Friday, Oct. 16, 2009

Upside-down museum OK'd in Myrtle Beach

In its second trip to the Myrtle Beach Community Appearance Board, WonderWorks, an upside down children's science museum, was unanimously approved Thursday to set up shop at Broadway at the Beach.

Officials say it will open in spring of 2011.

"I think it makes a world of difference when an applicant comes prepared," said Larry Bragg, board chairman.

In August, the board voted 4-3 to turn down the plan for WonderWorks after board members commented that the architect needed to be present to provide more information and that the museum was "glaring in size and scope" and not "harmonious with other buildings in the proposed area."

This time around, the board's concerns were put to rest, thanks to the presence of the museum's architect, the computer-simulated flyover of the structure and pictures of the design, Bragg said.

"I'm excited about it," he said. "I was excited about it when I turned it down. I felt it was unfair to base that decision on so many questions that were unanswered."

Tony Cox, the chief real estate officer for Burroughs & Chapin Co. Inc., said he was grateful that the board gave officials a second chance.

"It does mean a lot to Burroughs & Chapin Co. and the community as a whole," he said. "We're very excited about having them there, and we think it'll be a good catalyst to Broadway and bring some vitality to that end and a lot of jobs to the community."

Construction of the museum - which will bring 120 jobs to the area - will begin in January, said Robin Turner, owner of the Orlando, Fla.-based WonderWorks.

The construction and attractions will cost about $15 million, he said.

"It ends on a very happy note for us that we're able to come to Broadway," Turner said. "We're very excited."

The 29,000-square-foot building will stand four stories high, with its highest point at 90 feet, said James Whitmore, the project's architect.

The exhibits include an extreme bike that requires 20 feet of space from the first floor up, and a set of space-related activities - like a shuttle simulator, space suit and space walk - that require about 35 feet of height from the fourth floor to the roof, Whitmore said.

The museum, which will sit at the location of the former Crab House Restaurant that closed in 2008, has a two-story facade on three of its four sides so it appears to be similar in size to neighboring buildings, he said.

Bragg said he was satisfied with this change to the design.

"I think it will be a good addition to the area," said board member Jackie Vereen before the group voted.

She was not present at the meeting in August when WonderWorks was voted down, but said she was impressed by the WonderWorks she's seen in Orlando and in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

"I think it's a great concept," Vereen said. "It's a very educational thing for children and adults."

The Community Appearance Board must approve all commercial and oceanfront residential construction in the city.

WonderWorks in Myrtle Beach is one of three new locations in the works during the next couple of years. Two other WonderWorks museums are planned for Meadowlands Xanadu in New Jersey and in Panama City, Fla.