Here’s What the New Ocean Beach Pier Will Look Like
The City of San Diego has officially unveiled its preferred design for the new Ocean Beach pier. Here’s a first look.
Built in 1966, the pier in Ocean Beach has long been an iconic pillar of the community. However, the structure has reached the end of its safe lifespan — and is literally crumbling after recent storm damage.
Back in January, city officials posted notice that the OB pier would be demolished. Last month, the city officially unveiled what would replace it.
The new design is much more futuristic, with interconnecting pathways curving around multiple levels. Along with a “hammerhead” design that would extend further into the ocean, the new pier design would also include a café, bait shop, and restaurant, and an expanded plaza deck with shaded seating options and elevated viewpoints.
City officials praised the new design at a public workshop in Liberty Station in April, stating that it looks unlike anything currently in Southern California. Despite that, the plan for the new pier is not yet finalized.
It’s looking increasingly likely that a new Ocean Beach pier is a preferable solution to repairing the old one, given the costs of maintenance and modernization. Reportedly, building a new structure could cost anywhere from $170 million to $190 million, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
The new pier isn’t based on an arbitrary design decisions, either. The final design incorporates feedback from the community and elements from three non-final designs that were released to the public in September 2023. In total, more than 3,400 surveys from community members were submitted, and local workshops were attended by more than 600 people.
At this point, it isn’t clear when construction will start — or finish — on the new Ocean Beach pier.
Media credit: Images courtesy of sandiego.gov
Mike Peterson is a writer, editor, and strategist based in San Diego. When he’s not writing and editing the La Jolla news, you can often find him practicing yoga, rock climbing, or exploring the outdoors with his wife and dog.
