HUNTINGTON BEACH : City Works to Give New Pier Old Look

Like a ghost from the sea, an architectural style used 76 years ago for the city’s pier is resurfacing in plans for the new pier.

The City Council has approved structural plans that incorporate many of the styles of the original 1914 concrete pier, now almost unrecognizable because of weather and remodelings. Part of the reason for the attention to history is federal pressure. A condition of a $1.1-million grant by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the new pier is that the city try to re-create the original design.

Some changes are necessary, however, because of stricter safety codes.

“Because of modern design standards, we cannot exactly duplicate the original design, but we can incorporate the original architectural style,” said James R. Crumpley, project manager of Moffatt & Nichol Engineers, the Long Beach firm heading construction of the new pier. Last week, Crumpley offered some design options to the City Council, which unanimously chose one with arches similar to the original pier. The council also approved other options that hew closely to the 1914 design.

The original pier has round concrete pilings. But Crumpley, in his presentation to the council, recommended eight-sided pilings, “the standard of the industry” and “easier to create,” he said. The council majority, however, favored round pilings--as long as they are affordable. The council directed that bid options be sought on both octagonal and round pilings.

The city still lacks about $3.5 million of the estimated $11-million cost for a new pier. The council must now decide whether to float a municipal bond issue to come up with the money, to hire a professional fund-raiser, or both.

The pier is scheduled to be demolished in July, and construction should start Nov. 1, with completion targeted for Feb. 28, 1992.