Two downtown Corpus Christi businesses — one, a staple restaurant, and the other, a bar and nightclub — will see major revamps to their buildings should remodeling and renovation proposals move forward.
Both projects are expected to be partially financed through incentives via reimbursement agreements, as approved by a city-based board that oversees downtown tax increment funding for the area considered Corpus Christi’s urban core.
Flanagan’s and Graffiti’s, located on the 400 block of Starr Street, are expected to expand into the neighboring — now-closing — 12,000-square-foot Bay Jewel Event Center, located on the corner of North Mesquite and Starr streets, according to city documents.
As pitched, the renovation will include landscaping, repainting, a mural and new signs, said Downtown Management District Executive Director Arlene Medrano, addressing the board July 22.
The owner is also seeking to install windows into the Bay Jewel Event Center, which currently has none, she said.
The project is estimated to reach about $671,000, according to a city memo.
The grant awarded by the board would cover about $118,000 of the venture, a presentation before the board shows.
Additional plans include “a new pop-up brick-and-mortar amenity,” proposed to act as “a space for chefs and brand creators to introduce their food and products similar to Community Grocery around the corner,” Medrano said.
That portion of the proposal is not covered by the reimbursement, she added.
Although it is unfortunate the Bay Jewel Event Center is closing, a proprietor taking over the property is good news for downtown, said City Councilman and board member Everett Roy.
Seeing vacant buildings can make “you wonder how we are doing overall,” he said.
“It’s really nice to see somebody step up and take a portion of that — and redo it to keep it so that it looks like we’re continuing to go on and invest in downtown,” Roy said.
At the 306 N. Chaparral St. entrance of Executive Surf Club, about four blocks away, owner Richard Lomax is planning a $400,000 remodel, according to officials.
The establishment, as described in a city memo, is a restaurant that is also a spot to “honor the surf culture and beach lifestyle of Corpus Christi,” and has “become a place well-loved by locals and visitors to grab a bite to eat, listen to live music and enjoy its intimate salty atmosphere.”
The proposed exterior and patio overhaul includes new doors and signs, as well as “new surfboard-style bar tops facing Chaparral Street,” the document states.
The new signs will be hand-painted by a muralist, Lomax told the board.
About $129,000 of total project costs will be covered by incentives, according to the reimbursement agreement approved by the board July 22.
Board member Mike Pusley questioned, generally, the addition of more murals.
“We have a whole set of murals in our downtown area,” he said. “As I expressed in the previous meeting, I think we’ve just about reached a flush amount of murals in our downtown area. But we certainly can look at others on a case-by-case basis.”
It is estimated both projects will be complete by the end of July 2026, the board’s presentation shows.
Among its other duties, the board that oversees the tax increment reinvestment zone, which includes much of Corpus Christi’s downtown, is responsible for signing off on agreements to support private projects intended to improve the area, both in commercial and residential ventures.
Financing assistance is derived through a percentage of tax increments.
Tax increments are the difference between properties’ current value and a higher appraised value over time within the zone. Property taxes typically increase with new developments and property improvements.
Because the tax increment is collected from a zone downtown, investment with the dollars may only be made within the zone.
(This story was updated to add photos.)
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: These two downtown Corpus Christi businesses could see big curbside changes
Reporting by Kirsten Crow, Corpus Christi Caller Times / Corpus Christi Caller Times
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