CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Not all residents were happy to see the sight of new Thanksgiving Homes going in at the intersection of Aztec and Osage streets in Corpus Christi.
The city's newest West Side affordable-home development broke ground Wednesday. The project will offer about three dozen homes considered affordable for low-income residents.
"They have illegal kids, tenement kids or illegal, crime is going to go up," said one man, who declined to provide his name.
But not everyone felt the same.
"I think it's great for a lot of families that need a home you know," said Rosemary Rios-Mota. "There is families that are just beginning a family and others that have been renting that want to get out and have something to leave their children. So that would be amazing to let them know."
The development will include construction of one street with homes on both sides, and residents will even have the chance to pick color schemes with the contractors in advance.
Corpus Christi Housing Authority director Gary Allsup said criteria is in place for the development's new homeowners, making detractors' fears less likely to become reality.
"The requirements for owning one's home is very, very simple," he said. "Our only requirement is that people live in it. So we don't let people buy it and use it for rental property."
The resident who was worried later said he changed his mind once he was told about the restrictions placed on home owners for non rental.
City council member Dan Suckley said he believes it will also help nearby property owners.
"I think it could be property values possibly in the long term," he said. "Some folks can see some appreciation because of this brand new development, first-class development coming in."
Contractors say you can expect to see heavy equipment on the site by the end of the month.