07-04-2025
Sunrise Mall closed years ago. Here's what developers want to do with the property.
The site of what was once one of Corpus Christi's most popular commercial hubs is being shaped for a new purpose: hundreds of apartments.
The property at 5858 S. Padre Island Drive for decades was Sunrise Mall — known not only for its shopping experiences, but also as a social venue and cultural touchstone for its prominent appearance in the 1985 Corpus Christi-centric film, "The Legend of Billie Jean."
The trendy epicenter opened in 1981 and closed in 2019.
In a recent meeting of the Planning Commission, Development Services Planning Manager Andrew Dimas described it as 'the geographic center of Corpus Christi, if you were to draw concentric circles.'
Now its acreage is eyed for construction of a proposed six-story apartment building — the size of which would require a special permit for its construction, according to city documents.
Wednesday, the Planning Commission signed off on a preliminary recommendation to issue a special permit for the roughly 6.8-acre property.
As currently laid out, the special permit would allow about a 35% increase in unit density compared to existing zoning regulations — from 37 units per acre, for a total of about 250 units, to 50 units per acre, for a total of about 340 units, planning records show.
Early plans included in agenda documents show a breakdown of six studio apartments, about 270 one-bedroom units, 51 two-bedroom units and 12 three-bedroom units.
The target audience would likely be young professionals, as well as some small families, Dimas told the commission Wednesday.
Residents would likely 'rely on having all their amenities in close proximity, to where they don't have to drive,' he added.
'I wouldn't say it's necessarily on trend,' Dimas said. 'I would say it's appealing to a market that's going to be for a younger audience.'
A staff report notes that the proposal aligns with earlier discussions.
'Previous area plans and Bayside communities have expressed interest and have identified potential opportunities for site revitalization featuring mixed uses, which could include multifamily housing, retail, restaurants, and more,' it states.
While the commission hears arguments for and against rezoning cases, it is considered a recommending body, with the final decision left to the City Council.
Because 36% of surrounding property owners have opposed the rezoning, approving the special permit will need the support of a supermajority of the City Council, Dimas said.
That's required once 20% or more of property owners within a notification area oppose a rezoning, he said.
Among the reasons cited in opposition forms are assertions that there is not a reciprocal easement agreement in place.
In an email, city officials stated that a visit to the site last week showed some unsecured areas, as well as debris 'found outside the designated secure area.'
On-call contractors were brought in by the city to augment private contractors' efforts to address the situation, according to a memo.
The city will be sending a bill — and, if unpaid, put a lien on the property, according to officials.
Patel Real Estate Holdings, the proposed developer for the site, could not immediately be reached for comment.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Sunrise Mall closed years ago. Here's what may be coming to the site.
