b'South Hotel Place, four blocks north of the RadissonNorth Beach for $41.2 million or less, the campaign to Hotel, and his vision for the ultimate beach bar andstop the project persists.restaurant was born as Fajitaville Bar & Grill. Ideas dont die on their own. They have to be For eighteen years, I traveled all over the worldkilled. It seems like some people inside the City are do-for my business, and many of those countries were lo- ing their level best to kill this, said Frazier.cated in tropical regions along the Equator, said Fra- WhiletheMayorscampaigntokilltheNorth zier, and anywhere you see an open beach like this,Beach canal project from within City staff, by out-pric-youll find these great little restaurants and bars whereing its budget, continues, both McComb and District 4 everyone could enjoy the ocean, the scenery, and justCouncilman Greg Smith refused to accept that the canal have a great time. You know, you didnt see that here inwill alleviate the flooding problem.Corpus. Except for the Lexington and Aquarium, NorthEven after his vote for $41.2 million in funding at Beach looks worse than some Third World countries. City Council on December 10, 2019, for a canal that is With no guarantee of a financial return, Frazierintended to solve the flooding problem on North Beach, spent well more than $7 million converting an open,Smith said, I dont want anybody out here to expectvacant lot on North Beach into an oasis of happiness.you will still experience coastal flooding. So anytime The bright, multi-colored building rises three stories,those tides come up, this does not solve that.Do not with an open beach bar on the ground level, and diningthink that when we have those high tides that hap-room and banquet space on the second and third levels.pen in the spring and fallthose roads will continue to In the ten years since Fajitaville opened, Frazier hasfloodthey may flood faster.purchased the Hotel De Ville, located in front of theThe natural question to be begged by this comment restaurant, which he has renovated top to bottom, andis, of course, Why then, Councilman Smith, did you vote which he plans to expand by two floors including theto authorize $41.2 million in taxpayer funds for a canal addition of a resort swimming pool. that will not solve the flooding problem on North Beach?LynnFraziersrelationshipwithbusinesspart-Only three logical answers exist, either (1) Smith ner Jeff Blackard has developed the kind of bond thathas no problem spending $40 million of our money is only borne of wartime conditions, as their fight toon something that he knows will not work, going in, stay in the game versus Corpus Christis Good Ole(2) He is actually opposed to his own vote, but knows Boy system carries into its third year. Marilyn Jordanthat there is a plan to kill the project from within, or called me and asked me to meet Jeff, who I knew from(3) Considering that thousands of canal front homes what he had done in Brazil and Croatiahes a goodon Padre Island are in his district, he knows his com-guy. I said Id like to meet him. He asked me what Iment is factually challenged, but he is laying cover envisioned for North Beach, and I just told him thatfor himself to be repeated when the canal project is I turned this little acre into what I hoped the entirefinally dropped for coming in over-budget.beach could be, said Frazier. A canal always looked like the best solution for The vision offered for North Beach in the form ofthe flooding problem, said Frazier, the City said it was a Grand Canal that would fix the chronic, half-century- way too expensive from the start, but where I live we old storm drainage and tidal flooding issues, resultinghave 65-foot canals with bulkheads. In fourteen years from the negligence of the City, was coupled with a so- of living there, we have never had a single flooding in-lution for the other problem that has plagued visita- cident, even in Harvey. Thats the same on North Pa-tion to, and development on the beacherosion. It is adre, Key Allegro, Island Moorings, Goose Island, every-problem that will only get worse as the Corpus Christiwhere. There is no tidal flooding and no wave action.Ship Channel is deepened and the new Harbor BridgeCorpus Christi is used to losingbut before it ac-is completed, both steps that will allow substantially- tually happens on North Beach, we can see the plan in larger ships to enter the Port of Corpus Christitheaction to kill a historic opportunity to bring back one of cost of re-nourishing the beach, now required everyour beloved areas of town, while creating an economic three years, will only get more expensive. opportunity on-par with the Riverwalk in San Antonio. Much of this beach, since I built Fajitaville, hasThe Grand Canal is projected to add at least 750 full gone away. We knew the new Harbor Bridge was goingtime jobs and $100+ million per year to Corpus Christis in, so we decided to ask [Texas Department of Transpor- economy, plus the hotel and sales tax that come with it.tation] what they were going to do with all the debrisWhat gives us the most hope is the seriousness of from the old bridge, Frazier explained. So, we came upthe parties who want to make it a realityLynn Fra-with the idea of breakwater islands that could be builtzier has already invested almost $40 million of his lifes off the beach from the concreteI think we jotted itfortune on North Beach, before the canal, and intends down on a bar napkinbut its a great solution. Not onlyto do much more when ground is broken. Jeff Blackard can we solve the erosion problem on North Beach, buthas invested more than $1 million in real money and you create a wildlife habitat, a safe place to bring backhundreds of times that amount in opportunity costs, all the oyster reefs that used to clean the water out here,on the hope that Corpus Christi will get its act togeth-and you create a calm bay thats easier on people visitinger and work with those who want to improve North the beach, and for kayaks and jet skis its perfect. Beach, and not against them.As we have been reporting in detail, despite unani- I just say, Why not? Why not? said Frazier.mous votes by the Corpus Christi City Council, includ- Everything Ive ever earned, Ive had to figure ing Mayor Joe McComb, approving a tax zone on Northout. This one will work.I just now made my fortune, Beach and, most importantly, directing the City Man- and Im not a developer. Its about planting seeds for ager to secure contracts to build a navigable canal ongrowth.66 THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINEQ2.2020 TheCoastalBend.com'