The Jacksonville, Florida, City Council has given final approval to legislation providing city funding and property for the University of Florida to build a graduate center campus.
The Jacksonville Daily Record reports that the city is conveying five properties to the university and contributing $105 million in Duval County taxpayer funding to the campus.
The university says it has amassed $245 million in state funding and private donations for the campus. It plans to begin offering classes later this year and begin its first new construction shortly after.
Plans for the campus include bringing the Florida Semiconductor Institute to the site in as little as two years.
The ordinance provides five properties and two equal tranches of $50 million in city funding. The properties that the city will convey to the university:
• The former Interline Brands Inc. and grounds. The 2.85-acre property has been valued at $6.35 million to $6.52 million.
• A vacant 2.36-acre parcel neighboring the Interline building. That parcel has been appraised at $2.35 million.
• A 1.22-acre vacant property that has been appraised at $1.84 million.
• An option on the $1.68 million historic Jacksonville Terminal train station.
• An option on the portion of the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center that is attached to the train station, plus its grounds and parking lot. That 14.1-acre property is valued at $15.52 million.
The university says its offerings at the Jacksonville campus will include a program that merges artificial intelligence with the medical field; science in management; engineering; computer science; and an MBA tailored toward working professionals.
