 50 feet apart.

The city is assessing the damage to the pier to determine any options to stabilize it. A decision hasn’t been made if the pier could reopen. 
 
As the final design of the replacement pier is being developed, city staff will be working to acquire the proper environmental permits for the project under the California Environmental Quality Act and engage with the appropriate stakeholders to get feedback during the Environmental Impact Report process, as well as acquire proper funding.
 
If the project receives the proper environmental permitting and necessary funding, demolition of the existing pier and construction of the new pier will take place concurrently.

The new pier will be built over about the same footprint as the existing pier but with a higher deck elevation to minimize the potential for wave damage and account for future sea level rise. Work would start from the base of the pier, where it connects with the land, and work toward the west. 
 
The timeline for start and end of construction is yet to be determined.

An environmental permitting process and funding must be raised first. A project timeline is available here. 

One design engineer estimated the project may be completed by December 2028. 

Jordan praised the “amazing” meeting turnouts.

“As a team, we are really, really excited about where it has ended up,” he said, “and hopefully the community shares that excitement because we think this is going to be something that is new and unique and different from all of the other California fishing piers … and will make it really special.”