Construction on the 550-space garage — part of a $23 million project that includes a residence hall — began last summer and was completed by the new year.
“This addresses a longtime need for the college to increase the number of parking spaces for faculty, students and staff,” said College President Dr. William T. Abare Jr. “The response from the public has been very encouraging. Concerns about traffic and congestion have proven so far to be unfounded.”
The five-level garage sits on the site of the college’s existing FEC Residence Hall property — the historic former headquarters of Florida East Coast Railway that the college converted to student residences after acquiring the property in 2006. Stellar of Jacksonville was the general contractor on the project, and PQH Group of Jacksonville the architect.
Abare added that there are also plans to extend use of the garage to the public.
“During the summer and winter breaks, when students, faculty and staff aren’t using it, we’ll work with the city to make it available for the general public,” he said. “It will help alleviate some of the stress in the downtown area, particularly during the Christmas season when we have so many visitors to the community.”
The new residence hall is expected to be completed by this fall.
