[diablo234]

I figuered Corpus Christi has enough going on development wise, so I figuered why not give the city it's own thread here.

Anyways to kick things off. :cheers:

City spends $900,000 to encourage redevelopment of Ward building downtown
By Jessica Savage
Posted January 7, 2012 at 3 a.m.

CORPUS CHRISTI — The city has spent about $900,000 to entice redevelopment of an anchor building in downtown that's remained unoccupied for years.

Assistant City Manager Oscar Martinez said time and money are running out for the city's interest in the Ward Building, at 540 N. Chaparral St., as the city continues to negotiate an agreement between the building's owner and a private developer.

The city spent most of the money to acquire the building's leasehold rights and purchase and improve a parking lot next to the building so it could lease spaces to downtown residents. The leasehold rights mean the city has control of the building and could even demolish it without the owner's consent.

The money came from community development block grants and a one-time allocation from the Corpus Christi Housing Finance Corp., a fund that collects developer fees and spends them on housing improvements. In less than two years, the city won't be able to cover monthly lease payments out of block grant funds being used because that money expires.

"It's a little frustrating," Martinez said. "We're going to have to make a decision on whether we're going to stick to this strategy."

A year ago the city began negotiating with San Antonio developer Bill Hoover to redevelop the Ward Building. Hoover owns the 1920s-era Nueces Lofts building across the street, which he redeveloped into loft apartments with a fitness center on the ground level. His redevelopment of the Nueces Lofts building was hailed as an inspiration for downtown redevelopment.

......

 

[diablo234]

A new Schlitterbahn water park could be in the works for Corpus Christi.

Schlitterbahn zoning request causes pause among some City Council members

 

[diablo234]

UPDATE: The Corpus Christi city council approved the zoning change to accomodate the new Schiltterbahn Water Park.

http://www.caller.com/news/2012/feb/28/city-council-approves-schlitterbahn-re-zoning/

 

[hannah_banana]

Big stuff for Corpus

Council Approves Schlitterbahn Incentives

CORPUS CHRISTI (Kiii News) -
The Corpus Christi City Council has signed off on the Schlitterbahn deal without a dissenting voice to be heard in council chambers.

That means that construction will begin as soon as the plans for the park are submitted to the city for approval.

Tuesday's decision means that half of the Padre Isles Country Club will be torn out to make room for Schlitterbahn, after council gave the green light for the development to begin.

Jeff Henry, the owner of Schlitterbahn, sat out in the audience during the council meeting. He was keeping his fingers crossed that the deal would be approved and that happened as every council member agreed to the $552 Million development deal.

The city is throwing in $5 Million in cash and $112 Million dollars in incentives as part of the agreement. Henry believes the first phase of the park will be open by Memorial Day 2013.

"I'm pleased, I'm giddy. I didn't think I would actually complete a deal with Corpus Christi quickly or easily. This has not been quick, but it has been easy. Wonderful people to work with, staff has been phenomenal," says Henry.

Construction of the park was set to begin June 1, but that won't be happening since the deal with the council has just now been completed.

Henry did tell us that financing for the project hinged on getting a deal with council done and now that it has happened, this project is moving ahead at full speed.

Check out this PDF map of the development. Schlitterbahn Corpus Christi

 

[hannah_banana]

Residents at final unveiling support design concept for Destination Bayfront

CORPUS CHRISTI — A continuous stretch of bayfront park would include a place for Buc Days festivities, a boardwalk along the water's edge, hills for children to play, restaurants for families to eat, a dog park for pets to socialize and trees to provide shade.

An overwhelming majority of the 100 people who attended a Tuesday evening unveiling of the final concept design at American Bank Center supported the estimated $72.5 million project and want to see it move forward.

For young professional Lorenzo Garcia, it would be one more reason to go downtown.

The effort to redevelop 27 acres of public land along the bayfront is being led by a group of local business leaders known as Destination Bayfront. Tuesday night marked the second of four public meetings to update residents about the planning progress.

The signature park under design could be an economic catalyst for downtown, especially the 11 acres of undeveloped land behind the bayfront site, economic adviser Jaime Torres Springer said. It would breathe life into downtown, setting off a chain reaction of retail and residential living. He estimates the economic impact could be as much as $150 million a year in additional spending.

"The great thing about a park is it's not just one group that comes to a park, it's tourists, people who live in the city as a whole, people who live downtown and those work there," he said.

