The Redondo Beach Plan

The Redondo Beach Plan. . Redondo Beach always had a plan. Founded in 1887 the town was built in accordance with a unique street pattern designed by William Hammond Hall (1846-1834), a San Francisco civil engineer hired by the Redondo Beach Company., Unlike the grid patterns of most 19th century towns, Redondo Beach was created with a unique curvilinear street system. The streets, bearing the names of Hispanic women and gemstones, were tiered from a single focal point at the Pacific Ocean moving inland in an easterly direction from the ocean. The Pier was the focus as it provided entry to the community and the South Bay from the sea and connected town residents and inland visitors with the ocean for commerce and play., William Hammond Hall was the first Superintendent of San Francisco Golden Gate Park, which he designed. The curved streets of the Park, like those of Redondo Beach, were designed to control the speed of horse and buggy drivers and to shelter people from the winds. As California's first State Engineer, he was responsible for water and drainage systems throughout the state. During his tenure, he spearheaded a number of major river navigation projects and an integrated flood control system for the Sacramento Valley. Hall was no stranger to controversy. As State Engineer, he alienated most major land owner groups. Hydraulic mine operators, ranchers and farmers were among those infuriated by his advocacy of a larger, more assertive role for the public sector in the management of the state's water resources.