The Discovery Centre is exploring options for a move from its
downtown location, but it’s still too early to say if and when that
will happen, says CEO Dov Bercovici.
Shop owners at Dartmouth’s Alderney Landing fear they’ll soon be
displaced by the Discovery Centre, but there’s no imminent plan to move
to the Dartmouth waterfront, says Bercovici. “That’s just one of
several locations we’ve looked at.” Other potential sites are Dartmouth
Crossing, Port of Halifax land near the new Seaport Farmers’ Market and
expansion at the current 1559 Barrington Street location.
The Barrington Street building is the subject of a development
application now working its way through the planning process. Owner
Frank Medjuck proposes to tear down the existing structure and erect in
its stead a 20-storey tower.
Bercovici envisions any future move coinciding with an expansion of
the Discovery Centre from its present 24,000 square feet to 40,000
square feet. This would allow for an increase in attendance from this
year’s 80,000 visitors to 150,000 annually. Much consideration is being
given to parking and reduced rent. “Nothing’s definite yet,” he says,
saying any move is likely three or four years away. —TB
This article appears in Oct 1-7, 2009.