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Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1998
Closer look at cruise-terminal plan
Site could include restaurant, IMAX, consultants say
By GLASTON FORD
Staff WriterThe Port of Corpus Christi's proposed multi-use cruise ship terminal and waterfront development could house additional meeting and banquet facilities and one restaurant, consultants told the port commission Monday.
Other projects such as a small-scale IMAX theater could also work with some private or public subsidy, consultants said at a special meeting at the Omni Bayfront Hotel.
But the area could not support stores, more than one restaurant, a hotel or office space, according to economic analysis of the area.
For any development of the 22-acre area next to the Harbor Bridge - including Cargo Docks 1 and 2 and some of the cotton compresses - to be successful, it will take public and private funds and must be developed in phases over many years, according to the final draft of the port's Waterfront Master Plan for Cargo Docks 1 & 2, by Bermello, Ajamil & Partners.
About 80 people, including representatives of nearby tourist attractions, local real estate brokers and state officials, attended the meeting.
Monday's presentation was the commissioners' first chance to review the master plan. The commission took no action, nor has it committed to any of the items in the plan.
The first phase of the plan calls for the port to redevelop Cargo Dock 2 into a cruise ship terminal and a meeting and banquet facility, said Scott Lagueux, a planner with Bermello, Ajamil & Partners. It also calls for removing sections of the cotton compresses to make way for future development and improve access to the terminal building. The first phase also provides for improvements to Chaparral and Tancahua streets, he said.
Phase 1 would cost more than $5 million, according to preliminary estimates. The port has already received a $1.5 million economic development grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce to go toward creating a cruise terminal.
The consultants received a largely positive response from commissioners, although no one committed to any specifics in the plan. And the difficult decisions, like how much port money to spend and when and where to spend it, lie ahead.
The port, before it decides to spend any money, needs to be careful that it is not competing with other businesses in the area, said Commissioner Richard Bowers.
The port should create something that complements and supports other attractions in the area, said Commissioner Yolanda Olivarez and Chairman Bill Dodge.
The port should move forward with the plan, said Jim Moloney, a director of the Friends of the Corpus Christi Museum and the Columbus Fleet Association. ``It's a fabulous use of a pretty much decrepit area,'' he said.
The plan would be positive for the Lexington Museum on the Bay, said Rocco Montesano, executive director of the museum. His only question was about adequate ferry access between the north and south shores of the ship channel.
Phase one of the plan includes a proposed relocation of the dock for the water taxi to a point near the Harbor Bridge.
The need for the master plan grew out of the port's desire to attract cruise ships to Corpus Christi, both as a homeport and a port of call, port officials have said.
The strong growth of the cruise industry increases Corpus Christi's chances of attracting a cruise line, said Luis Ajamil of Bermello, Ajamil and Partners.
The cruise industry has grown from less than 1.5 million passengers in 1980 to about 5 million in 1997, Ajamil said.
The main limitation to growth has been the lack of available space on cruise ships. As space has increased, so have the number of passengers. Now, the cruise industry has 41 new cruise ships on order, he said. As cruise ships come on line, cruise lines are looking for alternative ports of call, such as the Western Caribbean, which can be served from Corpus Christi, Ajamil said.
The plan is designed so that the port can complete portions of it, such as the cruise terminal, without committing to the whole thing, consultants said.
The plan received the support of commercial real estate broker Joe Adame, who attended the meeting. ``I think this is exactly what the community needs to move forward and be proud of,'' Adame said.
Staff writer Glaston Ford can be reached at 886-3678 or by e-mail at fordg@scripps.comPost your comments about local news eventsFront Page || Main Index || News || Business || Texas || South Texas Outdoors || Birdwatching || Sports || Entertainment || Selena || Education || South Texas Attractions || World Wide Web