Aquarium could be coming to Jacksonville?

[Cheshire Cat]

http://www.wokv.com/news/news/local/aquajax-pushes-world-class-aquarium-downtown-jax/nfhz5/

In this article it said the financial backing is secured...so looking good??

Nice update on the effort to bring an aquarium to Jax.  It also looks as if St. Augustine is working on one as well.

[fieldafm]

After spending the past 3 days in Chatanooga, I cant begin to express how much i would caution bringing an aquarium to Metro Park. Chatanooga's aquarium is not as impressive as the surrounding context that integrates into downtown and the waterfront. It's not isolated, but rather is surrounded by restaurants, stores, condos, an impressive waterfront green space and even a movie theater.  There is a 'there' there.

Putting an aquarium at an isolated location like Metro Park would do very little for downtown.

[AuditoreEnterprise]

After spending the past 3 days in Chatanooga, I cant begin to express how much i would caution bringing an aquarium to Metro Park. Chatanooga's aquarium is not as impressive as the surrounding context that integrates into downtown and the waterfront. It's not isolated, but rather is surrounded by restaurants, stores, condos, an impressive waterfront green space and even a movie theater.  There is a 'there' there.

Putting an aquarium at an isolated location like Metro Park would do very little for downtown.

I totally agree. Far too often a very small group of people begin projects solely based on their own personal wants. I mean realistically they have likely gained the feedback of maybe... 200 people that certainly does not justify pushing forward your plans for something that requires funding far far beyond what was won at one spark. I mean their idea is good, but it just is not something that I personally view as being a big part of revitalizing downtown. I am just curious what is to become of the monies they won. Most waterfront property will set you back 10-20 million just for the land. I do not even want to figure the cost of infrastructure and other stuff. Good mindset just not a good idea for right now.

[thelakelander]

I agree with Field....and I have lots of pictures to illustrate this.

[SunKing]

Actually the Chattanooga Aquarium preceded and provided a catalyst for the surrounding development. 

[I-10east]

In this city, we have a 'jaded factor' that rivals some big cities. I'm putting my personally 'eh-ism' for aquariums aside, and I'm trying to look at it from a positive mindset, but I just don't see it; Even if it was 'integrated with DT'. IMO it would be much better as a permanent attraction at the zoo, and it would spike up the attendance there.

There are plenty of 'lack of connectivity' buildings in dense urban areas, but preferably I wouldn't want them on a thin strip, like say a riverfront. With the shipyards area currently undeveloped right now, IMO the major disconnects from the core to Met Park are the Jail/JSO, Maxwell House, and the pond & some of EverBank Field's parking (not saying that anything should be removed). The common misconception is to blame everything on the Hart Bridge overpasses; How 'unaesthetic' they might be to some, they really don't 'interfere' with much of anything, like say a Chicago elevated train overpass would.

Maybe I'm gonna have to start an amusement park cause on next year's One Spark. It drive me crazy that no one is pushing for it, something that's more realistic than a DT aquarium IMO. If one was to put Fun Spot America (Orlando) in Jax, that would equal an instant success!! Hell, it probably would draw even more here, with so much going on in other larger O-Town parks.

[thelakelander]

Actually the Chattanooga Aquarium preceded and provided a catalyst for the surrounding development. 

The conversion of the Walnut Street Bridge into one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the county preceded the aquarium. It's pretty inaccurate to claim that the Tennessee Aquarium was the one trick pony that turned Chattanooga around. The things they did were coordinated and a lot more comprehensive.

[FSBA]

One thing that has my BS detector going off on the aquarium idea is the phrase "world class" keeps being thrown about. When I think "world class aquarium" I'm thinking the Georgia Aquarium, Monterey Bay, Shedd, etc. All of those cost $200 million or more in 2014 dollars.

The numbers being thrown about make it sound like it'll be a nice aquarium. But one that will act as a magnet to tourists on their way to Orlando? Not really.

