Matthews' future Discovery Place museum could be part of rebuilt elementary school
Town leaders revealed Monday night plans to bolster their agreement with Discovery Place, adding the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education to the mix. It would lead to the new building for Matthews Elementary School being built on the back of its current downtown property, and the museum being part of the site.
A replacement for the school is part of the slate on the 2023 $2.5 billion school bonds. Also part of the plans is turning the current school site into the new, larger Stumptown Park.
May is a month for big-ticket events around Charlotte
In February, Matthews entered a partnership with Discovery Place, the Charlotte-based museum with four locations in the area. The new Matthews site was unknown to the public at that point, but Town Manager Becky Hawke told commissioners that it would be 'reflective of Matthews' instead of a carbon copy of another museum.
Matthews leaders expressed their excitement for the potential co-location with the school. They had to stay quiet on the latest news until the meeting.
'I'm very excited about this,' said Commissioner Renee Garner. 'It has been a long time coming. I kept my excitement tampered.'
There also will be a land-swap if the property arrangement is approved. In return for the school property being turned into a park, a portion of a 27-acre town-owned property at the intersection of McKee and Pleasant Plain roads will be dealt to CMS for a future relief school.
But Mayor John Higdon wants residents of nearby Windsor Run not to worry.
'I don't believe CMS has any intention of building relief school any time soon,' he said. 'It will be a park for many, many years.'
Garner pushed for public comment to be part of the process before the deal is finalized. The CMS board also will take action on it.
'If there is a general info session, it's something I'd be happy for us to get scheduled, and invite folks to come and talk about it, and receive anything they would have to say,' Hawke said.
In winter 2024, the town purchased three parcels along Trade Street to plan for the replacement of Matthews Elementary. Commissioner Mark Tofano lives in the middle of those site, and asked about the future of the current Stumptown Park property.
'It's ultimately up to this board,' said Hawke. 'There have been conversations on the farmers market needing a new home. It's part of the envisioning process this board is responsible for determining.'
She said construction for the combined school and museum would begin between 2026 and 2028.
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