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Monday, August 21, 2017

DaVinci To Pitch $130MM Aquarium to Public

DaVinci Science Center is taking its case to the public. The Allentown-based science museum will pitch its plans for a proposed $130 million aquarium, to be located in Easton, at four town halls over the next two weeks. These forums, all of them located in Northampton County, have been designed so that the public can learn more about the project, and offer feedback.

The town halls are scheduled as follows:

Wednesday, August 23, 7 pm, at Northeast Middle School in Bethlehem;
Thursday, August 24, 7 pm, at George Wolf Elementary School in Bath;
Tuesday, August 29, 7 pm, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bangor; and
Thursday, August 31, 7 pm, at Paxinosa Elementary School in Easton.

Three of the locations for these so-called town halls are schools where a large number of students are eligible for free or reduced lunches (Paxinosa - 72%, Northeast Middle School - 72.5%, and George Wolf Elementary - 23%). George Wolf Elementary is located in Bath, which claims it is so broke it is unable to afford a police department. In Bangor, 15.7% of the population is below the poverty level.

According to Da Vinci Executive Director Lin Erickson, its proposed Science City will bring education, tourism and economic development to Northampton County.

Easton Has Committed $30 million 

It has chosen the Easton Days Inn, located near the junction of the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers. That will be demolished and replaced with a 170,000 sq ft facility that includes a science center, a 500,000 gallon aquarium with large view panes, an Aquarium Restaurant and event center with seating for 500, an immersion theater, a creativity studio or "Fab lab," classrooms and offices.

One drawback of this site is its limited parking. Another, as Erickson herself noted, is that it is located in the flood plain. From time to time, it is itself an aquarium.

Its accessibility to Routes 22 and 78, as well as its proximity to New Jersey, are positive factor. But the biggest would have to be funding was also a major factor. "Mayor Panto stepped up with a commitment unlike any of the other cities," acknowledged Erickson.

Easton has agreed to contribute up to $30 million of the projected $130 million cost. Its population as of 2016 is 26,978, so that comes out to $1,112 per Easton resident. Nearly a third of its population is below the poverty level. Only half of its homes are owner-occupied. But  the City has an A-plus credit rating.

Previously, Mayor Sal Panto had hoped to enhance tourism with a national high school hall of fame. But that idea went nowhere.

Northampton County has committed $50,000

What about Northampton County?

Northampton County has contributed $50,000 in hotel taxes to help fund a $1.2 million feasibility study.

In February, Northampton County Council said No to a request for an additional $50,000. "When Jeffrey Parks came here, and wanted money for [Artsquest], he had all this stuff done already," noted Ken Kraft, who represents the Bethlehem district on Council. "I think it's really premature to throw money at a pipe dream. ... You keep coming back to the trough and I say No." Council President John Cusick shared Ken Kraft's concerns. "The taxpayers need to hold onto their wallets," he warned.

By June, Erickson reported that two-thirds of the $1.2 million funding needed for a feasibility study had been committed.

At the same time, DaVinci representatives have been quietly meeting individually with Council members.

They now want $5 million in hotel taxes.

DaVinci Hires Architect Despite Lack of Feasibility Study

Though no feasibility study has been done, DaVinci has also selected an architect  - San Francisco's EHDD. In a letter to Council members, she declines to name this firm. And then she names EHDD in a glossy brochure.

She fails to explain how an architect can be hired before it is known whether the project is even feasible.

Based on a comparison with the Chattanooga Aquarium, Erickson has previously projected that Easton's Da Vinci Center will draw 600,000 visitors annually. It will create $45 million in economic development, provide jobs for 200 people and generate $7 million in local tax revenue.

Chattanooga (528,000) is much larger than Easton (27,000), but Erickson noted that the population within a 50-mile radius of the Lehigh Valley is 7.1 million, seven times that of a 50-mile radius around the Tennessee site.

In its 20-year history, the Chattanooga Aquarium has attracted 18 million visitors, and hotel taxes in that area have increased 500%.

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

Uncle Sal's fish tank would be a tremendous waste of taxpayer's money. Especially if Kalahari Resort builds a larger one 30 miles away. The Easton aquarium will be a white elephant, or rather a white whale.

Bernie O'Hare said...

The Ripley's aquarium would be different, but I'd want to see an unbiased study before drawing another county penny is spent.

Anonymous said...

The fix is in and Brown and his council cohorts will push the cash after the election. The high power Republican elite of the Easton area want it. So done deal!

Anonymous said...

I've been both to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga and the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. The one in Chattanooga was built with state funds, the one in Atlanta with private monies.

Both were enjoyable to visit, and if one is located in this area, they should be built near Dorney Park with private funds, where both the highway infrastructure as well as hotels and restaurants already exist. It would be a good fit to make that area a year-round attraction for tourists. A business case could easily be written and presented for private development and funding.

