The Avila Pier was originally built in 1907 with San Luis Obispo County taxpayer funds. It was named the Avila Municipal Pier, but the fight that brought this publicly owned pier to Avila began in 1894.
The 1890’s saw the country in a great economic depression, following the boom years of the 1880’s. The Populists, represented by the People’s Party (officially called the Farmers’ Alliance and Industrial Union), wanted the pier to be owned by the people of San Luis Obispo (SLO) County. The main objective was to compete with the privately-owned Harford Pier by having more competitive freight rates. Farmers county-wide could get their products to market cheaper. State-wide, the industrialists Stanford, Huntington and Crocker had a monopoly on trade and could establish the freight rates to their advantage.
Private companies were proposing building the Avila wharf, but the populists won the debate, and the people were to own the Avila Pier.
A super-majority of County voters was needed to approve construction of the pier, somewhat similar to today. This finally happened in 1907, and the Avila Municipal Pier, sometimes referred to as “The People’s Pier,” was completed in 1908.
It was not until 1912 that freight trade began in Avila. At that time the Pier contained a large warehouse and several hoists. The Avila Lumber Company used the pier to unload freight from its vessel, and Front Street in Avila became a lumber yard. For many years the wharf was commercially viable, though not a major port.
As the years passed, Port Harford gradually declined. Union Oil built its terminal at the present location of the Cal Poly Pier, in 1914. There was no road out to the Port, only the narrow-gauge Pacific Coast Railway; Port Harford began to decline and by the 1930’s the Avila Pier was the primary pier for the local fishing fleet. Construction was started on the San Luis Yacht Club in 1939 and was completed in 1940. Small sailing vessels were launched from the pier until 1942, when the club was requisitioned by the Navy and the Coast Guard as a lookout station for the duration of the World War II.
In 1954, the Port San Luis Harbor District (PSLHD) was formed to bring back facilities for boats and boaters at the then derelict Harford Pier.
The Avila Municipal Pier became less important, as the commercial and sports fisheries moved back to Port San Luis. Small boats still could be launched from the pier, depending on the condition of the hoist.
The 1890’s saw the country in a great economic depression, following the boom years of the 1880’s. The Populists, represented by the People’s Party (officially called the Farmers’ Alliance and Industrial Union), wanted the pier to be owned by the people of San Luis Obispo (SLO) County. The main objective was to compete with the privately-owned Harford Pier by having more competitive freight rates. Farmers county-wide could get their products to market cheaper. State-wide, the industrialists Stanford, Huntington and Crocker had a monopoly on trade and could establish the freight rates to their advantage.
Private companies were proposing building the Avila wharf, but the populists won the debate, and the people were to own the Avila Pier.
A super-majority of County voters was needed to approve construction of the pier, somewhat similar to today. This finally happened in 1907, and the Avila Municipal Pier, sometimes referred to as “The People’s Pier,” was completed in 1908.
It was not until 1912 that freight trade began in Avila. At that time the Pier contained a large warehouse and several hoists. The Avila Lumber Company used the pier to unload freight from its vessel, and Front Street in Avila became a lumber yard. For many years the wharf was commercially viable, though not a major port.
As the years passed, Port Harford gradually declined. Union Oil built its terminal at the present location of the Cal Poly Pier, in 1914. There was no road out to the Port, only the narrow-gauge Pacific Coast Railway; Port Harford began to decline and by the 1930’s the Avila Pier was the primary pier for the local fishing fleet. Construction was started on the San Luis Yacht Club in 1939 and was completed in 1940. Small sailing vessels were launched from the pier until 1942, when the club was requisitioned by the Navy and the Coast Guard as a lookout station for the duration of the World War II.
In 1954, the Port San Luis Harbor District (PSLHD) was formed to bring back facilities for boats and boaters at the then derelict Harford Pier.
The Avila Municipal Pier became less important, as the commercial and sports fisheries moved back to Port San Luis. Small boats still could be launched from the pier, depending on the condition of the hoist.
The Pier suffered major storm damage in 1953, 1955, 1960, 1969, 1973 and again in March 1983, when the Pier had to be rebuilt. Public Funds were used on the rebuild and shortly afterward the State and County transferred ownership of the Avila Pier to PSLHD.
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Years of damage caused by storms and general “wear and tear” have had their impact on the Avila Pier. To compound this, in May of 2015 humpback whales arrived in the Harbor. These whales attracted an unusually high volume of spectators, which caused the pier to sway significantly as people ran from one side of the pier to the other to view the whales. Engineers hired by PSLHD raised concerns over the pier’s structural integrity and, therefore, the public’s safety. These concerns resulted in the closure of the Pier pending completion of repairs.
