Over a unanimous vote by Orlando city commissioners, UCF will receive public land valued at $14.6 million as part of a pledge between the two to advance the progress of UCF Downtown.
Approximately 11 acres out of the 68 acres planned for the campus will start the first phase of the project that includes the current site for the Center for Emerging Media and Nap Ford Community School.
A University of Central Florida Board of Trustees meeting agenda shows a Memorandum of Understanding, signed by UCF President John C. Hitt, has been met by the City of Orlando and university officials.
On February 8, 2016, the memorandum received approval from the Orlando City Council and, on February 16, 2016, President Hitt signed the document to complete its approval. The agreement sets forth the terms and conditions for the city’s donation of approximately 15 acres of property to UCF.
That month, commissioners approved $75 million in commitments to the project.
The Florida Board of Governors granted approval to UCF in the year since to develop the campus, although progress would be dependent on several factors, including securing ownership of the downtown property through a donation by the city.
A Purchase and Sale agreement between the two parties outlines the specific terms for the transfer of two sites of land. According to the Board of Governor’s, the transfer of the third site will occur at a later date.
Officials break ground in downtown Orlando on May 11, 2017, where construction of the campus will soon follow this summer.
Completion of the campus and its $60 million academic building will take place in time for 7,700 planned students to take classes in August 2019.
