Prime Osborn area chosen for UF campus

[acme54321]

So what is the actual plan for the convention center?  The city better get going on that since we've now basically promised that land to UF (which is great).

[Steve]

Additional color:

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2024/dec/12/lavilla-site-selected-for-new-university-of-florida-jacksonville-graduate-campus-semiconductor-institute/

Deegan said that eventually the newer portions of the convention center, not including the historic train station, could be demolished to make way for the campus.

However, she told reporters that plans involving the demolition would be years away, allowing time for the city to develop a new convention center. likely at a site near the current Duval County jail.

"In terms of the convention center itself, that is probably 10 years down the road," she said.

"You'll have another mayor to beat up on, probably, by that time."

I'd it a convention center at the Jail would take 10 years, but someone needs to intervene with Deegan about the old Courthouse/City Hall site. Do that now and the expand over there as demand increases for space.

[vicupstate]

I can't think of one reason why LaVilla should have a height limit.

[acme54321]

Additional color:

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2024/dec/12/lavilla-site-selected-for-new-university-of-florida-jacksonville-graduate-campus-semiconductor-institute/

Deegan said that eventually the newer portions of the convention center, not including the historic train station, could be demolished to make way for the campus.

However, she told reporters that plans involving the demolition would be years away, allowing time for the city to develop a new convention center. likely at a site near the current Duval County jail.

"In terms of the convention center itself, that is probably 10 years down the road," she said.

"You'll have another mayor to beat up on, probably, by that time."

I'd it a convention center at the Jail would take 10 years, but someone needs to intervene with Deegan about the old Courthouse/City Hall site. Do that now and the expand over there as demand increases for space.

A convention center at the jail would realistically take every bit of 10 years, which is the problem.  If UF is talking about developing a campus like what is show in that rendering the city needs to expedite getting the convention center moved.

[Zac T]

I can't think of one reason why LaVilla should have a height limit.

Agreed. I understand the neighborhoods history and my grandmother was even a part of the last graduating class from Old Stanton but it's a vital connection between the Northbank and Brooklyn as well as the gateway to Downtown. I don't think dense development over 75 feet in height and building context sensitive projects that respect the history of the neighborhood are mutually exclusive of each other.

Also interesting tidbit from the Daily Record article:

UF says enrollment at the fully built-out campus could reach 20,000 or more.

20,000 students would be huge and is double the 10k number they mentioned previously. That's larger than UNF's current enrollment and shows UF has grander visions for this campus than what they initially let on.

I'm very pleased with the amount of development taking place along the path of the Emerald Trail. In terms of major announced projects, we have the UF campus, Union Terminal Warehouse, the Phoenix Arts District, Gateway Jax along the Hogan St Connector, One Riverside, Artist Walk, and the continued progress along McCoys Creek that should be a boon for North Riverside

[Ken_FSU]

A convention center at the jail would realistically take every bit of 10 years, which is the problem.  If UF is talking about developing a campus like what is show in that rendering the city needs to expedite getting the convention center moved.

Even ten years sounds optimistic without a set plan in place to build a new jail, relocate inmates, demolish the prison, ready the land for redevelopment, RFP a partner, design the convention center, and build it out. Financing a brand new convention center at the jail site would be every bit as problematic as the timeline giving our commitments to the stadium, jail relocation, pension funds, septic tank phaseouts, CBA, parks, UF, Sports & Entertainment complex, etc.

It's also unfair to hoteliers handing over bed taxes to abandon the convention business for a few years while we sort out a new build.

The expansion of exhibition space at the Hyatt that's been discussed here for years is clearly the smartest, most cost-efficient, most market-appropriate solution at the moment. We can re-address in 20 years once we see where the riverfront nets out and have a better understand of what longer term demand looks like for convention space in Jax.

[CityLife]

This is potentially the biggest thing to happen to Downtown since the Jaguars came and could easily end up surpassing that. As someone else said, getting the semiconductor institute is huge and can lead to all kinds of spinoff economic development. JaxUSA should be going into Daniel Plainview mode and drinking California/Silicon Valley's milkshake. Cut the sleepy old southern town folksiness and start going absolutely bonkers with recruiting efforts. Don't do the Jax thing and just be content with UF.  No tie goes to the runner level of mindset. Swing for the fences.

The same way it was easy for Gateway to assemble land and UF to get free land from the City, it should also be easy to recruit complementary businesses to Downtown's EXTREMELY affordable and available existing office stock with 26.1% vacancy and average rents of 23$ per sf. The only issue is not having the type of Class AAA, AA, and A+ trophy properties that a lot of the big players want. I'm not familiar with DIA's suite of incentives, but if they do not have incentives for interior office upgrades, they should seriously consider that.

JaxUSA or COJ should also consider hiring someone with direct ties to Silicon Valley and/or similar tech/research hubs around the country to solely focus on business recruitment. Not your typical politically connected Jax hire, but an outsider with direct connections and expertise. Pay them $250k+ a year and give them the tools to make it happen. It should more than pay for itself. It's also a super easy sell. In addition to the favorable office market, the city has an incredibly affordable historic housing stock nearby in Springfield, Riverside, San Marco, etc. In Springfield you can still buy what would be considered a mansion in Silicon Valley for $500-$600k. The same houses would go for $2-$3 million in Silicon Valley. The political climate is also very favorable...

Leveraging the new campus to get Brightline would be the chef's kiss.

[thelakelander]

I can't think of one reason why LaVilla should have a height limit.

I also can't think of one reason why suburban gas stations should be allowed east of I-95 in LaVilla!

