Charlotte Weighs Aquarium Addition and Other Changes for Discovery Place Museum

Charlotte officials are weighing several paths for Discovery Place. One idea is adding an aquarium.

The deputy city manager laid out possibilities at a recent council meeting, each one different from the last. They could build an aquarium right on the property or somewhere else entirely. Relocating the museum is on the table. So is wrapping mixed-use construction around the existing building. According to WSOC-TV, a consultant is crunching numbers and studying what might work.

Tax dollars will fund whatever happens next. But how much? Nobody knows yet.

The museum sits in Uptown on city-owned land. Back in 2011, Charlotte and Mecklenburg County poured $31 million into renovations.

These proposals signal a change in thinking about the property's future use. Officials haven't picked a deadline for choosing which direction to take.

Discovery Place operates as a science and technology hub. Families come from throughout the region for hands-on exhibits and learning programs.

When will the consultant wrap up the work? City leaders haven't said. The council must review what the analysis shows before approving anything.

An aquarium would bring something new to the site — a type of attraction Charlotte hasn't had there before. Designers could weave it into the current building or construct a standalone structure nearby.

That 2011 cash infusion came from both the city and county working together, supporting extensive upgrades throughout the property.