CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Construction has started on the building that used to be H-E-B headquarters near downtown Corpus Christi.
Developer Lynn Frazier is turning this facility into modern office space that might include retail spaces on the first floor.
The building will include a rooftop terrace that overlooks downtown.
We're seeing a lot of downtown development as many people are wanting to move there. There's a boom in residential interest and residential space development that observers believe is impacting business boom.
New business are moving into old spaces. And the 17 vacant buildings downtown are the fewest that the Downtown Management District has seen in the area in a long time.
Folks who live in the area like Douglas Earl Edwards are excited about the revitalization.
"When people come to Corpus, we want them to see what the city is really about, not that it's dying." Edwards said.
There was $57.7 million of revitalization projects completed in the area in 2019. Some of those projects include Frost Bank, the new Marriott Residence Inn, Nueces Brewery, Studio44 and BUS among others.
"We are aiming to bring in more residences so that we have more people in downtown at all times of the day." Jordan Michael, with the Downtown Management District, said.
Michael says there has been a high demand for residential spaces. Lofts and apartments in the area have high occupancy, some even at capacity. And there are plans for new apartments.
"The 600 building which is in uptown, that is office space that will be converted into residences with first level retail." Michael said.
Mixed use spaces like that are becoming more common in our downtown. These may be office spaces or apartments that have retail or restaurants on the first floor.
Downtown businesses are receiving incentives from TIRZ No. 3, which are tax dollars from that specific zone that are being reinvested for the purpose of revitalization of the downtown area.
And there's $98.5 million currently in progress - MUSE Bistro, Limerick Apartments, Ward Building, AKA Sushi, the 600 Building and 807 N. Upper Broadway.
