Corpus Christi vs. McAllen Metro (Houston, Dallas: condo, credit, vacation home)

[AMAPO]

Originally Posted by Mcallen Kid

And what if that is being itself? What If Mcallen wants to be a city of cities? Im talking about Mcallen, not the Mcallen Metro Area. you have to admit that Mcallen is doing better than it ever has, not only in entertainment but in industry, especially in this recession. If this recession did anything to Mcallen its make it stronger. Some global companies are relocating their N. American Headquarters to Mcallen because of the recession. a european car company is even considering moving its worldwide headquarters and one of its plants over to Mcallen.

This thread is about McAllen Metro VS Corpus Christi and we're talking about today not tomorrow, who knows what will happen in the future.

BTW Which global companies are relocating their headquarters to McAllen? Got any references?

[Mcallen Kid]

Originally Posted by AMAPO

This thread is about McAllen Metro VS Corpus Christi and we're talking about today not tomorrow, who knows what will happen in the future.

BTW Which global companies are relocating their headquarters to McAllen? Got any references?

Heres an article from The Monitor newspaper

McALLEN — Panasonic Electronic Devices Corp. of America plans to move its headquarters to McAllen as it restructures in response to the nationwide recession.
The company, which was previously based in Knoxville, Tenn., will also move its speaker assembly operation to an existing manufacturing plant in Reynosa, officials announced Tuesday.
Panasonic never intended to move the division headquarters to McAllen, said company spokesman Clark Brandon, but shrinkage in business has made it necessary to consolidate operations. The electronic devices division manufactures speakers, switches, capacitors and sensors — products tied to the health of the auto industry.
“When they slow down, we slow down,” Brandon said. “When they pick up, we pick up.”
Bankruptcy declarations at Chrysler Group LLC and General Motors Corp. earlier this year quickly took their toll on Panasonic Electronic Devices.
The electronics manufacturer was operating at only 60 percent of its business plan and had cut its workforce in Knoxville from a peak of 725 employees in 2002 to 170 in 2009.
The move to McAllen will further reduce Panasonic’s workforce in Knoxville to 80 employees, Brandon said. He does not expect the transfer to have a major impact on employment in the Rio Grande Valley.
But Panasonic’s move to McAllen represents a growing interest in the region among national companies, said Keith Patridge, president and CEO of the McAllen Economic Development Corp.
The area has a number of strong advantages, including good geography, a young workforce, and low labor costs, he said..
ALPS Automotive Inc. -- which designs and manufactures keyless entry systems and other electronic components for automobiles -- already has its division headquarters in McAllen.
And Fujitsu Ten Corp. of America -- which produces automotive audio, video, navigation and control systems -- has moved its manufacturing division to Reynosa.
Two other companies are considering moving divisions to the area as well, Patridge said. He declined to identify them at this stage in the deliberations.
Panasonic Electronic Devices should complete its speaker assembly move to Reynosa by December, said Brandon. Division headquarters is set to move into Panasonic’s administrative offices in McAllen by April 2010.

[Mr. Solis]

I've lived in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. I've been to Corpus a few times. I live in, just outside of McAllen.

So I have a viewpoint on this Corpus vs. McAllen thread. First of all I would just like to point out quickly about the Mexican Shopper. We see them here, mostly on weekends, but we in no way shape or form rely on them for our prosperity, they simply add their part, which is not as drastic as some may think. We also get winter texas down here in the winter, they contribute nearly as much as the Mexican Shopppers. These winter texans buy property here, pay property taxes here, etc. They also contribute to our prosperity, all 100,000 of them, or however many fill our RV resorts come winter time.

Outsiders dont seem to realize there is a huge thriving, hungry for success population here in the Valley, both people who grew up here, and/or have had families down here for more than a 150 years. We also get many new transplants here almost on a daily basis from Mexico, many end up staying here because its so hard to go up north, having to pass the federal checkpoints and all, instead of just a little unmanned river at night.

These young Mexican couples down here dont lose any time startin up families, pregnant women are all over the place. Elementary schools are being built as fast as they can be built, new Junior Highs are going up all over the place, new high schools are being built in most districts.

