SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas - In a perfect world, expanding the South Padre Island Convention Center could as easy as one, two, three.
But the project, set to cost from $90 million to $100 million, is more complicated than meet the eye.
It will require adding a lot more space, tearing down existing structures and staying away from the popular wildlife viewing area that attracts hundreds of bird watchers.
A workshop, held to talk about that and other aspects of the expansion such as cost and a timetable to start and finish the project, took place Tuesday, Aug. 11, with the SPI City Council and representatives with The Broadus Co., the company managing the expansion.
The center, which was built in 1992 for $12.75 million on land owned by Cameron County, has become a venue for sporting events, concerts, trade shows, and award ceremonies for some of the biggest fishing tournaments along the gulf coast.
Some event organizers have said the facility is not big enough to hold bigger crowds while others claim it has been underutilized.
But Kelly de Schaun, the executive director for the Island’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the center is booked all the way through 2030.
She said expanding ecotourism should be a priority for everyone.
“We have a lot of people that utilize the outside of the building,” De Schaun said. “This is the only place where people can see the sunset besides being in a bar.”
The workshop gave an overview of the costs involved, using three different scenarios.
Plan A calls for spending $84 million, Plan B for $89 million and Plan C for $92 million.
Though no final decision has been approved by the council, the third plan seems to be the preferred one.
It includes new exhibit hall, meeting rooms, hall, and office, among other things.
An earlier plan to build a 300-seat theater in the expansion was taken off the blue prints so it’s no longer a source for discussion.
The expansion will double the center from 92.804 square feet to 188.482 square feet.
The project’s plan, including its financing, can be viewed on the Island’s website –myspi.gov.
One sticking point of the project has been the wildlife viewing area as another version did call for doing away with it.
But bird watchers, concerned citizens and others logged complaints opposing the plan.
Even Cameron County Commissioners’ Court initially opposed touching the bird’s sanctuary.
During Tuesday’s workshop, a birder said she loves the Island because of the birds and added there was no reason for her to come here if the feathered critters are gone.
Responding to a comment from former SPI mayor Barry Patel that they are spending too much money on the expansion project, Mayor Patrick McNulty said convention centers bring people that come to spend money on everything – food, shops, restaurants and hotels.
Patel, a hotel owner, said a lot of money has already been spent on the project, which he said it could go as high as $120 million.
“We need this expansion,” McNulty said replied, “but with a fiscally conservative approach.”
