UF West Palm campus plan is fizzling out, but more "top" schools may be interested.

WEST PALM BEACH — Talks are afoot to lure a top, private, out-of-state university in a bid to replace a University of Florida downtown graduate campus as the highly-touted proposal remains stalled with no resolution in sight.

West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James said Monday that "conversations are taking place behind the scenes" to possibly bring another university to the city. "We have the land," James said.

James would not name any names, nor did he indicate a firm deal was afoot.

But his comments followed similar remarks made earlier that afternoon by Related Cos. partner Gopal Rajegowda during a panel discussion on West Palm Beach real estate, hosted by the Urban Land Institute.

During the Monday presentation, Rajegowda noted the once hoped-for UF campus was up in the air. Then Rajegowda added that "another university is excited about bringing a campus to the downtown."

Prior story: Is University of Florida's grad school campus in West Palm Beach in peril?

Other coverage: Jeff Greene: UF offered to name West Palm graduate school after me. 'A deal's a deal.'

Read also: UF campus West Palm Beach is on hold due to 'regrettable division' in the community

Ken Himmel, chief executive of Related Urban, later elaborated. Himmel said potential institutions include top, private, out-of-state universities familiar to generous billionaire philanthropists who live in nearby Palm Beach.

“There are a couple of universities that are interested. Conversations are happening,” Himmel said.

If new universities are interested, West Palm mayor would lead those discussions

The effort this time around would be led by Mayor James, who planned to bring everyone “back to the table,” Himmel added.

The possibility of another university coming downtown could revive efforts to enhance the city’s already bustling business climate. Business leaders say a downtown graduate campus would bring thousands of students to the area and attract even more companies and jobs.

"Assembling this land, bringing a really great university and graduate programs to West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County is still a great idea," Himmel said.

UF campus plan remains stymied in a dispute among billionaire donors

The revelation comes six weeks after the state's flagship university said it had "paused" its plans for a 12-acre graduate program in downtown West Palm Beach.

That plan, first announced in 2021, would have created the West Palm Beach Global Center for Technology and Innovation. The campus would have featured graduate programs focused on technology, innovation, artificial intelligence and financial technology.

Five acres from Palm Beach County and two acres from the city were quickly earmarked for the UF campus.

Public and private money also poured in. In 2022, the state legislature awarded UF $100 million for the campus, and Palm Beach philanthropists pledged another $100 million.

Jeff Greene: UF offered to name West Palm graduate school after me. 'A deal's a deal.'

But after more than a year of negotiation, the campus plan hit a major roadblock, according to an investigation by the Palm Beach Post published on Feb.15.

UF, based in Gainesville, and a key downtown landowner, Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene, couldn't agree on terms for Greene's donation of five acres. A deal to sell Greene's land to UF also was unsuccessful.

On Feb. 28, after the Post’s disclosure of the stalemate, UF said it would "pause" efforts to build the West Palm Beach campus. Instead, the project would be folded into a six-month review of UF’s programs, UF said.

In its statement, UF noted “regrettable divisions in the local community” as the reason for pursuing other options.

“UF is committed to being a unifying presence throughout the state and does not want to divide communities we aim to serve,” the statement said. “The university has an obligation to the public to take a fresh look at any possible South Florida graduate campus.”

That announcement also coincided with an unrelated change in the 170-year-old university's leadership as former Nebraska U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse took charge as the institution's 13th president. Former UF president Ken Fuchs had been involved in the proposed West Palm Beach campus from the start.

More "Wall Street South:" Related Cos. plans largest office complex in West Palm Beach

Whether the UF deal is dead or on life support, those involved aren't saying

After the announcement of a delay in moving forward on the West Palm Beach campus, Palm Beach County business and government leaders all expressed hope that a deal still could be done.

On Monday, James said he wasn’t “totally giving up on the University of Florida.” But James acknowledged he couldn't say whether the deal is dead or "on life support."

Neither could Greene.

In an interview on Tuesday, Greene said he still is waiting for UF to complete its evaluation.

Greene said Sasse made clear to him in several recent conversations that UF put the West Palm Beach campus on hold because it wanted to ensure the right programs, degrees and budgets were in place.

Green said land donation wasn't a factor, suggests UF is deciding whether they even want a campus

Greene said Sasse told him that details over land donation terms weren’t a factor.

“I think they’re trying to decide if they even want to have any campus,” Greene said.

Greene also said he suggested to James that if UF doesn’t want to come to West Palm Beach, the city issue a request for proposals. Greene said he remains eager to "help build a great school in this community.”

But Greene said it was appropriate to wait a few more months before officials seek other suitors to occupy the prime downtown land.

In a statement issued Tuesday, UF reiterated that the West Palm Beach campus "is now part of our larger six-month strategic review of geographic partnerships." UF didn't elaborate on the status of the review.

Jacksonville emerges as new UF satellite campus with health and artificial intelligence programs

Around the same time that UF was backpedaling on a West Palm Beach campus, the university announced a proposed campus in Jacksonville. In February, UF said the campus would focus on fields such as health care.

"University of Florida and city leaders today committed to a partnership to explore creating a new graduate campus in Jacksonville focused on the introduction of innovative programs in medicine, business and engineering," the university said in a statement on Feb. 7.

By March, the campus was slated to also include artificial intelligence and financial technology, also known as fintech. Fintech programs had been earmarked for the proposed West Palm Beach campus.

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Kelly Smallridge, president of Palm Beach County's Business Development Board, said her heart sank when she saw that fintech was planned for Jacksonville. Smallridge also said discussions between UF and local business leaders to shape the curriculum for graduate programs in West Palm Beach have ceased.

"I am very discouraged," Smallridge said. "We were very certain this would happen as part of our economic development initiative. But I'm not going to write it off. Hopefully, (UF) needed time, and that's where they're at right now."

Meanwhile, the Jacksonville UF campus plan is gaining momentum.

In March, the Jacksonville city council voted to give UF $50 million over three years for the campus.

UF also could tap the $100 million in state dollars intended for West Palm Beach. If the campus doesn't materialize, UF could vote to use the money "in a location outside of Palm Beach County," according to the state's 2022-23 budget.

Alexandra Clough is a business writer and columnist at the Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at aclough@pbpost.com. Twitter: @acloughpbp. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Could University of Florida be replaced in West Palm Beach campus?