Anonymous said...

You say "unbiased study". All the comments to date really indicate that a decision has been made to build the fish bowl. It appears that a study will only support that conclusion. Why would you invest all that money into a report that says "no". I have heard privately that some people close to the city have remarked that a failure of this project would bankrupt the city. That maybe an exaggeration, but the city cannot carry this debt without offsetting revenue. Unfortunate that the mayor would risk his legacy on this project. It could do ok for ten years and then fail leaving Easton taxpayers with a still huge liability. This project remains high risk because neither the city or Davinci has the experienced management to run anything on this scale. An even bigger problem for the city will be initial operating losses that the city will have to cover in order to keep the attraction open. That means an immediate hit on taxpayers. I think the city has gone this route before but not on this scale. The city had advanced money for the benefit of another non profit and ended up paying the bill because the non profit did not have the revenues to reimburse the city.

Anonymous said...

I'm curious if the county and Easton would also be on the hook for future maintenance and repair costs of the facility?

Anonymous said...

The fact that it being proposed in a flood plain should be the first reason to be rejected. Who owns the property? whose going to profit by this?

Anonymous said...

Allentown's taxpayers are struggling to pay for rent, food, clothing, and the
DaVinci Center's leaders are coming to "their" town? Give it a break.

Anonymous said...

"Unfortunate that the mayor would risk his legacy on this project."

After the (Easton) mayor gave his approval for the destruction of the College Hill heritage corridor to permit a college's expansion into residential neighborhoods, his reputation is already on the downside.

Anonymous said...

I for one live in the Borough of Northampton and have no interest in attending this facility. I also do not want my county taxes paying for Sal Panto's pipe dream. If Easton wants this, let them pay for it. Easton officials couldn't settle a simple lease deal with Billy's, how will they manage this? Just because Panto likes calamari, it doesn't make him an expert as a fish tank manager.

Anonymous said...

These meetings are all smoke and mirrors. This is a done deal, and a huge waste of money.

Anonymous said...

So if I wanted to build a movie theater or theme park, I can ask for money from the tax payers to do that? Cool!!

Anonymous said...

This should be privately funded by those with their own skin in the game. Taxes are to be spent on things like infrastructure and public safety, not venture socialism. If it is profitable private equity will step up. Otherwise it's becomes a huge public money dump.

Anonymous said...

If this gets built, will there be "Swimming with Sal" in the big tank?

Anonymous said...

EHDD was hired to do the study, not design the building. A separate RFP will be issued for the design, following the completion of the study.

Anonymous said...

Bernie, the Ripley's aquarium at Kalahari will be bigger and better. Plus, that is a destination resort that already draws heavily from NYC. They will syphon off thousands of potential tourists a year from Uncle Sal's wet dream. The DaVinci aquarium will be unsustainable.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"EHDD was hired to do the study, not design the building. A separate RFP will be issued for the design, following the completion of the study."

That's not what your own information says. In he letter to Council members, Lin Erickson states, "I am also pleased to report that we have selected an architect for the project who will be preparing the facility and exhibits plans ... ." The glossy brochure states this architect is EHDD.

Your statement is disingenuous. And why on earth would you hire an architect to study the feasibility of a business plan? That is nonsense.

Anonymous said...

Three of the locations for this $130 million project are schools where a large number of students are eligible for free or reduced lunches (Paxinosa - 72%, Northeast Middle School - 72.5%, and George Wolf Elementary - 23%). George Wolf Elementary is located in Bath, which claims it is so broke it is unable to afford a police department. In Bangor, 15.7% of the population is below the poverty level. This comment in you blog has nothing to do with the project.

Anonymous said...

How come nothing seems to get done these days without subsidies and incentives of our tax money handed out by politicians who seem to think their job is Santa Claus. How on earth did Henry Ford build a car company, Fred Smith establish FedEx, or Sam Walton grow WalMart without gobs of public money? Things have gone terribly wrong....and it really does have to stop.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Three of the locations for this $130 million project are schools where a large number of students are eligible for free or reduced lunches (Paxinosa - 72%, Northeast Middle School - 72.5%, and George Wolf Elementary - 23%). George Wolf Elementary is located in Bath, which claims it is so broke it is unable to afford a police department. In Bangor, 15.7% of the population is below the poverty level. This comment in you blog has nothing to do with the project."

This information has everything to do with the project. It may be an inconvenient truth, but large portions of NorCo are financially distressed, but you want them to help pay for a $130 million aquarium without even knowing whether it is feasible. You are reaching out to the community but should know this community can ill afford this use of public funds. Hotel taxes should be spent on worthy projects, and I frankly don't trust Da Vinci or Sal Panto to make that determination. DaVinci failed to disclose the competition by Ripleys, and Panto wanted to build a high school hall of fame.

Anonymous said...

One hundred thirty million dollars...

