Adam RollinsThe Jacksonville City Council has unanimously approved the land transfer of five properties and $105 million to the University of Florida (UF) to build a graduate center campus. Construction is expected to begin in 2026.
The city will convey the following properties to UF:
- The 2.85-acre former Interline Brands Inc. and grounds.
- A vacant 2.36-acre parcel labeled Site A adjacent to the Interline building.
- A nearby 1.22-acre vacant property labeled Site B.
- An option on the Jacksonville Terminal train station.
- An option on a 14.7-acre section of the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center attached to the train station, including its grounds and parking lot.
Work on the Interline parcel will prioritize higher education space and retail amenities. The building will be turned into the initial administrative, academic and research facility for the campus, including dedicated space for flexible faculty offices, common space, student support services and dining options.
Redevelopment plans for the Site A and B parcels will center around constructing a combined 80,000 square feet of new buildings. Additional planned features will include structured parking, retail space, landscaping, passive parks and horizontal and vertical improvements.
The portion of the convention center conveyed to the university will be redeveloped in ways similar to Sites A and B. Project prioritizations include building a Class A structure containing classrooms, research and laboratory space and various other uses and services supporting campus operations. The university may also build either a structured or shared parking facility with the adjacent train station. Additional construction may take place over the next 15 years before full buildout is completed.
The university will renovate the train station parcel to better suit campus needs by installing food and beverage establishments and other retail venues. Plans include installing a train station ticket booth supporting public transit needs alongside other improvements.
Located in downtown Jacksonville, UF plans to bring the Florida Semiconductor Institute to the approximately 20-acre campus within the next two years. The university has already acquired $245 million in state funding and private donations to advance the project. The university has commenced site preparation in anticipation of launching degree programs in an existing building next year, with new building construction following.
Photo by Mike Jones from Pexels
