FAMU opens new dining facility near new dorms and band practice field

FAMU has opened a second on campus dining facility located on the south end of the campus next to the newest residence hall, the FAMU Towers, the Marching 100 band practice field, and the Palmetto Street Apartments.

The 10,872-square-foot building has a seating capacity of 330, indoors and outdoors, and includes a satellite business center that includes  copy, and print mail services, and a self-operated convenience store. 

The facility also has a cozy private room that can be reserved for special events.

Facility plagued by delays and cost overruns

The new facility has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. When the new dining facility was initially approved in March 2018, FAMU allowed $2.7 million for its construction.

In July 2017 FAMU Trustees authorized the university to shift more than $7 million in auxiliary reserves (housing, parking and dining) to complete the facility.  At the time, then VP of Finance Richard Schweigert pointed out that "the Dining Hub shell was originally estimated to cost $1.57 million, however, the bids came in at $4.5 million --- nearly $3million more than expected.

By September 2019, trustees approved another $1.6 million in funding from the auxiliary reserve fund to complete the build out of the interior of the facility and equip it. 

By December 2020, FAMU Board of Trustee documents showed that the cost of facility has skyrocketed to nearly $11 million up from $9.3 million in February 2020.

Feds wipeout debt

The cost of the new dining HUB was included in the $126m loan package the university borrowed from the federal government through the HBCU Capital Finance program to construct the new 700 bed FAMU Towers housing complex. Congress discharged that debt , along with $1.3 billion in debt owed the federal government by other HBCUs in December 2020 as part of the FY 2020-21 spending package.