Weeks after Jacksonville City Council rejected a request by the Museum of Science and History to reduce parking on the site of its proposed facility on the Downtown Northbank, the Downtown Investment Authority board voted March 18 to give MOSH more time to design and build the project.
The DIA board voted 6-0 in favor of providing MOSH a six-month extension to complete the design of the new museum, which is planned on 8.68 acres of riverfront land south of VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena and VyStar Ballpark. Board members Carrie Bailey, Cameron Hooper and Trevor Lee were not present.
The DIA extension, contained in Resolution 2026-03-05, pushes the deadline for completion of design work to Aug. 1, 2026, from Jan. 30, 2026.
Guy Parola, DIA director of operations, told board members the extension would have cascading effects on other deadlines, including completion of construction. In addition, work must be substantially completed by Aug. 1, 2029, instead of Jan. 30, 2029.
In January, Council also gave MOSH a six-month extension on the project but turned down MOSH’s request to reduce parking on the museum property to 30 spaces from the 75 spaces in its original plans. The DIA had planned to help reduce the need for on-site parking by providing space in a city-owned garage south of the VyStar arena, about two blocks away from the museum site.
After Council members expressed concerns that 30 spaces would be too few, the required spaces went to 72. That was the number of spots at MOSH’s longtime former home on the Southbank.
Parola said the increase in parking changed the geometry of plans for the three parcels, which MOSH had been designing for the fewer number of spaces. The change required further design work, he said.
Parola said the extension also was needed since the MOSH project involves several city departments that all need to approve designs. In addition to the DIA, those departments are Public Works, and Parks, Recreation and Community Services.
Under the DIA’s bylaws, the extension is the last the DIA can grant on the redevelopment agreement on its own without approval by Council.
MOSH closed its Southbank museum Sept. 1, 2025, as it raises funds for the new facility.
In March 2025, Council approved an amended agreement with MOSH, the city and DIA to allow for the new museum’s construction.
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 agreement calls for the city to own the building and lease it to the museum for a 40-year term at $1 per year. The city will build a park on the site, provide roadway and utility work and construct a length of the Northbank 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.
In February, the city issued a permit for contractor ELEV8 Demolition of Jacksonville to raze the four-story, 83,299-square-foot MOSH building at 1025 Museum Circle at a project cost of $835,000.
The city owns the 7.8 acres where the museum building was developed in 1968. MOSH was founded in 1941 and moved to the Southbank building in 1969.
The site is next to The Related Group’s land where it intends to build the South Bank Residences 25-story tower and adjacent eight-story residential building and garage.
In January, the DIA board approved an $875,000 budget transfer for the demolition work.
City Council is considering legislation, Ordinance 2026-0147, to authorize the DIA to carry out the work.
In February, MOSH announced that two Jacksonville executives were appointed to leadership roles on its board of trustees as the capital campaign to finance construction of the Northbank facility continues.
Brian Wolfburg, president and CEO of VyStar Credit Union, and a MOSH trustee since 2020, was named co-chair of the capital campaign. He joined Jill Davis in guiding the museum’s fundraising.
Nate Marty, CEO of Auld & White Constructors and a museum trustee since 2024, was announced as chair of MOSH’s oversight committee.