New study finds downtown Jacksonville aquarium is feasible

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — There's good news from the group that wants to get a $100 million aquarium up and running in downtown Jacksonville.

Action News Jax first detailed a $50,000 feasibility study AquaJax was working on. AquaJax now says that study is complete and shows its plan is feasible.

The First Coast aquarium will cost $85 million, according to the study. An additional $15 million will be needed for animal costs and staffing.

"This is long overdue. Jacksonville should have had this a long time ago," said James Hammond, the president and co-founder of Aqua Jax.

One of the possible sites being considered for the aquarium is the eastern part of the shipyards by EverBank Field.

Plans are for Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens to run the aquarium as a sister facility. Dan Maloney is the deputy director of animal care and conservation. He said it's only fitting.

"That $100 million investment is going to yield, projected by the study, a billion dollars in return in 10 years. That's a good return," Maloney said.

He acknowledges that it is a pricey project but says the feasibility study shows there is a lot for the city to gain.

The study projects attendance in the first year at more than 1.3 million visitors. Basic admission price would be set at $21.95.

Hammond said the study compared this project to other cities like Chattanooga, Atlanta, Baltimore and Corpus Christi, Texas. Those cities all thrived after getting an aquarium.

"I'm a native of Jacksonville -- I was here when Jacksonville was vibrant and alive downtown. We need to bring that back," Hammond said.

The next step for Aqua Jax will be to sit down with its board members to come up with a strategy to raise $100 million.

WJAX