by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
A City-owned building that’s used as a dorm for medical students at Shands Jacksonville may be getting much-needed renovations.
Built in the 1950s, the three-story brick building is leased to Shands and subleased to the University of Florida.
According to Sherry Hall of the Mayor’s office, the top two floors are leased to Shands and need a lot of work. The legislation appropriates $3.28 million for new windows, a sprinkler system, roof, electrical work, plumbing, heating and air, carpet and more.
“About 600 students pass through the building a year,” said Hall, adding there are 35 rooms for students of the hospital.
Students stay in single, double and triple-occupancy rooms and share 13 bathrooms, a kitchen and dining area, a study hall and a laundry facility.
According to the legislation, the funds will come from the Authorized Capital Projects/Reserves-City Council fund. The source of that fund is the 2007 refinancing of several bond issues. Those bonds were refinanced at a lower interest rate and helped Shands repay the City $18.7 million for bonds the City had previously issued on behalf of Shands.
The funds were applied to several capital projects and $5 million was set aside in the 2008-09 fiscal year budget for projects at Shands. Hall said the reminder of the $5 million was used to purchase the Blood Bank facility near Shands.
Hall said the work will begin after Council approves the legislation and the project is put to bid. Once those bids have been received, evaluated and approved, the work will begin in phases. The dorm, Hall said, will not be gutted and some medical students will be able to remain in the dorm while the work is being performed.
“The work must be done by Sept. 30, 2011,” said Hall.
Officials from the University of Florida did not return calls seeking comment.
356-2466