An artist’s rendition of FishPond at Corpus Christi, an affordable housing unit planned for Sixth Street between Buford Street and Hancock Avenue. Residents of Sea Gulf Villa at 416 N. Chaparral in downtown Corpus Christi will be moved into FishPond once it is completed sometime in 2021. Courtesy photo
Affordable housing tenants of Sea Gulf Villa in downtown Corpus Christi will be moved into a new complex to make way for renovation of the 91-year-old building at 416 N. Chaparral. The new complex will be built on Sixth Street between Buford Street and Hancock Avenue. Rents are not expected to increase and tenants will not have to pay for the move, according to the management company.
Sea Gulf Villa, which was built in 1928, first served as a hospital. It was converted into a 111-unit apartment complex in 1979. The deteriorating building is plagued with rodents and roaches and is beginning to crumble.
The building was purchased in July by FishPond Development and GVA Management. The Austin-based company plans to begin building the new 112-unit complex, FishPond of Corpus Christi, sometime in the spring. The $15 million complex is expected to open in 2021. It will be partially funded through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Units will be 20 percent larger than most of those in Sea Gulf Villa. All will be one-bedroom and about 700 square feet. The four stories will be built over a parking area large enough for 70 vehicles, nearly double the current available parking for residents now.
The new apartments also will have central heating and air conditioning, ventilation, and upgrades such as granite countertops.
Sea Gulf Villa will be renovated into about 100 loft-style apartment units to be rented out at market price.
