Group wants Theme Park Downtown

[wsansewjs]

Jacksonville Aquarium would raise the awareness of our local environment and its habitations, especially the Saint Johns River.

It would create an attraction from the regional and national markets for Jacksonville.
It would support the Downtown Rebirth.
It would generate revenue for the local economy.
It would ...

-Josh

[I-10east]

It would...Lose tons of money.

[thelakelander]

Didn't Atlanta's aquarium cost something like $200 million to construct?  Assuming the city could pony up the suggested $40 million for this theme park concept, do people really believe that this is the best way to spend $40 million in DT?  Today, between this and the HSR nonsense, I'm developing a huge headache.  Why do we make simple things so difficult?

[Captain Zissou]

The reasons to build the aquarium are almost the opposite of what you say.  An aquarium like the one in your head would be more of a regional draw than a local one.  A big one would get a visit from everyone in the city in the first year, but they wouldn't return for another 4 years.  When they came they would drive in, drive out.  most of the money would go to somebody outside of Jax.  it would give notariety, but that's it.

We do need a better ecology center, but we already have a dozen of those.  We need Tree Hill, the Arboretum, The thing at JU to all work together to create more buzz about the many nature conservancies in town.  They need to consolidate their resources to create a marketing department.  I watched NBC last night and I must have seen 10 commercials for the zoo.  Our various nature preserves need to do the same thing.

If there was a place that had recreated marshland ecosystems and deepwater creeks (with alligators) and tide pool ecosystems....... i'd be there in a heartbeat.  They should put this at the zoo.  

[BridgeTroll]

Chattanooga did the same thing...

http://www.tnaqua.org/Home.aspx

[Captain Zissou]

Chattanooga did the same thing...

http://www.tnaqua.org/Home.aspx

Exactly BT. We have half of that stuff already at the Zoo.  If we're going to do an aquarium, do it there.  We have the acreage.  We can even leave out the shark tank.  Chattanooga's aquarium is exactly what I was thinking about.

[BridgeTroll]

Chattanooga placed their aquarium on the river... right next to a riverwalk... in the middle of downtown.

[mtraininjax]

Atlanta's was more like 350 million, but they had Arthur Blank invest a large chunk of money AND world of Coke is next to it, another major draw. An aquarium, by itself, would not be enough. Look at MOSH, move it, expand it and incorporate the Maritime museum, but there needs to be a lot connected to make the aquarium work.

[fsujax]

oh Lake, that was a great post.

If I am not mistaken the Aquarium in Atlanta was funded by the Home Depot billionaires!

[BridgeTroll]

[fsujax]

speaking of museums and drawing people downtown. I went inside the Landing at lunch and was amazed at the amount of vacant space that has been filled! the entire western side is full. Artist have set up shop in all the spots that were vacant. It was actually pretty cool to see. While there I got lunch, bought my grandmother a birthday card and gift! Yes, all at the Landing!

[Captain Zissou]

Chattanooga placed their aquarium on the river... right next to a riverwalk... in the middle of downtown.

That I was not aware of.  I think that would cause a lot of duplication and seperate parts that would fall short of a potentially greater single entity.  The zoo has tons of undeveloped acreage.  Not everyone will be able to experience NE FL's waterways the proper way (in a boat), so an exhibit like that would be great.  A vehicle for The Riverkeeper would be a positive....

Who knows.  I'd love for us to be a conservation centered city and for all of our existing entities to work together to create a larger organization to raise awareness and generate revenue for preservation.  However, our town is a bunch of hillbillies.  Put 3 whales and a shark in a tank on Bay Street and surround it with parking lots.  i give up.

[mtraininjax]

However, our town is a bunch of hillbillies

Yup, Lingerie Football Playoffs proved that much!

[fieldafm]

Jacksonville Aquarium would raise the awareness of our local environment and its habitations, especially the Saint Johns River.

Dr Quinton White's research facility at JU is perhaps the best thing to happen to the St Johns since water was invented.

You want to raise awareness of the St Johns?  Provide more public access to it.

Unless Bill Foley feels the need to one up Arthur Blank and stops investing in winery's and wants to throw 300 million into an aquariam (exactly how is this better than Autoworld, already lampooned on this thread)... I think an Aquariam would be a truly awful idea. 

[BridgeTroll]

Just showing an example of a successful one in a similar environment and circumstance...