The Navy reverted 336 acres of Naval Station Ingleside (NSI) dredge placement property to the Port of Corpus Christi Authority (PCCA). This is the first NSI property to be deeded back to the Port, starting a process that will ultimately revert the entire 912 acres of the Naval Station Ingleside main base. Naval Station Ingleside has been ordered to close as a result of BRAC 2005 – the Base Realignment and Closure Commission. The Navy is scheduled to be ceasing operation and vacate the property by September 2010 at which time full ownership of the property will be under the jurisdiction of The Port of Corpus Christi.

"It shows the respect the Navy holds for communities impacted by BRAC and underscores the partnership between the Navy and the port to make a full recovery from BRAC losses," said Ruben Bonilla, Chairman of The Port of Corpus Christi.

“The 336 acres provides the Port with useful dredge placement property that has become increasingly difficult and expensive to find and purchase,” said John LaRue, Port Executive Director. The Port anticipates using this dredge placement acreage to facilitate preparation for the La Quinta Trade Gateway container terminal project. Reversion of more than a third of the main base property to the Port transmits the clear signal that the BRAC process is really moving ahead. While the dredge area is very valuable land, the main base reversion is even more crucial because BRAC will displace approximately 2006 military and civilian direct jobs working there. By the Navy commencing the transfer of the NSI main base property the Port can start into motion the opportunity to recover from BRAC losses.

The Port is working with the Navy and Federal Development as Master Developer to draw new investment, redevelop the property, and to replace jobs. Fortunately, the base is less than 20 years old, the facilities are in excellent shape, and include an 1,100-foot concrete pier which sits alongside the Port’s main channel.

“We are confident that the 912 acres of prime upland and waterfront property will attract redevelopment to exceed what will be lost through BRAC. Reversion of the dredge property is the first step of this process," said LaRue.