Memorial Coliseum – Will they, won’t they demolish?
Corpus Christi City Council took a step toward demolishing Memorial Coliseum but simultaneously will enter eight weeks of negotiations with the National Swim Center Corp. to redevelop the building into an Olympic swim center.
The compromise, approved 6-3 by the council, came after more than three hours of emotional debate in which some council members raised their voices at times and choked back tears.
The council’s action Tuesday comes three weeks after it voted Oct. 27 to end negotiations with Brass Real Estate, the latest developer proposing reuse of the deteriorating building.
“If we don’t move forward now, future councils are still going to be dealing with this,” Councilman John Marez said. “Do we want this issue resolved? Yes. This is what we believe is the best. … If we go forward (with the swim center) and it doesn’t work, I have no problem saying, ‘Let’s demolish and move forward.’”
Read more here.
