Charlotte eyes $400 million overhaul for Discovery Place

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two years ago, Charlotte City Council approved spending $700,000 for a master plan to study renovations and expansion at uptown’s Discovery Place science museum. With those recommendations scheduled to be unveiled sometime in 2020, concerns are mounting about whether the public funding will be available for a proposed overhaul in the range of $400 million.

Justin Harlow, a council Democrat who also serves on the uptown science museum’s board, told the Charlotte Business Journal that, with an anticipated taxpayer investment to help Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper land a Major League Soccer expansion team, the city’s capacity to use tourism tax revenue for other projects will likely be exhausted.

[ALSO READ: Residents show concern over plans for Discovery Place expansion]

And Harlow confirmed what many have been whispering for months: Discovery Place leaders favor a bold makeover of the 38-year-old, city-owned museum.

One of his colleagues, Republican Ed Driggs, said renovations at Discovery Place and other expected requests for tourism money make it crucial for city administrators to better inform council members about debt capacity and the context of potential decisions on MLS, a future NFL stadium and other projects.

The question, he added, is simple: “Can we reasonably afford that?”

CBJ delves into the costs — and funding restrictions — that would come a major makeover for Discovery Place as well as other tourism-related projects. Read the full story here.

Cox Media Group