LaVilla will officially be the site of a proposed University of Florida graduate center campus after a vote Dec. 13 by the university Board of Trustees.
Meeting in Gainesville, the board unanimously agreed to select property around the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center as the campus site and delegate authority to interim UF president Kent Fuchs and board chair Mori Hosseini to negotiate with the city of Jacksonville on conveyance of the parcels.
A conceptual site map of the campus shows buildings to the north of the Jacksonville Terminal train station and west from the historic terminal to the Forsyth Street exit of Interstate 95. The center will include the Florida Semiconductor Institute, with possible degree offerings in such areas as business management; data analytics; computer science with concentration in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity; law; and biomedical and health sciences.
Hosseini said the campus would also include ground-floor retail and restaurants, plus housing.
Together, the campus and Florida Semiconductor Institute have drawn $330 million in funding, comprising $250 million for the school and $80 million in state funding for the institute.
The state of Florida has committed $150 million for the school, while the city of Jacksonville is contributing $50 million and private donors are providing another $50 million.
Mayor Donna Deegan said Dec. 12 she planned to seek another $50 million in city funding for the semiconductor facility, adding that the initial economic impact of the institute alone is over $100 million. She said she was confident City Council sees the value in the investment as a driver of Downtown revitalization, a provider of talented employees for the local workforce, a research center and more.
“I know it’s a big chunk,” she said of the additional funding. “But you have to invest in those things that you know that 10, 20, 30 years out are going to continue to provide revenue for the community and continue to provide the type of workforce development and members of our community that we’re excited to have here.”
Plans for the center begin with construction on two lots: a grass parking lot directly north of the Jacksonville Terminal train station and an adjacent paved parking lot to the east, across Park Street. The lots comprise six parcels, five of which combine for 1.33 acres bordered by Bay Street, Forsyth Street, LaVilla Center North and Lee Street.
The sixth property is 2.26 acres next to the east at Lee, Forsyth and Bay streets.
Officials say UF will start classes in the fall of 2026 in a spot other than the two properties, possibly an existing building. About 1,000 students are expected to be enrolled at that time.
UF negotiated with JEA for space in the utility’s headquarters at 225 N. Pearl St., but no agreement was reached.
Deegan said the newer part of the convention center could be razed to make way for new construction, but not imminently. She said the demolition would occur far enough in the future that the city would have time to develop and build a new convention center.
The board vote came after Deegan sent a letter to Hosseini and Fuchs on Dec. 5 identifying the Prime Osborn site as the city’s preferred choice for the campus. UF had narrowed its choices to the LaVilla location, the fairgrounds property near EverBank Stadium and parcels near the Florida State College at Jacksonville Downtown Campus.
Deegan said the Downtown Investment Authority board would consider conveying the two initial properties in January.