[Rynjny]

Why are you guys so oppose to this?? I mean there's no public money being used and I think this will be good for the city.

[FSBA]

Why are you guys so oppose to this?? I mean there's no public money being used and I think this will be good for the city.

I'm not opposed to it. If it is really built without public money I'll sign up for a membership Day 1. I'm just skeptical of the more grandiose claims.

[AuditoreEnterprise]

Why are you guys so oppose to this?? I mean there's no public money being used and I think this will be good for the city.

it's not so much opposition as it is realism. The group participated in one spark which has a requirement that says you have to have assets and income under a certain dollar amount. $1,000,000 I believe it is. If they had the private money and loans for this project then we would not have even seen them at one spark, because a bank or investor would have funded it no issues attached. I do think its a fantastic idea, but things of that magnitude take far more than a few like minds running around downtown trying to convince people it's a good idea. If it was something that investors thought would be worth the price they would have already jumped all over it. Needless to say I support the idea, but I believe it may be being spearheaded by ambition rather than capital. 

[Coolyfett]

I like the caddy shack idea better. That would be cool to have downtown or Springfield. Plus it seem like something Orlando, Tampa &  Miami would not compete with. I just think many others have beaten Jax to the punch.

[pierre]

Why are you guys so oppose to this?? I mean there's no public money being used and I think this will be good for the city.

I will believe it when I see it.

Taking this one with a huge grain of salt.

[ben says]

Not a fan of the aquarium idea, but for devils advocate sake (in contradiction to the Chattanooga talk): Charleston's terribly small and insignificant aquarium draws good sized crowds and isn't integrated in the HD at all.

[Cheshire Cat]

In this city, we have a 'jaded factor' that rivals some big cities. I'm putting my personally 'eh-ism' for aquariums aside, and I'm trying to look at it from a positive mindset, but I just don't see it; Even if it was 'integrated with DT'. IMO it would be much better as a permanent attraction at the zoo, and it would spike up the attendance there.

There are plenty of 'lack of connectivity' buildings in dense urban areas, but preferably I wouldn't want them on a thin strip, like say a riverfront. With the shipyards area currently undeveloped right now, IMO the major disconnects from the core to Met Park are the Jail/JSO, Maxwell House, and the pond & some of EverBank Field's parking (not saying that anything should be removed). The common misconception is to blame everything on the Hart Bridge overpasses; How 'unaesthetic' they might be to some, they really don't 'interfere' with much of anything, like say a Chicago elevated train overpass would.

Maybe I'm gonna have to start an amusement park cause on next year's One Spark. It drive me crazy that no one is pushing for it, something that's more realistic than a DT aquarium IMO. If one was to put Fun Spot America (Orlando) in Jax, that would equal an instant success!! Hell, it probably would draw even more here, with so much going on in other larger O-Town parks.

I-10 makes a valid point in my view.  I know the desire to plot out and plan what some feel will make downtown successful is strong in many who post here and I totally get that. The site is focused on the core and planning in many ways. The reality is however that there will be ideas that come down the pike that don't fit the model many have imagined.  If someone has the funding to build an aquarium in Jacksonville, they should have at it. Whether or not it fits some desires for the core, it would be a great attraction for Jacksonville and add another interesting venue of things to do here.  It's another idea, bigger than others and like others we can believe it when it happens.  If it does happen, I will be happy for it.  If it happens to integrate in a way that also boosters downtown, that will be a sizable bonus.  Remember some folks were fixed in the idea that a certain pizza restaurant was going to ruin the shops of Avondale viciously criticized that endeavor and made life miserable for that developer who was investing in Jacksonville.  It didn't of course and in the end proved to be a positive addition. A multi-million dollar investment in our city for an aquarium is a good thing to my eyes and falls right in line with the overall idea of investment and growth bringing jobs and people to our city as well as adding to the list of great things to do in Jacksonville.