DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — The Decatur City Council voted to approve support for an expansion at the Cook Museum of Natural Science during a special-called meeting on Monday.
The expansion, which will also be designated as the North Alabama STEM Center thanks to the city council’s vote, will nearly double the museum’s size from 63,000 to 120,000 square feet. More exhibit spaces, STEM classrooms and visitor amenities will be added at the Cook Museum.
“This expansion isn’t just about physical growth,” the city said in a release announcing the expansion. “It’s about improving the educational experience for our community.”
City leaders said the project is expected to boost tourism, increasing annual visitors to over 120,000, and create more educational and economic opportunities for the community.
Plans for the expansion also include the construction of a new parking deck for the museum, a 13-room hotel and a future commercial development.
The expansion, combined with these developments, would represent a $43 million investment that leaders expect to create hundreds of construction jobs and tourism revenue.
The City of Decatur added that a portion of Holly Street will have to be vacated to allow for construction when expansion starts.
The post Decatur City Council supports $43 million Cook Museum expansion appeared first on WHNT.
