Second land swap for University of Florida graduate campus advances through DIA

[thelakelander]

The city of Jacksonville is a step closer to providing the final piece of public property sought by the University of Florida for its Downtown graduate campus after action July 16 by the Downtown Investment Authority board.

The board voted 7-0 to recommend a land swap agreement to obtain an undeveloped 2.04-acre lot along West Bay Street that would be conveyed to UF for the LaVilla campus.

The Bay Street lot, surrounded on three sides by the grounds and parking lot of the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, is owned by multifamily developer Vestcor Inc.

Under the exchange approved by the DIA board, the city would provide Vestcor with municipally owned property at 200 N. Lee St., four blocks north of the Vestcor parcel and near Interstate 95.

Full article: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2025/jul/16/second-land-swap-for-university-of-florida-graduate-campus-advances-through-dia-board/

[Jagsdrew]

Have we seen further renderings of what each building will look like on each block of land?

[thelakelander]

No, they don't really have any real renderings. They aren't that far along in their planning. It will take some years before anything is designed, permitted and approved, outside of them filling up the vacant office building already on site.

[Jagsdrew]

Got it - I just didn't know if they actually have put forth to the city an actual layout of their campus and everything.

[thelakelander]

Nothing in concrete as they still don't ultimately know what they'll be doing. There are some massing models that have been produced but nothing I'd promote as a true project design or layout. I'll post them here after my meetings today are over.

[jaxlongtimer]

Hundreds of millions raised for a far from specific project... like the U2C.  I support UF coming to Jax but I sure hope they deliver on all the hype.  Not like U2C.