Clearwater Marine Aquarium Coming to Downtown

What happens when too many people are coming to your business and an expansion for it is on the way, but not coming soon enough because, oh yeah, a movie is set for release within a month that will bring in even more people?

If you are the , you go to .

The city and aquarium leaders are working out details that would create an overflow facility in the second floor of the shuttered Harborview Center that could potentially bring nearly 200,000 people to downtown. The deal could be approved at the city council meeting Thursday.

“I think this is good for downtown,” Mayor Frank Hibbard said. “This is an opportunity we have to take advantage of with the film.”

In the last few weeks, the aquarium and the city have worked to develop an agreement that would open the second floor of the Harborview Center.

Initial estimates pegged the cost at nearly $1 million for upgrades and repairs to the building that was slated for future demolition.

Under the agreement, the city would pay a trimmed figure of $172,587 to repair issues with the aging structure to make it habitable.

The aquarium would then pay the city back through a portion of the attendance fees.

The 12-month lease includes options for another year and a second option for six months, for a total of 30 months.

The aquarium would pay a minumum $5,753 in monthly rent to the city. To meet rent, the aquarium will use $1 from every ticket sale. Once the money is recouped, the rent would be adjusted to $1 month.

Parking for aquarium attendees would be free in the north and west Harborview Center lots.

With trailers for the movie featuring Ashley Judd, Harry Connick Jr. and Morgan Freeman playing in theaters already, the aquarium has seen a boost in attendance. Thousands more visitors are expected after the release of the movie Sept. 23.

Already, the aquarium has bested its own attendance records. That is just on the pre-release hype of the movie. This past July, 32,453 people came to see Winter and her friends. July 2006 saw 9,302 attendees.

Aquarium officials expect 181,000 people to visit the downtown facility each year once it's open, according to a letter to the city from Frank Dame, vice president of the aquarium.

"We firmly believe... That we will attract 181,000 or more guests per year to the downtown area," Dame said. "Creating a new vibrancy to that area."

The aquarium is also working on of a $12 million expanded facility including stadium-style seating overlooking a 1.4 million-gallon tank.

Krista Rosado, spokeswoman for the aquarium, said that although more people are coming through the doors, it does not necessarily mean they are that much closer to the goal of raising $10 million as part of the expansion of the facility.

“The more people, the more expenses,” Rosado said. “It goes both ways.”

Part of the Alcon Entertainment movie Dolphin Tale was filmed on the second floor of the Harborview Center.

The hope is the former department store building will help serve as an extension of the attraction while money is raised to complete the new facility.

In turn, downtown would have a destination other than the . With the entrance along Osceola Avenue, the idea would be to funnel foot traffic onto Cleveland Street.

“I’m really skeptical on how much help this would be to downtown,” said Bill Jonson, council member.