> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Santa Monica Time to save the pier once again
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-time-to-save-the-pier-once-again-editor/
- Published: 2007-02-28T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T00:09:43.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Pier, #archive-import

*By Ruthann Lehrer*

As a member of the Landmarks Commission, I would like to respond to your article about the Santa Monica Pier access project (“Bridging convenience gap,” Feb. 21, page 1).

The entire Santa Monica Pier is designated as a Santa Monica Landmark, from the entry sign to the west end of the pier. The complex consists of many different parts, including the Municipal Pier (1909), the Looff Pleasure Pier (1916), the Looff Hippodrome (1916, a National Historic Landmark), the pier bridge (1939) and the pier sign (1940). The pier bridge was constructed in 1939 as a WPA project to provide improved access to the pier, and received its signature neon entry sign in 1940\. The pier and neon sign are recognized as iconic symbols of the city and emblematic of our unique identity and history.

The pier bridge and sign are historically significant parts of the complex, and retain their original integrity and spatial relationships that connect the city to the pier. While the bridge and its hazardous sidewalks need renovations, the proposed widening of the bridge with a new freeway-like ramp addition has a serious negative impact on our most cherished historic resource.

The pedestrian character of the pier and the historic scale relationships would be sacrificed for the convenience of the automobile. No longer would the iconic neon pier sign be silhouetted at the end of Colorado Boulevard, depriving it of its link to the city and its historic value.

The Landmarks Commission is on record supporting alternative five in the EIR, which does not alter the bridge nor require relocation of the sign, but converts the entryway to a pedestrian corridor. Only delivery, emergency and disabled access vehicles would be allowed through.

The high curbs would be removed and a new roadbed created. The bridge would be structurally retrofitted to meet seismic safety standards. The existing parking lot on the pier would be converted to new entertainment venues.

Alternative parking elsewhere downtown could compensate for the loss of those spaces. Improved signage could provide parking information to first-time visitors.

The city’s landmarks program was created in 1976 in response to proposals to demolish the pier. Now, only 30 years later, it looks like we need to save the pier again.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 28, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/022807.pdf?ref=smdp.com)