Local News and Member Blog
Celebrate Spring with the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association on Saturday, April 12th with a Community Clean Up.
10:00 AM
Veterans Plaza Park
Sign up here or just come down. Buckets and pickers will be provided. Pickers are limited, so if you have a picker, feel free to bring it.
If you have questions, call the OBMA team at (619) 224-4906.
The following is a summary of the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association (OBMA) Annual Awards Celebration:
Click here to view the full PDF presentation, which includes a thank-you message to all participants for celebrating the Annual Awards with OBMA. The presentation highlights the community's commitment to enhancing local business and community vitality in Ocean Beach.
The following is a summary of the key activities and events from the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association (OBMA) Year in Review 2024 document:
Click here to view the full presentation in PDF format that captures the vibrant community spirit, economic activities, and development projects that characterized Ocean Beach in 2024.
Theme: The year's theme was "High Tides & Good Vibes."
Membership: OBMA welcomed 24 new members in 2024, expanding the association's network.
Annual Awards: Held on January 25, 2024, at St. Peter's by the Sea.
Annual Marketing Breakfast on February 29, 2024, focused on customer engagement and service with a presentation by Joon Han from Better San Diego.
Earth Day Clean Up was held on April 20, 2024, at Veterans Plaza Park, sponsored by various local businesses.
44th Annual OB Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off on June 22, 2024, with various chili categories and winners.
Dirty Birds Wing Contest and Hodad's Burger Eating Contest also occurred during this event.
Two community murals were created to celebrate the Ocean Beach Woman's Club's 100th Anniversary and the year's theme.
Installation of these murals in August and September 2024.
2nd Annual Sunset Cliffs Auto Show on September 7, 2024.
OB Oktoberfest on October 11-12, 2024, extended to include the Pier Parking Lot & Veterans Plaza.
Workshops and community engagement for the pier's renewal, with a preferred design concept unveiled in April 2024.
Engineering assessments and core samples were taken in September 2024.
Completed in March 2024, with sodding work starting in September 2023.
Promotion of local shopping with campaigns like Shop Local Saturday on November 30th and OBeachy Bingo.
New ownership for iconic bars like The Harp and Cheswicks in spring 2024, with changes in ambiance and management.
Sunshine Company's 50th Anniversary.
OB Hardware's 105th Anniversary, highlighting its long-standing presence in the community.
Accreditation: Renewed Main Street America accreditation in July 2024, acknowledging OBMA's efforts in community and economic vitality.
Website Traffic: OceanBeachSanDiego.com saw over 800,000 views in FY24, indicating strong online engagement.
Volunteers: Acknowledgement of the invaluable contributions from volunteers throughout the year.
Ocean Beach lawyer Robert Burns has been practicing law for nearly 45 years with an emphasis on family law, personal injury law, and probate court litigation. His website is www.OBLaw.com.
Mr. Burns regularly posts answers to legal questions posted with www.Avvo.com. You can subscribe free of charge to his select ones by friending him at Facebook.com/OBLaw. Please “Like” his Facebook fans page at https://www.facebook.com/Robert-Burns-121384342541/
You will also find there pertinent news and commentary on local, State, and Federal legal issues including regular posts on other newsworthy legal issues; feel free to suggest a topic for his discussion. Mr. Burns just settled for $52,500 a motorcycle personal-injury case botched by an L.A. affiliate of Law Tigers Motorcycle Lawyers who tried to back out with only $13,000 offered by the insurer.
Mr. Burn would like another nice probate case or a private attorney general case against Tesla for endemically placing its automobiles on California highways without front license plates and with illegally tinted windows. Happy New Year!
Ocean Beach MainStreet Association members and community members. It's that time of year again to recognize OBMA businesses that shined and exemplified the OB spirit in 2024. It's your chance to vote for the "People's Choice Award" in each category.
This survey will be open until January 5, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Please make sure to vote when you initially open it; once it is opened and closed, it can not be returned later.
If you have questions regarding the survey or the nomination process or would like to join one of our committees (which nominate these great businesses), contact the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association office at (619) 224-4906 or [email protected].
Happy Holidays!
Ocean Beach MainStreet Association Team
Please help us reach our goal of $700. We couldn’t do it without your help.
Your donation will help feed a well-deserving staff of 54 with comfort food from Mad Munch!
There will also be a special gift from the Ocean Beach Business Center (OBBC).
Thanks for your support!
Brought to you by The Peninsula Alliance
DROP OFF LOCATION: THE HARP IRISH PUB
For more info: (858) 869-9448
BRING A TOY, AND OUR SPONSORS WILL BUY YOU A BEER FOR THE FIRST 200 PEOPLE!
The San Diego Police Department has several volunteer opportunities available for residents who want to assist in keeping San Diegans safe. Volunteers must pass a police background. No persons with felony or misdemeanor convictions will be accepted.
