While $1 million is a lot of money, it's far below the $15 million sought by Da Vinci Center Executive Director Lin Erickson. Council member Peg Ferraro, a strong supporter of the aquarium, said at the November 16 meeting that she would be offering an amendment. This means she wants to award more than $1 million. She invited fellow members to call her, but an issue like this really should be discussed in full public view.
Pitched as a science center that will promote STEM education, DaVinci's big draw is a 500,000 gallon aquarium with large view panes to be located at the site of the Easton Days Inn, located near the junction of the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers. Easton will demolish the existing hotel and from its ashes, a 170,000 sq ft facility will rise. In addition to the marine vivarium, it will include a restaurant and event center with seating for 500, an immersion theater, a creativity studio or "Fab lab," classrooms and offices.
Its projected cost is $130 million, and Easton has pledged $30 million. Mayor Sal Panto has told Council that City has already spent $6 million on this project. It intends to borrow $24 million through a bond issue, to be paid by the amusement tax on 400,000 visitors per year and income taxes paid by 200 permanent workers.
Northampton County has already contributed $50,000 in hotel taxes for a $1.2 million feasibility study. As of late last month, Da Vinci still needed $100,000 for this business analysis.
In addition to the difficulty of building in a flood plain, other serious problems with the location include a lack of parking, a dearth of hotel space and possible competition from a similar project under consideration in Monroe County.
Executive-elect Lamont McClure has said at the Executive debate that he supports DaVinci, but more work was needed to determine how much NorCo should contribute.
Incoming Council members have also expressed reservations.
Ron Heckman warned that developers dazzle you with charts and then give you a bill. Tara Zrinski said she has three children and they all liked shiny new toys. "I don't know if we should be spending taxpayer dollars for a shiny new toy," she said. Noting that the aquarium is in a flood plain, she always instructed her children not to leave their toys out in the rain.
Lori Vargo Heffner objected to there being a "county ATM on all the projects for everyone."
Council will vote on this proposal at their December 7 meeting, before these new Council members are seated.
Earlier in the evening, Council tabled some appointments to authorities on the grounds that incoming Executive Lamont McClure should be able to weigh in on the measure. By that same reasoning, this ordinance should be tabled as well. Let the new Council decide.
Blogger's Note: This story has been updated from the original story posted 11/16/17 at 12:01 am.
Well the present location is a transiant hotel of sorts. This project needs proper deliberation as any high cost issue . Issue will be , will the boat float . Well depending whom you ask . Carola has a “face’ and every single old guy like me at 65 remembers using that crayon in kindergarten now brings his grandchildren to this facility ,it’s an emotionally driven attraction. So can this exhibit generate enough traffic to overtime put funds into the county s economy.? Who knows ? This is a big market issue for a gamble from very CEREBRAL people and they tend NOT to be politically indentured . So now we have to understand that a bad decision is very costly or a good one means prosperity so- away we go ! Do we have the right brains here to make this evaluation ?
ReplyDeleteAlthough I've been hard on Sal "Beta Fish" Panto in the past he should be praised for "luring" a big money project to the crack whore infested vortex that radiates from the Wawa parking lot.
ReplyDeleteThe "conservative" republican Admisntration and county council once again shows why they were shown the door. These guys spend and tax like drunken sailors. To commit this money at this stage is such nonsense, Ferraro is probably pressuring them to do it.
ReplyDeleteNone o this makes sense. Vote no
ReplyDeleteLet Easton pay for it. All of it!
ReplyDeleteUse that money towards step raises that we haven't seen in years! Not some fish tank!
ReplyDeleteThey are all lining up with their hand out. Council needs to learn quickly to say no, no, no,
ReplyDeleteThis is irresponsible of the current council who for the most part are on their way out. Their spending was part of their demise, therefore, let the new council study this very risky investment and let them decide on the merits. Of course, I can see some of the repugnant members of council who were shown the door to slap the taxpayers in the mouth on exit.
ReplyDelete"Use that money towards step raises that we haven't seen in years! Not some fish tank!"
