Tuesday, the Oak Ridge City Council unanimously approved the transfer of the American Museum of Science and Energy property. The 17 acres will be transferred from the U.S. Department of Energy to the City of Oak Ridge. Under the agreement, the AMSE will be relocated in a year to 18,000 square feet of space in a two-story building that once housed a Sears store next to JCPenney at Main Street Oak Ridge. That space, once finished, will be provided by TN Oak Ridge Illinois LLC, to the city at no cost for 15 years. The city will, in turn, sublease the space to the Dept. of Energy at no charge for 15 years. The space can also be used for the public outreach and education missions now conducted at AMSE, as well as for a temporary visitor center for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. That visitor center is now housed at AMSE. The southern portion of the AMSE property will be transferred first to TN Oak Ridge Illinois LLC. It could be transferred in late 2016 or early 2017, according to the resolution approved by the Council. Officials expect that parcel to be developed within two years.