What the hell is the wrong with these people? For sanities sake, who could look around this county and come to the conclusion this is what is needed? We're doomed.

Anonymous said...

Keep giving away the store. The State is bankrupted and we give big business tax money to pay their costs in Allentown. Maybe this could be built along the Lehigh River (hopefully outside of any floodplain)

Anonymous said...

$50 million for an aquarium, $130 million for a jail at Gracedale. It is only money. Brown and company believe the adage, use Other Peoples Money. another 10% tax increase from them next year.

Anonymous said...

Bernie,
These assklowns are spending monies on the anticipated Childrens children slush fund?
Is it the little doll asking it for the mint or the other way around, popcorn would do just fine!

Anonymous said...

Easton has enough urban development projects in place already. How much more money are we going to be asked to pour into the city? It would be nice under different circumstances but the county is a financial mess already. Unemployment and HUD housing dominate the landscape. We need decent jobs and better education for our children..not a GD fish tank!

Anonymous said...

Maybe Sal should look at his west end disaster area. It is like a war zone out there. The fish tank won't fix that mess. It appears that Sal's plan to handpick his Easton guy for county council is not working.

Anonymous said...

Same plan as Bethlehem..drive out the poor and raise rents. Push them to southside and the west ward. Only the rich will be able to live in downtown Easton. To H with the rest of the cities residents.

Anonymous said...

3:33 PM,

Enlighten us. Who is Panto's handpicked Easton guy for County Council?

How isn't this pay-to-play?

Anonymous said...

Who isn't a fine example of appointments that's the real question?

Anonymous said...

130 million dollar "water circus" for PETA to bitch about I can see it now.

How are things with SeaWorld?

I'm not a PETA person, but if you're not going to eat it, leave it alone.

Anonymous said...

@7:02am Saral Inc has owned the property since 1997 according to property records

Hank_Hill

Anonymous said...

1,151 dollars per household.....can I just have the cash?

Anonymous said...

Other then parking meter/garage fees and local payroll taxes (EST, LST, commuter tax) how will this offset the loss of property tax. As of right now the hotel generates the following tax amounts: County $12,627.89; City $26,700.49; School District $67,109.73. These amounts assume the 2% discount. The Di Vinci center, I assume, will pay no property tax since it is a non profit. I really havent been following this so I may have missed this explanation.

Hank_Hill

Bernie O'Hare said...

It is a nonprofit, but my understanding is hat it is fully taxable. I would think this is a question that should be asked and answered.

Anonymous said...

I would LOVE an aquarium closer to this area. The drive to Camden SXcks. However, I don't want to fund it. Is the science center a non profit? Seems to me the price they charge 14.95 a person really not so affordable. And to let everyone know, they were charging 7.99 for the 2 dollar solar glasses for todays eclipse. Another concern is the traffic. What a mess that will be. Tell Sal to have a yard sale.

Anonymous said...

Anon 5:28 raises a good point. Will the nut jobs from PETA boycott Uncle Sal's Fish Tank to save the poor dumber than insects fish from captivity, especially since it was publicly funded? Let the private sector exploit our finned brothers and sisters.

Anonymous said...

Who is Ssl Pamto pushing for county council? I don't think any Easton Counicil Person is running.

Dennis R. Lieb said...

The Da Vinci project as proposed in Easton is a huge boondoggle. The many aspects of it that make no sense - above and beyond the additional financial burden to Easton residents- requires an entire guest post. I hope to find the time to write about it soon and submit something to this blog for publication if the host agrees.

DRL

Anonymous said...

Sal..your ego..is out of control.Be satisfied with what you have already accomplished. The city does not need or want this white elephant. sometimes..you got to pass and be proud of what has been done on your watch. Stop this madness..please!

Anonymous said...

Who is Sal Panto pushing for County Council? Peter Melan

It is a nonprofit, but my understanding is that it is fully taxable.

Good luck with that. It certainly will not if Easton owns it. Many high profile so-called "non-profits" in the LV with high paid CEO's do not pay property taxes. In all likelihood neither will DaVinci. Ironic that a development that will result in a loss of hotel tax revenue wants to be funded with hotel tax revenue.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Dennis, I would be honored to host your essay.

Bernie O'Hare said...

5:06, I am making inquiries and you may be right - this might be completely exempt from realestate taxes. Not sure where Melan stands on this. That should be asked of every Councilcandidate.

Anonymous said...

Bernie - the comment yesterday at 10:40AM (I think) - I believe the commentator is saying (which bothered me as well) that "this project" in that sentence quoted does not relate to the project, but rather the town halls scheduled for the next week. Your wording was poor in my opinion. I'm used to your writing style and grammar choices here and there. You rarely seem to make corrections, so I live with it and keep my damned mouth shut.

Bernie O'Hare said...

My wording was poor and a correction has been made. I readily will correct errors like those.