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Santa is coming to downtownSanta Claus is Coming to Downtown Corpus Christi
Santa will arrive on Saturday, December 16, 2006

Where -  308 North Water Street
(Across from WaterStreet Market/ Back parking lot of Best Western Marina Grande Hotel)

When - From 12 (noon) to 4 pm

Girls and boys need to bring their Christmas list and talk to Santa, have their free picture with Santa, and enjoy arts and crafts for kids, Christmas music, vendor booths and other holiday happenings


Sponsors include:  The Heart, the Downtown Management District, Best Western Marina Grand Hotel, the Caller Times, and  the Downtown Optimist

 

Small Business Roundtable Discussion with Senator John Cornyn - May 31, 2006

The Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber, The Heart of Corpus Christi and Del Mar Small Business Development Center will hold a small business roundtable discussion with Senator John Cornyn. The Senator will be answering questions that deal primarily with the issues and concerns of small business.

 
The event will be held at the Del Mar Small Business Development Center on May 31, 2006. Located at 3209 S. Staples at 2:30- 3:30 PM. For further information or reservations call Arthur Granado at 361 249 4501 or The Hispanic Chamber at 361-887-7408.
 
 

 
Discover Downtown Corpus Christi This Holiday Season

DINING:

Downtown Corpus Christi has wonderful restaurants, casual eateries, coffeehouses and neighborhood favorites.

You'll find dining experiences from American, Chinese, Italian, Japanese and Mexican to Thai.

So enjoy our year-round temperate weather and while you enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner and you cannot leave D-Town without enjoying our World Famous Seafood. 

NIGHTLIFE:

Enjoy the wonderful nightlife in D-Town with its vibrant live music or relax with friends in one of our jazz-bars. So sip a libation in an Irish Pub or dance the night away. No matter your taste you will find it in Downtown Corpus Christi. 

ENTERTAINMENT:

If you love Sports then head over to Whataburger Field and catch the Corpus Christi Hooks, the AA Affiliate of the Houston Astros. If Hockey is your game, then the American Bank Center is the place to see the Rayz take on an opponent. You can also enjoy Division I basketball as both the Islander men’s and women’s teams call the ABC home. 

If you enjoy live theater, then catch a performance at the Harbor Playhouse. The American Bank Center has hosted numerous performances ranging from Cher, Luis Miguel, Brooks and Dunn to rodeos, World Class Boxing to Disney on Ice. So check their schedule and plan for some great entertainment. 

Perhaps outdoor music is your preference? Then Concrete Street has the perfect atmosphere. Where you can enjoy the beautiful South Texas weather listening to great music.  
 

MUSUEMS DISTRICT:

Visit the South Texas Institute for the Arts designed by the international architect Philip Johnson. An addition to the museum, designed by Mexican architect Richard Legoretta, is scheduled to open in 2006.  

The Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History is within the museum district and home to the Columbus Fleet. 

SHOPPING and RESIDENTIAL:

Visit one our unique retail shops or pick up some antiques. Stop by Water Street Market for fantastic shops, boutiques and dining. 

So move into one of our apartments or condos and call Downtown Corpus Christi your home.
 

Heart of Corpus Christi December 5th meeting

The Heart of Corpus Christi held its meeting on December 5th at the banquet room located inside the Waterstreet Seafood Company Restaurant. The featured speakers were Irma Caballero, the new Director of Economic Development for The City of Corpus Christi, and Brian Anderson with Next Step Consulting, who spoke about the WI-FI system in the city.

Mrs. Caballero made a power point presentation on the direction of Downtown. She addressed issues ranging from; building partnerships with The Heart of Corpus Christi and supporting local enterprises to economic incentives. The Members present were extremely pleased with her ideas and look forward to working with Irma and the city.

Brian Anderson spoke on the benefits of WI-FI and the potential it has for business. Some of the topics were e-commerce, harnessing economic development opportunities and incubator sites. Mr. Anderson will be speaking at our next meeting which will be held at the same location on the 16th of January at 11:30 a.m.


Free Parking Downtown for Holidays Shopping

The Heart of Corpus Christi will like to announce that once again we have worked in conjunction with the City of Corpus Christi to provide free parking in the downtown area. This will be in effect December 7, 2005 through January 2, 2006. So spend the holidays downtown shopping, dining or just relaxing; because, we have you covered on the parking.
Thisdoes not apply to no parking areas, commercial zones and handicapped parking. Enforcement will continue as usual in those areas.
For additional information, please contact:
Arthur Granado
361-249-4501


Heart of Corpus Christi Meeting Monday Dec. 5th

Monday December 5th there will be a meeting in the upstairs banquet room of the Waterstreet Seafood Company restaurant at 2:30 pm. Featured at the meeting will be City of Corpus Christi Director of Economic Development, Irma Caballero. She will speak to the Heart of Corpus Christi on the direction of downtown.
 

Downtown Candidate Forum draws great turnout

Concerned citizens, business and property owners and candidates show up for Downtown forum

Heart of Corpus Christi downtown forumThe Heart Of Corpus Christi held a Downtown Candidate Forum on Thursday, March 3, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Education Service Center, 209 North Water Street. The event was in held in partnership with The Downtown Management District, and co-sponsored by the Education Service Center.

