The St. Petersburg City Council voted unanimously December 4 to sell a 4-acre property at 7701 22nd Ave. N. to the St. Petersburg Group for $1.6 million, clearing a major obstacle for the revival of the historic Science Center.

The sale is expected to close January 5, with construction company Sinclair Group anticipated to break ground on the $25 million project days later.

The Science Center, which originally opened in 1959 downtown and moved to its current location in 1966, closed in 2014 due to financial difficulties. The city purchased the property in 2019 and used part of it for wastewater storage tanks following a 2016 sewage crisis.

Efforts to revive the facility began five years ago but faced delays. Mayor Ken Welch’s administration initially considered using the site for stormwater infrastructure. However, after the council voted 8-0 to reconsider, Welch agreed to move forward with the Science Center project.

The project has secured $10 million in state and federal funding. St. Petersburg Group co-founder Joe Hamilton said his organization will seek additional state funds and is launching a campaign to raise another $10 million.

The renovated facility will preserve the round planetarium building and the Historic Mosaic Trail, which honors all 50 states. Plans include a “hybritorium” event space with 220 physical seats and 100 screens for virtual attendees, an Artificial Intelligence village, office space, and a rooftop garden with a four-story waterfall.

Hamilton said the goal is to open the Science Center for summer camps in 2027 and begin full operations during the following school year. Proceeds from the property sale will go toward the city’s water resources fund.

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