Museum of Science & History clears City Council hurdle for downtown Jacksonville location

The City Council has approved a land lease for the Museum of Science & History's proposed $100 million-plus new location at the city-owned Shipyards property on Jacksonville's Northbank.

An affirmative council vote was expected to kickstart fundraising for the $40 million in private funds MOSH has to raise for the project by Dec. 31. If MOSH does not meet that deadline, the city could extend the agreement or solicit other developers for the property.

The nonprofit MOSH has collected about $16 million. Many potential individual donors, foundations and government agencies have told MOSH officials that the property had to be nailed down before they would make financial commitments, CEO Bruce Fafard said.

The legislation before the council Tuesday had the backing of Mayor Lenny Curry's administration and the Downtown Investment Authority. The city has also committed $20 million and pledged to extend nearby A. Philip Randolph Boulevard and the Northbank Riverwalk and improve adjacent park land, all of which are contingent on MOSH meeting its fundraising deadline.

"For more than 80 years, MOSH has welcomed curiosity and inspired the joy of lifelong learning," CEO Bruce Fafard said Wednesday. "The new MOSH will continue that tradition on a larger scale, using modern design and technology to deliver an exceptional visitor experience. We are proud to continue our partnership with the city of Jacksonville as we prepare for the museum’s exciting next chapter."

Crucial next steps: Jacksonville City Council vote, fundraising deadline looming for MOSH

Last week three City Council committees approved the land lease. The sole dissenter was Councilwoman LeAnna Cumber, who repeated her no vote Tuesday when the full council took action. She said Jacksonville should follow the lead of Atlanta, where the almost $300 million Georgia Aquarium was built with no city funds.

"Cities can do this. We've got to stop expecting taxpayers to pay for everything," she said. "There are plenty of billionaires in this community who can invest in MOSH."

If Atlanta can raise $300 million in private funds, she said, surely Jacksonville can raise $100 million. The Georgia Aquarium, which opened in 2005, was largely funded by a $250 million gift from Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus. The rest came from corporate donations.

New MOSH: River-focused museum to create an 'experience unlike anything else in Jacksonville'

Chartered in 1941, MOSH has operated in its current location on the Southbank since 1969. The museum initially planned a huge renovation to its aging, existing facility, but ultimately decided a new building would be a better option.

Multiple attempts have been made over the last decade to develop the Shipyards, which gets its name from its past use as a working waterfront. The new museum will occupy the east side of the Shipyards site, at the end of A. Philip Randolph Boulevard.

The 2.5-acre MOSH site plan features a 130,000-square-foot new building, compared to 77,000 at the current museum where operations have outgrown the space. The new museum is expected to welcome about 469,000 annual visitors, which is a 168% increase over pre-pandemic attendance numbers. and triple tourism attendance, according to MOSH officials.

Also, the project is to create 78 new jobs, contributing $2.3 million in new salaries and wages to the local economy, they said.

"Museums are the mark of a sophisticated community," MOSH board chairman Christian Harden said. "We are so thankful for the unwavering support from our public officials and outpouring of support from our community. Hundreds of Northeast Florida residents sent letters of support to the City Council to elevate our vision for MOSH’s future — reinforcing the widespread interest in bringing this incredible project to reality."

The conceptual exhibit plan uses aspects of the St. Johns River as a navigation guide for visitors, including a two-story water feature representing the 27-foot drop from the St. Johns' headwaters in Indian River County to where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean near Jacksonville.

Museum officials anticipate a groundbreaking in 2024, with an 18-month construction timeline. MOSH will remain open at its current location throughout construction. The new building is expected to open by the end of 2026 or early 2027.

For more information or to donate, go to themosh.org/mosh-genesis or email MOSHGenesis@themosh.org.

bcravey@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4109

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Shipyards gets Jacksonville council OK for $100 million MOSH building