 

[hannah_banana]

Construction Of New Skate Park In The Bluff Will Start Soon

Posted: Jul 16, 2012 4:46 PM by Dave Fraser
Updated: Jul 16, 2012 7:09 PM

CORPUS CHRISTI - Corpus Christi currently has just one skate park, but plans are in the works for another park out in the Flour Bluff area.

"I'm super stoked for it. We don't really have that many skate parks around here so I'm ready to drop in., says boarder Ariana.

Right now the only place to "drop in" is over at Cole Park, the new park will be more convenient to boarders who live closer to the Flour Bluff.

Two plans have been drawn up and will be reviewed by the public on Thursday. Each plan brings a unique design to the mix, one a little more traditional, the other has more of a modern feel. Each design, however, is "totally radical".

The money for the project comes for several sources. A company from California called Highland Property Development already has other investments in the Flour Bluff area. The business owns an apartment complex near the park and has chipped in $30,000 for the skate park project.

 

[hannah_banana]

Corpus Christi City Council to move on tax break for Lichtenstein developer

By Rick Spruill
Posted October 8, 2012 at 1:28 p.m., updated October 8, 2012 at 5:32 p.m.

Contributed art

RealTex Development Corp. is planning a $28 million mixed-use building in place of the former Lichtenstein building downtown. Developers say the company bought the building because of the city's plans to renovate Chaparral Street.

CONTRIBUTED ART An artist's rendering shows plans for redevelopment of the Lichtenstein Building on Chaparral Street. The City Council on Tuesday will consider a property tax abatement for the project

CORPUS CHRISTI — Council to move on tax break for Lichtenstein developer


The Corpus Christi City Council on Tuesday will vote on a tax break for the developer responsible for resurrecting the Lichtenstein Building on Chaparral Street.

The eight-year tax abatement, which needs a two-third council majority to pass, in effect freezes the appraised value — currently about $885,000 — on the tax rolls while the building is shaped into a planned 160-unit residential tower with more than 6,000 square feet of street-level retail space.

 

[hannah_banana]

Integrated Sustainability Plan

City of Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, Texas, US

The city of Corpus Christi, Texas, selected HDR to develop an integrated community sustainability plan. This plan builds on HDR's integrated systems approach to community planning, wherein an interdisciplinary team of technical specialists, who understand how changes in one community system affect other systems, work together to plan the sustainable growth and redevelopment of a community.

The planning team, working closely with city staff from several departments, identified twelve broad elements or categories of a complete community; these elements provided the framework for a comprehensive, integrated community plan. The elements range from essential, quantifiable municipal services such as energy, water and waste to those that pertain to quality of life, such as knowledge and culture.

HDR

 

[jcastro805]

Texas offshore wind developer gets federal money

CORPUS CHRISTI — The developer of what could become the first offshore wind farm in Texas received a federal research award that could be worth up to $47 million and could speed up the project.

The Department of Energy announced the award, one of seven given to offshore wind projects nationwide — on Wednesday.

Austin-based Baryonyx Corp. wants to install about 200 wind turbines in each of three areas off the South Texas coast, two in state waters off South Padre Island and a third either east of Mustang Island or east of Baffin Bay.

Read more at: http://www.caller.com/news/2012/dec/13/texas-offshore-wind-developer-gets-federal-money/

 

[jcastro805]

Outlet mall officials announce stores, plans

ROBSTOWN — Guess, Puma and Brooks Brothers — they’re the first three stores announced to open in the Outlets at Corpus Christi Bay.

The 50-acre shopping complex is slated to open spring 2014 in Robstown near the Richard M. Borchard Fairgrounds, and it has plans to grow.

Though the mall originally was announced in 2007 and stalled with negotiations and a sluggish economy, outlet and county officials seemed confident Monday its doors will open.

“We’re looking forward to moving some dirt and getting the buildings up,” County Commissioner Joe McComb said during a news conference at the Nueces County Courthouse.

Read more at: http://www.caller.com/news/2012/nov/26/outlet-mall-officials-announce-stores-plans-news/

 

[jcastro805]

Plans for Six Points Market under way for vacant Butter Krust Bakery building on Ayers Street

CORPUS CHRISTI — The iconic Butter Krust Bakery building, which has sat vacant for the past 15 years, is getting a new lease on life with plans to transform the 1930s-era factory into a marketplace with room for a restaurant, retail shops, a courtyard and indoor event space.

