Christi is a thriving community that welcomes new opportunities. A CHANGING DOWNTOWN LANDSCAPE Downtown Corpus Christi is the city’s heart, as Assistant City Manager, Heather Hurlbert, portrays, “We have a downtown Marina, and it sits right on the bay. It is unique, and it is gorgeous. We have a large seawall that runs along the bay area that borders that downtown area, so you get a good mix of that vacation and business feel.” A tax increment financing zone has been established to encourage investment back into the downtown.“We work very closely with our Downtown Management District to help attract new businesses and identify projects in the area,” notes Hurlbert. Part of the effort includes introducing more accommodation to the city core, with projects ranging from the conversion of office spaces into apartments to the transformation of an old vacant hotel into residential housing.“We have a new hotel being built, and there is a lot of sprucing up of existing businesses,” Hurlbert expands. “That synergy is starting to roll, and we’re seeing a lot of attraction into downtown.” From unique restaurants to boutique shops, the downtown core is filled with homegrown businesses contributing to the city’s charm. As for business attraction, she shares, “We do have programs for those who want to come into the downtown area, where we can help with capital and startup costs, with renovation costs, especially if you are activating a vacant building, or making improvements or expansions.” She adds that community events are crucial in drawing people into the area. The Downtown Management District has worked to expand the Art Walk, an event held on the first Friday of each month. “They’ve grown that. It is now attracting up to 20,000 people. They’ve got booths and merchants of all kinds, live music. And it’s become an event.” Corpus Christi is also focused on enhancing the downtown experience for pedestrians. With the bay, just a few blocks from the city center, part of the long-term vision includes improving connectivity between the seawall area and downtown. “On one 91 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 09 CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
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