Redondo Beach pier
Encyclopedia
The Redondo Beach pier is located in Redondo Beach, California
and stretches out onto the Pacific Ocean
. The pier
has been rebuilt and altered by storms and redevelopment
s. Its official name is "Municipal Pier", and it has also been called the "Endless Pier". Earlier versions were known as "Pleasure Pier" and "Horseshoe Pier".
The pier started out as a disjointed group of wharves near the end of the 19th century, but evolved into an interconnected structure after a series of storms and demolitions throughout the 20th century. The pier
area used to be heavily crowded with tourists and locals during the 1970s, but began to decline after the nearby Seaport Village project failed and went into bankruptcy
in 1982.
In 1988, the pier was severely battered by two winter storms, and on May 27 it burned to the waterline due to an electrical short circuit (the fire
was so large that a SigAlert was announced for the San Diego Freeway
several miles away). The pier's modern reinforced concrete
version was completed in 1995, and has brought back the appeal to Redondo Beach's business district ever since.
Subsequent attempts to resuscitate the area's popularity
have been challenged by the need to comply with California Coastal Conservancy
regulations, and the concurrent success of redevelopment projects in the two other Beach Cities, Manhattan Beach
and Hermosa Beach
, and also in the neighboring city of Torrance
.
There are plans in the works for a new boutique hotel
.
From 1988-1995, the southern Y-shaped remnant of the Horseshoe pier that survived the fire remained open to the public. A smaller portion of the northern end remained closed to the public for safety reasons, and was eventually removed completely when the new, concrete version was built.
The City of Redondo Beach hosted a formal "Launching" ceremony to announce the pier's reconstruction on July 29, 1993. The 1993 plans initially allowed for a carousel
, wax museum
, aquarium
, and at least three new restaurants; however, only one new restaurant was added to the deck, and the rest has remained open to pedestrian traffic.
A formal City of Redondo Beach ceremony opened the new-restored Redondo Beach Pier, on February 11, 1995.
The following "Pier Facts" were listed in the February 11, 1995 souvenir brochures distributed at the Redondo Beach ceremony opened the new-restored Redondo Beach Pier:
for the popular TV series, "The O.C.
".
The Redondo Pier was also used as a filming location
for the popular TV series, "Riptide
" from 1984 - 1986.
Redondo Beach, California
Redondo Beach is one of the three Beach Cities located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 66,748 at the 2010 census, up from 63,261 at the 2000 census. The city is located in the South Bay region of the greater Los Angeles area.Redondo Beach was originally part of...
and stretches out onto the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. The pier
Pier
A pier is a raised structure, including bridge and building supports and walkways, over water, typically supported by widely spread piles or pillars...
has been rebuilt and altered by storms and redevelopment
Redevelopment
Redevelopment is any new construction on a site that has pre-existing uses.-Description:Variations on redevelopment include:* Urban infill on vacant parcels that have no existing activity but were previously developed, especially on Brownfield land, such as the redevelopment of an industrial site...
s. Its official name is "Municipal Pier", and it has also been called the "Endless Pier". Earlier versions were known as "Pleasure Pier" and "Horseshoe Pier".
Pier
A pier is a raised structure, including bridge and building supports and walkways, over water, typically supported by widely spread piles or pillars...
area used to be heavily crowded with tourists and locals during the 1970s, but began to decline after the nearby Seaport Village project failed and went into bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
in 1982.
In 1988, the pier was severely battered by two winter storms, and on May 27 it burned to the waterline due to an electrical short circuit (the fire
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
was so large that a SigAlert was announced for the San Diego Freeway
Interstate 405 (California)
Interstate 405 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in Southern California. It is a bypass of Interstate 5, running along the western areas of the Greater Los Angeles Area from Irvine in the south to near San Fernando in the north...
several miles away). The pier's modern reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
version was completed in 1995, and has brought back the appeal to Redondo Beach's business district ever since.
Subsequent attempts to resuscitate the area's popularity
Popularity
Popularity is the quality of being well-liked or common, or having a high social status. Popularity figures are an important part of many people's personal value systems and form a vital component of success in people-oriented fields such as management, politics, and entertainment, among...
have been challenged by the need to comply with California Coastal Conservancy
California Coastal Conservancy
The California Coastal Conservancy is a state agency in California established in 1976 to enhance coastal resources and access.-Goals:The agency's official goals are to:*Protect and improve coastal wetlands, streams and watersheds...
regulations, and the concurrent success of redevelopment projects in the two other Beach Cities, Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach is the wealthiest beachfront city located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, USA. The city is on the Pacific coast, south of El Segundo, and north of Hermosa Beach. Manhattan Beach is the home of both beach and indoor volleyball, and surfing. During the winter, the...
and Hermosa Beach
Hermosa Beach, California
Hermosa Beach is a beachfront city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Its population was 19,506 at the 2010 census, up from 18,566 at the 2000 census....
