An artist’s rendering of a proposed canal drainage project in North Beach in Corpus Christi. This version, with development, is estimated to cost $41.2 million and would be funded mostly through private investments. The City Council recently approved Phase 1 of solving the area’s flooding problem, setting aside $7 million to create an open space and channel for better drainage. Courtesy photo
A reimagined North Beach moved a step closer to reality after the Corpus Christi City Council approved implementation of Phase 1 of a proposed revitalization and drainage improvement plan.
This initial phase includes investing $7 million to create a linear open space and channel, committing $4.5 million toward elevation and improvements to Surfside Park, and using $2.5 million to raise and rebuild Gulfspray and Beach avenues.
A tourist destination for decades, North Beach is home to two major attractions: the USS Lexington and the Texas State Aquarium. Frequent flooding from changes in tides, rainfall, and poor drainage often leaves some roadways under water, creating a detriment to further development.
The city sees a channel as both a drainage solution and a catalyst for commercial development.
Even as Corpus Christi officials discuss and debate the North Beach plan, improvements are underway through other avenues. The DoubleTree by Hilton, 3200 Surfside, completed a multimillion-dollar renovation in late July and rebranded from a Radisson. Earlier in October, the North Beach History Plaza opened. The facility features bench seating, updated walkways, and sign panels with historic photos of North Beach.
chuck@thepicayune.com
