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Flandrau's fate is sealed with approval of Prop 400

The UA Flandrau Science Center's days are now numbered with yesterday's approval of Proposition 400, which allows the city to move forward with the Rio Nuevo Project - including a more ambitious Tucson science center.

Prop. 400 gives Tucson the ability to retain half of the city's future sales tax - roughly $60 million - in order to fund the project. This allows the extensive downtown renovation to carry on without raising or creating any new taxes.

A chunk of that tax revenue will go to begin construction on a new science center in downtown Tucson.

With the building of the new center, Flandrau, 1132 E. Mabel St., will no longer be needed.

"This is the next important step in creating a bigger, better and more accessible science center," said Bill Buckingham, director of Flandrau Science Center. "We're all excited as heck."

One of the major problems that Flandrau has faced is a lack of parking, leading to low attendance.

The new center will not be affiliated with the University of Arizona and the staff of Flandrau may go to work at the new facility if they are interested.

"It'll still serve as an important part of the science department for the university," Buckingham said.

The Flandrau center's staff has been a part of the new science center's planning along with the UA's College of Science.

"The Flandrau isn't moving," said Eugene Levy, dean of the College of Science, adding that the center will be completely replaced by the Rio Nuevo project. "It's a different science center - it's larger and more ambitious."

University officials have yet to discuss the future of the property once Flandrau is closed.

The Rio Nuevo Project was organized to "re-create Tucson's birthplace," states the city's Rio Nuevo information Web site.

Besides the new science center, several renovations will be done in downtown Tucson, including the Fox Theater, as well as the construction of a new Sonoran Sea Aquarium.

Outside of the state money, Tucson officials expect the private sector to match $4 to every tax dollar going to Rio Nuevo.

The earliest construction could begin on the Rio Nuevo Project would be July 1.

The Arizona Historical Society will relocate to a $12 million Rio Nuevo facility from its current location, 949 E. Second St.

"The first thing to be built will probably be a parking lot, something simple like that," said Jerry Kyle, director of the Arizona Historical Society. "Best case scenario: it will be done in two to three years."

The UA hopes to begin starting student internships through the duration of Flandrau's existence and then continue them in the new facility.

"Its the best of both worlds," Buckingham said.

While the construction of a new museum in the Rio Nuevo Project is possible, UA officials are unsure if it would affect the on-campus Arizona State Museum.