Wednesday, June 24, 2009

The New Cleveland Aquarium

Last week Cleveland received a jolt of good news when it was reported in the Plain Dealer that local development group - Jacobs Investments announced a decision to build an aquarium at its PowerHouse facility in the Flats. This is an awesome announcement. I have been a huge proponent of an aquarium. On my other blog - Cool History of Cleveland - I wrote passionately about the old Cleveland Aquarium, which can still be seen while driving east on I-90 near E. 79th. It was a beautiful old structure and I hope that someone will come up with an idea for the old facility. 

Nonetheless, the Jacobs Investments group should be applauded. This is a genius idea. The facility is slated in the summer of 2010 as is expected to bring 400,000 to 500,000 visitors annually to the aquarium. I approve of the location - a big aquarium right on the banks of the Cuyahoga River. This really could be a special development. A development, I hope, that spurs further redevelopment of the Flats. I suspect my only disappointment is the rather diminutive size of the facility at a rather paltry 55,000 square feet. However, I suspect that the Jacobs Investment group has additional plans for the aquarium and the PowerHouse. We will see but in the interim the City should rally behind this critical development. 
Posted by Tech Czar at 02:26:55

The New Cleveland Aquarium

Last week Cleveland received a jolt of good news when it was reported in the Plain Dealer that local development group - Jacobs Investments announced a decision to build an aquarium at its PowerHouse facility in the Flats. This is an awesome announcement. I have been a huge proponent of an aquarium. On my other blog - Cool History of Cleveland - I wrote passionately about the old Cleveland Aquarium, which can still be seen while driving east on I-90 near E. 79th. It was a beautiful old structure and I hope that someone will come up with an idea for the old facility. 

Nonetheless, the Jacobs Investments group should be applauded. This is a genius idea. The facility is slated in the summer of 2010 as is expected to bring 400,000 to 500,000 visitors annually to the aquarium. I approve of the location - a big aquarium right on the banks of the Cuyahoga River. This really could be a special development. A development, I hope, that spurs further redevelopment of the Flats. I suspect my only disappointment is the rather diminutive size of the facility at a rather paltry 55,000 square feet. However, I suspect that the Jacobs Investment group has additional plans for the aquarium and the PowerHouse. We will see but in the interim the City should rally behind this critical development. 
Posted by Tech Czar at 02:26:27
Comments

No Responses to “The New Cleveland Aquarium”

  1. Donna says:
    June 24, 2009 at 3:12 am

    I have fond memories of the aquarium too. It was one of the places we went on school field trips. Cleveland needs to do anything to capitalize on our waterfront as an entertainment venue. I get envious every time I think of Chicago.

  2. Scott says:
    July 5, 2009 at 6:40 pm

    This “might” be educational and a boost to local business, but only if it features dispays (videos, animatronic exhibits, etc) native fiish and plants. show off the amazing life in Lake Erie and the rivers, and encourage people to go out and look at the Black-crowned Night Herons and other cool birds that eat the fish on the rivers, not just gawk at captive fish. And if plans are ever developed to include captive dolphins or whales (opposed by Jacques Cousteau and anybody who knows anything about cetaceans) you can count on more protesters than visitors.

  3. Anonymous says:
    July 9, 2009 at 1:01 am

    Everyone, peer closely to the very top-left edge of the ‘TechCzar’ logo … you just may see hints of the old “Chicago Popes” helmet in there.

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