Corpus Christi Day & Night Photos 7-07 (live, beach)

[SweethomeSanAntonio]

Corpus looks great!

[changeofpace]

Now that we are settled in, its time to take out the camera and take the pictures of what impressed us the most and what we saw that made us ask some questions and and do some checking around city hall. The pics will be included in my eventual book about moving south to retire that I am working on. Will share the photos as we take them. Will be on a major photo taking expedition the last 2 weeks of April, including Buc Days.

[Vision-Quest]

wow these are great pics. they make me fall in love with CC even more!!!

[RGV]

Thx VQ,

I saw in the other post that you wanted to see ocean drive.

Here're shot pics I have of that drive.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/texas...shoreline.html

[Kibby]

Originally Posted by RGV

Thx VQ,

I saw in the other post that you wanted to see ocean drive.

Here're shot pics I have of that drive.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/texas...shoreline.html

Really good photos - you have an excellent eye for composition.

Shoreline and Ocean Dr are the "crown jewels" of Corpus. Downtown sat totally empty for many years and what they have done down there is sort of piecemeal and unplanned. I remember it so vibrant and busy - how sad. There is just no real interest in a revitalization project - mostly because they have never been able to come up with a plan. I understand that they are now thinking in terms of turning some of the buildings into urban lofts and apartments. It worked well for Fort Worth.

The old Court House is a different story. The Historical Society has fought for years to keep it from being torn down and not even all of them are in agreement with that. It's huge, it's in terrible shape, it has a large jail attached to it. It's hopeless but they won't give up. It just sits there like a large eyesore. Even if it could be "saved" ... "saved" for what????

[awecelot]

Originally Posted by Kibby

Really good photos - you have an excellent eye for composition.

Shoreline and Ocean Dr are the "crown jewels" of Corpus. Downtown sat totally empty for many years and what they have done down there is sort of piecemeal and unplanned. I remember it so vibrant and busy - how sad. There is just no real interest in a revitalization project - mostly because they have never been able to come up with a plan. I understand that they are now thinking in terms of turning some of the buildings into urban lofts and apartments. It worked well for Fort Worth.

The old Court House is a different story. The Historical Society has fought for years to keep it from being torn down and not even all of them are in agreement with that. It's huge, it's in terrible shape, it has a large jail attached to it. It's hopeless but they won't give up. It just sits there like a large eyesore. Even if it could be "saved" ... "saved" for what????

If I had the money, I'd propose a major revitalization plan for Downtown CC to the Corpus city leaders. That area has so much potential. Turn the old Lichtenstein's building into something like Peabody Place in Memphis, renovate the Ritz Theater into an arthouse theater, and encourage a livable downtown by giving all the buildings facelifts, making downtown more walkable, etc. HEB's the big grocer down there; maybe show them that Downtown CC can be a test market for a new urban-style grocery store that might allow them to penetrate the emerging urban-living areas of cities like Houston, Dallas, and Austin.

As for the old Court House, Dallas turned its old courthouse into a museum. That could be a good option for the Nueces County Courthouse. I also think it would be a great opera house. Corpus needs to bring in more cultural options, as that is one aspect in which the city lags behind other similarly-sized cities.

[Kibby]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

It gives me that same feeling. Even North Padre Island in the last 23 years it has not developed anything NEAR what other coastal areas have even Galveston. I'd even say down Ocean Dr. in Corpus that while it does have some of the really nice older, stately homes there are MANY that are disrepair. Older rundown apartment buildings and motels, etc. It is a shame. I'd LOVE to know the DOM for the listings along Ocean Dr. I have a feeling many are owned by elderly that have lived there for many, many years on a fixed income and just have not had the means nor the desire to "update" much of anything. Between Ocean and Staples and Alameda there are some really nice houses that have been kept up. Over around the USS Lexington and the aquarium they could come in and do a bangup job revitalizing that are to turn it into a true destination getaway.

One the one hand you have the "old Corpus" people - they are not much for development, especially since the development that is trying to come in there is for casinos. The "new Corpus" people don't much live in the older areas or have anything to do with downtown.
It's become just stagnant with little spurts over the years but no real progress. There has been a revitalization of the marinas and the T & L heads. Most of the action has been toward the new convention center and arts district nearby. That actually makes sense because it brings events to the city.

As to Ocean Dr. Most of the building on Ocean have been there forever - some since the early 1900's. Not many are still owned by original families ... a few are. Most anyone who actually lives (the mansions) on Ocean Dr has the money to keep up the property - you could be correct about the smaller house near Roberts. They occasionally become available for sale and are very expensive. Some get renovated and some get little care. It's not really the kind of street where folks hang out in the front yard. Could be all the dollars go to back spaces and interiors. Some of those old home gets tied up in will probate and family fights - I know of two like that. It's very expensive property and even after purchase, they need massive renovations. I've been in several of those homes owned by original builders - it's like time stopped 50 years ago for some of them.

My favorite areas are the one you mentioned - Ocean to Santa Fe to Alameda to Staples ... starting at about Louisiana. I've been to many estate sales in that area when the original families finally passed on. Nice neighborhoods. Closer to Louisiana are the older areas. The others were mostly built in the early to mid 50's. The farther out, the newer the house.

There is only so much that can be done with North Beach ( where the Lex and Aquarium are) - the old timers remember well that when a big storm hits that it will be wiped out. Hard to get very serious development in an area like that.

Over on the island of North Padre I found out there had been some political squabbling and that is one reason it has not flourished and developed. I would hope they would shy away from the huge mega story condo's and keep it nice but with SOME development.

Same thing here ... it's an island. Hard to build when it could all go away in a flash. I've lived through 3 big hurricanes in Corpus. There hasn't been one since 1970 but it's only a matter of time. What you see out there has been built since 1970. Look at the map and imagine a large hurricane coming into Corpus Christi bay - it does a lot of damage.

Port A is cool and has a funky kinda jive to it. Just not many good condos to stay at IN Port A and be w/in walking distance of most of the great dining establishments. Or should I say a golf cart drive away?

At least you DID manage to get a picture of the two story Whataburger in the background of one picture. I was wondering when I was finally going to see a pic of the old courthouse. GREAT JOB THOUGH!

Port A is a true fishing village on the Gulf. The charm is finding one of the small cottages and staying just like the tourists did back in the 1940's-50's. Some have been nicely renovated.

The pictures are wonderful - it's sad to see what is now and to remember it the way it was in the 1950's and 60's. The average age in Corpus today is 34 which actually shocked me a bit - I would have thought it was older because a lot of people retire there. The oldsters don't go downtown anymore and the youngsters just see the decay without the memories of what it was. None of them see what it could be. It takes money, lots of money and determination. It will happen someday. It's too pretty a town for it not to happen.

[txsizzler]

Originally Posted by Kibby

One the one hand you have the "old Corpus" people - they are not much for development, especially since the development that is trying to come in there is for casinos. The "new Corpus" people don't much live in the older areas or have anything to do with downtown.

I am just curious... isn't gambling in Texas illegal? Is it even lawfully possible for Corpus to allow casinos to come in?


Ian

[awecelot]

Originally Posted by txsizzler

I am just curious... isn't gambling in Texas illegal? Is it even lawfully possible for Corpus to allow casinos to come in?


Ian

There's a push at the Capitol to legalize gambling. Currently, it is possible to have a casino boat docked in Texas, they just can't allow gaming until the boat moves into international waters.

[lowviolette]

i miss corpus so much