Funny though, people just want to limit talk to 1 town, such as McAllen. It dont work that way though, we may go to the University in Edinburg, live in Palmview, go to church in La Joya, grocery shop in Mission, go shopping for other neccessities in McAllen, go to South Padre on the weekend, go to Brownsville for the zoo or whatever, go to events and parks in Weslaco, go see our relatives in Donna, go see Chente in the Dodge Arena(Hidalgo).........so you see when your talking about McAllen life styles of living you cannot just talk about McAllen. Its like going to the beach and saying the water this and the water that, all South Padre is is the water.......well there is the sand, the events, the fishing, the restaurants, the babes, etc, etc.

The so-called Mission-McAllen-Edinburg area has been among the top 3 fastest growing areas in the United States since the late 80's, for dang near 25 years people. The whole valley has been growing fast for a couple of decades now. Many issues are at the root of this growth, not just one small issue, like the "Mexican Shopper".

The huge University of Texas Pan American is in Edinburg, but its like 2.5 miles north of the McAllen border. Living in McAllen is not just living in McAllen, you would be living in the Valley, and its way bigger than Corpus in land area, and in population. Corpus is cool though, but kind of isolated against the Gulf, not alot of cities around it, and not on a border with another country. Like if the gulf right there by Corpus had a giant floating city on it with millions of people, and there were other smaller corpus' in all directions close by, then it would kind of be more like the Valley.

In the old days though, the valley didnt have nothin but onions, oranges, watermelons, borachos, tacos, other foods, the drug dealers and users, the peasant farm workers and all other blue collar jobs, and the big bad Jefes who control the work...........but those days are gone. Were selling out all the farmland, building up whatever.........growing pains, good to have em.

UTPA just gave out its 50,000 Bachelors degree last week. Valleys came up, and is still on the same slope upwards. So see you in another 10 years Corpus, then we can have a rematch if you want.

[bb54321]

That's just the thing. Corpus Christi may be a smaller metro area, but pretty much has all the things you mentioned in the valley, maybe even more and is a fraction of the size. Plus it's all condensed into one convenient area but still has a metropolitain feel. For a metro with 1.2 million people, the valley is still pretty sad in the grand scheme of things. Yes it's made great strides in improving itself over the past two decades, but it still just doesn't have it. But that's my opinion, however I think a lot of people would agree. And if given a job offer with the same money, same benefits...I think most people would probably choose to live in Corpus Christi over McAllen.

[randian]

What does Corpus Christi have that's unique? Waterfront. The problem is that Texas state law pretty much prohibits development of the Texas coastline. But then it would be like Florida! Do you want a lot of people with a lot of money to live in Corpus Christi? Build it and they will come. Accept the price and get the legislature to lift the restrictions. If not, you'll always get what you always got.

[gabetx]

Originally Posted by bb54321

That's just the thing. Corpus Christi may be a smaller metro area, but pretty much has all the things you mentioned in the valley, maybe even more and is a fraction of the size. Plus it's all condensed into one convenient area but still has a metropolitain feel. For a metro with 1.2 million people, the valley is still pretty sad in the grand scheme of things. Yes it's made great strides in improving itself over the past two decades, but it still just doesn't have it. But that's my opinion, however I think a lot of people would agree. And if given a job offer with the same money, same benefits...I think most people would probably choose to live in Corpus Christi over McAllen.

I would choose McAllen over CC. Also, last time I was in McAllen, nobody had any desire to visit or live in CC. They said it was trashy, ugly, and ghetto. A lot of people say that. In some aspects it is true. Corpus has an urban feeling in some areas, but its not very metropolitan feeling. Not enough urban or suburban development or amenities.

A couple of things I really don't like about McAllen are:

1. It feels like a giant suburb. Not very many apartments. I didn't see any town homes, and everything is pretty spread out. No tall buildings or condos other than the Chase tower, and that is because that is just a tall mid-rise, not a high rise. I really couldn't tell where "downtown" was.

2. The lack of highways in the area is kind of sad. McAllen needs a loop from around Mission, to around Edinburgh.

3. This one is not much of a biggie, but is usually a big factor between a large city and a town. McAllen doesn't seem to have any districts. No up-town, hardly a downtown, no mid town. Nolana needs to be more unique to be its own district. There is no distinct feeling in any particula area of McAllen. Same can go for Corpus here. No uptown or midtown. Calallen and Flour Bluff cant necessarily be considered districts, they seem more like suburbs. To me a district has its own distinct flavor and feel compared to the rest of the city.