Redevelopment plans also include a slice of the building's roots — space for a Mexican bakery known as a panadería.

Local developers Bryan Gulley and Mike Edwards purchased the building a year and a half ago after seeing potential for the 76,000 square-foot space and its location. The old bakery faces Ayers Street, a few blocks between Six Points and Del Mar College.

"We never liked easy projects," Edwards said. "You have to have a love affair with properties. To find a building this large that sits on pier and beam is just unheard of."

A sustainability plan commissioned by the city a couple of years ago helped them see the full potential. The plan highlights Ayers as one of the city's nine destination spots primed for revitalization. The corridor links Christus Spohn Hospital Shoreline, a place where hundreds of employees work, to Six Points where some revitalization has occurred, to Del Mar College's main campus. All three locations are within a mile or 15 blocks of each other.

Under the redevelopment, Butter Krust will be renamed Six Points Market with plans to turn the loading docks into a courtyard, which would expand the lease space to 100,000 square feet, said Philip Ramirez, lead architect for the project. It's a concept similar in size, parking and planning to Historic Market Square in San Antonio, off Interstate 35 near the River Walk.

Read more at: http://www.caller.com/news/2012/nov/24/plans-for-six-points-market-under-way-for-vacant/

 

[jcastro805]

Downtown supporters: Corpus Christi should continue rebuilding the soul of this city

CORPUS CHRISTI — When people think about Corpus Christi, they remember the bayfront, the skyline and the Harbor Bridge.

Downtown is the soul of the city that links those landmarks. It's one reason why Corpus Christi should build upon the momentum to revitalize its downtown.

Business owners on Thursday cited that message as reasons to keep momentum going, during the Downtown Management District's first luncheon at the Bayfront Omni Hotel.

It was echoed by keynote speaker Charlie Betts, executive director of the Downtown Austin Alliance for the past 16 years, who helped transform Austin into a bustling city that has seen the downtown residential market skyrocket along with traffic and congestion.

About 300 people attended the event called "Building Momentum," which honored vested downtown business owners and recapped the downtown revitalization effort's progress during the past year.

Betts said he sees great things ahead for downtown Corpus Christi. Many of the same things the city is struggling with now — vacant buildings, urban sprawl and providing more downtown residential living — Austin did too. There is an upside during the city's transitional period, he said.

"Enjoy getting to go anywhere you need to go in 10 minutes while you can," he said. "It's a great quality of life thing."

There have been recent glimpses downtown is poised for a comeback. Later this month construction is expected to begin for a two-block redevelopment of Chaparral Street, between William and Schatzell streets. Voters in 2008 approved the project, which will return a section of the road to a two-way street, widen the sidewalks, add lighting and landscaping. The intent is to reconnect Chaparral to the arts and entertainment district across Interstate 37.

Betts said he believes the Chaparral project will have similar results to Congress Street in Austin where the city widened the sidewalk and added brick pavers and trees. It's one of the busiest retail and dining corridors in downtown Austin. People began dining outdoors and the retail returned, he said.

More retail and residential is on its way to Chaparral Street. An Austin-based developer is moving forward with plans to tear down the old Lichtenstein's Department Store on Chaparral Street and replace it with The Cosmopolitan — a $28 million, five-story retail and residential apartment complex. Last month the City Council approved a tax incentive for the mixed-use project.

read more at: http://www.caller.com/news/2012/nov/01/downtown-supporters-corpus-christi-should-the-of/

Austin developers with visions of molding Chaparral Street after Congress Avenue? Very interesting :gossip:

 

[hannah_banana]

Vacant bayfront land near downtown sees plans for hotel, apartments and retail

By Jessica Savage
Posted January 12, 2013 at 11:29 p.m.

CORPUS CHRISTI — Rod Martin isn't waiting for Corpus Christi to build a signature park downtown.

His dream of owning a hotel is close to becoming a reality with plans to break ground in four months on a 54-room boutique hotel two blocks from the bay.

Martin's hotel project on Water Street called The Kinney might be the first of proposed bayfront plans to break ground. He is shoring up financing with a group of about 15 investors known as Kinney Hotel Partners LTD.

Urban apartments with ground-level retail are some of the other new plans for vacant bayfront land along Shoreline Boulevard and South Water Street where development plans remained idle for years. The land primarily used in the past for overflow parking could make vertical strides this year, according to local investors, real estate brokers and developers.

