College Drive Initiative Updates

The College Drive Initiative continues to advance through planning, public engagement, and strategic development. Below is a timeline of key milestones.

• January 2025: The College Drive Visioning and Strategic Development Charrette was completed and presented to the Board of County Commissioners. View the College Drive Visioning and Strategic Development Charrette Presentation and the Action Plan Report .
• July 2024: The Board of County Commissioners selected Kimley-Horn as the consultant for the College Drive Charrette to refine recommendations from a Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) Study conducted by the Urban Land Institute of North Florida (ULI) . This effort included stakeholder meetings, surveys, and public engagement.
• December 2022: The Board approved the Technical Assistance Panel to develop a long-term plan for enhancing the socioeconomic trajectory, livability, and mobility of the 2.5-mile College Drive corridor from Blanding Boulevard to County Road 220.
• December 2021: The Board officially embraced the College Drive Initiative and moved into the conceptual planning phase. The community is encouraged to help shape the vision by emailing collegedriveinitiative@gmail.com or following the initiative on Facebook for updates and upcoming events.

History of the College Drive Initiative

The College Drive Initiative was launched in November 2020 to bring together local nonprofits, businesses, educational institutions, and community stakeholders to create a shared vision for the future of the College Drive corridor. Centered around the Thrasher-Horne Center as a cultural hub, the initiative focuses on strengthening the area's economic vitality, mobility, and quality of life.

Throughout 2021, more than 150 residents, nonprofit organizations, Clay County staff, St. Johns River State College, the Thrasher-Horne Center, and local business owners participated in deliberative forums developed through the Kettering Foundation. These discussions produced several key priorities for the corridor.

Destination

College Drive has the potential to become a destination for higher education, community services, dining, entertainment, and social gatherings. Rather than serving only as a transportation corridor, residents envisioned it becoming a vibrant center of community life in north-central Clay County.

Public Education

Participants identified the need to educate residents about the many educational opportunities and human service organizations located along College Drive. Building greater awareness can help establish a recognizable identity for the corridor.

Safety and Aesthetics

Community members emphasized the importance of intersection improvements, enhanced landscaping, and safe pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Many participants also supported creating a master plan or design overlay to guide future development.

Community Events

Regular community events, such as food truck gatherings and festivals, were identified as opportunities to strengthen neighborhood connections and encourage residents to enjoy everything the College Drive corridor has to offer.