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Tim Zielenbach/Caller-Times
NEW WORK: Jose Ballalta (left) and Danny Ramirez remove side boards from hardened concrete for what will become the floor of the new Petco store on South Staples Street. Commercial construction reached record levels last year, and new construction will take place throughout the city in 2004. |
Sparkling city is dusty from growth
New businesses and buildings will crop up across the city throughout 2004
By Alison Beshur/Caller-Times
A decade ago, an outline of Corpus Christi's skyline traced differently than it does today. And by many accounts, a decade from now it will trace differently again.
Commercial construction reached record levels last year, and contractors and industry leaders expect 2004 to be just as fruitful.
"We haven't seen many construction cranes in the skyline for a very long time, and now there are many of them around the community working," said Gail Hoffman, executive director of South Texas Associated General Contractors (AGC). "It was a really good year ... It's looking like that probably will (continue)."
Construction projects last year totaled nearly twice the value of projects for 2002 ($212 million vs. about $112 million).
Although not all AGC member-projects were in Corpus Christi, construction completed by out-of-town or non-member contractors in this area likely would offset those values, Hoffman said.
Unlike residential construction, commercial construction last year wasn't concentrated in a specific area of the city, but spread throughout.
"It's pretty broad," Hoffman said. "We're seeing construction over a large portion of town."
Last year, the city's permitting office issued 157 new commercial permits valued at $198 million. That was a significant increase from the nearly $89 million issued the year before and $61 million approved in 2001.
The addition of an arena and expansion of the convention center have altered the landscape of the northern tip of the bayfront area. Projects such as the 26,000-square-foot International Bank of Commerce center and the three-story, 56,000-square-foot medical office building along Shoreline Drive have started to transform that area of town.
Other parts of Corpus Christi showed signs of change, too.
At Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, construction began this year on an $11 million fine arts center and an $18 million Harte Research Institute to study long-term sustainable use and conservation of the Gulf of Mexico.
Retail construction sprouted up near the interchange of Crosstown Expressway and State Highway 358. Building began last year for the Buffalo Wild Wings and China Moon restaurants in front of Tinseltown movie theaters, and plans are under way to build a Fuddruckers restaurant.
Nearby, a Cash America pawnshop, Payless Shoe Source, a Quiznos subs and a women's clothing store emerged in front of Wal-Mart.
Other retail construction sites that made headlines last year included a shopping center on the corner of South Padre Island Drive and Staples Street that included Starbucks Coffee. A short distance away, construction was completed on a Krispy Kreme Doughnuts shop.
Kohl's department store was built to the south of the city's main shopping area on S.P.I.D. and has spurred other retail development in the area.
Because of an upsurge in the number of projects, 2003 was a record year for some general contractors, including Marshall Co., company vice president Richard Dodson said.
"We've lagged behind a lot of other cities in terms of construction," Dodson said. "I think it's going to be our turn next."
Spin-off from the $25 million expansion of the city's convention center, multimillion dollar liquid natural gas plants along La Quinta channel, dredging of the Packery Channel and expansion of the area's medical facilities likely will bring more construction projects, Dodson said.
Also, bids will be issued this year for projects associated with Del Mar College's $108 million bond issuance, as well as new elementary school development.
"The rising tide raises all boats," Dodson concluded.
Contact Alison Beshur at 886-4316 or beshura@caller.com
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