I'm titling this based on a 2019 The Jaxson article (https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/fscjs-master-plan-for-downtown/) because it seems like it'd naturally be a continuation of that thread, but I can't seem to find it (moderators, if that thread does exist feel free to simply merge this into it).
But this post is about FSCJ's most recent master plan update (https://www.fscj.edu/docs/default-source/discover/fscj-full-mp-09-13-16.pdf?sfvrsn=25743476_2), in May of 2023. And the proposal it makes for FSCJ's Downtown campus:
(https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/847298939618590760/1145208330697056286/Screenshot_2023-08-27_at_12.07.59_AM.png)
(https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/847298939618590760/1145208331112300686/Screenshot_2023-08-27_at_12.08.26_AM.png)
What stands out to me is that these plans commit to realigning the Emerald Trail around FSCJ (in this case, essentially just to avoid parking lots), preserves an enormous amount of surface parking downtown, and strives to essentially wall off the campus from the city around it.
I don't see why FSCJ should be prioritizing creating an "architectural entry feature with drop-off" over ensuring that their urban campus is in fact an urban campus. It massively underutilizes urban land for little benefit. And the Open Space/Lawn seems like it'd be awful to use while next to the car traffic on State Street.
It does occur to me that this plan came out a month before the formal announcement of the Jaguars wanting the UF campus, which to me suggests that FSCJ isn't particularly interested in sharing space with UF. But even then, this plan should be easily modifiable to actually enhance the urban environment instead of walling away from it.
A parking garage on top of Student Parking Lot 6 could absorb essentially the entire campus' parking demand, and sharing that garage with the Bethel Church on Sundays would mean that cars would no longer park on Hogan's Creek Park. Relocating the "architectural entry feature" to being adjacent to the garage at the secondary entrance (which should really just be the primary entrance) could mean opening Lots 2, 3, 4 and the proposed demolition site to other development (mixed use or academic) and restoring the Emerald Trail alignment (which JTA will also eventually need for the U2C or whatever alternative transit expansion) along Hogan St/Rudolph McKissick Sr Blvd. Lots 5, 8, and 10 could host future academic buildings on a more cohesive campus that's really a part of the neighborhood.
^ the Emerald Trail route has been set for Laura Street for quite a while, because FSCJ didn't like the idea of the general public going through campus by right any time they wish.
Note: None of the plans mention the proposed UF campus, of course, but this location is definitely still in the running.
^ I did update the post with more specific ideas of how to rearrange things, but in a nutshell I'd just remove those four blocks to the east (the three lots and the building they want to demolish) from being part of the campus and keep the Emerald Trail on Hogan. If they want to fence off the campus facing Hogan at that point then fine. One 5-6 story garage on Lot 6 could probably handle the parking demand for this campus, and the main gateway to campus should be to the north, not the east, especially if they apparently want to close Pearl Street in the future.
Quote from: fsu813 on August 27, 2023, 12:52:50 AM
^ the Emerald Trail route has been set for Laura Street for quite a while, because FSCJ didn't like the idea of the general public going through campus by right any time they wish.
Note: None of the plans mention the proposed UF campus, of course, but this location is definitely still in the running.
I was involved in the Emerald Trail planning discussion. FSCJ wanted the trail to be fenced off for campus security sake (it made sense) and GW Jax did not want that. GW pushed the Laura Street alignment. I personally believe it was a missed opportunity for both GW and FSCJ, to really enhance and integrate connectivity. This plan looks like a fail too in some critical areas. I would definitely fight any proposal that closes Pearl Street. I imagine they did not engage the Springfield, LaVilla and Downtown stakeholders about closing off an important corridor that connects multiple neighborhoods together.
With these types of master planning efforts, consideration must also be given to neighborhoods and the communities that surround these properties.
I'm astonished by how this plan just chooses not to act like the downtown campus is a downtown campus. Even putting aside Pearl (which sounds like a nonstarter, and you can probably achieve most of the intended goal with bollards and good street design) there just does not seem to be a good reason to set up the surface lots like this. It reminds me of looking at LaVilla School of the Arts, essentially taking up space for the sake of it.
GW Jax probably made their decision based on avoiding the trail being effectively an alleyway but I still think the more essential question is why these three blocks along Laura St should be surface parking for a college campus in the first place. Even their plan from 2006 (https://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,20140.msg354899.html#msg354899) at least proposes new academic buildings or garages on those lots, but if those aspirations are no longer relevant even in the long-term "legacy" period then those parcels' use to FSCJ seems worth evaluating before we spend the money on the trail.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Neighborhoods/FCCJ-Downtown-Campus/i-TB8H5vm/0/L/FCCJDowntownCampusMasterPlan-L.jpg)
They haven't really done much to implement anything of the 2006 master plan. It was better by far.
It certainly looked more intentional about at least acknowledging the surrounding neighborhood. I'd still argue it could have been more compact (Hogan St can arguably be the eastern boundary of campus and the buildings pushed to the west in both of these plans) but there's clearly a greater deal of consideration.
I haven't followed FSCJ's administration. My guess is there's someone new in charge (at least since the last plan was done), that has put their own personal preferences into this version. That person likely does not reside in downtown or one of the adjacent neighborhoods. Like the old one, it won't get implemented either. They aren't doing any of this without outside funding and working with the surrounding community. Plus it will be interesting to see how this UF thing plays out. Those parking lots could possibly be UF's campus, with a completely different master plan for that specific institution.
Quote from: marcuscnelson on August 28, 2023, 03:09:07 PM
It certainly looked more intentional about at least acknowledging the surrounding neighborhood. I'd still argue it could have been more compact (Hogan St can arguably be the eastern boundary of campus and the buildings pushed to the west in both of these plans) but there's clearly a greater deal of consideration.
I have never seen an institution of higher education, unless they are going out of business, sell off land, only acquire more. Just like our hospitals. As in the discussion about UNF growing by 50%, UF coming to town or JU adding programs, they all are ready to gobble up more real estate. Check out almost any decent size school in the country, comparing today to even 20 or 30 years ago, and you are most likely to see much larger real estate holdings.
In this area, given our history of population growth, the worthiness of holding or increasing real estate for the future makes even more sense.
By the way, despite being downtown, FSCJ impresses me as being mostly a commuter school so I don't see parking lots going away there anytime soon. The campus was built on the edge of the north core as an "urban renewal" project (Lake could probably fill in the history of change in the area) built on blocks that could be cheaply assembled into a campus-type environment back in the day and because it made sense to have a campus centrally located. Conveniently, it would appear it also acted as a buffer between downtown and a "changing" Springfield at the time.