Return of boating to city landmark is an idea being floated
CITY HALL — Citing a need to keep the Santa Monica Pier a competitive tourist destination in the region, as well as an attractive venue for residents, the City Council is leaning towards restoring commercial boating to the city’s most famous landmark.
Along with a gangway, where visitors would be able to embark on sight-seeing tours and sport fishing excursions, there is also the possibility of adding two new restaurants and a series of eclectic shops that would mirror other seaside shopping centers such as Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco and Pike Street in Seattle.
Furthermore, there is also talk of bringing in an old-fashioned soda fountain to serve root beer floats to kids riding the classic carousel, as well as a fresh fish market and a performing arts venue.
The bold new ideas are part of the latest pier leasing and licensing agreement the council approved Tuesday for city-owned commercial properties on the pier, opening the door for City Hall to issue requests for businesses to move into the pier and develop such enterprises. The guidelines, which were originally adopted in 1988, provide the objectives and procedures for management of the pier, and new leasing opportunities such as sight-seeing tours and sport fishing.
Extensive review of the guidelines began in 2003 when the council ordered the Pier Restoration Corp., which manages the pier, to host a series of meetings in which board members and current tenants discussed with the public the future of what is considered one of the most recognizable piers in the world. It was during those meetings that the guidelines were developed.
The process took nearly two years, as participants worked to ensure equity in the application process for businesses and cart vendors, while at the same time identifying ways to enhance the “unique, eclectic and community recreational character of the pier.”
“Our historic sign at the entrance to the pier says, ‘Yacht Harbor, (Sport Fishing) and Boating,’” said Ben Franz-Knight, executive director of the PRC. “We believe it is viable to bring back boating 200 plus days a year, with fishing, water taxies and tours of the Bay — something we think is critical to remain true to the history of the pier, but also make sure we are competitive with other venues around the state.”
The most notable proposal is the creation of a commercial gangway at the west end of the pier. Sport fishing and bay excursions were an integral part of the recreational activities on the pier since the construction of a breakwater in 1934. The original breakwater was 2,000 feet long, located about 1,300 feet offshore, and rose approximately 10 feet above the water. Since its construction, the breakwater continuously deteriorated and was severely damaged during the 1982-83 winter storms, which destroyed the seaward section of the pier and caused $8 million in damages to its facilities, as well as facilities on the adjacent beaches. The 1982-83 storms also resulted in the loss of each of the 45 moorings which had been used by commercial and recreational boats, according to a city staff report.
PRC staff said they hope a gangway project could begin within the year. Once up and running, boat operators would have to abide by the rules of sustainability, which would include the use of bio-diesel fuel and sponges to soak up any oil leaking from engines.
“We’re ecstatic (about the gangway,)” said Chris Volaski, president of the Santa Monica Pier Lessees Association, who was speaking on behalf of her family, who owns and operates Santa Monica Pier Bait & Tackle Co., located at the western edge of the pier. “I think this will be great for the entire community,not just for the pier. It will give people an extra incentive to come down here and they won’t have to go all the way down to … Marina (del Rey) or Redondo (Beach) to get on a boat.”
Many people call daily asking if there are boat operations at the pier, Volaski said. In the end, she and others have to refer them to the Marina and a telephone number they can call to make reservations.
“I swear, if I had a nickel for every time I told someone to call 822-DOCK, I’d be a very rich woman,” she said.
Pier tenants seem to be happy with the new leasing guidelines as well, which give added points to long-standing businesses that show an exemplary record of service, Volaski said.
“I think it is a very fair process,” Volaski said. “These leasing agreements were not dreamed up over night. They had to go uptown to City Hall and I’ve not heard from one person from the association who has any objections.”
Volaski isn’t the only one excited about the possibility of boats returning to the pier.
Mayor Bob Holbrook said he can remember when residents could venture out to sea and step aboard Navy ships during the Fourth of July while sailors were on leave.
“I caught my first fish off the Santa Monica Pier,” Holbrook said.
Public safety officials reportedly are pleased with the idea as well. Franz-Knight said members of the Santa Monica Police and Fire departments have been consulted and like the idea of having other options to evacuate the pier in times of an emergency.
As for the other proposals discussed, they include one or two restaurants of a “distinct palette,” a soda fountain in the Looff Hippodrome carousel building and an arcade of shops “combining the charm of San Francisco’s Ferry Building with the whimsy and eclectic nature of Pike Street Market in Seattle,” said Franz-Knight.
Councilman Richard Bloom, a self-proclaimed ice cream aficionado, requested that any soda fountain include those made from all-natural ingredients. Councilman Richard Katz also suggested the soda fountain resemble those seen in drug stores to accommodate the ambiance of the carousel.
“I think when we get to talk about the Santa Monica Pier it is really a joy for everybody because we are talking about something that has been such an incredible resource in this community, and we get to tinker with it and try to make it better for the community,”Bloom said.“It gives me shivers to work on preserving and enhancing something that has been around so long and will be for many generations to come.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 10, 2006. Read the original PDF.