Regarding height, the only pocket I can see where design considerations should be thoughtful, would be in the immediate vicinity of Broad & Ashley Streets. That's the one remaining spot where there's still a decent amount of prominent historic structures like the Masonic Temple, CWM Mission, Stanton, Richmond Hotel, etc. That 75' range would be consistent with structures like the Masonic Temple. Infill should the thoughtful and link with the neighborhood's character throughout, but height limits aren't necesary, as long as the spaces are pedestrian centric at ground level.

[Jax_Developer]

JaxUSA or COJ should also consider hiring someone with direct ties to Silicon Valley and/or similar tech/research hubs around the country to solely focus on business recruitment. Not your typical politically connected Jax hire, but an outsider with direct connections and expertise. Pay them $250k+ a year and give them the tools to make it happen. It should more than pay for itself. It's also a super easy sell. In addition to the favorable office market, the city has an incredibly affordable historic housing stock nearby in Springfield, Riverside, San Marco, etc. In Springfield you can still buy what would be considered a mansion in Silicon Valley for $500-$600k. The same houses would go for $2-$3 million in Silicon Valley. The political climate is also very favorable...

Already tried. They made it pretty clear they aren't interested. Maybe time will change that.

[landfall]

God, I hated the potential of this going to the Sports Complex.

I'd agree, send the convention center to the Hyatt land asap to fill that in and hopefully this also removes uncertainty from the Jags plans for mixed use too and they can push ahead with something more appropriate for that area.

[Charles Hunter]

The additional information from the Daily Record answers my earlier question about the buildings between the JTC/JTA HQ and the Interline building. They are part of the UF Campus, and the Interline Building may be the "starter" campus.

In a question-and-answer session at City Hall with reporters after the committee's vote, Deegan said the initial conveyance would involve two vacant city-owned properties next to the convention center.

Additional properties

Deegan said UF was working to secure a property other than those two, possibly an existing building, where it would begin offering classes in the fall of 2026.

The now-vacant lots on the west side of Lee Street are used for overflow parking for large events at the Prime.

Deegan said that eventually the newer portions of the convention center, not including the historic train station, could be demolished to make way for the campus.

However, she told reporters that plans involving the demolition would be years away, allowing time for the city to develop a new convention center. likely at a site near the current Duval County jail.

"In terms of the convention center itself, that is probably 10 years down the road," she said.

Does "10 years down the road" also apply to the convention center parking lot? It seems that would severely restrict development of the campus. I can see UF starting development with the most remote part of the parking lot, the 3 acres between I-95 and the entrance driveway. But, will UF want to wait 10 years to develop the 4+ acres between the driveway and the PO building?

And, speaking of PO, what about the former West Bay Post Office site? It is owned by "VC CATHEDRAL LLC". It is about 2.12 acres with 480 feet of frontage on Bay Street, starting at that same driveway and moving east to just behind the Convention Center building, It is hard to tell from the UF renderings if it is included, but (to my eyes) it appears to be shown as trees.

[fieldafm]

I'd caution to not lean too much into some of what came out in the recent press releases. 

20k students means they would double their current graduate enrollment, and standing up that much in-person enrollment in ten years is.... very optimistic.  Some of the 'degree' programs mentioned are also very clearly not fleshed out. I still don't know what a 'Masters in the Study of Law' is?  LLM and MLS degree programs already require JDs and aren't some robust enrollment bonanza (I think University of Miami's MLS program is mostly remote and mostly international students, for example).  Much of the degree programs will be fleshed out over the next several years depending on what kind of sources of funding UF gets. 

The semiconductor institute actually received CHIPs money and is therefore more fleshed out than some of these ambiguous AI finance and medical avenues of study (for lack of a better term). The SI is likely phase 1 of any new construction tied this campus, and that likely won't break ground for another 3 years or so.

As Lakelander mentioned, the Interline Brands building will be where initial students within UF's existing graduate degree programs will go for the next 5 years, with additional degrees added slowly over the next 10 years (likely still mostly within the Interline footprint).


If you've been following this forum for any length of time, you probably would have picked up various tea leaves discussed here about this.  This UF campus has been pushed behind the scenes by those like John Rood and Gary Chartrand for a very long time now.  The LaVillas 'Master Plan' that RummelMunz put together in 2019 was essentially a roadmap provided by those same behind the scene parties to eventually get to this outcome. That 'plan' included weird claims about retail and essentially provided cover for not putting up LaVilla parcels out for RFPs until now.

Its why local investors purchased property next to the Prime Osborne, and partially (among other reasons) why Vestcor is extending political will towards allowing for the conversion of affordable housing projects into market-rate after 15 years (as an example).

[fieldafm]

And, speaking of PO, what about the former West Bay Post Office site? It is owned by "VC CATHEDRAL LLC". It is about 2.12 acres with 480 feet of frontage on Bay Street, starting at that same driveway and moving east to just behind the Convention Center building, It is hard to tell from the UF renderings if it is included, but (to my eyes) it appears to be shown as trees.

That's Vestcor.  See my response above.

It should be pretty clear to those paying attention that the first phase of new construction (very likely the Semiconductor Institute) will include the COJ-owned lot that housed the former Crane building across from the Prime Osborn/JRTC. There's a reason why DIA outright rejected unsolicited proposals on this very site five years ago.  I don't think you'll see any redevelopment activity on the actual PO site for quite some time.

[Jax_Developer]

Is Chris Malachowsky involved in the SI?

[Charles Hunter]

Its why local investors purchased property next to the Prime Osborne, and partially (among other reasons) why Vestcor is extending political will towards allowing for the conversion of affordable housing projects into market-rate after 15 years (as an example).

Of course, VC = Vestcor. The "Cathedral" part of the owner's name threw me off. According to the Property Appraiser, VC bought the site in late 2019.