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Pismo Pier Rehabilitation
Would you like to own a piece of the Pier? For a limited amount of time the City of Pismo Beach will be selling Pier planks as well as a number of limited-edition mementos from this historic project.
The limited-edition mementos include "Golden Hammers," similar to the ones used at the groundbreaking ceremony, mounted on a piece of the historic Pismo Pier wood (15"w x 12" h x 3" d), Pier Plank Plaques, acrylic coasters featuring the Pismo Pier and other items of historical and sentimental interest.
Pier planks will be sold per foot and at a cost that varies depending on quantity purchased. Plank size is 12" wide x 3" deep.
• $2.50 per foot 0-50 feet ($15 minimum donation)
• $2.00 per foot 51-500 feet
• $1.67 per foot 501+ feet
Limited Edition Hammer Plaques (as available)
• $125 for bronze (only 100 units will be made)
• $175 for silver (only 100 units will be made)
• $250 for gold (only 50 units will be made)
Plank Pickup: These items are only available for purchase and pick-up on Fridays from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at 550 Frady Lane, Pismo Beach, CA 93449. Sales may be cancelled due to rain. To confirm, please contact the Facilities Division at (805) 773-7053. Credit cards and checks will be the only method of payment for the items at the time of pick-up. Due to the demand, the City cannot hold or pre-sell any of the planks or mementos. These items will be sold as available and on a first-come-first-serve basis. Planks will be sold as-is (with original spikes hammered into them) and un-cut. Wood planks vary in size. Sizes range from 6 feet in length to 18 feet in length. No guarantee on available plank lengths. New planks will be delivered weekly for distribution.
During pickup please note:
1. All customers MUST bring someone with them to load their purchase into their vehicle.
2. As a safety precaution, all customers MUST wear appropriate footwear (closed toe).
3. As a safety precaution, all children MUST be accompanied by an adult and remain in their vehicle at all times.
For questions about owning a piece of the Pier please call our Facilities Division at (805) 773-7053.
California Proposition 65: WARNING: Drilling, sawing, sanding, or machining wood products generates wood dust, a substance known in the State of California to cause cancer. Avoid inhaling wood dust or use a dust mask or other safeguards for personal protection. CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE – SECTION 25249.6.
On January 17, 2017, Cushman Contracting Corporation was awarded a contract in the amount of $6,462,000. Construction began on March 15, 2017 and the contractor has been working hard to make progress and is currently on schedule.
This project involves the temporary relocation of the bait shack and the information kiosk onto the promenade area, while the contractor performs the necessary structural rehabilitation work. Additional improvements include a new electrical system, water line for fire protection, upgraded lighting, benches, tables and other public amenities. There will be areas for public art and information boards for learning spaces describing the history of the Pier, the surrounding area, and the marine environment. Upon completion, the Pismo Pier will have the look and feel of “Classic California” with a traditional wooden decking and outdoor recreational space.
As a public safety precaution, public access to the Pier will be closed intermittently during the reconstruction process, however creating opportunities for public access will remain a priority.
Construction will proceed in a series of phase. The first phase of the project will require a hard closure of the entire Pier at the promenade entrance. The second phase will be a “soft closure” during the Monday through Friday construction work week and then open a limited portion on the weekends, when possible. Phase three will include opening a portion of the first diamond. The final phase will allow for the opening of additional portions of the pier as work is complete and when it is safe to do so.
The estimated construction cost is $8.8 million, which will be funded by the City through a combination of sources from transit occupancy taxes, sales tax, general fund revenues, and bond proceeds. Work will be performed in a series of phases and is anticipated to be completed by Fall of 2019.
The Pier, in its current location, was originally constructed in 1924. Since that time the Pier has suffered damage during several storms. A partial collapse of the Pier in 1983 prompted the State to reconstruct a portion of it in 1985. Sections of the Pier are more than 90 years old and, in a comprehensive structural inspection performed in 2015, it was recommended that several areas of the of the Pier be rehabilitated. This prompted the City to be proactive and address the Pier issues prior to any structural failures.
The Pier is a popular venue for events and ceremonies for residents and visitors, hosting just under a million visitors a year, and is a symbol of Pismo Beach and its Classic California culture. This project will be part of a series of future projects that will transform the downtown, waterfront, and public parks in Pismo Beach.
Back in 1881, Pismo’s original wharf measured in at 1,600 feet long. It opened for business taking off from the point where present-day Main Street meets the beach. Remnants of the pilings may still be seen at very low tides. Originally, it was not planned for recreation as such—it was a commercial venture designed in part to save freight fees for South County products and was built for $14,613. The wharf was active in 1890, but in 1905 it gave way during a heavy storm.
The Pier that replaced the original was built 2 blocks South of the first Pier in 1924 and was much longer and larger that of either before or today. Major storms tore up the south side of the sea wall and took 500 feet off the end of the Pier early in its existence. This fallen portion of the Pier was never replaced. After a 1983 storm washed out most of the Pier it was rebuilt in its present 4-diamond configuration in 1985-86. Some areas of the 1985 Pier still consist of the original 1924 sections. The Pismo Pier is the 16th longest pier in California with a length of just over 1,200 feet.
1881—Original wharf opens below Main Street.
1924—New pier built in the current location.
1984—Pier rebuilt in its current four diamond layout after severe storm damage.
2017—Pier Rehabilitation Project begins.
- Why did the City decide to rehabilitate the Pier?
- Has the Pier ever undergone reconstruction like this before?
- How many materials are used in building the Pismo Beach Pier?
- What is the total cost of the Pier rehabilitation projected to be?
- How long does the City anticipate this process to take?
- Will the City boardwalk and beach also be closed at times?
- Is the Pier going have a different shape or look different in any way?
- How will people know when a phase has been completed and when portions of the Pier have been reopened to the public?