The historic staircase will be repaired in the project, developed by the La Jolla Parks & Beaches group with support from the La Jolla Coastal Conservancy.
A project to repair and restore the crumbling staircase at Whale View Point in La Jolla received San Diego hearing officer approval June 24.
The project, approved by hearing officer Jeffery Szymanski on consent (meaning no formal presentation), includes cleaning and repairing the historic concrete stairs and adjoining masonry walls, capping of the historic treads, risers and cobblestone side walls with precast concrete pavers and mortar and painting the existing handrail and wooden posts.
Image courtesy of La Jolla Coastal Conservancy
The Whale View Point Stairs were built in the 1920s at 417 Coast Blvd South and are included in the La Jolla Park Coastal Historic District.
Their age, however, and resultant exposure to coastal elements like salt and moisture and heavy use has led to deterioration; many in the community have worried about the potential for injury or accident.
Rendering by La Jolla Parks & Beaches
The plans for repair have been “developed in coordination with city staff, including historic preservation personnel, to ensure that the restoration approach is consistent with accepted preservation standards and maintains the historic integrity of the structure,” the staff report states.
The restoration proposal is a project of the La Jolla Parks & Beaches group, with support from the La Jolla Coastal Conservancy, Parks & Beaches board member Seonaid McArthur said.
Image courtesy of La Jolla Coastal Conservancy
The Conservancy, which takes on maintenance and repair projects along the shoreline from Whale View Point north to Coast Walk Trail, has a right-of-entry permit with the city, which the staircase project still needs, McArthur said; the June 24 approval only included coastal and site development permits.
McArthur is hoping for a late July start to construction, barring further appeals from others including the California Coastal Commission.
