JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Museum of Science and History is one step closer to its new home at Lot X at The Shipyards.
The Downtown Investment Authority gave MOSH the green light to move from the Southbank to Lot X on the Northbank.
”We have school groups that come to us almost every single day, so having the ability to have our educators incorporate the ecology that’s there really has tremendous potential for us,” MOSH CEO Bruce Fafard told Action News Jax after the DIA meeting.
Fafard adds that coming to Lot X would allow MOSH to more than double its visitors annually, bringing in over 500,000 people.
Fafard says Lot X is the perfect spot, with Hogan’s Creek on one side and the St. Johns River on the other.
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But not everyone thinks moving MOSH is a good idea. Cliff Miller thinks MOSH’s current spot on the Southbank is prime location.
”I’d really like to see this DIA and the city stay in this central core area,” Miller said.
The project is estimated to cost around $80 million, with around $25 million in private funding. Project leaders tell Action News Jax they’re looking at other money sources through city, state, and federal funds as well.
Miller and Fafard both agree MOSH is great for the city of Jacksonville.