CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The creative mind behind the anticipated Sea Walk project is set to address city council on the Devary Durrill Foundation's plan to improve our SEA district.
As the name implies, that Sea Walk project would be in the heart of the city's SEA district.
Bill Durrill told 3NEWS that his foundation is excited for the project and is looking forward to seeing what it could do to improve part of the bayfront they've been wanting to develop for years
This project's proposed improvements include a walking path that will enhance waterfront access from the barge dock in front of the American Bank Center, around the Art Museum of South Texas and to the Ortiz Center.
Other proposals include adding new miradors, a public park, and the use of the old Harbor Bridge columns to commemorate the structure with the new bridge towering over them.
On Tuesday, Durrill with go in front of council and propose a few things that he says the foundation believes will benefit not only their proposed sea walk but the S.E.A District as a whole.
One of those things includes the expansion of the territory that covers the 1/8 cent sea wall sales tax. He hopes they consider expanding that territory to North Beach
“They can use those sales tax dollars to improve the drainage and flooding issues that they presently have on North Beach,” Durrill said. “I think the aquarium and the Lexington, and every business owner over there would welcome any type of funding for their flooding mitigation."
Durrill also hopes council will consider not redirecting the 1/8 sales tax that funds for the American Bank Center arena.
For us, to redirect that funding at this point, especially with the bridge coming into place, and with the improvements that we can do around the sea wall, The Type A and Type B board have just allocated tens of millions of dollars for hotels. For us to take funding away from what would enhance the hotel business down here is counter intuitive,” he said.
The current sales tax for the American Bank Center arena is set to expire in September of 2025 and the sea wall’s expiring in March of 2026.
For more information about the Sea Walk project and what options city leaders are considering for those sales taxes after their expiration, click here.