Feb. Arena District Update

Feb. Arena District Update

CRA board gets update on Civic Center, "arena district' plans

"City and county commissioners did, however, hear grand preliminary plans to build an “arena district” with the Civic Center at the hub. Representatives from Florida State’s Real Estate Foundation said master planning will continue for the next four to six months. No financial requests were made during the meeting to support the district’s ambitious projects.
The Civic Center sits on a near 20-acre parcel and somewhere between 20 to 30 acres surrounding the 32-year-old facility makes up the arena district, a new term used to describe the urban vision for the prime area. Plans for the district envision a new convention center, hotel and retail space, new athletics training area and relocating FSU’s Dedman School of Hospitality.

Plans so far outline six components for the district: academics, athletics, retail and lifestyle options, a convention campus, signature outdoor attractions and green space and connectivity.

“It needs to be the right mix and that’s something we will rely heavily on with our master planner,” said Kevin Graham, executive director of FSU’s Real Estate Foundation. "


"The agency board, made up of city and county commissioners, is getting an update on Florida State University’s proposed plan to build an “arena district” that envisions a convention hotel, athletic training facilities, shopping and a site for FSU’s Dedman School of Hospitality.
The project, which borders FSU's proposed Madison Mile project, spans from Doak Campbell Stadium to the now FSU-owned Civic Center (authority shifted following last year’s legislative action to change operation management from the Leon County Civic Center Authority to FSU).

Behind the scenes, conversations among some groups would like to see bed tax money be used to build a new conference center. "