ORLANDO | Orange County has confirmed that the onePULSE Foundation has notified Mayor Jerry L. Demings that the organization will not move forward with its planned Pulse museum.
Demings was officially notified in a letter from onePULSE’s board of directors and exectuive director after both sides met for a meeting Oct. 27.
“Earlier today, I met with the onePULSE Foundation to discuss the status of its proposed museum project,” Demings said in a statement. “The Foundation presented a letter from its board, expressing their decision to no longer proceed with the project. I understand how difficult this decision was for the foundation and the future of the organization is uncertain. The circumstances have taken an emotional toll on the families and survivors of the Pulse tragedy, as we continue to honor the 49 angels. I will be scheduling a Board of County Commission meeting to update the Board and make determinations regarding the next steps for Orange County. We will continue to keep the community informed.”
Orange County’s commissioners unanimously approved up to $10 million in hotel-tax revenue (TDT) to the foundation for a museum on Oct. 30, 2018. The funds were expressly limited to the purchase of the property and design costs for the museum.
According to information sent by Orange County, the foundation did not receive a lump sum of $10 million, rather $3.5 million was paid at the closing for the 1.7 acres of land at 438 W. Kaley St. that was purchased for the museum and $3 million for design services was paid as the design process progressed and the services were invoiced by the foundation from November 2019-March 2023. In the county’s email, they state that aside from providing the funds, Orange County has not played any role in the design of the museum.
The county further states that under its contract with the foundation, the purchased land will be turned over to the county and if sold, the proceeds will be returned to the TDT reserves. The $3 million spent by the foundation on design work cannot be recovered, the county stated. The remaining $3.5 million — unspent from the original grant — remains in the TDT reserves.
No TDT funds were used towards the attempted development of a Pulse memorial. Earlier this week, the City of Orlando agreed to purchase the Pulse property for $2 million and will move forward with building a permanent memorial at that location.