Candidates for both mayoral and city council races were invited to the forum to discuss and answer questions about the revitalization and development of downtown Corpus Christ. The event was well attended by the public, the press and candidates.

Moderator Ron Cardwell kept the event moving along on schedule as he Candidate forum 2005 asked a series of questions formulated by members of the two downtown groups. A limited number of questions were also asked by audience members. Light snacks and refreshments were provided by Water Street Seafood Company.

The Heart of Corpus Christi strives to address the needs and issues of downtown in order to enhance the area. Though hard work, creativity and determination the group has taken on the much-needed task of reinvigorating downtown. These objectives could only be intensified with city leaders whose goals include nurturing and promoting downtown.

Thank you to the Educational Service Center, volunteers, candidates and everyone who came out and made it such a great success. Special kudos to Ron Cardwell for his great moderating skills and to Jim Carlisle and staff for being such great hosts.

Media coverage:
Caller Times 03/03/2005
Caller Times 03/02/2005

The following Adobe Acrobat® files are available for download.
If you need to install Adobe Acrobat® you can get it FREE here: 

Click here for a list of questions that were asked to the candidates

The flyer for the event is here

Recent News:

On Christmas Eve residents of Corpus Christi received very rare, record snowfall event, complements of the Hearth of Corpus Christi. "It took several months of hard work and planning, but it was worth our effort". Said Heart of Corpus Christi re-organizer, Brad Lomax. When asked if this might become an annual event for the Heart of CC, Lomax responded, "Well, we did such a good job of bringing a White Christmas to Corpus Christi that it would be very difficult to top the success of this event". Lomax is doubtful the group will attempt a White Christmas repeat any time soon, but it is apparent the Heart of CC has what it takes to get the big jobs done and residents of Corpus Christi should keep a close eye on this Downtown group for more miraculous developments.

Then: The Heart of Corpus Christi was initially formed in the 1980s to promote downtown development and enhancement. After the formation of the Downtown Management District, the Heart became less active. 

Now: In late 2003 and early 2004, Brad Lomax met with a range of individuals to discuss downtown needs and issues. The concept of re-invigorating the Heart was born, and current members of the Steering Committee met informally with original Heart officers and organizers. The latter reacted positively to re-forming the Heart and graciously expedited transfer of the non-profit to a new group.

A Steering Committee began meeting to discuss goals and objectives. Based on the summary of the interviews and further discussion, the Committee drafted some basic concepts and identified some possible first-year goals and tasks forces. 

Some of the basic concepts include:

Area: Generally, the Ship Channel to Buford Street and property fronting on the south bound lane of Shoreline Boulevard to Tancahua.

Organization: A not-for-profit corporation with seven-member Steering Committee to help organize and provide business management for a volunteer-focused effort. Task Forces established to address major goals and projects, with Task Force chairs and project chairs responsible for organizing and managing their efforts.

Steering Committee members will assist Task Forces as liaisons and resources. Active members of the Task Forces and the organization will be the Board of Governors for the organization with this Board meeting at least annually. Task Forces will meet as needed.

Budget and Funding: Minimal initial funding for insurance and other organizational costs has been provided. No overall budget or funding plan is established to date. Contributions of time and materials are appreciated and are a key source for funding initial efforts.

Goals and Objectives: Overall goal is to nurture, promote and enhance Downtown Corpus Christi. is critical to identify and pursue achievable objectives in the near term to build success and encourage volunteer participation. To this end, Task Forces have been identified with possible one-year objectives developed for each group. Certainly, goals and objectives are open for discussion with Board of Governors.


Task Force Organization

Tasks Forces

Liaison

Proposed Initial Objectives

CODES & ENFORCEMENT

Eloy Salazar

Research, summarize existing codes and methods of enforcement regarding vacant, neglected, or abandoned buildings

Propose, write ordinance(s) for implementation to address vacant buildings, negligent owners, hazardous conditions and aesthetic standards

HISTORIC PRESERVATION

John Wright

Inventory historic properties in the downtown area

Research and recommend for implementation a historic preservation program such as "Main Street"

GRANTS AND INCENTIVES

David Loeb

Research, summarize available and potential grant moniesfor downtown Corpus Christi

Propose for implementation at least three financial incentive programs to restore, renovate, or occupy downtown buildings

MARKETING

Leah Olivarri/

Paula Dodd

Stage at least one well publicized, well attended downtown event

Host at least one downtown marketing related seminaror speaker

Propose a marketing plan for downtown that attracts C.C. residents and visitors to downtown & attracts business to locate downtown

PUBLIC AFFAIRS/OTHER

Brad Lomax/

Eliot Chenaux

Develop a centers of influence database from volunteer group

Initiate a speaker bureau with video/power point technology

Host a downtown oriented candidate forum prior to April 2005 city election

Monitor progress of downtown drainage and infrastructure improvements

Download a .pdf version of this document

 



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