A new $160m (£103m, €120m) aquarium is being proposed for Clearwater, Florida’s downtown waterfront, as the Clearwater Marine Aquarium looks to build a new 200,000 sq ft (18,580sq m) home.
A draft agreement has been drawn up between the aquarium and the Clearwater City Council, though plans will only go ahead once the public has had a chance to discuss and vote on the development in a November referendum.
Though the plans are subject to change, the aquarium is proposed over three levels. The first will feature Everglades, manatee and otter exhibits, as well as a children’s area and classrooms.
On the second level there are plans for a large touch tank, a coral reef exhibit, dolphin stadium and octopus, jellyfish and seahorse attractions. Alongside these will be a turtle tank and a 4D theatre.
The top level features more attractions including 2D and 4D theatres, further coral reef exhibits, community rooms, a rooftop deck and a catering kitchen.
The proposal states the aquarium would pay the city council $150,000 (£96,700, €113,100) a year to lease waterfront land on Osceola Avenue where Clearwater City Hall is currently located, while there will also be an expansion of the nearby Coachman Park.
The yearly payments would commence once the aquarium has paid the city council $7.5m (£4.8m, €5.6m) towards a new city hall development. It is thought the aquarium would recoup these funds through a 50-cent surcharge on admission fees to the new centre.
The City Hall location has been earmarked because of its proximity to saltwater and the feasibility of assembling land in the area. The site will become the aquarium's main location, while there will also be a Clearwater Marine Hospital based at its Island Estates facility.
Funding to build the new centre would come from a number of different sources including: donors, corporate support and government grants and entities.
If plans are approved, the development could open by April 2017.
