USF ITN Details for The Claw

USF has released its second Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) for the development of The Claw into a P3 Mixed-Use District. With that, more details have emerged as to what the University is looking for in proposals.

Breaking down the document section by section, here are some of the more notable details:

Summary & Overview

• USF is looking to enter into a Public Private Partnership for the development of the property. The "property" is limited to the former golf course and explicitly states that it does not include the USF Forest Preserve.

• The university envisions the property as an on-campus district anchored by "housing (including student, faculty/staff, and multifamily), hospitality, green and recreational space, academic and research facilities, dining and retail, and other amenities."

• USF envisions this being a multi-phase project with "Phase 1" focusing on the southernmost area of the site (roughly 25-35 acres).

District Objectives

• After meeting with stakeholders, the project is guided by five strategic objectives:

  • Advance Strategic Priorities via a Public-Private Partnership

    • Every asset integrated into the development must purposefully tie to USF's mission, ensuring that the District not only leverages market opportunities but also serves as a catalyst for advancing USF's strategic objectives. Success for the District is contingent on achieving impacts beyond financial returns, such as increased student and faculty recruitment and retention, strengthening ties to the surrounding community, and fortifying USF’s place as a national and international leader in education.

  • Elevate the Campus Experience

    • To enhance the overall campus experience, the District must create a dynamic and inclusive physical space that fosters engagement among students, faculty, community members, and alumni. By encouraging students, faculty, and staff to spend more time on and around campus through a variety of activities, the District can help encourage increased levels of engagement among community members that will enrich their experience at USF and support their overall success.

  • Embrace USF's Unique Ecological Assets and Cultural History

    • The District must embrace the area’s unique environmental context as a means to creating a one-of-a-kind district that also preserves and protects the surrounding ecological assets.

    • USF has maintained, and has a disposition to maintain,

      a buffer area between the Site and the USF Forest Preserve, to

      ensure the integrity of the natural environment. Through this

      endeavor, the District aims to harmoniously integrate with the natural landscape, promoting connection to green spaces within and around the campus, including the USF Botanical Gardens, Cross-Campus Greenway, and USF Riverfront Park.

    • The District must also respect the cultural history and context of the area, fostering appreciation for the area’s heritage alongside its ecological assets.

  • Strengthen Connectivity throughout Campus and the Surrounding Community

    • Enhancing campus connectivity is a fundamental objective of the

      District, requiring the creation of pedestrian-friendly connection points across campus. Alignment with concurrent initiatives, such as the On-Campus Stadium District and MOSI Complex Redevelopment, is essential to maximize the potential impact of each independent initiative. The District is envisioned as a walkable district that is less dependent on car-oriented transit. This pedestrian-oriented approach will mitigate traffic, reducing noise and air pollution.

  • Promote USF's Unique Brand and Identity

    • To celebrate the USF brand and identity, the District will strategically help define USF’s northern gateway via Fletcher Avenue. The overarching objective is to cultivate a distinct Bulls Country atmosphere, not solely for enhancing the physical environment but also to underscore USF's impactful presence within the region and state. This initiative places a strong emphasis on incorporating a tangible USF "feel" and instilling a sense of place for USF and its broader community.

Envisioned Asset Summary and Desires

• Residential

  • The University is interested in exploring the delivery of upper division and graduate student housing as part of the District. The University is not interested in housing first year students on the Site.

  • Suppliers may propose any mix of market-responsive residential units targeting households that may consist of USF students, USF faculty and staff, as well as other members of the Tampa community who are seeking housing

• Retail (including Dining)

  • Retail should include a mix of retail tenants, such as restaurants, coffee shops, entertainment venues, soft goods, and amenity/service retail spaces. The University envisions a retail node with local, regional, and national tenants that can serve as an anchor and a destination in a market that currently contains limited retail options. USF anticipates a mix of tenants that promotes a local, USF “feel” and complements the District.

• Hospitality/Conference

  • USF envisions an upper midscale or higher scale hotel with conference space serving USF parents, alumni, guest faculty, researchers, visitors, and recruits, as well as other area visitors. This hotel will enable USF to host key constituents and further its relationship with alumni, visiting researchers, and donors.

• Greenspace/Recreation Areas

  • Greenspace and connective walkways should be thoughtfully incorporated throughout the District to enhance both the aesthetic and functional aspects of the Site. Both active and passive recreation areas should be considered, providing a range of activities for different users. USF envisions outdoor, programmable spaces that promote activation throughout the District.

• Academic and/or Research Space

  • There is a crucial need for additional academic and research space across USF. The District could help address this need. Quality facilities provide a conducive environment for collaboration and innovation, promoting knowledge dissemination, benefiting both the campus community and surrounding community.

  • In alignment with USF’s objectives as an R1, AAU institution, academic and research space as part of the District will directly address the University’s growing need for expanded wet-lab, dry lab, and science research facilities.

• Office

  • The University is interested in the delivery of a multi-purpose building that meets the need for both academic and/or research as well as office space.

Other Notes

• The northern portion of the site (approximately 100 acres) is currently used by the USF Men’s and Women’s golf team as a training complex. It includes a coaching facility with offices and locker rooms, plus a driving range, a putting green, a chipping green, and 3-full play golf holes (par 3, par

  4, and par 5 distances). As noted in Event Stage 1, USF prefers to preserve these facilities in some form but invites Suppliers to re-imagine these functions as part of its proposal; Suppliers may also leave them intact for the initial phase of the District.

• As detailed in Event Stage I, USF envisions enhanced connectivity between the Site and the campus located south of Fletcher Avenue, particularly along Genshaft Drive which intersects the Site and is a main campus connector roadway. USF is interested in exploring how to enhance connectivity to the Site by optimizing campus areas along the south side of Fletcher Avenue. As such, the selected scope of work for the initial development phase of the District could be expanded to include USF campus areas south of Fletcher Avenue near the Site. As a first step in establishing this enhanced connectivity, USF will consider, as an option, Supplier Bids that include redevelopment of an optional additional site currently occupied by the USF Police Department and an Auxiliary Services building (depicted below). Exploration of this optional additional site must appropriately account for underground utilities, the existing tree canopy, and the existing facilities which could be incorporated or relocated in concert with USF planning.

• Full document can be found here: https://usf.app.box.com/s/3qeyxmy0fec6y8uxjbg72qcwirlrpyzq