The arrival of a $20,000 grant secured for the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau’s long-stalled children’s museum has resurrected informal talks about reviving the project.
In December, 2015, The CVB Board voted to purchase the old Elks Lodge building on Main Street for the purpose of converting it to a children’s discovery center and museum.
The CVB has spent close to $100,000 to get the building in shape and still owes $330,000 of the $450,000 purchase price. (The total price was $650,000, but a $200,000 gift from Frank and Dean Loftus reduced the CVB’s obligation.)
In 2016, the CVB hired an architect and a design firm. Cost estimates over the years were initially in the $1 million to $1.5 million range, but later estimates had the price tag at between $3.5 million and $5 million. A fund-raising coordinator was hired in 2017, but the project soon was hit by a trio of unexpected developments. The CVB hoped to get some bond money for the project, but the state legislature made no bond appropriations in either 2017 or 2018.
The one-year loss of the 2% restaurant tax (which funds the CVB) in 2018 shut down all talk of the project and the pandemic did the same.
The arrival of the grant this week has started a public discussion about the project for the first time in five years.
If the CVB does pursue the project, it would be wise to take a lesson from the city of Columbus’ efforts to build its amphitheater, which sits abandoned and unusable eight years after the project began.
The city failed in a number of ways, not the least of which was relying on an unstable source of funding. The idea was that the amphitheater would be paid for through state bonds. But after awarding $3.85 million in bonds between 2015 and 2019, that funding source went dry. Meanwhile, a project estimated to cost $3 million in 2015 has almost tripled in price. The city estimated it would take another $4 million to finish the amphitheater.
The city also failed to put together a comprehensive plan for operating the venue.
If the CVB pursues any plans for the Elk’s Lodge building, we strongly suggest knowing how it will be funded and operated before even thinking of breaking ground.
Finally, an updated cost estimate is absolutely essential. Building costs have skyrocketed over the past few years and what was once a $3.5 million project could have easily doubled or tripled in cost.
The CVB has an advantage the city doesn’t: The museum project has not reached the point of no return. Whatever the CVB is on hook for could be mitigated or eliminated by the sale of the building.
But if the CVB chooses to proceed with the museum project, proceed with caution — and a comprehensive plan.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
Join the Discussion