onePULSE Foundation no longer building museum to honor shooting victims

ORLANDO, Fla. - The onePULSE Foundation announced Friday their decision to nix plans of building a permanent museum at the site of the tragic 2016 shooting that left 49 people dead. 

In a letter to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, the foundation said COVID-19 presented fundraising and construction setbacks for the proposed memorial museum. 

Despite the group's attempt to save the project by re-scaling it earlier this year, the medications weren't enough. Pulse survivors are frustrated that it's taken all this time – and they still don't have a memorial.

Facing escalating construction costs made the "project financially unrealistic to complete," the foundation said. 

In the letter, onePULSE said: 

We believe at this time, the community needs to focus on the construction of the much-needed memorial to honor the lives lost and changed that fateful Sunday morning. Our dreams to create and change the narrative that the events of June 12, 2016, not be the last word in Orlando and Orange County, is one we remain hopeful will be realized by the region's resilient community." 

The organization had purchased the property where they were going to build a museum and the county gave the foundation more than six million dollars in tourism tax funds to purchase the land and build it. 

Mayor Demings said in a statement:

"Earlier today, I met with onePULSE Foundation to discuss the status of its proposed museum project. 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 city of Orlando voted Monday to move forward with a $2 million deal to buy the Pulse Nightclub property and erect a permanent memorial at the site.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said there is no timeline yet on how the city will move forward. He added they will seek guidance on how to proceed. Keep in mind, that the $2 million in taxpayer money only accounts for the property purchase – not additional costs associated with the memorial. Dyer said the path moving forward will be a complicated one.