CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Northwest Boulevard has seen much growth in recent years and now the city has a plan in place that will influence the future of this area.
"Help shape the future of Calallen’s Northwest Boulevard!" says a press release from the city.
The City of Corpus Christi Planning Division and Asakura Robinson are holding a virtual meeting to improve area infrastructure and facilities.
The City of Corpus Christi is holding a virtual public meeting on Thursday, July 30, 2020, from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. to present the community visioning survey results and to solicit input on the draft vision statement and goals for the Northwest Boulevard Corridor. Transportation and development alternatives will also be presented for public feedback. Your questions and ideas will help guide the plan’s recommendations for policies and infrastructure investments in the Northwest Boulevard Corridor.
In adherence with Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s declaration of a public health emergency and public safety guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this meeting will be held online only. Residents, businesses, and visitors of Calallen neighborhoods are encouraged to attend. All residents of Corpus Christi are invited to this meeting to learn more about the project and offer feedback.
Asakura Robinson will give an online presentation about the project at 5:30 p.m. and participants will be able to submit their questions and provide feedback in writing through the webinar platform. To access the virtual meeting and for more information about the project, please visit CorridorsCC.com.
The City of Corpus Christi is asking the community to help guide the development of the area. They will have a public meeting Thursday night on Zoom. There is also a survey to gauge public opinion.
City engineers are looking at a three-mile stretch between US Highway 77 and County Road 73.
There are plans for a new elementary school in the area and a steel factory in Sinton, which could bring more people to Calallen.
Businesses along Northwest Boulevard, like Shine On Car Wash, aren't surprised the area is booming.
"We get a lot of traffic coming out from the smaller towns. We get a lot of people that come out to the Calallen area, whether it's to eat at a restaurant or do some shopping," General Manager Sam Sarate said. "A lot of people that work in Corpus come through this Northwest Boulevard so the traffic is pretty heavy here."
And traffic flow has become a concern for some in the Calallen area.
Michael Cotten said traffic near his restaurant, Mike Cotten's BBQ gets heavily congested.
"We do have an issue with that and it's getting worse and worse. Especially once the schools start opening back up, you're gonna have rush hour traffic. It does get jammed up on 624 with these lights and congestion."
Traffic flow is one of the challenges the city will be looking to discuss in Thursday night's public Zoom meeting.
"We may see traffic go even further West unless they figure out a way to maybe build some more county roads that you can access east to west that are parallel to 624. Some alternate routes." Cotten said.
Business owners along Northwest Boulevard, welcome the development and improvements.
"I'm excited about it. We kinda anticipated this happening." Cotten said. "It's gonna keep growing to the West of us and we're excited that it's finally gonna happen."
"For us it means more exposure. People can see what we're about." Sarate said. "The car washes and clean cars coming out of the parking lot -- we're hoping to catch some attention and catch more business."
The city hopes to use the public's feedback to come up with a traffic and development plan by September.
