City of Capitola moving forward with a wharf master plan
CAPITOLA, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The City of Capitola is eyeing a redevelopment of the wharf ever since it washed away three winters ago.
The city, asking for the public to weigh-in on what they want out on the water.
"It was really a tragedy when we got the report in 2023 that we had to demolish the buildings that were out there," said Katie Herlihy, Capitola's Community Development Director. "I've never seen city hall as full as it was that night."
Herlihy saying that the 2023 city hall turnout shows how much people love the wharf, the city council coming up with a long-term plan even before demolishing buildings.
Now, two years later, they’ve got a better idea of what people want to see done.
"People liked what they liked before all the restaurants went in the ocean," said Courtney Christiansen with consultant group Fuse Architecture. "They want them back. They want at least the same functionality."
Fuse Architecture surveyed over 1,000 people with different concepts.
The wharf now having new piles and boards as well as being wider than before the collapse.
The only thing it’s lacking -- structurally -- is height.
"It should be about eight feet higher, but the cost to bring it up those eight feet is not really feasible at this time," said Todd Kent with the City of Capitola. "We're going to do our best as architects and designers and engineers to prepare for [future storms]."
One engineer who studied the wharf indicated that a permanent building like a full restaurant could actually improve the structural integrity of the wharf.
And, Fuse’s survey showed strong public desire for a restaurant, like the old Wharf House.
"It would be a great thing," said a local on the wharf Thursday. "You know, I miss the old restaurant; it was a good menu, they had live music and they were great people."
"We can really push it in the right direction," said Capitola's Community Development Director Katie Herlihy.
The ideal outcome would give people who live here a more developed wharf, while the city could collect a portion of the profits from businesses.
But, there's still one missing piece...
"We need someone to be interested in, like the wharf master plan that we're putting together," said Herlihy. "That will be just a conceptual blueprint for the future, and then we'll be looking for a private partner to come in and help us develop that."
The city says it’s coming back in late October to present the wharf master plan, and if there’s no hiccups, construction could start in a couple years.
Some people commenting at today’s meeting pushed for getting something temporary like a hot dog stand out there much sooner. The city saying they would consider that.
