b'C o m m u n i t yNorth Padre Island Development Above: New canals, part of the Whitecap NPI development, can be seen where the Padre Isles Golf Course used to be. A grand entrance and service roads are being built on the new Lake Padre Projects Forging Ahead Full Speed development site. Middle: New marina site on Lake Padre has been dredged and bulkheaded, soon ready for building construction. Bottom: Hotel, condo and commercial sites in preparation.While endless conversations stretched on for years about the future of North Padre Island, post-Padre Isles Country Club and then post-Schlitterbahn, major improve-ments on both sides of SPID have taken shape over recent months that portend big things to comeand on similar schedules. The first of two canal overpass bridges was completed last year, with the second coming soon, that will allow the connection of the Padre Isles canal system to Lake Padre. While small watercraft, golf carts and pedestrians will be provided passage under the new bridges, the connection will not impact boating access to the gulf in a practical way.On the western, Laguna Madre side of the highway, a new canal system is be-ing dredged and bulkheaded on the property that was once the Padre Isles Golf Course for Whitecap NPI, the $800 million, luxury, master-planned community being built by Irving-based Ashlar Development. The 240-acre project is set to include a 50-acre town center that will be home to a luxury hotel, restaurants and retail, as well as an events venue and abundant public space. A sales office will be open soon, where over 600 homes and home sites will be available for purchase.Anticipation over the potential development of Lake Padre, which was connected to the Gulf of Mexico with the opening of Packery Channel in 2006, has been brewing for more than 40 years after it was constructed by its original, German investors. Hundreds of acres located on the SPID side of Lake Padre are under development by Boerne-based Partlow Properties and Investments for the land-owner, a partnership led by Corpus Christi oilman Tim Lange. Utilities, along with service roads and entrances off SPID are under construction, and hotel, marina and commercial lots are being created.While no specific brands have been mentioned as committed to the Lake Padre development, natural choices like Bass Pro Shops, Margaritaville, Landrys, along with any number of major hotel franchises, seem like perfect fits.48THE COASTAL BEND GUIDE TheCoastalBend.com'