Santa Monica : Hearing on Pier Restoration

A public hearing on the long-awaited restoration of Santa Monica Pier is scheduled for Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. in City Council chambers at City Hall.

A summary of plans that call for restoration and commercial development of the pier, a county landmark, will be presented. City staff employees will answer questions.

The plan was submitted to the City Council earlier this month for approval, but council members decided to hold a public hearing and a study session before voting.

Under the plan, designed by the nonprofit Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corp., the city would spend $7 million over three years to reenforce the pier’s platform and upgrade utilities, sewage facilities and railings. A second $4-million phase, which includes a parking structure, would follow.

At the same time, another $16.5 million in private commercial development would be sought for 150,000 square feet of the pier, including restaurants, amusement and entertainment concessions, retail stores and educational projects.

The city hopes the project will recover the pier’s annual operating deficit of $900,000 and eventually generate $450,000 a year in revenue.