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Port Huron Scraps Plans For $28M Aquarium Project

PORT HURON (WWJ/AP) - Port Huron officials say they're scrapping plans for a $28 million aquarium development in the city -- for now.

The Times Herald reports that City Manager Bruce Brown says the city can't afford to build an aquarium. Brown says it would cost about $8 million for the aquarium itself and an additional $20 million for the building.

In 2010, the city approved paying New Zealand-based Marinescape Ecoaquariums $100,000 to study the feasibility of opening an aquarium at the site of the former YMCA building at Beers and Fort streets. The City Council also approved buying property that could have been used for the project -- $200,000 for the building and another $230,000 to raze the facility.

Councilman Brian Moeller told the Herald that the $530,000 spent was all money wasted.

Officials say the land now could be used for another development.

TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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