For example:

District A: The area has plenty of town homes and mom and pop shops and internet cafes and a library and museum. This area seems very artsy and sophisticated.

Continue driving for a couple of minutes.

District B: Now you are in a hip area with upscale shopping, condos and apartments, and plenty of bars and pubs and unique restaurants with patio's, a very walkable area. This area is bustling with activity day and night. A couple of more minutes down the road.

District C: You hit an area with several single family homes, parks, small doctors offices and smaller warehouses. It is very quiet at night and is a popular area for families.

Both cities are lacking in areas like these.

McAllen though, needs to focus on building up more of a downtown than anything else. It does have the Convention Center District though. That area is really nice.

Corpus really needs to focus on urbanizing and revitalizing the inner city. Parkdale Plaza is a good start, and the Brass plan for the coliseum would only compliment that. Corpus needs to promote revitalization downtown and start promoting an area to be designated as a future uptown area. 44 and N.P.I.D. would be a good area, as would S.P.I.D. and Crosstown. Another nice area for an uptown would be the 77 and 37 interchange area around 5 points. sure its towards the edge of town, but if they started building up the area now instead of the outward trend they are starting to follow, traffic wont be as much as an issue. Not only that, but jobs would be brought to the outer areas of the city eliminating people having to drive from Calallen to downtown or S.P.I.D. to work. But before anything happens in this city, all of the idiot leaders have to get on the page Adame is on so we can start making progress with smaller things going on in this city. Things like promoting neighborhood watch, maintaining parks and recreational areas, enforcing litter laws, push for harder sentences on taggers and gangsters, and build community pride. Nothing positive will happen unless any of this listed stuff starts to happen. Lets hope Joe can put some sense into the other city "leaders". If they even should be called that.

[theSUBlime]

Corpus Christi, easily, all day, everyday over McAllen, for all the reasons mentioned. I always asked friends if McAllen is a city worth visiting and they've told me, there's not much for a negrito. A huge mall does not a city make--there are good malls in Anytown, USA. (I mean, we're talking about where public transit doesn't go.)

[gabetx]

Originally Posted by theSUBlime

Corpus Christi, easily, all day, everyday over McAllen, for all the reasons mentioned. I always asked friends if McAllen is a city worth visiting and they've told me, there's not much for a negrito. A huge mall does not a city make--there are good malls in Anytown, USA. (I mean, we're talking about where public transit doesn't go.)

Ya, if you are a black person, definently CC over McAllen. When I was there I did not see one black person. Corpus does not have too many black people, but it is diversifying and a lot more people of different races are coming here for whatever reason. I know part of the increase in black population here has to do with post Katrina. Also, CC has more different type of industries and work fields for people to be in.

[bb54321]

GabeTX,
Corpus Christi actually has an uptown. Most people refer to the area with most of the high rise buildings to be uptown. Anything up on the bluff near the downtown area. Anything below the bluff is considered downtown. As far as districts, both cities are lacking but CC wins hands down in that category.

#1 Corpus has the arts and sciences district (now being branded as the SEA District which stands for Sports Entertainment & Arts). This area has the History & Science Museum, American Bank Center, Water Garden, Art Museum of South Texas, Asian Cultures Museum, Harbor Playhouse, Selena Auditorium, Whataburger Field and Heritage Park.

#2 Corpus has the Santa Fe / Lamar Park / 6 Points area which has a lot of eclectic and artsy people and business like Nuevo Cafe, Hesters, Blue Frog, and Price's Chef, Sugar Bakers, Knuckleheads and more.

#3 Corpus has the Southside which is a little more trendy with sleaker bars and restaurants likd Bombay, Hu Dat, D' Lounge, etc. Plus it has a really large concentration of young professionals

#4 Corpus has Flour Bluff which is becoming more affluent but still laid back and kind of beachy. And it's more like a little borough and nothing like a suburb. There's really no break in homes or develpment between mainland CC and Flour Bluff besides a short bridge.

