Prime beachfront property on the Gulf of Mexico, Sunrise Shores Mustang Island

George Gongora/Caller-Times

Workers continue construction on La Concha Estates in October on Mustang Island. Development on Mustang and Padre islands may render the two unrecognizable in 20 years, as plans are in the works for hotels, neighborhoods and more.

Islands changing

Development expected soon on Padre, Mustang

By Amanda Nelson Caller-Times
November 15, 2004

If a handful of developers have their way, Padre and Mustang islands may be unrecognizable in about 20 years.

Retail stores, restaurants, marinas, golf courses, condominiums and homes are expected to cover the landscape surrounding State Highway 361 on Mustang Island and Park Road 22 on Padre Island.

Residential developments, such as La Concha Estates on Mustang Island, already are under construction.

"We are at a really strategic time for resort development," said John Trice, a Padre Island resident since 1978. "The next 10 years are going to show a tremendous level of prosperity."

Developers have spent countless hours at the drawing board, perfecting their plans for projects on hundreds of acres of land.

Some are experienced real estate developers while others are oilmen, entrepreneurs or land heirs looking for opportunity.

Some - such as Laurence Jones Jr., Sunny Castor, Craig Millard and Paul Schexnailder - own more than 1,000 acres, while others own just a few.

SUNDAY
Last Stronghold: There's not much coast left to develop in the United States, and people are scrambling to get a piece of Padre and Mustang islands.
Today
Waiting Game: The future of Padre and Mustang Islands rests in the hands of three large developers.
Tuesday
Newport, Texas: A 1,400-acre planned
development hopes to lure baby boomers dreaming of a resort lifestyle with upscale housing, golf courses, restaurants and marinas.
Wednesday
Vista Del Mar: A Padre Island landowner works to get a federal label, which makes development difficult, removed from his property.
Thursday
A Look Ahead: The demographics of those living on the islands will change along with development.

And some will do the building themselves while others seek outside investors and developers.

Most developments on the islands will appeal to an upscale crowd, drawing primarily from a pool of baby boomers nearing retirement. Most also will adhere to strict architectural controls and design standards, giving their massive developments uniformity and creating a sense of place.

What happens is when you put a lot of architecture in a defined area, if it doesn't all work together it looks like a suburban '70s subdivison," Millard said. "If you don't have architectural controls that's what you'll end up with."

Planning at such a level takes time, though.

Some developers, such as Schexnailder, have been working for years on their projects, causing many to ask why none has laid a single brick.

"Why does it take 10 years to do this?" he said. "Because we're building a city."

Schexnailder pointed out that his property on Padre Island is larger than the Corpus Christi bayfront area. Development on that scale takes time, he said.

"Everybody wants it to happen now, but what everybody has to take into consideration is that we've been waiting 20 years to get to this point," said John Michael with Naismith Engineering.

For many skeptics, the waiting might be over.

Schexnailder plans to break ground within a year and a half.

Mustang Island developers Millard and Castor plan to break ground within the next six months.

"It's really fascinating to watch this place unfold," said Jeff Frahm, president of the Padre Island Business Association, who said the developments taking place are some of the biggest these areas have seen.

Contact Amanda Nelson at 886-3678 _or nelsona@caller.com