Henderson plans for museums once economy turns around

By Jeremy Twitchell (contact)

Monday, Dec. 15, 2008 | 5:41 p.m.

Henderson's idea to build a science and technology museum is a good one, but it must be done correctly, a consultant hired to study the idea said.

National art management consultant firm AMS Planning and Research did surveys, market studies, local museum analyses and interviews with government officials throughout Clark County before presenting the City Council its recommendation Dec. 4.

The consultants found there is a need for a scientific museum in Clark County, but said that it must be carefully designed to appeal to locals by focusing on scientific developments and issues that tie into Southern Nevada.

"As we did this study, we saw that there was a very clear gap in the cultural offerings in the valley," said Rob Brisendine, operations manager for the Henderson Department of Cultural Arts and Tourism and museum project manager. "There are very limited offerings particularly in the area of science and technology."

The report cautioned that while the museum would fill a gap, attendance projections must be kept within reason, and an endowment or some other ongoing source of funding would be needed to cover a projected $2.5 million annual gap between the museum's revenue and its operating expenses, which it estimates would total almost $6.4 million per year.

The report estimated it would cost $61 million to build the museum.

Brisendine said the city will likely commit some funds to the museum's development at some point, but most of the fundraising would be handled by a separate nonprofit agency. He said the museum would also be run by a third party.

"The city of Henderson is not going to get into the business of operating a museum," he said. "That's not the plan here."

Now that the feasibility study is finished, Brisendine said a committee of city employees and community representatives will work out a strategy to set up a nonprofit museum group and raise funds.

Henderson has already selected the site for the museum on more than 170 acres of city-owned land near Galleria Drive and U.S. 95. City officials hope to develop the area into a museum district. It lies within the city's Eastside Redevelopment Area and will be served by the Galleria Interchange that is under construction at U.S. 95.

At its suggested size of about 72,000 square feet, the museum would use only part of the site, but the city also plans to include retail and public open space to flesh out the area.

"The (Henderson City) Council has set out a vision for high vitality and activity with open space, but maintaining the type of retail and other uses that will turn the site into a true gathering place for the city," Henderson Redevelopment Project Manager Lisa Corrado said.

The City Council unanimously approved a $204,000 contract Dec. 2 with outside consultant RTKL Nevada Corp. to design the master plan for the site.

Brisendine said the museum is the first step in the city's long-term plan to turn the area into a cultural center.

The current recession, however, has pushed the term of that plan even longer. The city doesn't plan on committing any funds to the museum for at least two years, and any work that happens in the meantime would be planning work that has little or no fiscal impact, Brisendine said.

"One thing we want to make very clear is that everybody is very concerned about the economic climate," he said. "But we can't let it inhibit progress. We want to have everything in place so that when (the economy) does turn … we're ready to go."

When the city's finances have improved and construction money is available, Brisendine said, the museum will be one of several delayed projects that the city's Capital Improvement Committee will evaluate and prioritize.

"It's a very exciting project for the community," he said. "It's something that's clearly missing in our community and it's an exciting thing to be a part of. It's something that the community can be proud of when it's created."

Jeremy Twitchell can be reached at 990-8928 or jeremy.twitchell@hbcpub.com.