FCSL's Downtown Potential

[ben says]

From: http://jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=537399

Florida Coastal expects housing study within 60 days, Downtown an option

Florida Coastal School of Law expects a market demand analysis within 60 days to determine what types of housing its students might need â€" and where, which means there is potential for Downtown housing.
“We have hired a consultant to conduct a market and demand analysis to help Coastal Law determine the need for student housing, the types of housing desired by our students, the price points for the housing and the locations for that housing,” said Coastal Law professor Teresa Heekin Davlantes, who also is vice president of strategy and general counsel.

“This market and demand analysis will involve focus groups with students, surveys of students, meetings with key law school employees, meetings with City officials and touring various areas of the city,” she said.

She said the school expects to find that students are interested in living in different parts of town depending upon their year in law school, outside work situations and hobbies and interests.

“First-year law students may be interested in living closer to campus because they spend a great deal of time at the school in class, at the library and studying with other students. Upper division students may be interested in living closer to the courthouse and to law firms for whom they may be clerking,” Davlantes said.

“We are in the data-gathering mode and will decide how many locations and how many beds are needed after we receive the results of the market analysis,” she said.

She said the market and demand analysis will help clarify how many students would be served. The locations also will take into account where the students work or clerk, such as with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid and lawyers Downtown.

“In addition to student demand, we anticipate that we will look closely at the ways to get the students greater exposure to experiential learning opportunities,” she said.

“At Coastal Law, we are committed to providing numerous opportunities for students to acquire real-world skills in a variety of practice areas. These opportunities may come in the form of working with a lawyer in a clerking position, working at JALA meeting the needs of indigent clients, completing an internship with a judge, the State Attorney’s Office or the Public Defender’s Office or working with a corporate legal department,” she said.

The school operates at 8787 Baypine Road in the Baymeadows area of Southside.

After the analysis is completed, “we will work as swiftly as possible to complete the new construction or remodeling an existing structure, if the analysis indicates the demand is there,” she said.

Asked if a satellite campus or school facilities are possible, Davlantes indicated Coastal Law is taking a look.

“Since the school first opened, we have considered moving Downtown. While we are in a long-term lease at our current location, we are exploring the possibility of having an additional presence in the city if that will help us to achieve our mission,” she said.

The school was founded 16 years ago and its first campus was on Beach Boulevard near the Hart Expressway. It moved to Baymeadows in August 2006.

It signed a 20-year lease in a sale-leaseback agreement in February 2011.

Dean Peter Goplerud said in an interview a year ago that the school seriously considered a Downtown location, but “ultimately there were some considerations that caused us to focus on the current site.”

At the time, there were parking and security issues Downtown that were not easily resolvable, he said.

Coastal Law spokesman Brooks Terry said about 1,600 students are enrolled at the school.

“We are open to exploring all options Downtown, including student housing, as well as space that could expand academics,” said Terry, director of marketing and communications.

“However, we will have to do our due diligence before we can commit to making any Downtown presence a reality,” he said.

[Debbie Thompson]

Interesting. What do you guys think?  There is the perception in the wider Jax community that downtown is unsafe.  As we know, perception is "reality" even if it isn't entirely deserved.  For that reason, because they just nixed downtown in Feb 2011, I think FCSL is giving lip service to "we'll look at downtown options" just so they can say they considered it. 

But I'd SO love to be wrong if I can see around the chip on my shoulder.  :-)  What do you think?

[fsujax]

It would make sense for them to have some sort of operation near where all the court related activities take place in Duval County.

[urbaknight]

If they're looking for housing DT, I know of at least two buildings on Adams st right now.  There's the building on the sw corner Adams and Hogan. They call the 218 lofts that were never built, but the sign is still there. I called the number but it had been disconnected. That building would be perfect. Then there's the building across the street  from the new 7/11. Is that Julia st? I believe it is. there's a bank on the first floor. These two buildings are perfect for student housing and are screaming to be reused.

[ben says]

I know for a fact they are doing sample studies and focus groups re: where students want to live. The problem is most students, from out of town at least, think the Town Center and Southside is "the place to be."

Most 2L and 3L students start to realize Riverside/San Marco is where they want to be. Sadly, by the time they figure it out, they're locked into 1 year leases in the Town Center/Southside area, and are too busy to care.

[John P]

I predict
1. the beach 2. st johns town center 3. san marco or riverside
Downtown will not be in the top five

[ben says]

I predict
1. the beach 2. st johns town center 3. san marco or riverside
Downtown will not be in the top five

I agree with #1 and #2, but I don't see where in Riverside or San Marco FCSL would look for mass student housing. Downtown fits that bill.

[Mathew1056]

If our mayor was the leader we elected him to be, he would be at the forefront of any potential activity downtown. Downtown revitalization is what he campaigned on.  A  potential FCSL presence downtown is about the best thing I imagine happening. The scenario I foresee would be a win-win for both the city and the privately run Florida Coastal. No offense to those who may have obtained their degree from a for profit school such as Virginia College, Phoenix, or Devry, but there is a certain attitude i have about a school operating out of a suburban business park. How can FCSL expect students to pay the steep cost involved in obtaining a degree when the location does not reflect the prestige of their accomplishment. Though some would disagree, downtown could offer a prestigious location and draw in young students that desire an urban experience. It's a narrative that Jacksonville lacks. The win for downtown is obviously increased business traffic. My dream is that Alvin could work out a plan to get FCSL into the old courthouse property. Just give it to them. It's not doing us any good sitting vacant.

[thelakelander]

This ship largely sailed when FCSL ended up purchasing their suburban office building a few years back.