Your Real Estate Expert for Berkeley and Beyond
“Marilyn is exceptional. Her knowledge base, enthusiasm for her job, professional ethics, organization, sensitivity to our aesthetic requirements, loyalty and gentle perseverance set her apart.”
-- Bill and Carol Seidel
Marilyn Garcia, PhD
Broker Associate, Realtor®
DRE# 02014153
District Homes
1758 Solano Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94707
Direct:
(510) 390-5406
THE BERKELEY PIER
I’ve long been fascinated by the Berkeley Pier, which extends far into the Bay at the foot of University Avenue. Once open for walking and fishing, it has been closed to the public since 2015.
According to City documents, the pier was built in 1926 by the Golden Gate Ferry Company to serve an auto ferry to San Francisco. At its peak, it began near the current I-80 on-ramp at University Avenue, and stretched about 3.5 miles (!), almost to Treasure Island. After the Bay Bridge opened in 1935, the car ferry was no longer needed, and the City of Berkeley acquired the pier for recreational use.
In the early 1960s, the first mile was removed when the Berkeley Marina was created. The remaining structure was shortened to roughly 3,000 feet to reduce maintenance costs, and the deteriorated wood surface was replaced with concrete panels. Portions of the original pier beyond that section were removed to allow boats to pass, but remnants can still be seen today.
Over time, the concrete panels deteriorated, leading to the pier’s closure in 2015. A structural assessment found widespread corrosion and seismic vulnerability, rendering the pier unsafe.
What’s happening now? The current proposal calls for a new 1,080-foot pier for recreational use and to support zero-emission ferry service, along with a breakwater, ferry terminal, and other waterfront improvements. A Draft Environmental Impact Report, published February 2026, is open for public review until April 28 (see https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/our-work/capital-projects/berkeley-pier-ferry-access-project).
