Photos by Charles Landon.
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May 10, 2024 at 7:42 pm on An Investigation by County Grand Jury Into San Diego’s Planning Process Picks Up SupportCorrect. She says she was on the commission during Faulconers term and then appointed to vice chair by Gloria in 2020.
May 10, 2024 at 7:10 pm on Now, County Board of Supes Wants to Jump In and Help Finance ‘Midway Rising’ Promises in Sports Arena Redevelopmentthese hi-rollers mentioned in the story, have NO clue what affordable housing is. A person on social security only gets a maximum of $1,800 a...
May 10, 2024 at 5:28 pm on An Investigation by County Grand Jury Into San Diego’s Planning Process Picks Up SupportMy bad kh! My point was related to SB 9 that was recently ruled unconstitutional in LA Superior Court, for the 5 Charter Cities that...
May 10, 2024 at 4:32 pm on An Investigation by County Grand Jury Into San Diego’s Planning Process Picks Up SupportKelly Moden Vice Chair Of The San Diego Planning Commission. Appointed by Todd Gloria
May 10, 2024 at 3:49 pm on An Investigation by County Grand Jury Into San Diego’s Planning Process Picks Up SupportSan Diego is a charter city. And don't fret, the Toad Gloria is already working on that sales tax increase.
May 10, 2024 at 2:15 pm on Is Money So Tight in San Diego, That Lights on Ocean Beach Pier Have to Be Turned Off at Night? Navigational Hazard Created by Dark StructureMaybe need to hurry up and get the pier torn down for safety's sake?
May 10, 2024 at 1:37 pm on Is Money So Tight in San Diego, That Lights on Ocean Beach Pier Have to Be Turned Off at Night? Navigational Hazard Created by Dark StructureAt the bottom of the "to do list". I guess sanitation is not a priority in this City as the flooded out people along Chollas...
May 10, 2024 at 11:49 am on Is Money So Tight in San Diego, That Lights on Ocean Beach Pier Have to Be Turned Off at Night? Navigational Hazard Created by Dark StructureOB has a number of big-project needs, including the library, a new lifeguard station, new public restrooms -- and it appears that the library won...May 10, 2024 at 10:33 am on Is Money So Tight in San Diego, That Lights on Ocean Beach Pier Have to Be Turned Off at Night? Navigational Hazard Created by Dark StructureOne positive thing about the underutilization is it makes more room for those of us who DO use them to pedal harder and faster. Bummer...
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{ 51 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi:
Does anyone know if this sort of damage to the piers themselves has occurred before?
/s/ Chris Kennedy
Sorry, I guess I should’ve referred to damage to the “pilings”, not “piers” (long day).
/s/ Chris Kennedy
Sadly, this is a first.
I am astonished to see part of the piling missing from the OB Pier. Back in the 1980s, I worked closely with the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, which was instrumental in convincing the United States Army Corps of Engineers to locate the pier where it is today. Two members, whose names escape me now, assured me the Army installed steel reinforcing bar in all the pilings. That missing piece suggests someone shorted on the steel because we should be viewing bent steel rods where the break occurred. I should think this is grounds for an investigation by the Army Corps of Engineers and whoever pays for insurance at the City of San Diego?
Ahh. It’s been eroded for ages & was wiped out today. At the overall breakpoint water line. Just below the surface it either has pieces sticking up or it fell apart all the way to the sand.
My engineer spouse thinks the piling didn’t fall away and that it’s still hanging there – because of the steel bar. The damaged piece is twice the width of the other pilings.
I agree with Patty, that was my guess.
“Corrosion in the reinforcing steel has initiated, and the structure will continue to degrade unless corrective action is taken,” says the engineering report, which was completed in 2019 and released to media and the public in early 2021. “With the current condition of the pier and the magnitude of wave forces and potential seismic forces that the pier will be exposed to, severe damage or partial collapse of the pier is possible if the deterioration of the structure is allowed to continue,” the report continues.
https://www.materialsperformance.com/articles/material-selection-design/2021/11/corrosion-concerns-at-san-diegos-ocean-beach-pier
The OB Pier was officially opened on July 2 1966 long so you could not have advised the Corps of Engineers in the 1980s about its construction.
Nice catch
https://www.sandiego.gov/cip/ocean-beach-pier-renewal
Maybe it was a typo ….
I’m not sure who you comment was directed to but I will say that a major pier repair project was done in 1989. As far as I know the Corp of Engineers was not involved.
A drone video. I believe the OB Rag photos show the support concrete that tumbled into the sand point up. This vid, It’s not there. It likely was toppled on the next waves.
https://youtu.be/Jlc-np8p1Uw?feature=shared
The drone vid clearly shows the damaged piling gone – . Thanks for providing it.
