I remember back in the day when downtown Corpus Christi was on its last legs. Pretty much, in my life time (46-years), I never knew downtown to be nice. It was like a horse that had been run too hard and never brushed or fed right. And yes while it still looks a little rough there are movements that are showing a resurgence of better living and new opportunity.
Entities like the Downtown Management District and its many volunteers promote events and downtown businesses because they know that a city without a healthy heart is destined to not live up to its full potential. Further the DMD understands that the arts play a big part in resuscitating the lethargic area. When you have the arts, you attract not only artisans but you attract an audience. That audience is comprised of consumers which attracts businesses. Its simple math.
Some people may think an Austin-like 6th Street is a good atmosphere to replicate. But the thing is we’ve tried that. You can see many of the business fronts down Chaparral are old empty buildings that used to house some type of bar or night club. While we are growing and will eventually be able to support a thriving night life, we really don’t need to start there.
Our downtown is finally taking a better turn; that of a livable downtown. I say this knowing that there is a huge part of the equation missing from the area…ahem, H.E.B. Our downtown needs to be livable for the residents of Corpus Christi as it needs to be attractive to the tourists. Destination Bayfront* is one of the plans to attract tourists that has been on the back burner for at least a decade. It will make Corpus Christi far more attractive to tourists and will make the city easier to sell to conventions and the like.
However all this positive momentum seems to be at a snail’s pace. It takes a lot of time to get permits, get inspections, get all the I’s dotted and the T’s crossed. It’s amazing how slow things move. I understand you don’t want sloppy work and that things need to be done right the first time. It’s far more efficient that way. That being said I don’t believe its asking too much that the process itself become more efficient.
Soon the Lichtenstein Building will be torn down and a whole new edifice will be erected. There will be new shops, living accommodations and eateries and it will promote further growth. It is said that at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the 40s for the old Lichtenstein Building Morris Lichtenstein Sr. said, "We like to feel that this store if more than a store—that it is a part of the lives and hopes of Corpus Christi."** We definitely need more of that state of mind.
The hope of Corpus Christians is that the downtown area will once again be bustling with commerce and sidewalks you can walk on without spraining an ankle. But we can’t just wish it to happen. We can’t just wait for someone else to do the job. We need to pull together to polish this God-given jewel. From the grassroots to the city powers that be to the wealthiest Coastal Bend residents, we all need to work together to bring ourselves out of the back water bay mentality and truly show our worth.
My challenge to the city powers that be is to make the process for opening a business downtown streamlined and more efficient. My challenge to people who own blighted buildings downtown is tear it down and clear it out. Better yet sell it to someone who will actually do something with it. My challenge to the grassroots average Corpus Christian is to make downtown part of your life and let your voice be heard.
Living in Corpus Christi is good but it can be better. Let’s do this.
*http://www.destinationbayfront.org/
**Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Entities like the Downtown Management District and its many volunteers promote events and downtown businesses because they know that a city without a healthy heart is destined to not live up to its full potential. Further the DMD understands that the arts play a big part in resuscitating the lethargic area. When you have the arts, you attract not only artisans but you attract an audience. That audience is comprised of consumers which attracts businesses. Its simple math.
Some people may think an Austin-like 6th Street is a good atmosphere to replicate. But the thing is we’ve tried that. You can see many of the business fronts down Chaparral are old empty buildings that used to house some type of bar or night club. While we are growing and will eventually be able to support a thriving night life, we really don’t need to start there.
Our downtown is finally taking a better turn; that of a livable downtown. I say this knowing that there is a huge part of the equation missing from the area…ahem, H.E.B. Our downtown needs to be livable for the residents of Corpus Christi as it needs to be attractive to the tourists. Destination Bayfront* is one of the plans to attract tourists that has been on the back burner for at least a decade. It will make Corpus Christi far more attractive to tourists and will make the city easier to sell to conventions and the like.
However all this positive momentum seems to be at a snail’s pace. It takes a lot of time to get permits, get inspections, get all the I’s dotted and the T’s crossed. It’s amazing how slow things move. I understand you don’t want sloppy work and that things need to be done right the first time. It’s far more efficient that way. That being said I don’t believe its asking too much that the process itself become more efficient.
Soon the Lichtenstein Building will be torn down and a whole new edifice will be erected. There will be new shops, living accommodations and eateries and it will promote further growth. It is said that at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the 40s for the old Lichtenstein Building Morris Lichtenstein Sr. said, "We like to feel that this store if more than a store—that it is a part of the lives and hopes of Corpus Christi."** We definitely need more of that state of mind.
The hope of Corpus Christians is that the downtown area will once again be bustling with commerce and sidewalks you can walk on without spraining an ankle. But we can’t just wish it to happen. We can’t just wait for someone else to do the job. We need to pull together to polish this God-given jewel. From the grassroots to the city powers that be to the wealthiest Coastal Bend residents, we all need to work together to bring ourselves out of the back water bay mentality and truly show our worth.
My challenge to the city powers that be is to make the process for opening a business downtown streamlined and more efficient. My challenge to people who own blighted buildings downtown is tear it down and clear it out. Better yet sell it to someone who will actually do something with it. My challenge to the grassroots average Corpus Christian is to make downtown part of your life and let your voice be heard.
Living in Corpus Christi is good but it can be better. Let’s do this.
*http://www.destinationbayfront.org/
**Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
No comments:
Post a Comment