MOSH weighs relocating museum from its Southbank site in downtown Jacksonville

[acme54321]

Odd.  The existing facility is beyond tired though.  I think they've been in deferred maintenance mode for a while now and maybe have hit the breaking point.

[thelakelander]

Wow, didn't expect to see this.

[Charles Hunter]

Wasn't one of the "plus" points for relocating MOSH that it wouldn't affect day-to-day operations, like expanding the current site?

[jcjohnpaint]

This makes absolutely no sense. I can't understand why they would do this. It is not like the building they are in is falling down.

[jaxlongtimer]

This makes absolutely no sense. I can't understand why they would do this. It is not like the building they are in is falling down.

They are reducing staff from 30 to 6 and saying those remaining will be working toward the new museum. 

Those 6 people are going to raise money, administrate the organization, plan out a 100,000 sf building costing $100 million, oversee its construction, continue to conduct off site programs and education for 3 years, develop and implement new exhibits, and maintain an existing collection?  All, while likely working at nonprofit wages? 

I don't see it either.  One explanation I can think of is that they are running a negative P & L and are conserving resources hoping better days lie ahead in the new location. Alternatively, is there someone already in the wings to reuse the site pushing them out sooner than later?

They risk the community sidelining them if they close down for 3 years.  A big risk.  A shut down of 12 months to prepare for a move, maybe, but 3 years?

[Ken_FSU]

Daily Record: 2020 (https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2020/oct/15/mosh-relocation-could-depend-on-metropolitan-park-shipyards-swap/)

Mosh reverses course; sets sights on Northbank

Fafard said the MOSH board of trustees is in full support of the proposal. He said the plan's central appeal is it will allow MOSH to continue operations at its Southbank facility through construction.

MOSH is consulting with architects and design firms but has not made a selection for the project.

Fafard said MOSH leadership was advised that disruption from renovations could have caused the museum to close for two years.

"By moving to the Northbank, that disruption is eliminated," Fafard said. "We're going to be able to continue to provide access to the community at this location. We're going to continue to expand our education programs and work collaboratively with the local school system. We're going to be able to continue to bring in traveling exhibits to benefit the community."

Classic Jacksonville.

The MOSH has a reasonable plan in place to expand their current footprint on the Southbank with MOSH 2.0, complementing work being down at Friendship Fountain/St. Johns Park and feeding the new restaurant proposed by Related next door.

City government gets involved, and lures the MOSH to the Northbank with promises of $20 million in cash and free property, in hopes of bolstering foot traffic to an unapproved Lot J project that eventually falls apart. Related (and the DIA) is caught blindsided by the move, and the Related projects subsequently falls apart as well.

Fundraising is slower than expected, deadlines are missed, and $20 million in public funding becomes $50 million in public funding, and a 120,000 square foot museum becomes "no smaller than 75,000 sf," which is smaller than what currently exists on the Southbank.

Design deadlines are missed.

And now - after hearing for years how the museum will remain operational to local students and the community during the construction project - MOSH is closing for THREE YEARS.

And:

1. Rehoming their animals and live exhibits to other zoos (particularly shameful, IMO)
2. Failing to refund membership purchases
3. Firing 75% of their staff
4. Surrendering their existing building to the city in September 2026

There is a very real possibility that this ends with the MOSH closing and being demolished, and the new MOSH failing to materialize.

Other questions:
1. How is the 8-member Executive staff being paid for the next three years absent operating income? Let's call that $3 million in salary/benefits? Is the MOSH going to dip into donor dollars intended for the new museum to pay salaries?
2. Are you really telling me that, after five years of planning for a Northbank move, you need to take THREE YEARS OFF to dedicate your staff full-time to planning your new museum?
3. How are you going to pay to store all of the museum's collection & contents offsite, as mentioned, for three years?

This is a very, very sad disservice to the local Jacksonville community that depends on MOSH for field trips & STEM-based education at a time where we really need it here in the city.

Literally the ONLY way you could possibly justify this is if the MOSH was bleeding money in its current location.

If yes, it's probably something they should have shared with City Council before asking for $50 million and a 40-year, $1 ground lease.

Willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, but you owe the public more of a explanation if you're going to go against your word and close for years.

[copperfiend]

This seems like a really terrible idea. This is 3+ years (at minimum) that Jacksonville will be without a science museum for the children of this city. What are the odds the new one even opens in 2028?

