JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville City Council approved on Wednesday the last of six land transactions for the proposed University of Florida graduate campus in LaVilla, according to the Jacksonville Daily Record.
In a 17-0 vote, the city council approved the final land transaction, which officially initiates an exchange of city-owned property at 200 N. Lee St. to multifamily developer Vestcor Inc. for a 2.04-acre lot on West Bay Street near the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center.
Recommended Videos
RELATED | UF’s LaVilla graduate campus hosts site tour for over 50 interested developers
In June, the city council approved the land swap deal, officially making way for UF’s new graduate campus and the development of a key piece of riverfront property.
Under the UF agreement, the city committed to provide $100 million to establish the campus in LaVilla, plus a potential $5 million to purchase the West Bay Street lot. The land swap would eliminate the city’s need to spend the potential $5 million commitment.
In the land swap for the Jacksonville Landing site, now Riverfront Plaza, the city agreed to exchange that property plus an option on property adjacent to it for the former Interline Brands Inc. building at 801 W. Bay St.
The owner of the Bay Street property, the Gateway Jax development partnership, agreed to build a 17-story tower with a hotel, condos, restaurants, retail and public spaces on the Riverfront Plaza site as part of the exchange.
MORE | ‘A great mix’: Riverfront Plaza to bring fun for all to former Jacksonville Landing site
The city is providing UF with six properties totaling 25.28 acres and valued at $30.22 million to $31.62 million.
UF says it plans to open the LaVilla campus in the fall 2026 semester.