Ship Museum could bring thousands Downtown

[copperfiend]

now we just need the aquarium at the shipyards

yawn

X2

how can you kids not like the idea ov an aquarium?  aquariums are awesome and we don't have one.

We want Jax Beach to be Miami Beach but not an aquarium that might actually give people a reason to come downtown.

I guess folks on this board know something about aquariums that Baltimore, Chicago, Atlanta, Tampa and Monterey Bay clearly don't know.

[fieldafm]

I guess folks on this board know something about aquariums that Baltimore, Chicago, Atlanta, Tampa and Monterey Bay clearly don't know.

We don't have Arthur Blank writing a huge check for an aquarium here.  That's pretty much all I need to know.

[thelakelander]

I don't think anyone said they wanted Jax Beach to be Miami Beach.  However, it wouldn't hurt to have Miami Beach's walkability in Jax Beach (or DT for that matter).

[MusicMan]

QUOTE: "At a pier yet to be contructed." 

WTF?

The Shipyards would not work for this??

Please, this is what I have been asking for for years. Add a submarine and a replica of the Sapce Shuttle and

.......................WHAM.................... We are bringing in folks from all over the SouthEast to downtown, Year round!!

[blandman]

I like the idea of a river front Jacksonville ship museum, but I'm a little pessimistic.  I'm no expert, but both Navy museums on the Delaware River struggle: Independence Seaport Museum @ Penn's Landing in Philadelphia; and the USS New Jersey directly across the river in Camden.  In fact, ADM Dewey's Spanish American War flagship, USS Olympia will be a reef soon if no one claims her.  Parris Island, SC is currently raising money. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/historic-warship-in-philadelphia-gets-patch-to-shore-up-damaged-hull-while-it-waits-for-owner/2011/07/27/gIQA1PwncI_story.html)

The Jacksonville location will be much better (and scenic) than the Penn's Landing museum, but I find it hard to believe that it can do much better financially.  Philadelphia and Jacksonville aren't really in the same league as far as tourism goes.  However, if it's going to happen, why not take the USS Olympia too?!  Charles F. Adams would have to be towed from Philadelphia anyways...might as well tow both at the same time.  The Charles F. Adams is only slightly larger, so neither would dwarf the other. 

P.S. I drive by the moth-balled ships in Philadelphia on my way to the airport frequently, and I would guess $9million is a pretty optimistic amount to turn it into a museum...especially since the article above suggests the Olympia requires $10million in repairs and it's already a museum.

[tufsu1]

I guess folks on this board know something about aquariums that Baltimore, Chicago, Atlanta, Tampa and Monterey Bay clearly don't know.

We don't have Arthur Blank writing a huge check for an aquarium here.  That's pretty much all I need to know.

exactly

[Noone]

I'm not opposed to the musuem as long as public money is not used.  I have my doubts at this point.  They haven't raised ANYWHERE near the money needed for this endeavour and three sentences inserted into the last legislation about the Adams that essentially opens the door for public money worries me.

But let's be honest

Bean said the group estimated attendance at 120,000 visitors per year with an economic impact of more than $3 million.

120,000 visitors is a pretty inflated number no matter which way you slice it then double your slices.  The convention center drew 147,889 visitors in 2009.  All galleries and museums in aggregate in all of the core drew 243,607 in 2009.  Metro Park drew 151,500 in 2009. 

And this is a little disengenious

The Adams is at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and the association wants to raise $9 million to bring the 437-foot warship to Jacksonville as a floating museum and tourist attraction.

So the number went from $50 million to $9 million in less than a week?  I know gas prices went down last week but, what happened to that cost estimate?

We've been down this road with the Saratoga before.  Let's be a little more cautious this time and learn from the mistakes of the past.

+1
The initial resolution for support was in Waterways.

2010-675 is the legislation.  Was not in Waterways.

[urbaknight]

QUOTE: "At a pier yet to be contructed." 

WTF?

The Shipyards would not work for this??

Please, this is what I have been asking for for years. Add a submarine and a replica of the Sapce Shuttle and

.......................WHAM.................... We are bringing in folks from all over the SouthEast to downtown, Year round!!

Agreed, the only thing I don't like about this is the location. The Maritime Museum and the giftshop are both at the landing, I think the Pier that Noone always talks about would be the best location. You're not going to see it from the Fuller Warren bridge You've got the railroad truss and the Acosta in the way, you're barely going to see it from the Acosta. Plus, there's nothing else there to complement the ship museum.

[urbaknight]

I like the idea of a river front Jacksonville ship museum, but I'm a little pessimistic.  I'm no expert, but both Navy museums on the Delaware River struggle: Independence Seaport Museum @ Penn's Landing in Philadelphia; and the USS New Jersey directly across the river in Camden.  In fact, ADM Dewey's Spanish American War flagship, USS Olympia will be a reef soon if no one claims her.  Parris Island, SC is currently raising money. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/historic-warship-in-philadelphia-gets-patch-to-shore-up-damaged-hull-while-it-waits-for-owner/2011/07/27/gIQA1PwncI_story.html)

The Jacksonville location will be much better (and scenic) than the Penn's Landing museum, but I find it hard to believe that it can do much better financially.  Philadelphia and Jacksonville aren't really in the same league as far as tourism goes.  However, if it's going to happen, why not take the USS Olympia too?!  Charles F. Adams would have to be towed from Philadelphia anyways...might as well tow both at the same time.  The Charles F. Adams is only slightly larger, so neither would dwarf the other. 

P.S. I drive by the moth-balled ships in Philadelphia on my way to the airport frequently, and I would guess $9million is a pretty optimistic amount to turn it into a museum...especially since the article above suggests the Olympia requires $10million in repairs and it's already a museum.

I just visited the USS New Jersey this past sunday, they get over 250,000 visitors per year, Penn's Landing does pertty well too. However, I'd love to take the USS Olympia! And I don't care if public money is used for this project. If the money can't be raised I say, let's do it. I'd rather see tax money be used for something historical and worthwile instead of wasting it all on road wideing without sidewalks, isolated subdivisions and stripmalls without speedbumps.