#5 Then you have the Island which has a laid back, resort style to it with canal homes and some mid rise buildings

These are just a few. There are so many more areas on the west side, but not quite as pronounced as far as districts go.

Corpus Christi so much more ecclectic than people give it credit for. I don't see how anyone in McAllen could look down upon CC and right it off as dirty, ugly and ghetto. It's one of the most beatiful cities in Texas by far. Have you driven down Ocean Drive lately or gone to the island? I think to myself how lucky I am to live in such a uniqua and naturally beautiful city all the time. I doubt many peopel from McAllen feel that way being stuck in the middle of farmland at what seems like the end of the earth.

Oh, and Corpus Christi has 7 golf courses in the city and about 12 in the surrounding area within a 30 minute drive. That's a lot for a city with only a little over 300,000. A lot of them are really nice too. Regardless of if you play golf, that is a real bonus for most people and businesses.

[Mr. Solis]

We like it being all hispanic/mexican down here.

Sad? The million people thriving down here dont seem sad to be here.

Thats whats cool about the lifestyle down here. We know we're isolated from "regular cities" up north. We know we have a unique area with our own ways. We have our own culture down here.

The majority of the people down here are content with the way it is. That is, it is now way better than it was. We dont give a flip about how tall buildings are down here. Most people down here dont want to live in apartments. The road systems are just fine. Most people down here have big fiestas at their houses, or someone they know, like family and friends, like on a weekly basis. If you live here very long, or on an extended visit, you quickly will realize that people have a great time at their houses. These mexican families might have 40 people over for a cookout, with mariachis, dj, moonjump, fire up the grill, and plenty of beer and cokes/coke. Yea, big parties for no particular reason, just to have a good time with family and friends. In my neighborhood alone, Tierra Dorada, every weekend you will find at least 10 fiestas, with like 10-15 cars parked outside there house, really. Its a different mindset, where you make your own happiness, instead of wanting the city you live in to provide it for you, kind of country I guess.

I dont have anything against Corpus. Its just a place. To each their own, thats whats great about Texas, you can have it your way. If you dont like an areas lifestyle, there are always U-hauls and expressways to take you somewhere else.

One thing about the valley that does suck, the wages for blue collar work. Since we are below the federal checkpoints, many jobs are taken by illegals, which has always kept the wages way low. I used to be a bricklayer. Made like $18 in Okc & Tulsa, $21 in Dallas, $17 in Austin, $16 in San Antonio and Houston, then came down to the valley and made $10 an hour (and the illegals thought that was good) I mean they are satisfied with the $10. On the other foot, my wife made $40,000 in her first year as an elementary math teacher. So I guess thats why we have so many college students these days. South Texas Community College opened up about 12 years ago with 1 campus and 1,000 students. Today it is now called South Texas College, has 20,000 students, 5 campuses, and needs more space because it is too full. University of Texas Pan American, we have around 19,000 students, and in just these last 6 years has added many programs (i.e, Computer Engineering, Civil Engineering, to mention a couple) has added a huge wellness an recreation center, and is raising standards to get in. They just awarded their 50,000th Bachelor degree recently.

Its kind of the mindset down here, its a half mexican-half american mindset, kind of a quit belly aching, smile joke around, and enjoy what you got, or shutup. Thats how it is. That may be sad for an outsider, or to a young teenager wanting to go up north for the "way better" lifestyle. But for the people here, right now, today, everything is great. There is nothing else like the Rio Grande Valley that I know of, which in and of itself makes it a good place to be, if you fit in and feel comfortable.

Also, most people are Bilingual down here, its normal.

We have tons of golf courses. Within 10 miles of my house I know of 5 courses, they're all over the place. There is construction going on all over the place. So while we here of how bad the economy is in "northern" America, down here we have a big smile on our faces considering the economy.

Thats what I dont like about the cities up north, there so similar to each other in a lot of ways, mainstream society if you will. Not very unique in many fashions, a whole lot of different cultures mixed together, making up a bland culture with no real identity to speak of. I am from up north, have lived in almost all the major cities, not corpus though, been there plenty of times, my cousin lives there. I know the lifestyle up there very well, and no thanks.

All places have their great things, and their horrible things, thats how it is.

To ever say, "This place is perfect/great, and that place sucks, is horrible." Shows a lack of insight by whoever says this.