MOSH weighs relocating museum from its Southbank site in downtown Jacksonville

[jaxlongtimer]

^ Disappointed to see Joe Carlucci ruling out expansion of the park. 

I have no problem with a restaurant with a river view taking up less than half of the property but another hotel?  If we don't have things to do and sites to see, who is going to fill more hotel rooms?  Aren't hotels planned for the School Board site, Baptist, the former District?  Plus, all the ones on the Southbank already built?  Does anyone have a market study for hotel room demand analysis?

What is he thinking multiuse is?  Do his preferences override input from others? 

What's wrong with just expanding the park?  I would think Related would love to have significant green space for its residents to enjoy as a taxpayer paid amenity.  Not to mention attracting more tourists to fill existing hotels.

Agree with Ken on the foolishness of no masterplan.  Just throw money at developers for whatever they want.  They build and move on while we citizens have to live for decades with what they leave behind.  So we should have more say and benefits.

[acme54321]

I'd really like to see something there with some street facing retail or pedestrain level activation.  Same goes for that janky surface parking lot on the other side of Main.

[Papa33]

I'd really like to see something there with some street facing retail or pedestrain level activation.  Same goes for that janky surface parking lot on the other side of Main.

Whatever they want to put on the MOSH site should be put on this surface lot.  Talk about "shovel ready".  i know the property is probably privately owned, but it can be bought.

[Charles Hunter]

I'd really like to see something there with some street facing retail or pedestrain level activation.  Same goes for that janky surface parking lot on the other side of Main.

Whatever they want to put on the MOSH site should be put on this surface lot.  Talk about "shovel ready".  i know the property is probably privately owned, but it can be bought.

According to the Property Appraiser's map, the /janky surface parking lot' is part of the parcel with Riverplace (nee Gulf Life) Tower. The hotel is a separate parcel.

[Jankelope]

https://jaxtoday.org/2026/01/28/jax-council-extends-mosh-construction/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPoYx5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFOQWMybmNXSzByTnJJb1M5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnx4_LM3uimf1DZODmlRGWCp2d_oFaxRCbFrOX3zaKhNAiax6evMUNHJfn15_aem_ZdFIW0bwjSR-Dmb5mhflcQ

Best case we are looking at Beginning of 2029 for opening? What a mess.

[copperfiend]

A city of over 1 million people and there won't be a science museum in town for at least 3-4 years.

What a disservice the city is doing to the children of Jacksonville.

And we have little reason to believe a 2029 opening will even happen. What a disaster.

[thelakelander]

Its probably more likely to never open then  open in 2029. It was shortsighted to close the existing museum and the same applies to the rush to demolish it. Anything crazy happens and we easily end up with nothing.

[JaGoaT]

A city of over 1 million people and there won't be a science museum in town for at least 3-4 years.

What a disservice the city is doing to the children of Jacksonville.

And we have little reason to believe a 2029 opening will even happen. What a disaster.

AND THEY TOOK ADVENTURE LANDING FROM US.
Slim options for family fun around town.

[Ken_FSU]

1. MOSH announces it will stay in Southbank museum until the new Northbank property opens.
2. On very short notice, MOSH suddenly decides to abandon the Southbank museum and close for years; staff is all fired; organization has been completely dark on social media for 7 months and counting
3. The MOSH CEO, brought in oversee the launch of the new Northbank museum, resigns out of the blue
4. On very short notice, the City suddenly decides to demolish the Southbank museum, citing never-before-noted concerns
5. Decision is made for a speedy RFP, with no public input

All sounds very much on the up-and-up.

In a less apathetic city, we'd have answers.

[Charles Hunter]

If I may share Jankalope's posts from the Haskell Building discussion

I feel like there's no way the building isn't eventually turned into more housing of some kind. It would be cool to see if become a museum of some kind...

Wait a minute...don't we need a new building for our Science Museum?

Weirdly, I was kidding, but the Haskell old HQ is 120,000 square feet (basically perfect for MOSH, and more square feet than the current new building proposal). And has parking garage etc.

I mean it's probably not perfect, but what could you build if you put the current $90 million raised purely into exhibits and adapting the building? hmm

[thelakelander]

^It would make more logic to stay where they are and put money into a renovation similar to what was originally planned before the Shipyards debacle.

[heights unknown]

^It would make more logic to stay where they are and put money into a renovation similar to what was originally planned before the Shipyards debacle.

Yeah; agree. At least we would still have a Museum.

[FlaBoy]

Can we just ask the Florida Natural History Museum to take over since it is run and operated by the University of Florida? As stated, MOSH is now a mess. Also, chance at state funding if Florida Natural History Museum were to operate. They are doing a renovation in Gainesville currently.

[Charles Hunter]

If things go keflooey, could the Jacksonville Historical Society (https://jaxhistory.org/) be gifted the 'historic' exhibits from the Museum of Science and History? Their new History Center, on Palmetto Street, is less than a third of a mile (walking distance) from the proposed MOSH site.

[fsu813]

If things go keflooey, could the Jacksonville Historical Society (https://jaxhistory.org/) be gifted the 'historic' exhibits from the Museum of Science and History? Their new History Center, on Palmetto Street, is less than a third of a mile (walking distance) from the proposed MOSH site.

It's pretty full already. Perhaps very small items/docs only.