CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — On Padre Island, the City of Corpus Christi is looking to make major upgrades and repairs to the privately owned seawall. Right now the city working on trying to get a maintenance agreement signed with those property owners to get the work done.
The structure is part of the Michael J. Ellis beach and seawall complex. It’s a favorite spot for beach goers because you can park your car for free in the city-owned lot and then take a walk down the seawall or head down to the sand and surf.
However, the seawall is slowly eroding away in a number of spots. There’s concrete chunks that continue to fall, exposing the iron used to build it to the elements and you can see it rusting away as well.
The city wants to revamp this entire 4,200-foot structure built in 1968 so it’ll remain popular with tourists.
”We put $15 million dollars in this budget, city council approved $15 million with the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone to rehab the seawall and it may take more than that.” City Manager Peter Zanoni said.
The city manager says he’s just waiting on the owners of the condominiums here to sign off on a deal that would allow the city to maintain and improve it while allowing them to retain ownership of the seawall.
”The structure of it, the integrity of it is sound," Zanoni said. "What is not sound is the appearance and the amenities. The overall look you wonder, 'Why does this look so bad and where are the amenities? Where’s the shade? Where’s the benches at night time?' It could be beautiful with some nighttime lighting where are the public amenities that’s something we’re working on.”
One Island property owner, Marcy Trepky, said she’s leery of the city’s offer.
"I guess I had suspicions about the city saying we will fix it and maintain it, but you can retain property rights. I guess I’m a little suspicious of that,” Trepky said.
A tourist 3NEWS spoke with, Robert Delind of Michigan, thought it was in good shape for the most part.
”I enjoy the way it is right now I don’t see it going anywhere it’s a mass of cement," Delind said. "I don’t know if they could touch it up or perhaps in a few places where you could turn your ankle.”
The city manager is hoping that in the coming months the maintenance agreement will be signed. He said the city already has a contract with the Hanson consulting firm on the design and engineering of this seawall that’s not only a big tourist draw but serves to protect the condominiums and hotels which sit right behind it.