b'E c o n o m i c sNoteworthy DEVELOPMENTSNew projects worth knowing about in the Coastal BendConstruction is underway on the Coastal Bends first Cheesecake Factory bakery and restaurant at La Palmera, where the main entrance facing SPID is being retrofitted to accommodate the mall entrance to the new, 8,300-square-foot es-tablishment. The Cheesecake Factory was founded in Beverly Hills, California, in 1978 as a family-owned bakery and restaurant is now one of the most successful, international dining brands. The key to its success is the uncompromising quality The Alexa Luxury Apartments began leasing new units in the spring, and move- of its food and amazing selection of over 250 menu items and 50 varieties of ins appear to be brisk for the most visible new property to be built on the baycheesecakesall made from scratch everyday. The companys CEO, David Over-side of Ocean Drive in some four decades. In fact, all of the multi-family projectston, who founded The Cheesecake Factory with his parents, said, Guests have on the water have been condominiums like Marina del Sol and Twin Dolphins,been asking us to come to Corpus Christi for years and we are so pleased to be where units have sold for close to a $1 million. The waterfront excavation for Theopening a restaurant at La Palmera. It is scheduled to open this winter.Alexa took well over six months to complete, and amounted to a major, private infrastructure project. The developer, NE Construction and NE Property Man-agement, is based in the DFW-area suburb of Lewisville, and its founder, Charlie Nicholas, has successfully developed dozens of multi-family communities over the past three decades. The total investment in the project of about 170 units is between $25-$30 million, and all of the high-end, modern amenities that you expect to find these days is offered at The Alexa. In-unit features include granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, smart home tech, in-unit washers and dryers, walk-in closets, and balconies attached to all but one floorplan. The longIts hard not to notice Lat-Twenty-7 Townhomes under construction at South Sta-list of community amenities include a resort swimming pool facing the bay,ples Street and Timbergate, in the fastest-growing section of Corpus Christi. Lux-fitness center, game room, coffee bar, valet trash service, club kitchen, businessury two- and three-bedroom townhomes will be available for lease soon, from and resident lounges, a rooftop deck, and waterfront dog park. Rents at Thearound $1,800 to $2,400. This new community is rich with amenities, including Alexa range from around $1,600 for a 700-square-foot one-bedroom, to aroundprivate backyards, an acre-sized park complete with dog zone and picnic tables, $2,600 for a 2/2 of about 1,300 square feet. TheAlexaApts.com fitness center, and abundant common space. LatTwenty7Townhomes.comTexas Parks and Wildlife Department recently completed a new marine science facility on Waldron Road in Flour Bluff, where teams of biologists base their field operations for study of local bays and estuaries. The beautiful, new building could be mistaken for a retail store or visitor center, but the multi-million-dollar investment by the State of Texas is fully dedicated to the science of monitoring and maintaining a healthy marine ecosystem. In addition to an operations cen-ter, laboratory and specimen storage facility, the property also provides garages and secure parking for TPWD boats and land vehicles. Formally referred to as the Upper Laguna Madre Coastal Fisheries Field Office, its presence in Flour Bluff means even greater attention to the health of some of the most productive game fishing waters in the state. For years, TPWD has operated the states first fish hatchery on the Barney M. Davis Power Plant property in the Bluff, located at the very end of Waldron, past Yorktown Boulevard. Saltwater ponds of up to an acre in size serve as nurseries for millions of red drum (Redfish) and spotted sea trout (Speckled Trout) juveniles that will be released into Texas marine estuaries. Aquaculture tours are available to the public. tpwd.texas.gov94THE COASTAL BEND GUIDE TheCoastalBend.com'