In recent months ol' Fish Man has been reading of a lot of things that local leaders say are needed in downtown Greensboro if Downtown and the rest of Greensboro is to grow and prosper. The following are some of the things they've mentioned:
A downtown university campus.
More downtown residents. Of course, to get more downtown residents you also need more downtown jobs.
Airport development.
Tourism.
Shoppers.
Parking.
Now think for a second, what one thing can help to bring all those things to Downtown Greensboro? If you guessed a performing arts center you're wrong but if you guessed a world class aquarium that's open from early in the morning until late at night, 7 days a week, 365 Days a year then you're smarter than the average fish.
Aquariums are designed to be places to teach and learn. We wouldn't even think about building an aquarium without inviting Greensboro's colleges, universities and public schools to be a part of the process.
Aquariums bring real jobs paying far more than most jobs.
A downtown aquarium would give people a reason to use Piedmont Triad International Airport more often.
How does 3 Million visitors a year sound for tourism? GPAC is predicting just 300 thousand. That's 10 times the economic impact or more.
You think at least some of those visitors won't shop?
You do understand that we're planning to include a parking garage, right? We can make it big enough to park a few extra cars. And with the proposed monorail or shuttle we can almost guarantee more shopping and dining at Downtown restaurants.
All the things a performing arts center has fallen short on can be provided by a Downtown Greensboro Aquarium if Greensboro wants to build it. The question is: does Greensboro want to build it?
A downtown university campus.
More downtown residents. Of course, to get more downtown residents you also need more downtown jobs.
Airport development.
Tourism.
Shoppers.
Parking.
Now think for a second, what one thing can help to bring all those things to Downtown Greensboro? If you guessed a performing arts center you're wrong but if you guessed a world class aquarium that's open from early in the morning until late at night, 7 days a week, 365 Days a year then you're smarter than the average fish.
Aquariums are designed to be places to teach and learn. We wouldn't even think about building an aquarium without inviting Greensboro's colleges, universities and public schools to be a part of the process.
Aquariums bring real jobs paying far more than most jobs.
A downtown aquarium would give people a reason to use Piedmont Triad International Airport more often.
How does 3 Million visitors a year sound for tourism? GPAC is predicting just 300 thousand. That's 10 times the economic impact or more.
You think at least some of those visitors won't shop?
You do understand that we're planning to include a parking garage, right? We can make it big enough to park a few extra cars. And with the proposed monorail or shuttle we can almost guarantee more shopping and dining at Downtown restaurants.
All the things a performing arts center has fallen short on can be provided by a Downtown Greensboro Aquarium if Greensboro wants to build it. The question is: does Greensboro want to build it?
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