ReplyDeleteHotel taxes may only be used for projects that promote tourism. Can't use that $ to give yourself a raise.
A waste of tax money. Uncle Sal's fish tank will stink like a rotten mackerel. Constructed in a flood plain, less than 40 miles from a proposed larger, better aquarium at Kalahari, it has no chance to operate in the black. The only visitors will be from the Lehigh Valley, and most of those will be school children on field trips. They don't spend money in the gift shop, and will be discount admissions. Traffic in and out of the area will be horrific. That intersection is already a disaster. Council should just say no to this wet dream.
ReplyDeleteWhile I appreciate that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, I must state unequivocally that Sal Panto/tom18017/roverfan73 is, in fact, a carp who deserves zero praise for netting a fish tank that is a ridiculously stupid and wasteful idea.
ReplyDeleteThe return of irrational boosterism
ReplyDeleteAnd have the nerves not to give us raises
ReplyDeleteHave Easton use the money from there commuter taxes to pay for the aquarium
ReplyDeleteQuestion. if the county commits 15 million and hotel tax receipts are less than projected, must the county make up the difference from general revenues to meet the commitment?
ReplyDeleteDon't do it! Our county and it's residents have far greater need than a science center. We have hundreds of homeless people in the county, we have a significant mental health services shortage and we have an opioid epidemic on our hands. These things need to be improved before this kind of spending happens. Especially because the location is on a flood plain. Might as well flush $ down the toilet.
ReplyDeleteThe entire area around 3rd and Larry Holmes is a boil on the buttocks of the world.Try walking alongside WaWa and the homeless are there begging for money. That is if your sneakers don't get stuck on the urine-stained sidewalks.Try going into Mc Donalds early in the morning and witness all the homeless lined-up waiting to take a dump in the bathroom or charging their cell phones. Welcome to Mayor Panto's Easton.
ReplyDeletebest wait until current cast of characters leave, although sometimes when new folks start to serve in government they seem to become experts in many fields and like "shiny new toys".
ReplyDeleteI hope the council passes this at the next meeting. It is important to get this wonderful project going. It is about time the county works with Easton. Easton is their county seat.
ReplyDeleteDo not let this opportunity pass by. I call on the current county council to show courage and foresight.
Location! Location! Location!
ReplyDeleteThis ain't it.
I call on the incoming county council to show restraint and intelligence.
"I hope the council passes this at the next meeting. It is important to get this wonderful project going. It is about time the county works with Easton. Easton is their county seat."
ReplyDeleteLast time I checked, the seat is where the ass is located.
Working with Easton? Easton has its hand out all the time. On Thursday night alone, it was awarded a $60,000 grant. The county provided half the funding (or more) for a trolley I never see. The county helped fund the ambassadors. The county also contributes a lot of money to the State Theatre.
I'd certainly want the county to help fund a worthwhile project in Easton. To that end, I would fund an INDEPENDENT feasibility study (not one that DaVinci seeks to state what it wants to hear) to determine if this is more than a pipe dream. If it is, then I would commit a substantial sum of hotel taxes to the project for a number of years. But DaVinci wants the county to throw $ at this project without knowing if it works. That is poor fiscal stewardship.
This business study MUST be independent. I supported the Chrin TIF based on a study that said it would result in 5,000-7,000 jobs. That was a lie bc Chrin paid for a study that said what he wanted it to say.
Speaking of the State Theatre, has anybody checked lately to see how many full time employees work at the State Theatre? And better yet, what are their salaries. The State has been crying poverty as of late but I bet Shelly Brown is sill collecting a six-figure salary.
ReplyDeleteShelly is worth whatever they say her. She is a hard worker and terrific cheerleader for the State. That being said, the State will continue to struggle. Their acts are tired and third tier. Can't stand the narrow seats and tight legroom. If it wasn't for the Freddies the place would be irrelevant.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the 990 filed by Easton State Theatre, Shelly Brown earned $153,750 during FY 2016.
ReplyDeleteDuring that same time, Lin Erickson was paid $129,500 plus $6,624 in other compensation.
ReplyDeleteHow many homeless beds does this project provide?
ReplyDelete