Corpus Christi founder Henry Kinney build the first hotel in the area in 1845. Now, 169 years later, the downtown's first boutique hotel will be named in his honor. Construction on The Kinney at the corner of South Water and Born streets begins in the next few weeks, says Rod Martin, project developer. He plans to open by the end of this year, in time for the holidays.
The locally-owned Kinney Hotel Partners broke ground on the project in October 2013, just weeks before Corpus Christi citizens voted on Destination Bayfront, a development project across the street from the newly planned hotel. Instead of donning hardhats and wielding shovels, the group released butterflies in celebration of the project.
Investors had promised the city council earlier last year hat they would build The Kinney whether or not Destination Bayfront was approved. It was not.
"We believe there's a lot of people looking for somebody to go first and jump in and test the waters," Martin told the city council in July. He was referring to the area near downtown where the old coliseum once stood. "We want to be that group of people."
The $3.8 million hotel will be three stories tall with 54 rooms. It has received an eight-year tax abatement from the city council as an incentive.
As the only boutique hotel in the downtown area, it will be within walking distance of restaurants, bars, art galleries and the bay. The site is only one mile from Waterburger Field and the American Bank Center. Rooms will range from $120 to $150 a night.
The Kinney was designed by local architects, who have their company headquarters in San Antonio. Lake | Flato is an award winning firm owned by Ted Flato and Try Rabke of Corpus Christi.
In a lasting tribute to the history of this seaside community, the hotel is located just a few hundred yards from where founder Henry Kinney built his trading post residence.
