Councilman Kevin Faulconer and Mayor Jerry Sanders have teamed up to immediately address the dilapidated sea wall that extends along Mission Beach’s boardwalk. In a press conference on March 9, the two announced that repairs to the exposed rebar and crumbling concrete would begin that afternoon, while larger fixes to the underground portion would occur over a longer period of time.
“Our beaches are shared by everybody in San Diego County and shared by tourists from all over the country and I think the sea wall in this area is an example to everybody of what San Diego is about,” Sanders said of the sad state of the wall and his shared eagerness to get started on repairs.
Directors from the Departments of Park and Recreation, Public Works and Engineering and Capital Projects stood side-by-side with the two politicians in affirmation of their newly coordinated efforts. Sanders referenced how prior lack of synergy among city agencies slowed the progress of infrastructure improvements and confused citizens looking for answers.
Sanders blamed the city’s fiscal improprieties for the disruption to services.
“We simply have not had the money,” he said.
Mission Beach Town Council representatives Bill Bradshaw and Mary Swenson had frequently voiced their complaints about the city’s lack of attention to the sea wall, but were all smiles at the press conference.
“We want to thank [Sanders and Faulconer] and tell you how much we appreciate an action-oriented administration in this city for once,” Bradshaw said.
Swenson agreed, saying that the sea wall had been a “constant topic of concern” during town council meetings and that city officials had dodged responsibility for the repairs until Faulconer was elected.
While the 30-inch-tall parapet wall visible to beachgoers currently exposes rusted steel, cracks and missing chunks of concrete, the underground portion that extends 13 feet into the earth remains structurally sound. Should a major storm hit Mission Beach, the sea wall would still serve its purpose.
Faulconer’s main concerns are the safety of pedestrians using the boardwalk and the image that a rundown beach community sends to locals and visitors.
“The sorry condition of this sea wall has been a symbol of what has been going on in the city for the last couple of years in terms of neglecting our infrastructure,” Faulconer said.
He estimated that repairs would cost millions. Initial and immediate above-ground fixes will come from city street funds. Faulconer and Sanders are hopeful that the sea wall’s historic status will deliver federal and state grants to subsidize the extensive and long-term underground repairs.
The Ocean Front Walk, or boardwalk that runs 2.3 miles from South Mission Beach to Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach, was initially constructed of wood in 1914 and replaced with concrete in 1925. Beginning that same year, the sea wall was added in segments through 1968, contributing to its changing aesthetic in different sections between Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. As a listing on the Department of Interior’s registry of historic structures, the sea wall may qualify for the grants that Faulconer hopes to secure.
The corrosion now ubiquitous along the parapet wall is not uncommon for a structure of its age and function ” salty sea mist and powerful waves have this effect on even the strongest concrete walls over long periods of time. In 1998, the bulkhead (parapet wall and underlying structure) was replaced between Pacific Beach Drive and Thomas Avenue. Now it appears that the rest of the structure will be updated to match.
Addressing the sea wall in Mission Beach will surely elicit cries from other beach residents of neglected infrastructure improvements in their neck of the woods.
Pacific Beach Town Council President Don Mullen said he was excited to hear that the boardwalk will receive some attention from the city. Mullen hopes the Mission Beach effort will bring to light other concerns that he has for the area, namely boardwalk maintenance and public restroom cleaning in Pacific Beach.
“Everybody goes and walks the boardwalk when they are staying at the beach,” Mullen said, adding that Pacific Beach attracts 14 million visitors annually, and a lot of wear and tear to the area. “With the amount of money we generate through tourism, the city should be spending more money to help negate the [negative] impacts.”
Structural failures do not end with the boardwalk, as evidenced by two eroding staircases providing beach access in North Pacific Beach. The cliffside stairs at the corner of Ridge Drive and Linda Way near Pacific Beach Point are chained off with a warning sign because of deteriorating concrete steps. Additionally, the staircase at the end of Loring Street has a hole underneath caused by a leaky drain pipe. Beachgoers still use both of stairs despite the possible danger.
According to the Developed Regional Parks Division of the Park and Recreation Department, improvements are normally scheduled once a staircase is chained off. However, budget cuts have left the department shorthanded and unable to send out crews.
“That’s an obligation of the City of San Diego to repair these things and keep them maintained,” Mullen said.
At La Jolla Cove, the city repaired two sets of stairs using state grants and city funds about one year ago, said Engineering and Capital Projects Director Patti Boekamp. The city chose to repair the damaged concrete steps and wooden treads with new concrete.
“We didn’t’ replace everything, we rehabilitated it,” Boekamp said.
Although the onus to maintain beach structures and infrastructure falls squarely on the city, there are other avenues for action. According to Chanelle Barry, policy analyst for District 1 Councilman Scott Peters, repairs to stairs in recent years at Windansea Beach were primarily funded by donations and accomplished through a community effort.
Landscape architect and La Jolla resident Jim Neri facilitated community meetings attended by more than 80 people regarding the crumbling staircases at Windansea.
“[The stairs] were usable, but you were taking your chances,” Neri said.
The group began meeting in 1997 and all work was completed by 2003 at a cost of $350,000. Councilman Scott Peter’s office, a local benefactor and Assemblyman Howard Wayne provided the funds necessary to replace a set of concrete stairs at Kolmar Street, add a set at Palomar Avenue and replace some steps at Winamar Avenue. The new stairs are made of wood, which wears better at the beach.
“The concrete tends to break apart and expose rusty rebar and look pretty bad in the long run.” Neri said.
When asked about the Pacific Beach staircases, Faulconer agreed that something should be done. “Our beach infrastructure has been neglected for far too long,” he said.
Despite the councilman’s recognition of badly needed improvements, the city’s dire financial situation may ultimately dictate the timeliness of repairs.