The Leonardo has a home in downtown Salt Lake City.

After months of debate about The Leonardo's financial viability, the City Council is prepared to release $10.2 million in bond money to renovate the old city library and enter into a lease agreement with the science and arts center.

"It's really amazing to see something go from a great idea to becoming real," said Leonardo spokeswoman Lisa Davis.

The council unanimously supported the bond's release in a straw poll taken during a work session Tuesday. Davis said the center would begin renovations following a formal vote to release the money, which could come as early as next week.

Tuesday's decision did not come easy for council members, who spent nearly a year voicing concerns that The Leonardo would ultimately have to lean on the city for financial support.

"I think we were all a bit skeptical about this project and whether or not it could work," Mayor Ralph Becker said. "In the course of time … we worked through issue after issue."

Council members heralded the success of the "Body Worlds" exhibit, and lauded new executive director Peter Giles for taking the center's business plan in a new direction, trimming staff and making it financially viable.

The Leonardo slimmed down its budget primarily through renting exhibits instead of building them. Those exhibits will come from the San Francisco Exploratorium, and will be coupled with interactive learning programs with a heavily local feel, Giles said.

The Leonardo will need to raise $5 million to cover a 16-month "ramp up" to its opening. After that, its plan calls for raising $4.3 million over the next three years.

"This is a hugely different proposal," said Council vice chairman JT Martin. "It's not one built on 'I thinks' or 'I hopes.' It's one built on sound judgment."

Leonardo officials are targeting a July 2010 opening, but Giles said there could be exhibits on display before that.

"I'm thrilled," said Giles, who credited the council with helping to shape the center. "The Leonardo is a better project … because of the tough questions."

"You needed to kind of go through the fire yourself to see how this would all fall out," Councilman Van Turner said to Leonardo officials.

With Giles receiving so much credit for turning the center around, Martin worried about how The Leonardo might fare should Giles decide to leave. "I don't plan on riding out into the sunset with a failure," Giles said.

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