b'C o m m u n i t yThe City of Corpus Christis Plan for Padre & Mustang IslandsArtists rendering of a potential entertainment zone located along the new canal connection between Whitecap Preserve and Lake Padre.ty for new and modern, upscale development. While the Padre Isles Country Clubsuccessful over the past 50 yearsit is not, however, a vacation resort project de-was repurposed as a waterpark, most of the property was not touched, and half ofpendent on overnight rentals, as is the case for the majority of new construction the golf course was actually kept in operation. in Port Aransas. The investor confidence in developing tourism product is still not Although details have not been released, the Whitecap Preserve site is large enoughstrong enough on North Padre Island to attract a major hospitality player. Even the for more than one hospitality and entertainment area, in addition to over 600 lux- former Holiday Inn, which remained closed for over four years following Hurricane ury homes to be built on a system of newly-constructed canals near the new waterHarvey, was reopened on an obvious shoestring and without a franchise.connection to Lake Padre. Irving-based Ashlar Development has been successfulThe opportunity to take a major step forward as a resort destination for Padre Is-in the Austin, Houston, DFW and Nashville markets building upscale, residentialland rests on the gulf side and not on the bay side, a point that is recognized in the subdivisions. To be sure, Whitecap Preserve is the safe play on North Padre Island,City of Corpus Christis master plan. High-end, offshore boating and a clean, pedes-adding more of the same kind of back-of-the-island residential that has been mosttrian-friendly beach will be the catalysts for tourism growth, and nothing else.50THE COASTAL BEND GUIDE TheCoastalBend.com'