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Tuesday, Apr. 27, 1999

Bay Ridge second phase to offer 16 floor plans

Downtown loft living in the works at Katz, Weber buildings

By ANDREA JARES
Staff Writer

   Al Hogan Builder's first development in the Portland area may expand into its second unit of homes as early as this summer.
   The first unit of development, 56 houses, began in October. Residents have been moving into this first part of the development since the beginning of the year.
   When the 350-home Bay Ridge development enters its second phase later this year, the number of floor plans to choose from will double to 16.
   These new floor plans center on a "great room" concept, where the kitchen, living room and eating area all are part of one room with higher ceilings.
   Neill Amsler, Al Hogan president, said this type of home will appeal to informal lifestyles while the higher ceiling gives the home a look that appears larger in size.
   "It's a very, very spacious feeling," Amsler said. "It feels a couple of hundred feet larger than it is."
   The new style is an offshoot of the plans the area's largest homebuilder made when the company reworked plans for the windstorm housing code. Other changes include a deeper garage for extended-cab pickup trucks, larger utility rooms and larger walk-in closets.
   The homes, north of Buddy Ganem Road and east of U.S. Highway 181, are priced between the low 80s and the low 110s, with homes in the development phase planned later this year priced up to the 130s. The lots are larger than others in Al Hogan developments - about 6,000 square feet, Amsler said.
   Amsler said the company when to work in Portland because it is central to people who work at many of the chemical and refinery plants, the naval station in Ingleside and downtown Corpus Christi.
   "I think there's a major need here," Amsler said. "There hasn't been any affordable housing built in this area in a long time."
   

Downtown living

   Corpus Christi's downtown, already a growing entertainment center, may add loft living to the mix as early as this fall.
   Three investors from Galveston and Corpus Christi, known as P2R, are remodeling the Katz and Weber buildings at 317 and 325 Mesquite St.
   They are Randall Pettit of Galveston, a bar owner and operator; Dr. Keith Rose, a Corpus Christi physician, and Jack Pagan of Galveston, whose family owns car dealerships here and in the Galveston area.
   The Weber Building at 325 Mesquite, near the intersection of Lawrence Street, will have five lofts, with possibly climate-controlled document storage on the second floor and lease space on the ground floor for possibly a restaurant. Cravey Real Estate Services Inc. in Corpus Christi is evaluating the property's retail space to determine how it would best be used.
   The building was purchased last month from Rob Hamon.
   The Katz Building, bought last week from Norman Pinson, will have 10 lofts on the top two floors and a martini bar called "21" on the bottom floor. Melmo Construction is handling the restoration of the Katz Building.
   The martini bar will be the second for the investors, who have a bar in Galveston and one under construction in Austin. Pagan promises that it will be very upscale, featuring hand-designed furniture chosen for its beauty and comfort.
   Pagan, who was born in Corpus Christi, said the building made good sense, considering all of the renovation and construction going on downtown. This is the group's first investment in Corpus Christi.
   "Everything seems like it's going downtown," he said. "There's a lot of action down there."
   A opening date is scheduled for early fall.
   Pagan said he plans to have all of the lofts rented by the opening date. No prices have been set.
   The lofts, each between 1,100 and 1,500 square feet, will have hardwood floors and fireplaces. To transform the office building, the entire building had to be gutted.
   "We're sparing no expense," Pagan said. He said he likes the beauty of the building and wants to preserve its charm.
   

West Oso school plans

   Construction of the West Oso Independent School District's new elementary school at 1526 Cliff Maus Drive is on schedule and is expected to be completed by Dec. 1, said David Palacios, business manager for the district. The school has not yet been named.
   The expected cost of the school has changed, though, from an initial $5.2 million estimate to $6 million. The school is paid for by a $5.2 million bond issue approved by voters in 1997. The difference will come from the general fund, Palacios said.
   The plans ran over budget when the district decided to add eight classrooms to accommodate sixth-grade classes. Second- through sixth-graders from Skinner, Kennedy and Allen elementary schools will attend the school.
   Skinner will be used as a health clinic and additional classroom space, while plans for Allen have not been confirmed. Kennedy will change to a pre-kindergarten and first-grade campus.
   Braselton Construction is building the 79,000-square-foot elementary school.
   The district is considering bids filed last Tuesday on a street leading to the new school. The street will cost about $200,000, including $80,000 for additional storm drainage required by the city.
   The new street, paid for by the school district, is a separate project from the building.
   On Real Estate appears every other Tuesday in the business section. Items for consideration can also be faxed to 886-3732. Business writer Andrea Jares can be reached at 886-3678 or by email at jaresa@caller.com

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