Czech museum officials confirm moving plans

UPDATE: Leaders of the Czech & Slovak Museum & Library confirmed plans this morning to move the iconic red-roofed building from the banks of the Cedar River.

The 18,000-square-foot structure will be incorporated into the total size of the new 60,000-square foot exhibition center and library that will be built by 2012, said museum president and CEO Gail Naughton.

“We see this as the best, most viable option for this building,” she said.

Moving the wood-frame building with brick veneer will be done in one piece, likely next fall.

The exact location hasn't been decided, but will be in the area of the Riverside Roundhouse, 1350 A St. SW, not far away from the existing building at 30 16th Ave. SW.

Eight feet of floodwater inundated the museum last year, destroying a number of artifacts.

Both the new and old buildings will be elevated three above the 2008 flood level, or 11 feet, higher, with parking underneath.

Although built above the flood plain, insurance problems created difficulties to keep the existing museum on the Cedar River. That area may become parkland.

About 75 people attended this morning's announcement at the museum. The building has been used for storage since being gutted after the 2008 flood.

Estimated cost of the new building is $20 million. Moving the current museum would be about $740,000.

The museum obtained $10 million in I-JOBS funding, with fundraisers planned for the remainder, Naughton said.