Aquarium could be coming to Jacksonville?

[marcuscnelson]

Didn't take long for the vultures to start moving in.

https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/organization-eyes-downtown-sites-including-landing-for-future-aquarium/77-fe1733c1-0187-489a-9a72-fda795b9e005

I don't blame them. If the thing's coming down anyway, why not throw a hat into the ring and give it a shot?

[DTWD_NW904]

This definitely beats Curry's park.....

[pierre]

Didn't take long for the vultures to start moving in.

https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/organization-eyes-downtown-sites-including-landing-for-future-aquarium/77-fe1733c1-0187-489a-9a72-fda795b9e005

I am not following.

What makes them vultures exactly?

[KenFSU]

^Picking at the bones of the Landing before City Council even votes on the settlement.

[Adam White]

Maybe they can put the aquarium in the Maxwell House plant.

[Captain Zissou]

In two weeks we'll see a proposal for a bigger shinier aquarium on Lot J.

[KenFSU]

In two weeks we'll see a proposal for a bigger shinier aquarium on Lot J.

Until the Hart Bridge ramps come down, the manatees and USS Adams are going to have to share a tank.

[KenFSU]

Still poking along.

https://residentnews.net/2019/06/03/plans-resurface-for-downtown-aquarium/

[thelakelander]

The estimated cost for the giant, stingray shaped attraction would be approximately $100 million

At this point, there's nothing new to update. Can't be taken real serious until finding money happens.

Within a couple of years of the Tennessee Aquarium being built in Chattanooga, 150 new businesses opened within a one-mile radius and real estate values around the aquarium increased by 124%. The National Aquarium in Baltimore was the centerpiece of the Baltimore Harbor revitalization.

Honestly, both of these places did a ton of clustering. It's a stretch to say their aquariums are the primary drivers of their success. This is similar to a transit agency claiming the Cleveland Health Line BRT spurred billions in TOD and that constructing the same will deliver the same value to Jax.

[CityLife]

In Jacksonville, you can just make outlandish claims and nobody second guesses you. It's easier here.

"The estimated cost for the giant, stingray shaped attraction would be approximately $100 million, and would bring with it almost 1,000 jobs and a $30.8 million payroll, touted Grant, when he spoke May 9 at the Exchange Club luncheon at River City Brewing Company."

The Monterrey Aquarium only has 520 full and part time employees with 322k square feet of exhibition space. These guys claim they will have double the amount of employees with half the exhibition space. If you want to say the facility will employ 300 people and will create 700 temporary construction jobs, sure go right ahead, but be honest.

Also, the rendering they keep showing will cost far, far more than $100 million, though perhaps construction costs will be down quite a bit when this is actually built in 2035.

If these guys actually want an aquarium built, their best bet is to partner with MOSH on their expansion plans.

[Steve]

I'd like to hear more from the Zoo on this front as it seems like an Aquarium is more akin to a Zoo than a museum.

Regardless, I'd love to see an Aquarium....and I'd love to see how this was funded. If this was opened in the core (not in the sports complex), but legit walkable to say, Forsyth and Laura I think it would have an unreal impact.

Honestly, the old Courthouse site wouldn't be a terrible site for it. But again, not sure where we're getting the money for this one.

[CityLife]

^ The Frost Museum in Miami and South Florida Science Museum in West Palm Beach both have aquarium components mixed in. Short of a substantial $50 million plus donation, there is virtually no way to build a stand alone aquarium that is even regional class, let alone world class. I mean does this group even have seven figures worth of committed donations?

Barring some major unannounced donation, this group's best bet to build an aquarium is to try to co-locate at MOSH or the Zoo and pare it back to something reasonable and attainable.

[Steve]

Their plan is $100M. Price-wise, that seems realistic for what they want. I'd have no issue with the COJ contributing something to this, but not $100M

[thelakelander]

Such a 1990s idea. How much was the Florida Aquarium? It's 250,000 square feet. It was a money pit when I was down there. It's been around for 24 years now. I've only been once for about two hours.

[CityLife]

Their plan is $100M. Price-wise, that seems realistic for what they want. I'd have no issue with the COJ contributing something to this, but not $100M

The rendering shown will cost a whole lot more than $100 million. Especially in today's construction market. Design, engineering, entitlements, and permitting alone might be closer to 8 figures than 7. I'm fine with COJ donating one of its many empty lots and even chipping in a bit if this group actually raised big dollars. It's been five years and I don't think there's been a word about them actually securing pledges.

Shad Khan and 20 of the world most shrewd businessmen couldn't have concocted a better plan to make his Shipyards/Lot J plans look like a more sensible public investment...