With the Downtown Investment Authority's approval Wednesday, the city has shown its unanimous support in bringing the USS Adams to the Northbank.
Now, the group that for years has sought to make the museum a reality for Jacksonville will need help elsewhere.
"Financial stability is the last hurdle," said attorney Dan Bean, president of the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association.
The group has raised about $1.5 million of the $3.4 million it needs to make ship and berth repairs along the Shipyards property. The money raised has come in the form of $100,000 commitments from 15 different sources.
Bean said a study commissioned by the group indicates the ship would attract about 150,000 people a year, but he believes it would exceed 200,000. Of those people, more than half would be from outside the Jacksonville area, he said.
The annual budget, which will include ongoing maintenance, is estimated to be about $1.4 million, which would be covered by gate revenue.
Part of that also will be placed into escrow, which would cover the ship's towing away from the site should the venture not be successful or if the city determines other plans for the site.
Original plans called for the ship to be berthed along the Southbank, but construction of a pier in compliance with the Navy would have cost about $6 million.
The fundraising efforts, Bean said, will stabilize the museum as a tourist attraction. He imagines it as a place to have special events, weddings, a spot where Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts spend the night, even inoculations in the sick bay. In time, one idea could be to convert a portion to a bed-and-breakfast.
"It is not going to be a static display," Bean said.
Ideas for developing the Shipyards property have been floated for years, with Jacksonville Jaguars President Mark Lamping saying Monday that its continued vacancy affects the team's risk for instability. He told a civic group that if no other developer would step up, team owner Shad Khan can "step in and do it."
Bean said he thinks the ship can complement any development on the property and could help improve game day experience by bringing more people Downtown, even decorating the ship in team colors.
But, Bean said he knew the ship is only part of the solution.
"Restaurants, a theater … we need to have more than the ship to get people to come Downtown," he said.
The authority in charge of Downtown's redevelopment was the last portion of city support the volunteer group needed to show the Navy its unwavering commitment. That approval also should help with fundraising, Bean said.
"It helps show the citizens of Jacksonville that the ship is a reality and it is tangible now," Bean said. "It is not throwing away money. It is going to be here."
Mike Saylor, the authority liaison to the USS Adams group, said he has met with the members several times and has been impressed.
"These guys have not stopped working since the time I first heard about them," he said. "Their enthusiasm is contagious but they've been able to deliver."
Sayor says said the group has a good chance of raising the remaining $1.9 million given the heavy military presence in the area and the support it has received so far.
He also said building in funding to tow the ship should it not be deemed a success was an aspect that showed organization others don't have. "No one else does that," he said.
Oliver Barakat, the authority's board chair, said he loves the project and hopes the group's vision aligns with whatever project ends up coming to the riverfront site.
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USS Adams through the years
1960: Commissioned in Boston
1961: First overseas deployment to Northern Europe
1962: First active duty mission was at Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Blockade
1969: Moved to Mayport Naval Station from Charleston, S.C.
1984: Came back to Mayport after being overhauled in Philadelphia
1990: Decommissioned from Mayport and retired to Philadelphia