b'C o m m u n i t ydesign firms in Texas that has delivered major projects in ev-ery imaginable field, including municipal and government, medical, major commercial and hospitality, and public en-tertainment space. Rees Associates concept utilized City-owned land located between the American Bank Center and the now-defunct Watergardens to build an attached 10-sto-ry hotel in the 500-room range.In the same way that the Grand Hyatt Riverwalk Hotel in San Antonio is adjacent to the convention center, the pro-posed Rees hotel would have served as the direct connec-tion to events at the ABC. On weekends, for example, when convention groups are often in a lull, such a hotel would provide the most immediate access to the ABC Arena for vis-itors there to enjoy concerts and sporting events. With the barge dock and marina facilities located directly across from the complex, boat rides and other on-the-water recreationalAbove: The most unused Corpus Christi Marina property is comprised of three activities would attract groups and create an experience forlandamasses over the bay, offering prime sites for development. Below: The which they will return again and again. Kemah Boardwalk south of Houston is a top waterfront destination in Texas. The Corpus Christi Marina, with its T-Head and L-Head land masses, is one of the most uniqueand underutilizedur-ban, waterfront settings anywhere in the United States. A total of three public restaurants are located on the marina, as well as two private yacht clubs, and a seafood shopthey all do a good business, but compared to the success of Ke-mah Boardwalk south of Houston, for example, the level of customer traffic is a small fractionlikely a rounding error. It could have been Kemahs sister property, and the citys best hope for a bayfront entertainment zone rests there.58THE COASTAL BEND GUIDE TheCoastalBend.com'