Whoa!! Looks like the pier won’t be open for a while…
I doubt they will ever reopen west of that pier loss. Probably none of it. The city could not be happier.
Geoff Page. I think you’re right. This mayor has special interest groups he takes care of, not something that’s open to the public and tourists. We are all supposed to be riding bikes to show some use of the expensive bike lanes, never mind about the public pier.
I rode my bike today. Rode the bike lane on Park from Brooks to President’s Way. Cut through the park and headed over to 4th. Went down that bike lane to Beech. Had some brunch at Harbor Breakfast. Got back on Beech and headed to 5th. Rode that bike lane to University. Took that bike lane to Robinson and headed home. Hate or love Todd (I don’t love him) but YAY BIKE LANES!!!
Geoff,
You and I are in agreement here. The city probably couldn’t be happier about this.
Frankly I don’t think losing the pier is as much of a loss as some may fear. I am confident OB will be just fine without it
Instead of building some fancy, newfangled thing, why doesn’t the city just build a new pier over the old one…? Just figure out a way to make a gradual slope so that it is accessible to all?
The pilings are about 45 years old and engineering would likely say no. Demo the pier, cut the pilings off at the mudline and drive new ones. Demo and replacement of a Navy pier 120′ wide and 1600′ long was about $100M
Sounds like a plan.
Why have some newfangled other thing…still holds.
Rebuild the original – just a new one, complete with the WOW Cafe.
The Mayor seems intent on driving away anyone who is not rich or poor,
but the iconic pier is for everyone, including both these groups and
everyone in between.
High tide this morning is at 10:28.
I was on the pier the day they opened it.Can believe it’s been that long.
It’s curtains for that pier from now on. I just saw a photo of it in the Times of San Diego completely submerged by waves. Instead of re-building, would the money be better spent on urgent societal issues like affordable housing?
Uh, the mayor has that covered? (sarcasm)
Interesting question though, do you spend $100M to replace the pier?
If you believe in climate change and rebuilding the pier, then you are a hypocrite
The dreams…..
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/city-of-san-diego-shares-3-designs-for-replacing-ocean-beach-pier/3302625/
Remember though, you’re talking possibilities of retail or restaurant, which require water, sewer, electricity, the ability of vehicular traffic, whether service or emergency, and last but not least, seagulls pooping on everything. Will not be cheap and where does the money come from?
And lest we forget, a dam at Hodges that needs repair. How much more water poured down the drain?
I see.
Well, how about a fairwell party to the Wow…
The lights on the pier could be solar? No wiring? No bathroom. Etc.
Would that significantly cut the cost?
I vote for the pier. It has and still brings lots of good memories and times to so many people.
/s/ Chris Kennedy
$8.4 million in state money is spent just on the process. The idea of replacing the OB pier, with likely costs of 75 million or more, is pouring money down the drain for a glorified feel good walking path. The Lake Hodges dam that needs repair, to sustain area water, that the city currently, wastefully releases, no diversion attempt, while we face higher rates due to imported water, and recycled toilet water projects, as area infill construction is allowed to run rampant without proper infrastructure in place. The cart is before the horse. Sentimental reasons may not be realistic.
How much time have you spent on the pier? Clearly very little for you to call it a “glorified feel good walking path.” I’ve spent many, many hours on that pier jogging for years. It is filled with people of all kinds. Some are fishing to eat. Others are fishing as a way to relax and enjoy an environment that is vastly superior to where they may live. People who are physically unable to go in the ocean enjoy being out over it tremendously. You have no idea. Sure we have all those other problems too but that pier fulfilled a need for lots of people in a way nothing else could.
Very very well said, Mr. Page, thank you.
/s/ Chris Kennedy
Your emotions mistake my words. My statement, to the cost of a new pier was,
“The idea of replacing the OB pier, with likely costs of 75 million or more, is pouring money down the drain for a glorified feel good walking path. ”
I’m sure it was pleasing to many people while in use. I didn’t disrespect that. In 1966, the pier cost 1 million. But, it may be time to let go considering the cost over other regional needs and how the city manages priorities. I’ve also said taxes are regressive to affordable housing. So where does the money, for what could be considered now a luxury, come from? There’s no offset in it to recoup spending. In an environment where the state is in a deficit. Where healthcare is given to undocumented immigrants. Where fixed SDG&E costs will be on a scale according to your income level. Homeless services. The list goes on, aside from the city water management that will raise rates 20% in two years. We didn’t subsidize the Chargers bc the cost was too much. The spending insanity for money we don’t have is just another tax or bond implemented, glossed over, and forgotten about.
