[CTroyMathis]

How 'bout that!

Future SPI condo to rise 470 feet
By AMANDA HARRIS
Island Breeze
Mar 07, 2006 - 08:45:08 CST
http://www.valleystar.com/articles/2...ocal_news4.txt

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND - The highest structure from South Padre Island west to Laredo will soon stand upon the north end of the Island, developers said last week.

The future high-rise condominium, beach spa and club known as Ocean Tower SPI will rise 470 feet.

At a ground-breaking ceremony last week, Antun Domit, the owner of Ocean Tower SPI, spoke of the importance of continuing to make the Island a popular destination for vacationers from throughout the United States and the world.

"People are starting to realize where (South Padre Island) is and that we do exist," Domit said.

Almost 100 units of the tower's planned 158 condos have been sold prior to the start of construction, Domit said.

There will be 1,480-square-foot two-bedroom units, 1,808 and 1,856-square-foot three-bedroom units and 3,025 and 3,615-square-foot five-bedroom penthouses available, Domit said.

The two-bedroom condo prices start at $599,000 and the three-bedroom prices start at $675,000. About $1.7 million is needed to call the penthouses home, according to the project's Web site.

The tower is outside SPI's town limits and falls in the jurisdiction of Cameron County. But before the tower is completed in two to two and half years, the property will be annexed by SPI, Domit said.

Annexation would allow the Island to supply emergency services to Ocean Tower's future residents.

Construction plans follow the county's building codes, which Domit said are similar to the town's codes.

The developers plan to install windows capable of resisting winds as high as 160 mph, and the structure is designed to withstand wind speeds as strong as 250 mph, Domit said.

Domit said his goal for the project is to construct a luxurious structure with an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a movie room, a playroom and playground for children, a restaurant and a business center.

"Everything is going to be top-of-the-line," he said.