Brooks Street stairs opened

Getting the Brooks Street stair project off the drawing board took six years, but construction took three months and the ribbon was cut June 19.

It was a love fest.

City officials exuded pride in the $375,000 project and showered praise on all the participants in the renovation of the historical site, beloved by local surfers.

“It started out as a $100,000 project to replace the stairs in their existing location, which had a 10-foot drop at the bottom to the beach,” said City Public Works Director Steve May. “We added another $100,000 for the landscaping, but then a group of surfers and [architect] Morris Skenderian, who had a couple projects in the neighborhood, came up with ways to improve the alignment of the stairs.

“It took a long time to wrestle with all the different options, but this is an outstanding project.”

Skenderian designed the project, which includes a round, warm beige, concrete bench on a pad at the top of the new circular stairs down the bluff. A sewer pump station is discreetly tucked underneath the pad. The bluff is newly planted.

Larry Steinle designed the landscape. Steve Stewart planted it. Both attended the ribbon cutting as did general contractor Paul Gillen, owner of Associated Pacific Contractors; site superintendent Mike Marchitto; Tim and Terry Jones, owners of the Laguna-based Jones Construction, which did the concrete work; and city Project Manager Lisa Penna.

Still to be added: art.

Projects valued at more than $225,000 are required to include public art or pay an in lieu fee. Skenderian said the Arts Commission has talked about a sculpture in one of the landscaped areas on either side of the winding staircase. Glass artist John Barber was looking at the site June 19.

Skenderian is plumping for tiled murals on the risers of six steps.

“They would cost $25,000 each, except for the bottom step, which is bigger,” Skenderian said.

The renovation as it stands was funded by the city and private contributions including an anonymous donor brought in by Skenderian.

Max Brown, Eleanor Henry and Michelle Clarke, members of the Beautification Council, which has taken an interest in street end refurbishing, attended the ribbon cutting.

Mayor Kelly Boyd and Councilwomen Verna Rollinger and Jane Egly represented the city. City Manager Ken Frank and Assistant City Manager John Pietig also attended.