Initial studies undertaken to determine the cost of total replacement of the pier ran as high as $17 million. Due to the substantial estimated costs and the budgetary constraints of the PSLHD, the fundraising group of Netzel, Grigsby and Associates was hired to: 1) assess available resources and capacity, 2) determine the most likely funding package and a realistic community fundraising goal and 3) recommend a plan of action.
The overall conclusion of the study was that, although the Pier holds historical significance and cultural value to the community, the $17 million price tag was not seen as a viable goal for fundraising. Their study concluded that it would take a public-private partnership between the PSLHD, the community, corporations, foundations and government to raise the necessary funds. The company estimated a goal in the $2 million range could be more successful.
Initial studies undertaken to determine the cost of total replacement of the pier ran as high as $17 million. Due to the substantial estimated costs and the budgetary constraints of the PSLHD, the fundraising group of Netzel, Grigsby and Associates was hired to: 1) assess available resources and capacity, 2) determine the most likely funding package and a realistic community fundraising goal and 3) recommend a plan of action.
The overall conclusion of the study was that, although the Pier holds historical significance and cultural value to the community, the $17 million price tag was not seen as a viable goal for fundraising. Their study concluded that it would take a public-private partnership between the PSLHD, the community, corporations, foundations and government to raise the necessary funds. The company estimated a goal in the $2 million range could be more successful.
Avila Pier before Stage 1 repairs began in 2022
Between 2017 and 2019, the PSLHD commissioned engineering surveys to arrive at a more realistic estimate of the costs of restoring and repairing the Avila Pier rather than the total replacement of the Avila Pier. After a second load capacity and preliminary study and underwater examination by the engineering firm Moffatt & Nichol, it was concluded the Avila Pier could be restored rather than being replaced.
The 501(c)3 non-profit, Friends of Avila Pier (FOAP), was established to help raise a portion of the funding needed to repair, rehabilitate and reopen the Pier and to ensure the continual maintenance of the Avila Pier for future generations. All monies raised by the Friends of Avila Pier are specifically designated for the repair and maintenance of the Avila Pier only. The 501(c)3 status allows Federal Income Tax exemption, allows donors to deduct contributions they make to Friends of Avila Pier, and qualifies FOAP to receive tax-deductible bequests, transfers, and gifts.
Restoration and upgrade improvements of the Avila Pier, which include making the Pier ADA accessible, will depend on the amount of money that is raised. PSLHD has secured several grants and is in the process of securing additional grants dedicated to Avila Pier restoration. However, these grants generally require a private community match of funds. Also, some costs involved in pier restoration are not eligible for funding under certain grants. Therefore a public-private partnership was considered to be the most effective means of securing the funds needed to restore the Avila Pier.
Repairs are being completed in 3 sequential stages. Stage 1 repairs began in August 2022. In Stage 1 approximately 50 pilings will be repaired or replaced, all decking out to, but not including, the Pier Terminus (the wider area at the seaward end) is being replaced and made ADA-accessible, new light posts and hand railing will be installed and utilities will be moved to the outside of the railing. Stage 1 repairs will take several months—possibly more than one year—to complete. During this time the Pier will closed.
There are multiple ways the pier benefits our community:
The 501(c)3 non-profit, Friends of Avila Pier (FOAP), was established to help raise a portion of the funding needed to repair, rehabilitate and reopen the Pier and to ensure the continual maintenance of the Avila Pier for future generations. All monies raised by the Friends of Avila Pier are specifically designated for the repair and maintenance of the Avila Pier only. The 501(c)3 status allows Federal Income Tax exemption, allows donors to deduct contributions they make to Friends of Avila Pier, and qualifies FOAP to receive tax-deductible bequests, transfers, and gifts.
Restoration and upgrade improvements of the Avila Pier, which include making the Pier ADA accessible, will depend on the amount of money that is raised. PSLHD has secured several grants and is in the process of securing additional grants dedicated to Avila Pier restoration. However, these grants generally require a private community match of funds. Also, some costs involved in pier restoration are not eligible for funding under certain grants. Therefore a public-private partnership was considered to be the most effective means of securing the funds needed to restore the Avila Pier.
Repairs are being completed in 3 sequential stages. Stage 1 repairs began in August 2022. In Stage 1 approximately 50 pilings will be repaired or replaced, all decking out to, but not including, the Pier Terminus (the wider area at the seaward end) is being replaced and made ADA-accessible, new light posts and hand railing will be installed and utilities will be moved to the outside of the railing. Stage 1 repairs will take several months—possibly more than one year—to complete. During this time the Pier will closed.
There are multiple ways the pier benefits our community:
- Tourism
- Youth recreation
- Environmental awareness
- Fishing/Crabbing
- Town revenue