The effort to build a science center in downtown Livermore has taken another major step following the Livermore City Council’s approval of a Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA). The DDA, approved Feb. 3, establishes the terms under which Quest Science Center may develop an approximately 18,000-square-foot facility, at its Stockmen’s Park downtown Livermore location.
“The formal City Council approval of the science center project plan is crucial for our new nonprofit Quest organization to credibly move forward developing relationships with regional educators and industry,” said Monya Lane, Quest CEO. “This allows us to deliver on the opportunity for innovative informal education to enable people of all ages and backgrounds to explore the science and technology in our everyday lives.”
The DDA is the standard process under which a city contracts with a developer for sale/lease and development of city-owned property. The DDA’s schedule of performance allows Quest to proceed with construction after specific milestones have been achieved, including completion of the L Street Parking Garage, execution of a lease agreement, and a minimum of 50 percent funding in-hand for construction and first-year operation.
Quest is required to obtain project entitlements through the site plan and design review approval process, including a subsequent City Council review.