CORPUS CHRISTI — This year is expected to be positive for the area, local industry officials said Thursday. More jobs are likely to be added, the Army depot will expand and the area will continue to benefit from oil and gas production. “2011 won’t be great, but it will be positive,” said Matt Cravey, a broker with NAI Cravey Real Estate Services.

“The economy was fast and furious; everybody was making lots of money. Stores were opening all over the place, all across the country not just Corpus Christi, and so many of the high lifestyle stores were interested in coming to Corpus Christi,” said Matthew Cravey, President of Cravey Real Estate, and owner of the land.

Matt Cravey, a Corpus Christi commercial real estate broker who represents landowners in the Robstown and Westside mall deals, said there are enough consumers to support those projects, but the problem is financing.

Tim Lange’s real estate investment company, Double T & C Properties, Inc., recently purchased the former Celanese Technical Center from Clarkwood Industrial Park, LLC. Josh Gaines with NAI Cravey Real Estate Services represented the seller.

Clarkwood Industrial Park LLC has sold the former Celanese Technical Center to Double T&C Properties for an undisclosed amount in Corpus Christi. Located between Clarkwood Road and Rand Morgan, the property includes more than 200,000 square feet of office, warehouse and laboratory space in 11 buildings on more than 100 acres.

The Port of Corpus Christi has agreed to sell a major portion of Naval Station Ingleside to Leon Heron, owner of NSI Ventures, who plans to redevelop 916 acres into a light industrial, mixed-use complex.

A&W has purchased the former Wilcox Furniture store from the Wilcox family for an undisclosed price. Transwestern represented the buyer, and NAI Cravey’s Lynann Pinkham represented the seller.

Corpus Christi-based Beecroft Construction will break ground next month on a 150,000-square-foot facility in Corpus Christi for L&F Distributors. NAI Cravey Real Estate Services brokered the original land sale.

The 7,692-square-foot office at 5655 Bear Lane accommodates all administrative offices and staff while keeping it near the retail location. It also allows the company to expand its retail store.

Nueces County Community Action Agency recently purchased the former Capital Farm Credit building at 801 E. Main in Robstown. The agency was represented by Bill Odem of Joe Adame and Associates, Inc. Capital Farm Credit was represented by Josh Gaines of NAI Cravey Real Estate Services Inc.