Progress Report: Port Isabel and Puerto Del Sol Condominiums

Port Isabel hopes this new development on the bay - that has a view of the Island - will help revive interest in their market - which has not had a successful new development in many years.

While South Padre Island is having a boom year, Port Isabel is still a victim of the recession, and has had several months this year without any sales.

The second bridge project, which would provide an alternative route to the Island, has some concerned about the long term future of Port Isabel, which is a secondary market choice for many who want a more affordable alternative to the Island - or who work on the Island.

The majority of the tax base for Port Isabel comes from the large property values that are on South Padre Island, where residents there are part of the Port Isabel school district.

It remains to be seen, if a new development on Port Isabel can compete with the prestigious allure of the island. Port Isabel is most known as a fishing and boating community, with a mixture of nicer homes on the water (in an area called the "fingers") and many lower-priced homes, multi-family units and trailers inland.

South Padre Island has several new homes communities coming available on the bay side that have features such as concrete floating boat docks and condos with boats docks, which has put a dent in the demand on Port Isabel, which at one time was the only option for homes with boat docks in the area, when the Island's limited supply sold-out.