aquarium

County lawmakers this week divorced themselves from approving additional public money for the controversial project, leaving the county executive to raise the rest.

Ryan McMahon and the Friends of the Onondaga County Aquarium will now accept and distribute donations for the controversial project in Syracuse's Inner Harbor.

They're scheduled to vote on a local law Tuesday that would put the county executive in charge of raising the additional $15 million dollars needed to complete the aquarium in the Inner Harbor.

The $11 million request was added to Tuesday's agenda at the last minute, skipping the committee vetting process. But the item was abruptly removed before the vote.

Site construction is underway in the Inner Harbor on the project. McMahon says he expects naming rights to cover any costs surpassing the county's $85 million commitment.

Onondaga County lawmakers approved the purchase of the Inner Harbor property last month by a narrow 9 to 8 vote. But questions remain about contaminants.

Onondaga County legislators approve land purchase for a controversial aquarium in Syracuse’s Inner Harbor.

The 4.7 acre parcel on Syracuse's Inner Harbor has been the potential site of developments dating back to 2003.

He delivered his fifth address Wednesday evening from Onondaga Community College.

The final vote was 9 to 8, with one democrat joining eight republicans in favor of spending $85 million in taxpayer dollars on the project.