The Corpus Christi Housing Authority may have illegally approved controversial workforce housing deals worth $350 million, potentially violating both state law and its own bylaws, a KRIS 6 News investigation has found.
6 Investigates spent months examining meeting agendas, legal documents and board recordings. We found that the Housing Authority failed to provide adequate public notice before its former board approved deals involving 13 high-end apartment complexes between July 2024 and March 2025. These “workforce housing” projects—designed for middle-income residents rather than traditional low-income housing—included significant tax breaks and land purchases.
What We Found:
- Meeting agendas provided only vague descriptions like “Consider Resolution for MOU” and an apartment name
- No mention of tax breaks or land purchases in public notices
- No proposed agreements made publicly available before meetings
- Executive sessions held without proper justification
The Texas Open Meetings Act requires government entities to clearly inform the public about subjects to be discussed at meetings. Courts have established that issues of special public interest require enhanced notice.
Investigation: Housing Authority CEO May Have Exceeded Authority in $350M Deal Approvals
CEO May Have Exceeded His Authority
Perhaps more troubling: CEO Gary Allsup may not have had the legal authority to make these purchases at all.
The Housing Authority’s own bylaws state: “The CEO may not enter into contracts for the purchase or sale of Real Property without specific Commission Resolution so authorizing.”…