Science Discovery Centre plans firming up in Summerside

Summerside City Council voted in favour Monday night of providing a letter of support for a proposed Science Discovery Centre that would be constructed on city-owned land.

• Planetarium, insectarium on track for Summerside

The building, an initiative of the Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association and the Summerside Y Service Club, would house a planetarium and insectarium.

Summerside Coun. Tyler DesRoches said the group needed a letter of support from the city in order to secure financing for the project.

"They can't speculate that the land will be there," said DesRoches.

"They needed us to show that we are behind."

Business plan needed

The resolution stipulates that the letter of support is conditional upon the presentation of a business plan that is acceptable to the city, and an understanding that the document comes with no financial commitment.

"As far as the taxpayers go, they don't have to be on the hook for building the building," said DesRoches.

The city is, however, is giving the project a break on rent, with a proposal to lease the land to the Science Discovery Centre for $1 per year for the next 50 years. The agreement includes a tax abatement as well.

DesRoches believes the groups involved are close to securing the funding they need to get construction underway.

The initial proposal had construction slated to begin in 2017, and DesRoches said the city expects an update soon on how the plans are progressing.

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