Mandalay Pier Expected to Come Down

The aged Mandalay Pier is coming down.

City leaders are expected to approve the project to demolish the iconic sunset spot where water one time lapped at its posts.

The end of the pier is now at least 150 feet from the tide.

It must come down for cost reasons and because an expected four foot tall sand wall project is on the horizon, said Kevin Dunbar at the City Council work session meeting Monday. 

There was some concern that it is used by wheelchair bound beachgoers. However, Dunbar said the incline is not ADA compliant. It is open because it is grandfathered from current code.

If the pier were restored it would have to meet the newer standards. To repair the old concrete structure, the weak pieces would have to be removed, as would the rust from the rebar. Then new concrete forms would have to be poured and sealed around the weak spots. Costs to repair it far outweigh the $90,000 to bring it down, officials said.

About 50 years ago the pier was built and over time the concrete has worn down and sand has covered up other areas of it. At one time it extended over the water, the line which has moved through years of nourishment and erosion.

About 20 years ago a portion of the pier was removed for safety because part of it was degrading faster than the rest the structure. The remaining portion was left for beach goers. Although it is not in the water the concrete is spalding and the rebar is rusty to a point that it must be destroyed.

Readers are split nearly down the middle about whether to restore or destroy the aged pier, .

If you go:

What: City Council meeting

When: 6 p.m. Thursday (April 19)

Where: , 112 S Osceola Ave