Will it sink or swim?
No, Virginia, the Clyde Fant Parkway in front of the Barnwell Center is NOT paved with gold yet, but it may be if all the promises of the Shreveport Aquarium promoters come true. The Shreveport Council has approved a proposal to convert the Barnwell into an aquarium which according to a press release will open “in early summer 2017.”
The Barnwell, officially titled the Barnwell Memorial Garden and Art Center, has been closed since 2012. In 2011 Shreveport voters passed a $1.5 million bond proposition for repairs, asbestos removal and ADA compliance to the Center. Then-Mayor Cedric Glover closed the building, and it has been shuttered since then. Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler said that the city began working on the $4.3 million project a year ago and that city staffers partnered with the Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program (EAP), which is a public-private partnership between the Biomedical Foundation, the city and the Caddo Commission, to bring the project to a starting point.
The 15-year lease with the Planet Aqua group requires monthly payments of one hundred dollars ($100) and for the Planet Aqua group to pay all utilities and operating costs during the lease, which can be rolled over for another 15 years. Planet Aqua is required to invest a minimum of a $2.5 million to build out the necessary improvements for the aquarium within the first 24 months of the lease.
This will the first Planet Aqua Group aquarium, and Shreveport will serve as the home office and headquarters for this group, which promises 45 new full-time and part-time jobs. Planet Aqua touts that over 3,000 animals, ranging from snails to sharks representing over 270 species of fish and invertebrates will be exhibited, and that the Shreveport Aquarium will follow, if not exceed, the standards set by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for obtaining, transporting and holding animals.
The aquarium will not be just a large fish tank; it is to feature brightly colored coral reefs, dark ocean caves and tropical lagoons. The aquarium’s Web site says that visitors will be able to touch sea stars, sea urchins, shrimp, sting rays, sharks and sea jellies. Additionally, visitors will learn how these animals adapt and survive in their environments. Tickets will be $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and $8 for children between 3 and 12.
The cherry on top is the “commitment” of the Planet Aqua group to have the aquarium LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, which means it will be one of the “greenest” buildings in the state. To qualify, the aquarium must have renewable energy, high-efficiency equipment, water recycling and an innovative design that reflects high standards of conservation; to say the least, it’s an expensive endeavor to get the LEED certification.
Another question is the economic feasibility of the project. The Planet Aqua group is a “for profit” entity, unlike Sci-Port, The Strand, Robinson Film Center and many other local entertainment/educational/tourist venues, which are non-profit organizations. Thus, private grants will be hard to come by – and the same with donations, which will not be tax-deductible. Planet Aqua, which reportedly has a $2.5 million Small Business Association loan lined up with a local bank, says that the operating income will be sufficient, and no additional public operating funds will be needed.
Parking is almost always an issue on the riverfront, and the new aquarium must deal with this – whether the issue is real or just perceived. Currently, there is a small parking lot on the north side that has been basically given over to the Eldorado Casino; these will be reclaimed, and modifications to the entrance can also provide additional spaces. The Eldorado parking garage generally has spaces, and there are plans (but no funding) to add one or two levels to the existing lot across from the Barnwell on the corner of Milam and Clyde Fant.
The projected opening date of July/August of next summer, in less than 10 months, is considered to be a real reach. Obviously, the building build-out, which will involve substantial interior renovation and the installation of sophisticated equipment and machinery to house and maintain the inventory of water critters, will be protracted. Just the time to move in the critters and get everything up and running will take more than a weekend.
Lastly, funding to obtain the promised LEED certification apparently is not in place. At the Council meeting, the aquarium organizer indicated that it would take “partnerships” and local support to pay for the extensive LEED requirements. Whether local investors or businesses will chip in to make the Barnwell the first LEED building in Shreveport is an open question – especially since the Planet Aqua group will not have an IRS non-profit status.
Once open, the planned aquarium will certainly be a welcome addition to the riverfront, and will be a quality-of-life asset for area residents and tourists alike. Hopefully, Planet Aqua can deliver on their promises to the Shreveport City Council – which were swallowed hook, line and sinker. With the recent revelation of Shreveport’s water billing issues and the upcoming budget challenges, Shreveport citizens have good reason to question the actions of the Tyler administration; hopefully, the new aquarium will open as advertised.
John E. Settle Jr. is an attorney who has practiced in Shreveport- Bossier since 1977. His columns have appeared in local publications for more than 15 years. He can be reached at 742-5513 or John@settlelawfirm.com.
