Mote Marine aquarium planned for Punta Gorda
Mar 29, 2012 6:16 PM EDT
By Steve Campion, NBC2 Reporter
PUNTA GORDA -
Mote Marine's talked about expansion into Charlotte County is taking the shape of a 3 story aquarium.
The view from where Tonya Blair ate lunch Thursday afternoon wasn't ideal.
"It has been a sad little sinkhole. It has been a place everyone has avoided," said Blair in reference to the vacant lots between US 41 and Taylor Street just north of Marion Avenue in Punta Gorda.
The prime piece of real estate still sits unused almost 8 years after Hurricane Charley left it bare.
"Everybody has been waiting for the day for something to start there," said Punta Gorda resident Bill Dryburgh.
Dryburgh is hoping Mote Marine's talked about expanison into Charlotte County will happen soon. Developers purchased land for the aquarium last week.
"Potentially 15 months from now, we could break ground," said Rob Humpel optimistically.
Humpel is working to make the world-of-water dream a reality.
"This is the one thing Punta Gorda is missing. We haven't had a downtown draw for frankly ever," stressed Humpel.
If the aquarium is built on the vacant land, it is estimated to bring in 400,000 visitors a year to the small city. That is about 25 times Punta Gorda's population.
"It's a game changer," said Charlotte County's tourism director Lorah Steiner.
Steiner suggested the aquarium will have a more than $35 million economic impact. But in order to be built, Mote will have to raise millions of dollars with everything from corporate sponsorships to private donations.
"I for one would donate something to help bring it here," said Dryburgh.
Community support like that will ultimately determine if the old parking lot becomes anything more.
"We need something that magnificent, that excitement to bring to Punta Gorda... maybe Mote Marine will do that," said Blair.
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