Nearly $100M plan is dividing this popular Texas coastal city

South Padre Island’s nearly $100 million convention center expansion is back at the center of local conflict after more than a year of delays. Last year, officials temporarily shelved plans to expand the South Padre Island Convention Centre when public scrutiny indicated the project could destroy a native forest habitat behind the building—an important migration waypoint for birds and a driver of ecotourism. Cameron County, which owns the land, also objected. During a June 17 meeting, designers Broaddus & Associates presented three options costing $86 million to $92 million. City funding would combine voter-approved venue tax revenues and loans, with talks of a second center via a public-private partnership. Councilwoman Aarin Hartwell challenged the lack of clear cost and return data before a guaranteed maximum price, while Mayor Patrick McNulty said the 1992 venue is already too small for current events.