Holiday Inn Express will be the first company to receive a grant of up to $500,000.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Rooftop bars and entertainment areas could become more common in downtown Corpus Christi after the first business applied for and received a Rooftop Activation Incentive.
The program, approved by the City Council last year, uses tax dollars from businesses in the downtown area to provide incentives for improvements to local bars, restaurants and hotels.
Holiday Inn Express will be the first company to receive a grant of up to $500,000. It is being built directly behind Shoreline's Emerald Beach Hotel.
Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #3 Board Chairman Mike Pusley said seeing downtown from your front door street can be a little disappointing.
“As you drive down the hills of Corpus Christi, you see some of the roofs, some of which are less than desirable,” Pusley said. “We also received a lot of requests from restaurants and hotels to dress up their rooftops to take advantage of the views of downtown.”
Mr Pusley said the grants would continue to be provided as long as business tax funds were available.
Downtown Management District Director Alyssa Barrera-Mason said she has heard from many businesses.
“We think Holiday Inn Express will be one of many rooftop activities,” Barrera-Mason said. “We have targeted as many as 10 projects over the next few years, so we are pleased to see so much interest. We are already in discussions with four properties downtown about the possibility of moving forward with the project. You should see a lot of activity.”
With so much new construction in the business district, more businesses may soon be preparing to set up rooftop shelters.
Each business is eligible for assistance and must first be approved by the TIRZ 3 Board of Directors and City Council.
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