CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Admiral’s House opened up along King Dr. at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi in 1941. It not only served as the home of the highest-ranking officer on base but also as a place to entertain and hold receptions. It was demolished last year after being damaged by Hurricane Harvey. Now, the city’s Type B board has agreed to a plan to gift one million dollars as part of its share to build a new admiral’s house.
''We want to be a good partner to the Navy," said Councilman Roland Barrera, who agrees with the city’s Type B board that spending the million is a smart way to help ensure that the Chief of Naval Air Training staff do not possibly decide one day to move their headquarters from Corpus Christi to Florida over any perceived lack of support.
Kresten Cook, the Executive Director of the South Texas Military Task Force warned the board, saying, "The Admiral is the highest-ranking Navy officer in Texas. A two star."
"He has operations in Pensacola, Florida and in Corpus Christi, Texas, and we are concerned that there are houses available in Pensacola that he just might pick up his stakes and move," said Cook.
Cook also told the Type B board that losing that command staff would be a big loss. "The admiral has 300 personnel in his headquarters building, which is on Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi. If he picked up steaks, those 300 people would be gone also.” said Cook.
City council still needs to sign off on the plan. Also, the Port of Corpus Christi along with the City of Kingsville and Kleberg County are said to be interested in picking up the rest of the cost to build the admiral's house. That amount is right at $550,000 dollars.