See what volunteer position might fit your skills, and join the team today!
Hours: Vary; see below.
Locations: Vary
Minimum Age: 50
Court Referrals: No
Assist in providing an increased level of crime prevention programs within specific geographic areas, perform vacation house checks and You Are Not Alone welfare checks, and promote community awareness and acceptance of R.S.V.P. program.
Qualifications: 50 years of age or older, interest in working with law enforcement officers, effective oral and written communication skills, reliable and trustworthy with confidential information, in good health, valid California Driver's License. Previous law enforcement experience not required.
All applicants must complete a ride-along at the police station they would like work at AND an online application through the City's Volunteer Better Impact portal.
Upon the completion of a background and selection process, you will be required to participate in a TWO-WEEK Academy to prepare you for field duties.
Time Commitment: Three, 8-hour shifts per month
For more information, contact Volunteer Services at 619-446-1017 or email at [email protected].
Or, visit the San Diego Police Department website and read more: https://www.sandiego.gov/police/recruiting/volunteer
Saratoga Park
(at the west end of Saratoga Avenue)
All proceeds benefit the Ocean Beach Community Foundation (OBCF), which brings community events to OBecians, including Taste of OB, the Holiday Parade and Tree, the Holiday Auction and Party, and the Food & Toy Drive.
SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego has determined the safest and most cost-effective option for the Ocean Beach Pier is to keep the structure closed to public access while the City moves forward with a long-term solution to replace the 58-year-old pier. The Ocean Beach Pier has been closed since it was damaged by high surf in October 2023. Additional, and more significant, damage occurred in December 2023 when a support bracket – or “pile” – broke off and fell into the ocean. Engineering teams have determined that any work to rehabilitate the pier is not feasible, especially given the likelihood of additional damage occurring during future winter storms.
“The Ocean Beach Pier is an iconic landmark of San Diego, but it was built nearly six decades ago and no longer can withstand the impacts of rising sea levels and storm surge along our coast,” said Elif Cetin, Assistant Director of the Engineering and Capital Projects Department. “The decision on how to proceed factors in the likelihood that future storms will cause additional damage to the pier in coming years – and whether it makes sense to pour resources into a structure that will continue to need extensive repairs or to instead invest in the long-term pier- replacement project.”
A report released today outlines several immediate measures that could be taken to address the recent damage to the pier; however, due to the overall cost, timeline, feasibility and environmental permitting that would be required for those options, the City has decided to leave the pier as is. Those immediate measures would not allow for the reopening of the pier. Additional repairs or rehabilitation would be required to reopen the pier, which would include extensive construction, heavy machinery and the need to build a new structure to support the equipment and construction personnel.
While the pier does not pose an immediate threat to public safety, additional signage has been posted along the pier reminding visitors to be cautious when visiting the area. It references the San Diego Municipal Code which states it is against the law for anyone to swim, wade, surf or skin dive within 75 feet of any fishing pier owned or operated by the City (SDMC §63.20.16).
A 2018 study determined that the pier was beyond its useful life, recommending pursuing its replacement. At the time, minimal repairs would have cost approximately $8 million, and rehabilitation would have cost approximately $30 million to $50 million. Since that 2018 study was conducted, the pier damage and construction industry repair costs have both significantly increased, further bolstering the case for replacement. The City continues to make progress on the Ocean Beach Pier Renewal project. There have been four community workshops since April 2023 to gather input from the community about what they would like to see in a new pier. That input was used to develop the preferred design concept for a potential replacement pier which incorporates iconic elements of the existing 58-year-old Ocean Beach Pier and aesthetic elements that offer something modern and new for future generations to enjoy. City consultants are currently making minor updates to the design concept based on the most recent feedback received from the community regarding specific pier amenities like lighting and shade options. This updated design concept is expected to be released this fall.
City staff are working to acquire the proper environmental permits for the project under the California Environmental Quality Act and engage with the appropriate stakeholders to get feedback during the Environmental Impact Report process, as well as acquire proper funding. The current estimated cost range for the Ocean Beach Pier Renewal project is $170 million to $190 million. This number is the estimated total project cost and includes everything completed so far for the community engagement process all the way through the end of construction. Currently, $8.4 million in state funding is designated for the project.
If the project receives the proper environmental permitting and secures the necessary funding, demolition of the existing pier and construction of the new pier will take place concurrently. The new pier will be constructed over approximately the same footprint as the existing pier but with a higher deck elevation to minimize the potential for wave damage and account for future sea level rise. Work would likely start from the base of the pier, where it connects with the land, and work toward the west.
The timeline for the start and end of construction for this project is yet to be determined but will be provided once the environmental permitting process and funding acquisition process are complete. A current project timeline is available on the project webpage. The timeline and other information regarding the Ocean Beach Pier Renewal project can be found at OBPierRenewal.com.
