Discovery Place Nature project in question after commissioners approve half of funding request

The future of Discovery Place Nature’s ambitious renovation project is in question after county commissioners rejected the museum’s request of an extra $20 million. The county is going to provide an extra $10 million and the museum isn’t sure where the other $10 million will come from.

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At times, the meeting was jarring. Mecklenburg County commissioners were surprised and angered to find themselves in between “a rock and a hard place,” as Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell stated. Discovery Place officials told Mecklenburg County leaders they needed an answer Tuesday night because the bids expire on Friday.

“This ask, to me, is one of the most offensive items that have ever been before me,” District 1 Rep. Elaine Powell said. “When it comes to county dollars and nonprofits, we cannot have champagne wishes and caviar dreams.”

Discovery Place Nature claims construction-cost overruns are to blame for the request of an extra $20 million.

In 2017, county commissioners promised $16 million to the project. County Manager Dena Diorio said she repeatedly told Discovery Place Nature that $16 million “is the cap” for Mecklenburg County funding. She pointedly told commissioners she did not recommend they fund the additional $20 million. She said Commissioner Laura Meier is the reason why the topic was added to the agenda. The county owns the building, which sits next to Freedom Park.

“For us to be responsible for the full $20 million is unfair,” Diorio said.

She also told leaders that she has no idea where the extra money will come from. She said $10 million would be an easier request. That led commissioners to a compromise, which was an extra $10 million for the museum. The Discovery Place will have to find the other $10 million. Discovery Place board member Rich Campbell says corporations aren’t interested in donating.

“Here’s the ugly truth, whether it is corporations or donors: Funding a county-owned building is almost impossible to raise money for,” he said.

This leaves the project’s future in question.

“We have some work to do to figure it out,” Campbell said. “I can’t sit here today and say where the money will come from.”

Even the extra $10 million will be a challenge for Mecklenburg County. Diorio says staff will try to find it somewhere and bring it back to commissioners in the coming weeks.

Mecklenburg County commissioners voted, 8-1, on the extra $10 million. Elaine Powell voted no. Channel 9 has reached out to Discovery Place for comment.

Statement from Discovery Place President & CEO Catherine Wilson Horne:

“The new Discovery Place Nature has always been a public-private partnership since it was approved by the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners in 2017, and fundraising has been an integral part of this project since its inception. We are grateful for the additional funding the county has approved to help offset escalated construction costs of the county-owned building, and we will provide updates once we have had time to review how this will impact the scope.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to revitalize a Charlotte institution beloved by generations, and we remain committed to welcoming a new nature haven and science education center to our growing population with exhibits and programming for all ages—children, youth, and adults.”

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