BTW, where about 35, of my 45 years in construction, was spent in public works projects, 15 were spent in pier construction, FWIW. I liked building them, but it’s expensive.
Chris,
I agree with a lot of what you said, rebuilding the pier does seem expensive. Maybe even a “luxury”. I would like to see some estimate of what that pier (and a new one) has contributed to the local economy. I wonder, over the last 50+ years, how many people had lunch or walked into the local shops and purchased something, bought gas at a local station because they came to fish off or just take a stroll on the pier. We will never know how many people came for a visit and then decided to move to OB because they loved the area of which the Pier is a part. I’m no accountant or an economist, but at some point, the Pier may pay for itself over time.
For what it’s worth, doesn’t 101 Ash cost the SD taxpayers @$6500/day (or a bit over $2M/year) for “upkeep”? What’s the value-add there?
Wish it drew more attention when Gloria was running against Bry. Hope the next candidates skewer him on it. An everlasting revolving door of mayoral incompetency. Wonder if the 175M in bonds issued will cover hazmat suits for the occupants?
This pier is an economic driver. Before deciding against spending the money to rebuild it, a study would need to be done to find out exactly how much the pier contributes to the city’s econo0my. I believe it would surprise people how big that contribution would be. It’s not like the city and it’s citizens and all the tourists get no return on that expenditure.
Yes, for 57 years at an original cost of 1 million dollars, the idea that people in the area generating roughly $17,500 a year in 7.75% tax revenue is not far fetched. Extrapolate that to 75 million, and would you get roughly 1.3 million a year in tax revenue for the same 57 year span? That’s roughly 17 million a year in spending. All speculative points.
And 7.75% wasn’t for every year. That was a poor part of statement.
Sales tax revenue is not all the pier brings in. It brings people to local restaurants and businesses from all over the city. Your example has a flaw. As the economy continues to increase over the years, those sales tax revenues would increase as well.
My point is no more speculative than yours. Poo poo this to the nth degree. We can go round and round but as you said, a study would need to be done. Pier access is free. My point was to show the economic activity to recoup the cost of 75 million back to the city using sales tax revenue, requires approximately 17 million in local spending a year over 57 years. The economy continuing to increase is presumptuous. No more presumptuous than if I said future taxes would go up to increase revenues. And by your presumption, with the pier closed, then present economic activity should suffer therefore.
Geoff,
Is it really an economic driver? How does your desire to rebuild the pier square with your opposition to redeveloping Midway based on your concerns about sea level rise? Under that logic, wouldn’t the pier just be underwater in a few decades?
When did I ever say I was opposed to redeveloping Midway based on sea level rise?
As for the pier, sea level rise is being considered in the design.
Geoff,
I agree with your comment completely. Ocean Beach – as a town, as a destination, as a place where people live and people from all over the world come once they discover it – does not end at the end of Newport, at the sand. It ends at the end of the pier.
Every time I go to my coffee shop, or chit chat with people on the street, I am delighted that they are from Texas, Scotland, many places in Europe, Japan, etc., etc., etc.
Revenue for the people who live here, let alone the corporate interests who profit from hotels downtown (plus all the jobs they generate for locals), is probably generated to a tidy sum by the OB Pier – based on its imagery alone.
It’s iconic.
Well said, Tessa.
From Dec. 28 to Dec. 31, local lifeguards performed 96 rescues, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department posted Tuesday on X — https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/san-diego-lifeguards-perform-nearly-100-rescues-during-high-surf-advisory/
The lifeguards are incredible! I surf a lot (really badly), and it’s always fun to watch them when they go out to practice life-saving techniques or to just surf on their giant boards. They effortlessly catch waves, glide along, turn—I watched one guy awhile back nose ride for the longest time against the setting sun. True California classic (it still exists), and I mentioned this to him as he came in by me. A big smile and a “thank you”; it really made my day. I think he said his name was Brandon. Thanks for posting this article.
/s/ Chris Kennedy
Several commenters raise concerns about where the funding will come from to build a new OB Pier, pointing out many other needs in the City and County such as the building of a replacement dam at Lake Hodges. What too few understand is that funding for major public works projects comes from a range of non-City of SD sources.
Here’s a summary of where funding will be sought for the new OB Pier; keep in mind that that $8.4 million already available is from the State of California, and not from the City of San Diego.
https://www.obpierfoundation.org/faqs
“Where is the funding coming from?
Once a preferred design is selected, the City intends to pursue multiple State and Federal grants for infrastructure and public works projects. This funding will come from a different budgetary source than funds for homelessness and social services. The State so far has allocated $8.4 million for the project.”