The Jacksonville City Council green-lighted the Museum of Science & History’s prospective move to the Downtown Northbank, approving an amended agreement March 25 to allow for construction of the new facility.
On a 17-0 vote, with Council members Reggie Gaffney Jr. and Jimmy Peluso not present, Council granted final approval to the revised agreement between MOSH, the city and the Downtown Investment Authority calling for the city to own the building and lease it to the museum over a 40-year term at $1 per year.
Under the agreement, MOSH will construct the building and design a surrounding park, with the city providing $880,000 toward the park’s design.
The city will build the park, provide roadway and utility work, and construct a length of the Riverwalk on the property as part of $20 million in improvements already funded in the city’s Capital Improvement Plan.
The city has committed an additional $50 million plus the funding for design, and MOSH has raised $50 million in private donations.
MOSH, which has operated out of its Southbank location at 1025 Museum Circle since 1969, says that building is structurally sound but needs extensive updates of its plumbing, wiring and mechanical workings. The museum aims to leave it to become part of a district that includes the USS Orleck floating Naval museum and the Jacksonville Fire Museum.
The new site is part of 8.68 acres on the west bank of Hogans Creek where it meets the St. Johns River, south of VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena and VyStar Ballpark.
Council’s approval came on Ordinance 2025-0103, which contains the revised agreement.
It went to the full Council with 20 new amendments, including requirements for Council approval of exterior naming rights on the building and for MOSH to demonstrate by February 2026 that it has the funding to launch and substantially complete the construction.
During committee meetings, Council members raised concerns about potential cost overruns and risks for the city if MOSH failed to complete the building or went out of business and had to withdraw from the long-term lease.
Member Ron Salem admonished the museum not to come back to the city for funding to cover any increased costs in the building’s design and construction, saying MOSH instead should either scale down its plans or seek more private funding in that event.