, and also in the neighboring city of Torrance
Torrance, California
Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance has of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring...
.
There are plans in the works for a new boutique hotel
Boutique hotel
Boutique hotel is a term popularized in North America and the United Kingdom to describe intimate, usually luxurious or unique hotel environments. Boutique hotels differentiate themselves from larger chain/branded hotels and motels by providing personalized accommodation and services / facilities...
.
A Century of Alternate Versions
1800s
- 1889-1915, iron and wood "Wharf No. 1" built approximately where the current pier stands near Emerald Street to facilitate timber delivery from ships to trains; destroyed by a storm
- 1895-1920, Y-shaped wooden pier called "Wharf No. 2" with railroad tracks on one prong, the other for fishermen and tourists; built south of Wharf #1 near Ainsworth Court in front of the Hotel Redondo; severely damaged by a storm in 1919, subsequently open only to fishermen, but manually destroyed for safety reasons
Early 1900s
- 1903-1926, wooden "Wharf No. 3" built south of Wharf #2 near Sapphire and Topaz Streets; actively used by lumber industry until 1923 when Pacific Electric's lease expired, which was not renewed, and the pier was manually demolished after a few years as the lumber industry phased out
- 1916-1928, reinforced concrete "Endless/Pleasure Pier" built by George W. Harding; its 450 feet (137.2 m) long northern leg stood in the spot previously occupied by Wharf #1, with a 160x200-foot platform at its western terminus, with another 450 feet (137.2 m) southern leg returning to the shore to form an overall V-shape; damaged by a 1919 storm; condemned for safety reasons in 1928
- 1925-today, wooden "Monstad Pier" built by Captain Hans C. Monstad for fishing/pleasure boat landings; originally 300 feet (91.4 m) long, extended to 400 feet (121.9 m) in 1937, and 50 feet (15.2 m) wide in 1938
- 1929-1988, wooden "Horseshoe Pier" built after demolition of the Endless/Pleasure Pier; destroyed by a fire
Late 1900s
In 1983, the western end of the Monstad Pier was connected to the central platform of the Horseshoe Pier.From 1988-1995, the southern Y-shaped remnant of the Horseshoe pier that survived the fire remained open to the public. A smaller portion of the northern end remained closed to the public for safety reasons, and was eventually removed completely when the new, concrete version was built.
The City of Redondo Beach hosted a formal "Launching" ceremony to announce the pier's reconstruction on July 29, 1993. The 1993 plans initially allowed for a carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
, wax museum
Wax museum
A wax museum or waxworks consists of a collection of wax sculptures representing famous people from history and contemporary personalities exhibited in lifelike poses....
, aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
, and at least three new restaurants; however, only one new restaurant was added to the deck, and the rest has remained open to pedestrian traffic.
A formal City of Redondo Beach ceremony opened the new-restored Redondo Beach Pier, on February 11, 1995.
Pier Facts - circa 1990s
- The Redondo Beach Pier is 70000 square feet (6,503.2 m²) in size
- Sits 25 feet (7.6 m) above the water
- Has over 3000 cubic yards (2,293.7 m³) of 6,000 P.S.I. concrete decking
- Has 202 concrete piles, the longest being 120 feet (36.6 m) in length
- Required 5 years to commence construction and 18 months to complete
- Required over 150,000 manhours of labor
- Is the largest "endless" pier on the California Coast
- Is the seventh Municipal Pier to be constructed on the shores of Redondo Beach
- The Redondo Beach Pier Reconstruction Team:
- Architect: Edward Carson Beall and Associates
- Engineer: Theodore J. Anvick, Consulting Engineers
- Contractor: Fletcher-General Construction
- Construction Manager: Concept Marine
Filming Location
The Redondo Pier was used as a primary filming locationFilming location
A filming location is a place where some or all of a film or television series is produced, in addition to or instead of using sets constructed on a movie studio backlot or soundstage...
for the popular TV series, "The O.C.
The O.C.
The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
".
The Redondo Pier was also used as a filming location
Filming location
A filming location is a place where some or all of a film or television series is produced, in addition to or instead of using sets constructed on a movie studio backlot or soundstage...
for the popular TV series, "Riptide
Riptide
A riptide is a dangerous ocean current.Riptide or Rip Tide may also refer to:* Rip Tide, a Doctor Who novella* Riptide , by Douglas Preston and Lincon Child* Riptide , short story anthologies...
" from 1984 - 1986.