Downtown Corpus Christi is showing its colors. The Marina Arts District is on the brink of becoming a better place to “live, work and play” as its biggest booster will not hesitate to tell you.
“Sometimes, it all starts with a spark,” said Terry Sweeney, executive director of the Downtown Management District, about the new ways that area has brightened up.
Under Sweeney’s guidance over the past three years, the DMD has been renamed — and re-envisioned — as the Marina Arts District. Anchored by a bayfront, beach and marina, the Marina Arts District creates a compelling and comfortable space for locals and tourists alike.
Big things are happening in the Marina Arts District, all with a vision for future growth in businesses, living spaces and tourism.
Here are some of the highlights:
• Volunteer “Clean Teams” have cleared 200 streetsides block by block, removing graffiti and repainting curbs and trashcans.
• New street sweepers provide regular debris maintenance.
• Off-duty police bike patrols deter crime, creating a friendlier environment.
• A mural project commissioned local artists to hand paint electrical boxes as well as large-scale murals at the Caller-Times Building and Art Center.
• Signature cultural events such as the Art Walk, Bridge Walk, Masterpiece In-A-Day and the weekly farmers market have inspired an art-centric vibe throughout the district.
• Corpus Christi just became the largest city to be named a Main Street Historic District, bringing in more opportunities for grant money to encourage economic development.
FOCUS ON THE FUTURE
Economic development has been a central focus of Sweeney’s efforts. Before coming to Corpus Christi, he spent 18 years revitalizing downtown Indianapolis. When he moved south in early 2014, the situation was dire. Businesses were closing and people were moving out of the downtown area. Vacancies were abundant, but enterprising locals were doing their best to hold it together, while looking for just the right leader. They think they have found him in Sweeney.
Restauranteur and DMD board member Brad Lomax is a 30-year pioneer of the efforts to revitalize downtown. When he first decided to invest in the area, it was filled with abandoned warehouses and topless bars. He took a big risk when he bought an entire block to remake into restaurants and attractions.
Today, that block hosts several high-profile local businesses, including the nonprofit Texas Surf Museum, a few of his own restaurants, an art studio, a CrossFit gym and more. Known as the Water Street Market, the block is home to Executive Surf Club, Water Street Oyster Bar and Water Street Seafood Company. A visionary in his own right, Lomax doesn’t hesitate to praise Sweeney’s work.
“Terry Sweeney is the best thing to happen to the DMD since its inception in the ’90s,” Lomax said. “He has an achiever attitude; he's unbelievably driven. It takes somebody who's driven to do something like this.”
The biggest hurdle was having to change the perception of the DMD as being ineffective.
“Downtown wasn’t very clean,” Sweeney said. “The environment looked like people didn’t care.”
Sweeney came in and identified the priorities. He sets tight deadlines to keep up a sense of urgency and action while continuing to raise the bar every day. His mantra: “Do more, do it better and do it now.”
You could also add, “do it together.” Community involvement has been the backbone of his efforts.
With the help of volunteers, the 50-plus square blocks of the district have been deep cleaned from building edge to building edge. The Cosmopolitan, a luxury apartment complex, is slated for completion by the end of December. At the same time, affordable housing is in the works just a few blocks away. A bike-sharing program will be coming to the district within the year.
“Development is never done,” Sweeney said, explaining that this project is ongoing.
The perfection of the Marina Arts District has no conceivable end in sight, just more work and TLC. In his words, “There is no silver bullet.”
COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL
A DMD priority is to attract more restaurants, bars and entertainment businesses into the 31 vacant storefronts, 19 entirely vacant buildings and 32 acres of undeveloped parking lots.
“We want whoever comes in to be successful and do what works for their business,” said Sweeney, who would love for new business owners to move into the district’s historical structures. “The most green thing to do is to occupy the existing areas. We definitely don’t want anyone to tear anything down.”
Sweeney’s initiatives aren’t just about bringing businesses into the Marina Arts District; they are also about bringing in people and getting them to stay, play and enjoy.
“I think the key to it is getting people to live downtown,” Lomax agreed.
He would love to see more young people moving downtown in the early part of their careers.
“I’m feeling pretty enthusiastic,” he continued. “But it’s not going to happen overnight.”
URBAN VS SUBURBAN
Competition with Southside growth has become an issue for downtown development. A ton of cheap, undeveloped land south of South Padre Island Drive attracts big-box businesses, retailers and residential developers. The tension between the two — suburban vs. urban growth — has played out in a two-year-long attempt to write a new city development plan. Plan 2035 is too urban-centric, say its detractors, while supporters point to the environmental inefficiencies of suburban sprawl.
“The struggle is that some people don’t see the point of revitalizing downtown when doing it somewhere else is cheaper and easier,” said DMD board member Liz McCampbell, who is director of Waterstreet Restaurants and also lives downtown.
While the growth of the suburbs and the push for downtown development seem to clash, Sweeney dissuades any sort of “us vs. them” mentality.
“The Marina Arts District’s customer base is young professionals, empty nesters, transferees, students,” Sweeney said. “At certain points in your life, you want to live in different places."
Lomax agrees.
“The money in Corpus Christi is earned downtown,” Lomax said. “Suburbs are great if you want to live in the suburbs. I want Corpus Christi to grow everywhere."
Living in the Marina Arts District certainly has its attractions, even at this stage in its redevelopment. The area thrives as an artistic community. The seawall is within walking distance, and a bustling farmers market is held weekly at the Art Center of Corpus Christi. Locals and tourists alike enjoy sidewalk cafes, restaurants, bars, live music and multiple community events.
“Your city has to have a heart,” McCampbell said.
She grew up in Corpus Christi and wants nothing more than to see the Marina Arts District succeed. She believes in Sweeney’s mission.
“It’s nice to have someone come in who’s so excited about putting the blood back in downtown,” she said.