City Detention Center (CDC) has been operating from the old Fire Station No. 5 on Leopard Street since last October after relocating from Wilson Plaza. This week, the Corpus Christi City Council took a significant step in solidifying the center’s future by approving a real estate contract to expand the facility.
Securing Additional Space for Expansion
On Tuesday, city officials voted to purchase a nearby lot at 3322 Leopard St., currently occupied by a tire shop, to provide an additional 2,000 square feet space for parking and operations. The lot, measuring 0.16 acres, sits at the intersection of Leopard Street and Nueces Bay Boulevard. The acquisition is part of a long-term strategy to establish a permanent City Detention Center.
Acquisition Details and Project Funding
The property owners, Valdemar Pruneda and Gabriel Grande, agreed to sell the land to the city for $200,000, with an additional $3,000 in closing costs. Funding will come from the fiscal year 2025 Equipment Replacement Fund. After acquiring the property, the city will demolish the existing tire shop and incorporate the space into the newly renovated detention center.
Transition from Wilson Plaza to a Permanent Facility
The CDC first operated out of Wilson Plaza at 606 N. Carancahua St. in 2004. However, as the building deteriorated over time, it was eventually shut down last October. The city quickly enacted an emergency relocation plan, moving the detention center to the former fire station. Initially, this move was meant to be temporary. Nevertheless, after further evaluation, officials ultimately decided to construct a permanent facility at the same location, as it significantly reduced costs compared to purchasing new land or leasing additional space.
Strategic Location and Cost Considerations
City officials conducted an extensive search, carefully reviewing more than 15 properties before ultimately selecting the fire station site. They chose this location because the city owned it, which significantly reduced costs, and its proximity—just 1.8 miles from the Nueces County Jail—allowed for more efficient inmate transfers.
The city issued $2.1 million in short-term debt to finance the expansion. City officials allocated a portion of this funding to outfit the temporary facility, ensuring it could function effectively in the interim. As a result, $1.85 million remains dedicated to constructing the new permanent facility.
Architectural Plans and Next Steps
The Municipal Court and Engineering Services Department worked closely with Turner Ramirez Architects to develop a comprehensive design concept for the expanded detention center. After finalizing the plans, the design phase begins in March 2025, followed by the advertisement of construction bids by January 2026.
Expanding Corpus Christi’s City Detention Center is critical to enhancing law enforcement infrastructure. Through strategic planning and careful financial allocation, the city is steadily progressing toward establishing a permanent, cost-effective, and highly efficient facility that will better serve the community’s growing needs.