Contractors have removed the last of the buildings and decking destroyed by the April 2024 fire at the end of the Oceanside Pier, city officials said last week.
The job took longer and cost more than expected because “the pier was constructed with more robust, sturdy, and durable materials than originally anticipated,” according to a staff report sent to the Oceanside City Council.
“During decking removal, it became apparent that the stringers, which held the decking in place, all needed to be removed and replaced,” the report states.
“The original scope of work anticipated that approximately 1,000 linear feet of stringers required replacement,” it states. “However, upon further evaluation … an additional 6,260 feet of stringers were found necessary to be replaced.”
To cover the additional work, the council approved a final change order Wednesday adding $563,400 to the $1.3 million contract awarded last year to Jilk Heavy Construction. The final cost for the demolition, including permits and design, came to a little more than $1.9 million, according to the city’s report.
Next is a final evaluation of structural damage to the pier, Associate Engineer Luis Cardenas said Friday.
Overall what’s left of the pier appears to be in good condition despite some “minimal fire char” in some places, Cardenas said in an email.
“Further assessment will determine actual structural damage and will be included in the evaluation report” that should be finished in a few more months, he said.
“The evaluation will provide staff insight on the necessary steps needed to rebuild the deck,” he said. “Staff is also working with the building tenant to develop new plans for the reconstruction efforts of the building.”
The restaurant and the small, separate kiosk were leased to RAV, LLC, a San Francisco company owned by attorney Alex Leff, under a long-term contract approved by the City Council. The Brine Box kiosk opened in July 2023 and was operated by husband-and-wife restaurateurs Jessica and Davin Waite, known for their Wrench & Rodent, The Plot, and Shootz Fish & Beer restaurants in Oceanside.
The 1950s-style, burgers-and-shakes Ruby’s Diner went to take-out orders only early in 2020 because of the pandemic and later closed permanently after 25 years on the pier. The building remained vacant at the time of the fire, although Brine Box employees had been using the kitchen.
At present, no deck planks remain on the wider, westernmost portion of the pier called the hammerhead. City officials have said they intend to replace the restaurant buildings eventually, but the top priority is first to replace the deck and railings and reopen that space to the public.
“The hammerhead portion of the pier will remain closed while the city works on the redesign and reconstruction,” Cardenas said. “Staff anticipates having design completed by next year and going into construction in 2027, after the beach season, pending availability of funds and regulatory agency permitting.”
City officials said last year construction could cost more than $17 million and that state and federal grants will be needed.
“As staff continues to work with the structural engineers and the tenant, a better understanding of how much it will cost to repair the deck will become apparent,” Cardenas said. “Staff will return to City Council with an update as design nears completion with an anticipated construction schedule.”
Fire investigators have said old wiring beneath the pier deck probably caused the fire. The blaze sent a huge plume of black smoke over downtown before quick action by firefighters from across the region brought it under control. Despite the rapid response, the thick, treated timbers smoldered for days.
City employees will work with regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, State Water Resources Board and the California Commission to obtain the permits needed for repairs, Cardenas said.
State and federal elected officials have offered to help where possible, which may include obtaining grant money for construction.
The city used $1 million from its self-funded Prism insurance pool to pay for the demolition, with the rest of the money to come from reserves in the city’s infrastructure account.
Oceanside has had a public pier since 1888. The nearly 2,000-foot-long version there now is the sixth, built in 1986 to replace one destroyed by storms.
