| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | |
| DATE: | January 12, 2007 |
| CONTACT: | Steve Paschal 361.825.2336; or Marshall Collins 361.825.2427 |
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Studying Feasibility of Using Local Municipal Golf Course for Campus Expansion |
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CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi President/CEO Flavius Killebrew today (Friday, Jan. 12) presented a feasibility plan for using the nearby Oso Beach Municipal Golf Course for future expansion of the university.
The University, located on Ward Island on Corpus Christi Bay, is home to around 8,600 students. Campus expansion studies have shown that the 240-acre Ward Island site can only accommodate the people, programs and services that support around 10,000 students. The recent level of campus growth indicates that this capacity will be reached within the next few years.
A&M-Corpus Christi officials said that by concentrating academic activities on the island and shifting the land usage for other units to an additional site, the University has the opportunity to serve a market potential of 16,000 students.
In predicting the financial potential of the university, University economists state that for every additional 1,000 students attending A&M-Corpus Christi, an additional $23 million would be funneled each year into the Coastal Bend region. This same number of additional students also would help create another 480 new jobs. An additional enrollment of 6,000 students means $140 million in additional annual economic impact and 2,880 jobs.
After discussions between University officials and Corpus Christi leaders regarding A&M-Corpus Christi’s needs, a graduate student team from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning at Texas A&M University in College Station was assigned to explore the feasibility of transforming the 273 acres at the nearby Oso Beach Municipal Golf Course into a university village. This village would accommodate housing, a research park, recreational sports programs and several campus services.
The design created considered existing water drainage patterns and hydrologic influences. Future traffic flow, public transportation, open-space trails and walkways also led to the design presented. The design preserves the natural wildlife habitat and vegetation of the area and creates a park-like environment for students and the community, while ensuring land remains dedicated to serve the University’s continuing growth.
The design divides the acreage to support A&M-Corpus Christi’s needs and accommodate the quality of life for residents of the adjacent neighborhoods. More than one-half of the total acreage is dedicated as a public open green space.