St Augustine Aquarium may face competition

Historic City News has learned that, before it is even built, the dream of a public aquarium by owners Shawn and Kathy Hiester of Ponte Vedra Beach is reportedly facing competition from deep pockets in Downtown Jacksonville, near the Northbank site of the proposed Shipyards redevelopment.

In December, Historic City News reported that St Augustine Aquarium LLC had purchased a 5-acre site in Green Acres Subdivision that faces SR-16; after plans to build an aquarium on city-owned property at Riberia Pointe drew fire from neighbors and other protesters – then died.

The Hiesters have never owned or operated a public aquarium, but the entrepreneurial couple have said publicly that they “have great expectations for its success”. So far, they have convinced 121 Financial Credit Union in Jacksonville to establish a revolving line of credit, due in December, for $570,000 — allowing them to complete the $760,000 land purchase.

Shawn Hiester, an avid scuba diver, told reporters that he knows once people have the chance to experience the aquarium, snorkel adventure, and zip-line project, they will understand how critically important it is for all of us to protect the undersea world.

Melissa Glasgow, Economic Development Director for St. Johns County, said. “This project will be a welcome addition to the attractions industry base and help create new jobs and attract new tourism dollars to the County.”

But, in an article published today in the Jacksonville Business Journal, Colleen Michele Jones disclosed that Jaguars owner Shad Khan was one of a handful of donors who have put up money to explore the feasibility of an aquarium. Besides Khan, the other donors funding the study include The Haskell Company, Wolfson Children’s Hospital, and philanthropists and educational advocates Gary and Nancy Chartrand.

The group advocating for First Coast Aquarium is known as AquaJax. They were awarded $14,000 in prize money at last year’s One Spark festival and they have donated those funds towards the study and evaluation. AquaJax has hired an outside consultant for $50,000 to conduct the feasibility study, which will take into account cost estimates, funding options, site locations and other issues. George Harrell, co-founder and president of AquaJax, told reporters that work on the feasibility study is expected to begin next week — with a final report returned in about six to eight weeks.