MOSH weighs relocating museum from its Southbank site in downtown Jacksonville

[marcuscnelson]

Surprise lifeline today. $10 million from CSX.

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/entertainment/arts/2024/03/26/jacksonville-mosh-gets-10-million-csx-gift-new-museum/73093666007/

[thelakelander]

Kudos to CSX. How much more do they need to raise now?

[marcuscnelson]

^For context, looking back at CityLife's post:

At yesterday's DIA meeting, a Resolution was put forward that gives MOSH additional time to meet necessary fundraising goals and puts them on the clock for design and permitting of the project. The Resolution says MOSH has been diligently pursuing fundraising, but has been delayed in the design of the museum building itself. The original agreement (dated May 22, 2023) says that MOSH has to raise $40 million (excluding City contributions) for a total capital investment of $85 million. The $40 million was supposed to be raised by December, 2023.

The updated agreement says that MOSH has to have secured $30 million by February 29, 2024, $35 million by April 30, 2024, and $40 million by June 30, 2024. It says that failure to secure these amounts will not enable MOSH to commence construction by December 21, 2025 and will result in termination of the agreement. It says MOSH has to have commenced design of the Museum Project by June 30, 2024; completed Schematic Design and submitted plans by October 31, 2024; completed Design Development Phase and submitted plans to the City by March 31, 2025; completed 100% of construction drawings, and submitted all construction permits by September 30, 2025; commencement of construction by December 21, 2025; and completion by July 31, 2028.

From what I can deduce/speculate, MOSH has $30 million (excluding city contributions) already secured, hence the February 29, 2024 deadline for that amount; but the DIA wants to force fundraising of the remaining $10 million to happen quickly. I'm also guessing that the DIA thinks that the total capital cost of $85 million is possibly no longer realistic and wants to speed up the design process to get an answer on that question. Will be interesting to see what happens over the next 6 months on this one.

If they were at ~$30 million in February, got $5 million from the state and $1.6 million from the Davis Family, CSX should put them at $46.6 million, which in theory satisfies the DIA's monetary requirements, but they still need to deal with design and then close the remaining financial gap to actually build the museum. Assuming costs are at $85 million (not sure how that could still be true), and including the city's $20 million (not including ancillary infrastructure investment) then that means they need to raise another $20 million or so.

[Charles Hunter]

^ When I win the $1.13Bn MegaMillions and/or the $0.865Bn PowerBall - I'll stroke a check.

[jaxlongtimer]

^For context, looking back at CityLife's post:

At yesterday's DIA meeting, a Resolution was put forward that gives MOSH additional time to meet necessary fundraising goals and puts them on the clock for design and permitting of the project. The Resolution says MOSH has been diligently pursuing fundraising, but has been delayed in the design of the museum building itself. The original agreement (dated May 22, 2023) says that MOSH has to raise $40 million (excluding City contributions) for a total capital investment of $85 million. The $40 million was supposed to be raised by December, 2023.

The updated agreement says that MOSH has to have secured $30 million by February 29, 2024, $35 million by April 30, 2024, and $40 million by June 30, 2024. It says that failure to secure these amounts will not enable MOSH to commence construction by December 21, 2025 and will result in termination of the agreement. It says MOSH has to have commenced design of the Museum Project by June 30, 2024; completed Schematic Design and submitted plans by October 31, 2024; completed Design Development Phase and submitted plans to the City by March 31, 2025; completed 100% of construction drawings, and submitted all construction permits by September 30, 2025; commencement of construction by December 21, 2025; and completion by July 31, 2028.

From what I can deduce/speculate, MOSH has $30 million (excluding city contributions) already secured, hence the February 29, 2024 deadline for that amount; but the DIA wants to force fundraising of the remaining $10 million to happen quickly. I'm also guessing that the DIA thinks that the total capital cost of $85 million is possibly no longer realistic and wants to speed up the design process to get an answer on that question. Will be interesting to see what happens over the next 6 months on this one.

If they were at ~$30 million in February, got $5 million from the state and $1.6 million from the Davis Family, CSX should put them at $46.6 million, which in theory satisfies the DIA's monetary requirements, but they still need to deal with design and then close the remaining financial gap to actually build the museum. Assuming costs are at $85 million (not sure how that could still be true), and including the city's $20 million (not including ancillary infrastructure investment) then that means they need to raise another $20 million or so.

It might be possible for them to finance the last $20 million and pay it back with higher admission prices one would expect with a new and expanded facility plus increased other operating revenues such as renting out the facility for events (people are always looking for unique venues to party and this should fit that bill, especially adding the river frontage) and/or annual fundraising income.

[Steve]

MOSH confirmed today that they reached their $40M Goal!

[Jason]

^ Hot Damn!!!  That's some great news Steve

[Ken_FSU]

Per News4Jax, the mayor's budget will have $50 million allocated for MOSH.

Pretty big news, if true.

https://www.news4jax.com/news/politics/2024/07/15/community-benefits-agreement-major-factor-as-mayor-deegan-presents-budget-to-city-council/

[thelakelander]

Cool. Let's get some of this long delayed stuff under construction. DT is going to be a dead construction zone for a few years but some big excitement could be within reach if many of these projects are completed around the same time.

[Charles Hunter]

Until Rory Diamond and the other hard-right Republicans get out their budget-cutting chainsaws. Diamond has already been quoted as saying he is voting against the budget.

[copperfiend]

He'll bother to show up for that.

[Ken_FSU]

Until Rory Diamond and the other hard-right Republicans get out their budget-cutting chainsaws. Diamond has already been quoted as saying he is voting against the budget.

Voting against anything would require him to show up for a City Council meeting.

Cool. Let's get some of this long delayed stuff under construction. DT is going to be a dead construction zone for a few years but some big excitement could be within reach if many of these projects are completed around the same time.

100% agree.

As previously stated, I'd love to work out the Sports & Entertainment district ASAP as well.

If we could get:

1) The new stadium (funded)
2) MOSH 2.0 (funded, if the budget passes)
3) Met Park (partially funded)
4) Shipyards West (funded)
5) The Flex Field event space (funded)
6) Sports & Entertainment District (not yet funded)
7) The Four Seasons (funded)
Jags office tower (funded)

All completed and opened in the same general timeframe, that would truly be a pretty insane win.

[thelakelander]

^Add APR being visibly revamped (with some initial COJ CBA funding), the Armada field, 121 Financial Ballpark improvements and the Doro to this list!

[Charles Hunter]

This doesn't sound good.

Jacksonville's Museum of Science & History plans to close its 61-year-old facility on the city's Southbank by Sept. 1 and remain shut until a new museum opens on the Northbank in possibly three years.

Museum officials say the closure will allow staff to prepare for the opening of the new museum on 2.5 acres of the Shipyards along East Bay Street. A groundbreaking is expected in 2026.

About 20% of the museum's 30-member team will remain on staff to handle exhibit design and continue fundraising, MOSH CEO Alistair Dove said Friday. Some will be needed for the transition and others to help decommission the current building, he said.

https://jaxtoday.org/2025/05/02/mosh-to-close-for-years-until-new-northbank-museum-opens/

[Lunican]

This trend of closing kid related activities for 3 or more years is like a lifetime for children.