ST. GEORGE — A pier near the St. George Ferry Terminal has been closed after the city found structural damage and deemed it a safety hazard.
St. George's Pier 1 — part of DockNYC — was closed this week after a city inspection, according to Ryan Birchmeier, spokesman for the Economic Development Corporation.
"During a routine inspection we discovered structural damage to pilings at Pier 1, which pose a safety hazard," Birchmeier said in a statement. "The city is currently identifying next steps to address the state of the pier and safely restore waterfront access for the community."
Birchmeier did not have an estimate of when the pier would reopen or how much it could cost to fix.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Councilwoman Debi Rose wrote that she asked the agency to make reopening the spot a priority.
"This a shared disappointment for the fishing community and all who enjoy the view and breezes along the pier," Rose wrote. "I have asked NYCEDC to prioritize this project, and I expect to bring you an update in the coming week."
Pier 1 is one of several waterfront docks around the city that's part of the DockNYC program run by BillyBey Marina Services and the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance.
The program was started by the EDC in 2013 to bring more use to docks around the city by making it easier for companies to get permits to launch and dock ships at them. Pier 1 was acquired by the program in 2016.
The port, near the National Lighthouse Museum, was originally known as Lighthouse Pier and was used to produce and ship lighthouse lenses worldwide, according to the EDC.
The agency restored the site in 2009 when they added tables, benches, lighting and a table for cleaning fish.
