Rag intrepid reporter Geoff Page checked out what was going on at the foot of Narragansett.
The Rag was prompted by a reader who requested we investigate the scene, and “request immediate clarification regarding the apparent staging and anticipated installation of fencing at the western terminus of Narragansett Avenue in Ocean Beach, near the coastal open space and shoreline access points adjacent to the pier area.”
Instead of a written report, Geoff offered these photos. (See above)
The vice-chair of the OB Planning Board offered these points in a recent comment to an article about the “bloated bureaucracy” and unfinished projects in the City of San Diego:
Narragansett Avenue Access Stair Repair
CIP B18026
Preliminary Engineering Start: Q4 2017
Design End: Q2 2025
Construction Start: Q1 2026
Total Project Cost: $2.21M
Construction Contract Value: $598.31K
$1.6M in design fees to do repairs to an existing stair?
City of SD is like an out of network ER when it comes to our tax dollars.
For historical context, the north side of the top of the stairs is where the person who killed the Swindles initially shot from in February, 1964 (see OBRag Feb. 17, 2026).
“$1.6M in design fees to do repairs to an existing stair?
In the normal world (something very foreign to the City of San Diego), engineering and architectural fees) never should amount to more than 15% to 30% (including A/E, PM, testing, permits, etc.)
So, in this case, why are the engineering and architectural fees for a simple repair project 72%? Simple answer: inept and corrupt management. This is how the City makes up the difference to cover their outrageous “overhead” costs.