Wisznia is moving forward with a preliminary design for a mixed-use development that would have about 140 apartments and 20,000 square feet of ground floor commercial or retail space. He expects the project to break ground in the next 15 months. His plans do not depend on Destination Bayfront following through with the park concept, he said.

"We think the amenities are still there to make it successful, but the experience for the resident will be better once Destination Bayfront is in place," Wisznia said.

Another empty tract along Shoreline Boulevard recently sold to TR InScore, a Cypress-based development company with a history of high-end residential development across Texas, including two projects on Post Oak Boulevard in Houston. One of those projects is a 32-story apartment building at 1200 Post Oak valued at $64 million, according to its website. The land purchased on Shoreline Boulevard is about 1.25 acres. Company officials could not be reached for comment.

"The city could decide to build a parking garage, and I think there's some apprehension until the street is realigned," Dupriest said. "You don't want to build the hotel and have the street torn up the next year."

Construction is expected to begin in June to realign the northbound lanes of Shoreline Boulevard away from the bayfront. Voters approved about $13 million for the project and adjacent landscape improvements. City engineers are working with Destination Bayfront leaders to coordinate plans for the park and the street.

 

[hannah_banana]

Construction underway to build 164 apartments near downtown Corpus Christi

By Jessica Savage
Posted January 12, 2013 at 11:28 p.m.

CORPUS CHRISTI — New apartments near downtown are under construction with an opening date set for spring 2014.

The second phase of Bay Vista, between Furman and Coleman avenues on South Carancahua Street, will include 164 apartments with views of the bay, a pool, a dog park and a refurbished stairway that leads to Water Street. It will be across Furman Avenue from the first phase of the apartment complex, which opened a couple of years ago.

Construction began in late December to clear the nearly 2 acres, which is behind the Executive House condominiums on Water Street. BBL Builders, a company based in Dallas, is the construction contractor.

 

[hannah_banana]

More renderings of The Kinney hotel in Corpus Christi

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kinney/292882950754020?sk=info#!/pages/The-Kinney/292882950754020

 

[jcastro805]

Corpus Christi MPO eyes $32M for Harbor Bridge replacement

CORPUS CHRISTI — Local transportation planners are considering allocating $32 million to the Harbor Bridge project.

They hope the move will spark additional local spending on the bridge replacement and demonstrate to state officials that the region is serious about moving the project forward.

The Texas Transportation Commission has allocated $291 million, but the project could cost $700 million to $900 million, depending on which layout is chosen for the bridge and adjoining highways. State officials have indicated they want to see locals chip in as much as $100 million.

The project has been labeled one of the state’s top priorities, but it faces stiff competition from other big projects in metro areas. The Texas Department of Transportation’s long-term plan has only $2.5 billion allocated to bridges statewide through 2022, and it has a list of deficient bridges that need work.

It’s logical for the Corpus Christi Metropolitan Planning Organization to commit to the bridge as it weighs priorities for as long as the next 25 years, director Tom Niskala said.

“If we’re going to do this to jump-start local participation on the Harbor Bridge, right now is a good time to do it,” he said.

An MPO committee will discuss the allocation next week, but approval would require a vote of the full MPO governing board, Niskala said. Its next meeting is May 2.

The $32 million comes from a portion of the money given to MPOs across the country by the Federal Highway Administration, through state transportation departments, for fiscal years 2017 through 2019.

The same funding categories for 2013 to 2016 are paying for the extension of the Crosstown Expressway on the Southside.

Other local money sources are being considered for the Harbor Bridge, but no commitments have emerged.

The Texas House passed a bill Friday that expands options for transportation reinvestment zones.

The zones, created by local governments, dedicate property value increases to specific transportation projects. If one were created for the Harbor Bridge, taxes on development or property improvements within the zone would be dedicated to the project.

It’s not a new tax — it uses revenue generated from the existing property tax rate. The government can use those anticipated revenues as leverage for financing.

Before they can consider establishing a zone around the project area, officials will have to wait for the transportation department to adopt a final route, not likely to happen until late this year or in 2014.

The bill that passed Friday allows two or more governments to create a zone together. That could allow Nueces County, San Patricio County and nearby cities to make a joint effort at setting aside revenue.

The bill is meant to give transportation planners and local officials more options; it doesn’t mean a reinvestment zone automatically will be created, Niskala said.

