Pier Development, Hillside Tourist Project Spur Parking Ideas
Bring Back The Train?
San Luis Obispo has no ocean front by there is a real Port of San Luis.That place is the wind-protected sister hamlet along Avila Bay to the better-known tourist haunt of Avila Beach.
Since the August 2012 eye popping humpback whale surfacing in the bay right off the Port San Luis pier amid kayakers and boaters – word of the sitings have sparked the popular imagination after the whale photos went viral.
The upshot – ever since then visitors have flocked to the area wanting to get that close to nature too. While whales don’t surface next to the pier every day around here “there is an abundance of wildlife and natural beauty” that leads to opportunities, says Port San Luis district harbor manager Steve McGrath.
McGrath says projects in the planning stage,some near the construction stage and some already in place are evidence of a growing trend -ie, this place could get busier.Unlike Avila the Port of San Luis pier is commercial pier and there is definitely more commerce planned.
This past week the district’s board took up enough development projects in the works to bring out the issue of parking in the future at the pier.
In the 1870s the pier sported a passenger/freight train carrying visitors from boat side onto the pier and into the city of San Luis Obispo – down what is now the Bob Jones Trail.The track connected in town where the Pacific Coast Center is today.
This week the idea of a train or shuttle of some sort to move people to and fro off the pier has resurfaced again says McGrath.”We said… Wouldn’t it be neat but it got no further than that.”
Nevertheless,the list of active projects is impressive and one can see why the local commission is concerned about parking. Here are some of the irons in the fire:
A second sit-down restaurant is in the works at the end of the pier leased by Chris Dorn of Morro Bay – the remodel plans have been submitted to the California Coastal Commission.
This week the district’s board – the Harbor Commission- approved a plan to do an extensive second-story addition to the pier on both the west and east sides enabling them to lease out two new spaces – one of which is likely to be a new fish market. The building plans are expected to be submitted to the Coastal Commission in the next two months.On the west side the Olde Port Inn eatery would be rebuilt.
-Besides these several new spaces – the district is removing the large old ice house on the pier that has been non-operational for years to make room for another new leased space.That demo work is beginning very soon.
-In the bay itself McGrath says a potential oyster farm in their waters has been proposed preliminarily.
-Activity has increased for customers of a district-based surfing school, kayak and paddle board rentals. “It’s way up from just three years ago” says McGrath as these sport – perfect for the mostly calm waters of the bay, have really taken off.
-On the hillside the 26 acre Harbor Terrace project has reached a critical crossroad as the district is set to decide whether to issue an RFP to develop the big campground project or develop it themselves. A decision is likely in January says McGarth. Costs to build the complex could be around $9.5 million but the district over time could net several million dollars a year from visitor revenues.The complex could handle 300 visitors at a time.
To handle all this development both on the pier, at its base and on the hillside, the San Luis Port commission realizes it is going to have parking problem.Thus, this talk of a train.
“I know that whales surfacing in the bay brought tons of visitors to the area last year and I can’t help but think it has had a residual effect.” The people keep coming.
McGrath adds,“It is clear we have a lot to offer here”