Pier Plaza Wins Final Approval; Work to Begin May 27

After 10 years of delays and changes, the city’s $12-million face-lift for the municipal pier won final approval this week.

The Pier Plaza project will transform three-quarters of a mile of beachfront by the pier into an esplanade with palm-lined walkways, grassy areas, an amphitheater, improved parking and beach access, and a new restaurant.

The project might have been held up yet again when one of the contractors vying for the job voiced a protest about the bidding process.

Roman ECD of Los Angeles had the lowest of 10 bids for the work, at $5.2 million. But that exceeded the city’s plaza budget of $4.85 million.

So the city deducted two options from the project, which resulted in a different low bidder: Valley Crest Landscape Inc. of Santa Ana, at $4.875 million.

Roman officials protested, but a hearing officer ruled in favor of the city Friday, and the City Council voted 5 to 0 Monday to award the contract to Valley Crest. Council members Pam Julien and Dave Sullivan were absent.

Construction on the project is set to begin on May 27, with the grand opening scheduled tentatively for June 1, 1998.

“We’ve gone over all of what I consider the major hurdles,” Community Services Director Ron Hagan said. “Barring any construction problems, we should be fine. We’re looking forward to finally doing it.”

The total cost is projected at $11.6 million, with nearly half of that being paid by private developers such as TS Restaurants, which will open Duke’s Surf City at the pier entrance.

The Pier Plaza has been in the works for a decade and was first proposed as a seaport village.