DaVinci Science Center Executive Director Lin Erickson updated Northampton County Council June 1 on a 170,000 square-foot facility she hopes to build in Easton. It includes a science center, a 500,000 gallon aquarium with large view panes, an Aquarium Restaurant and with seating for 500, an immersion theater, a creativity studio or “Fab lab,” classrooms and offices. It is proposed at the Days Inn property on Third Street. That property is located in the floodplain.

This is a $130 million project. Northampton County has already spent $50,000 in hotel tax grant money for a feasibility study. But that’s nothing compared to a $30 million pledge made by Easton. That city has also already agreed to purchase Days Inn, with closing scheduled in December.

This project could face some competition. According to WNEP-16, Ripley’s Aquarium was in talks with Tobyhanna officials last year to build its fourth aquarium near the Kalahari resort. Erickson never disclosed this possibility to council in previous meetings, which bothered members Hayden Phillips and Bob Werner.

Now she says she conducted a study of markets that have aquariums in close proximity. “In all instances, the multiple aquariums co-existed, and they were very successful,” she told council. She said they were complementary, and offered distinct experiences. She cited San Francisco as one example. She indicated that the experience in Easton would be completely different than a Ripley aquarium.

She did say that the DaVinci aquarium would have sharks.

She also said a DaVinci Science Center in Easton would have a direct economic benefit to the county in the form of increased hotel and real estate taxes. She projects hotel tax revenue will increase $3.9 million over 10 years, and real estate tax revenue would go up $53 million over that same period.

Given that Northampton County’s total real estate tax revenue is only about $100 million per year, that may be a suspiciously large sum.

Erickson also said there will be 200 permanent jobs at the site, as well as 650 union jobs during construction.

Right now, Erickson is having trouble raising the $1.2 million needed for a real feasibility study. She said she has $425,000 in secured gifts and pledges and is in negotiation for an additional $400,000. “We are delightfully pleased with the funding opportunities so far,” she said.

Ron Littlefield, former mayor of Chattanooga, Tenn., addressed council by phone. He said his city was once designated by no less a person than Walter Cronkite as the dirtiest city in America. Its aquarium is one of the reasons that city turned around. He was unable to tell Council President John Cusick how much money Chattanooga spent on the project. He did say that hotel taxes paid for the project.

Easton Mayor Sal Panto, who previously was promoting a High School Hall of Fame in downtown Easton, is now behind the DaVinci Center. He said he is, “very, very pleased by what we’ve seen over the last six months. A lot of studies are being done. It is amazing. A lot of big, large corporations are really interested in this project.”

Panto told Matt Dietz that the city has already spent $6 million on this project, and intends to borrow $24 million through a bond issue, paid by the amusement tax on 400,000 visitors per year and income taxes paid by 200 permanent workers. Panto pointed to Easton’s high bond rating as proof that this plan is fiscally responsible.

Peg Ferraro called the project exciting. She said, “DaVinci has such a history. They have a track record.”