Plans Under Way to Build Aquarium in Riverview

Updated, Jan. 16:

Florida Aquarium President and CEO Thom Stork issued a statement to Patch following the publication of this article:

The Florida Aquarium would like to note some inaccuracies regarding our position on the proposed Shore Lab Discovery Center. The Florida Aquarium was never approached to comment on this project nor did we give “a nod of approval” for its development. There is no collaboration.  We respect the mission of Shore Lab Discovery Center, however with four aquariums in the Tampa bay area, all with educational programs and similar missions; it is inaccurate to report that The Florida Aquarium fully supports the development of Shore Lab Discovery Center or that we are “thrilled with the project."

Earlier:

If all goes as planned, a now-vacant 84-acre site could become Tampa Bay's newest aquarium.

Bradenton-based Shore Lab Discovery Center would like to build a 500,000-square-foot aquarium and a research and education center on the site just north of Bloomingdale Avenue, according to the center's director and chief executive officer, Steve Robertson, a marine biologist who previously was curator of the Florida Aquarium's reef exhibit.

"We're getting a letter of intent from the landowner right now to purchase the property," said Robertson. "This site in Riverview is definitely our preferred site. We were also looking at a site off I-4 but it's not panning out."

The property is owned by lifelong resident John Ernst who grazes cattle on the property now.

With its proximity to Westfield Brandon mall and the interstate system, Robertson believes the Riverview site will make an ideal location for an aquarium.

"It's a growing area with Winthrop Town Centre and all the development going on there," said Robertson. "And there's no other attractions in this area. I think it's going to be very good for the Brandon area."

Shore Lab projects a total economic impact of about $100 million to the Brandon area.

Robertson said the center, a nonprofit corporation formed in 2009 to build an aquarium, originally looked at a waterfront site in Bradenton and drew up plans based on a waterfront location.

"But the Bradenton site had some access problems," he said. "So we're in the process of redrawing our site plans and exhibit designs right now."

In addition to the aquarium itself, which will feature 5,000 plant and animal species, and the research and education building, the site plan calls for a 4-acre park with water features including a tropical reef area where visitors can swim. The reef pool will adjoin another pool containing predators of the deep.

"Visitors will be able to look at sharks and other creatures underwater through glass," said Robertson.

Plans for the aquarium include a four-story rainforest exhibit, a dolphin encounter and a 500-seat 4-D IMAX theater.

All of these plans, however, are contingent on raising funds, said Robertson.

"After we acquire the property, we'll start soliciting corporations for funds," he said. "We're also looking for donations from the community. A $10 donation from school children is just as important as a donation of thousands of dollars."

Anyone wishing to donate can do so on the center's website, www.shorelabdiscoverycenter.org.

In addition, the center is seeking volunteers with expertise in a variety of fields to help bring the aquarium to fruition.

Anyone interested in volunteering can email Robertson at srobertson@shorelabdiscoverycenter.org.

Robertson said the center also will be seeking the support of the Hillsborough County Commission in approving a rezoning for an aquarium. The property is currently zoned agricultural.

"It’s a slow build right now but it’s picking up speed and I anticipate positive things happening in the middle of the year," said Robertson.

He said he already has the support of the University of South Florida, which will be involved in education at the research center, along with the Marine Science Institute.

He said the Shore Lab facility will differ from the Florida Aquarium in Tampa in that it will focus on hands-on learning and host exhibits that trace the origins of water creatures.

"We’re totally different than the Florida Aquarium," he said. "We’re not in competition them ... I think it’s going to be a really good marriage for the entire Bay area."

Robertson said the center's board will break ground as soon as it's acquired the needed funding, hopefully next year.