[heights unknown]

Daily Record: 2020 (https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2020/oct/15/mosh-relocation-could-depend-on-metropolitan-park-shipyards-swap/)

Mosh reverses course; sets sights on Northbank

Fafard said the MOSH board of trustees is in full support of the proposal. He said the plan's central appeal is it will allow MOSH to continue operations at its Southbank facility through construction.

MOSH is consulting with architects and design firms but has not made a selection for the project.

Fafard said MOSH leadership was advised that disruption from renovations could have caused the museum to close for two years.

"By moving to the Northbank, that disruption is eliminated," Fafard said. "We're going to be able to continue to provide access to the community at this location. We're going to continue to expand our education programs and work collaboratively with the local school system. We're going to be able to continue to bring in traveling exhibits to benefit the community."

Classic Jacksonville.

The MOSH has a reasonable plan in place to expand their current footprint on the Southbank with MOSH 2.0, complementing work being down at Friendship Fountain/St. Johns Park and feeding the new restaurant proposed by Related next door.

City government gets involved, and lures the MOSH to the Northbank with promises of $20 million in cash and free property, in hopes of bolstering foot traffic to an unapproved Lot J project that eventually falls apart. Related (and the DIA) is caught blindsided by the move, and the Related projects subsequently falls apart as well.

Fundraising is slower than expected, deadlines are missed, and $20 million in public funding becomes $50 million in public funding, and a 120,000 square foot museum becomes "no smaller than 75,000 sf," which is smaller than what currently exists on the Southbank.

Design deadlines are missed.

And now - after hearing for years how the museum will remain operational to local students and the community during the construction project - MOSH is closing for THREE YEARS.

And:

1. Rehoming their animals and live exhibits to other zoos (particularly shameful, IMO)
2. Failing to refund membership purchases
3. Firing 75% of their staff
4. Surrendering their existing building to the city in September 2026

There is a very real possibility that this ends with the MOSH closing and being demolished, and the new MOSH failing to materialize.

Other questions:
1. How is the 8-member Executive staff being paid for the next three years absent operating income? Let's call that $3 million in salary/benefits? Is the MOSH going to dip into donor dollars intended for the new museum to pay salaries?
2. Are you really telling me that, after five years of planning for a Northbank move, you need to take THREE YEARS OFF to dedicate your staff full-time to planning your new museum?
3. How are you going to pay to store all of the museum's collection & contents offsite, as mentioned, for three years?

This is a very, very sad disservice to the local Jacksonville community that depends on MOSH for field trips & STEM-based education at a time where we really need it here in the city.

Literally the ONLY way you could possibly justify this is if the MOSH was bleeding money in its current location.

If yes, it's probably something they should have shared with City Council before asking for $50 million and a 40-year, $1 ground lease.

Willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, but you owe the public more of a explanation if you're going to go against your word and close for years.

Someone needs to ask or entertain these questions and concerns to Dr. Alistair Dove, the CEO of MOSH Jax. Oh, and not that it matters or should be taken into account, but HE is an Australian-American.

[Bativac]

This seems like a really terrible idea. This is 3+ years (at minimum) that Jacksonville will be without a science museum for the children of this city. What are the odds the new one even opens in 2028?

Zero. It sounds like the museum is done. A real shame since that place was mind-blowing when I was a kid in the 80s.

[jaxlongtimer]

Much of the problem likely stems from Curry's administration forcing MOSH to relocate rather than enhance their current location.  Imagine what nearly $100 million could do for the current spot plus maybe leaving an endowment for ongoing support.  This wasn't MOSH's plan, it was Curry's.  Like removing the Landing, another half-baked idea to appease special or his own interests, not serve the community. 

Curry's legacy is going to be one of failures to accomplish anything and leaving behind a host of problems for future mayors.  Trump's legacy is likely to be the same or worse.  Serving special and/or self-serving interests and taking a hatchet to every problem without any due diligence, carefulness, thoughtfulness, collaboration, transparency or compromise most certainly leads to these outcomes.

[jcjohnpaint]

Mind-blowing to my daughter who is three.

[heights unknown]

Mind-blowing to my daughter who is three.

She (your Daughter), understands what is going on with MOSH at 3 years old? Man...they sure grow up fast nowadays...TOO FAST.

[jcjohnpaint]

She loved the dinosaur exhibit.

[vicupstate]

It's been my impression over the years that Jax's local philanthropy for capital projects/museums, etc. has always been low, even very low compared to other cities. The TU PAC is the only exception that I can recall. Cummer seems to do ok, but nothing else comes to mind for private support of public enhancements.

[tufsu1]

Wasn't one of the "plus" points for relocating MOSH that it wouldn't affect day-to-day operations, like expanding the current site?

exactly