St. Pete science center sale clears major hurdle

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — After years of debate and stalled ideas, the future of the old science center on 22^nd Ave North may finally be getting its spark back.

The St. Petersburg City council will vote Thursday on a long-awaited deal that would bring new life and new students into the once popular learning hub. An independent consultant has cleared the biggest hurdle saying the sale won’t affect the city’s utility bond requirements.

“This is a giant win for the City of St. Pete,” said Jungle Terrace civic association president John Hoke.

That opens the door for a $1.6 million dollar purchase by St. Pete for STEAM, LLC., with the City financing most of it about $1.47 million dollars, at zero percent interest.

The deal has gone through much debate within the community.

Mayor Ken Welch says his previous hesitancy came from hurricanes Milton and Helene showing holes in the infrastructure, and the need for increased storm water capacity.

“That’s why I made the decision that I didn’t want the maximum capacity at that plant in case it is again the only running plant in the city. We’re going to take a little bit less in terms of capacity building, but there are other ways that we’re going to try to mitigate that,” said Mayor Welch.

However, those in support of the new STEAM center argued using the brush site behind the center for those needs instead.

“The question is what’s more important, moving a pile of palm fronds so you could build the tanks there and have the science center? Or not moving the pile of palm fronds and tearing down the science center so you can build the tanks there? You don’t kill the $20 million project that is a gift to the city because you don’t want to move brush site,” said Joe Hamilton with St. Pete for STEAM.

If approved today, the mayor can move ahead with the paperwork, setting the stage for the site to be transformed into a hands-on STEAM destination for the community.

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Krisna Dwi Wardhana

Lahir di Padang pada tahun 1991, saya telah tinggal di berbagai wilayah di Indonesia sejak TK hingga kuliah, termasuk Aceh, Palembang, dan Bogor. Saya meraih gelar Sarjana Sains dari FMIPA Universitas Indonesia. Saat ini, saya bekerja sebagai Pendidik di sebuah sekolah swasta di Bogor, Tutor privat sambil tetap fokus mengembangkan Bisakimia.

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