Copyright 2000 Houston Chronicle

Landry's Seafood Restaurants is bringing a little piece of the Kemah Boardwalk to the banks of Buffalo Bayou.

The company that brought the boardwalk to Kemah said Tuesday it will redevelop two city facilities, creating a $21 million aquatic-themed entertainment center along the Buffalo Bayou.

The Houston-based company will build a 200,000-gallon aquarium, a seafood restaurant, a ballroom, dancing fountains, a 90-foot Ferris wheel and a train that will circle the five-acre area.

Landry's was the winning bid among five businesses and non-profit groups for a long-term lease on the city's Fire Station No. 1 and the neighboring Central Waterworks plant at 440 Bagby behind the Wortham Theater Center.

Tilman Fertitta, president and chief executive officer of Landry's, said the downtown development will surpass the firm's 80,000-gallon Aquarium restaurant in Kemah.

"I think this is going to be the most spectacular thing we've ever done. This is nothing like Kemah," he said. "This is on a huge magnitude."

Landry's will begin work on the facility in early 2001, once the city turns the property over. Fertitta said it will take about 15 months to construct the center.

The facility, which will be able to handle between 2,000 and 3,000 people, will leave the fire station building intact, adding a balcony overlooking the bayou.

The aquarium exhibits, which will be throughout the building, will total 500,000 gallons and include fish from the Gulf Coast, Caribbean and Hawaii.

The first floor will house the Aquarium Cafe, a lounge and a gift shop. The Aquarium restaurant will be on the second floor with the 200,000-gallon tank at the center. The 500-seat ballroom will be on the third floor.

Preliminary plans for the Central Waterworks building are to convert it into a sharks-only tank.

The aquariums, 10-minute train ride and Ferris wheel are designed to attract families downtown, city officials said.

Proposals for a downtown aquarium, which have been a catalyst for revitalization in other cities, have been coming before the City Council since 1992.

The Aquarium of Americas in New Orleans and the Corpus Christi aquarium have been popular attractions.

"It will focus on children and family and direct attention to the bayou," said Jordy Tollett, director of the city's convention and entertainment facilities department. "This is a natural draw."

The new facility will also enable the city to better compete for conventions, Tollett added.

Others who have been spearheading the city's drive to bring life to downtown said aquariums are a proven draw.

"What's fun about this project is it's fun," said Bob Eury, head of the Houston Downtown Management District.

Mayor Lee Brown called the project "the newest jewel in the crown of downtown redevelopment of Houston."

"With thousands of people walking in and out of here, it really generates enthusiasm for the area," Brown said.

The city issued a request for proposals to redevelop the fire station a year ago. It received five proposals, including suggestions to create a Museum of American Music History, a residential building with retail stores and restaurants in the ground level, an aquarium proposed by a non-profit group and an entertainment venue with restaurants.

Tollett said the Landry's complex will complement Enron Field, the Theater District and Bayou Place.

The Bayou Place entertainment center has attracted more than 2.5 million visitors since it was opened in 1997. Bayou Place, which includes the Aerial Theater, Hard Rock Cafe, Harlon's Bayou Blues barbecue, Slick Willie's family pool hall and Sake Lounge, is two blocks from the Landry's site.

Continued downtown development will include the renovation of Jones Plaza and a plan to unify the the Theater District, Brown said.

A Houston Fire Department survey conducted in 1992 determined that the downtown area would be better served if the station were relocated.

The Central Waterworks property, which dates to 1879, has been courted by developers for years. Baltimore, Seattle and Boston have all revitalized old utility plants into office buildings or retail centers.