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Leaving the UCF campus looks really good now -- if you don't pay attention to all the empty lots around the University/Alafaya intersection, it looks like a walkable downtown. While I love the area around the arena, I think it's great to see denser (and frankly nicer-looking) development off-campus. I think it sets a whole new standard for East Orlando.
That being said, I think there's still a lot left to do in the area. I nerded out a little and drew a map of what I think it should look like (green = Sterling, orange = where roads should go, yellow = possible development). Let's ignore environmental and transit regulations for a second, and the fact that UCF would never sell its land east of Alafaya, and imagine a cool, walkable area with housing geared towards students but with retail on the bottom (think UCF arena area). Some really good restaurants and bars are already there (Lazy Moon, Jeremiah's, Anmol, Natura, etc.). If there was only a way for students to actually get there. Something as simple as through-streets would help a lot. Most international students don't have cars and it would be safer for people who are drinking to walk. It would also make bus routes more efficient. Anyway, just brainstorming...
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