Gulfport hires aquarium designer, gets casino proposals

Published 5:00 pm Thursday, October 1, 2015

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) â The Gulfport Redevelopment Commission has chosen an architect for the planned Mississippi Aquarium and says it has received three proposals to develop casinos near the city’s harbor.

The commission announced Wednesday that it had chosen a partnership of Mississippi-based Eley Guild Hardy and PGAV of St. Louis. PGAV has helped design a number of aquariums and tourist attractions. Eley Guild Hardy helped design parts of Gulfport’s small craft harbor, which adjoins the aquarium site.

The Sun Herald (http://bit.ly/1Wz3buJ) reports commission attorney Steve Hendrix says all three casino proposals are confidential and declines to release details.

Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes has said the aquarium will cost $90 million to $120 million, with $24.5 million in bonds approved by the state Legislature. The city has spent $14 million to buy land.