A separate bill pending in the Senate would make the Harbor Bridge eligible for a public-private partnership. It would allow the project to be designed, built and maintained by a private contractor. The transportation department has used these arrangements, called comprehensive development agreements, to develop large projects more quickly than if they were handled under separate contracts.

Some use tolls to repay the developer, but current state policy forbids creating tolls except on new highways. And the transportation department’s director, Phil Wilson, said in a recent hearing that there is no intention to toll the Harbor Bridge, spokesman Bob Kaufman said.

An ongoing bridge inspection, with lane closures that have backed up traffic as far as the Crosstown Expressway, shows the need for a new bridge, Niskala said. Department officials say the bridge can be maintained for a long time, but closures will become longer and more frequent.

The project long has endured public perception that it will remain on the drawing board forever. It was the subject of City Council hearings as early as 1998. An $8 million environmental impact study was placed on hold in 2007 because of funding constraints.

But the study is back in full swing and could be submitted for state and federal review late this year.

In June the department established its most aggressive timeline, suggesting construction could happen as early as 2017.

found at http://www.caller.com/news/2013/apr/12/corpus-christi-mpo-eyes-32m-for-harbor-bridge-is/

 

[jonathaninATX]

Editorial: Corpus Christi ISD's construction project is 2 new schools and trust

By Editorial Board
April, 2, 2013

CORPUS CHRISTI — Construction cost estimating can be an inexact science but low-balling the expected cost of the new Carroll High School by 68 percent and the new Adkins Middle School by 78 percent is pushing the trustworthiness limit.

The new Carroll, estimated at $70 million, now is expected to cost $117.3 million and Adkins, estimated at $25 million, has climbed to $44.4 million. Last week, Corpus Christi Independent School District officials let it be known that the new schools’ openings will be delayed at least a year while they figure out what to do.

How did they end up that far off? That darned Eagle Ford Shale boom, of course. Sure, the Eagle Ford is feeding and clothing us all better, but it’s also hogging resources and driving up the cost of everything.

We can buy CCISD’s excuse for some of the markup. But once it got into the 68 and 78 percent ranges, we thought maybe some other handy scapegoats like Obamacare could have been thrown in. Forgive us for wondering when the trust issues with these two projects will end.

http://www.caller.com/news/2013/apr/02/corpus-christi-isds-construction-project-two-new/

 

[hannah_banana]

Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority Staples

After Phase 2

Gignac Architects Facebook

 

[jcastro805]

44-unit townhouse project planned next to Schlitterbahn

A 44-unit town house project adjacent to the Schlitterbahn water park is one of the first residential developments after the water park broke ground earlier this year on Padre Island.

The $9 million project Nemo Cay Resort is being marketed to vacationing families as daily rental units for those visiting the island and Schlitterbahn, said Alex Harris, a local builder and title company executive. The town houses are planned on Nemo Court, a small cul-de-sac off Park Road 22, on 2.5 acres adjacent to the water park. Plans are to break ground in July with an opening date set for spring break 2014, he said.

To move the project forward, the property requires a zoning change from resort commercial to multifamily. The City Council is expected to discuss and possibly vote Tuesday on the zoning request.

more at http://www.caller.com/news/2013/jun/10/44-unit-townhouse-project-planned-next-to/

 

[jcastro805]

Old Downtown Building Could Get New Life

CORPUS CHRISTI - The old Lichtenstein Building downtown could soon be getting a major overhaul. It's been abandoned for over 20 years, but it could turned into a luxury apartment complex.

Realtex Developments is throwing $29 million at the building. The new building will have 165 apartments with shops on the first floor and a swimming pool on the top.

It could give a boost to downtown business, which many say desperately needs it.

Ernie Muenzenberger is the owner of Carl's Flowers. He says he's excited to see it happen.

"Any kind of activity like that, or money pumped into the downtown is going to show good faith for other people to pump money into the downtown," he says.

In short, a domino effect where one change will lead to many.

But at least three or four times in the past ten years, others have tried to renovate this building with no success.

Jack Rice Turner is an architect who was part of the most recent effort back in 2008, but when the banking crisis hit, his client couldn't get the financing he needed.

"You never know for sure whether you're going to get the financing, whether the timing is right, and the market won't drop out on you, it's like rolling dice," Turner says.

Still, Turner is confident that this developer will make it happen. He says they have a good track record.

Construction is slated to start in the next few months.

found at http://www.kristv.com/news/old-downtown-building-could-get-new-life/