1492 replies to this topic

[prahaboheme]

Hard to believe it's been only 2 terms for Dyer.

[bic]

Orlando Population No. 3 in State

Quote

Orlando is estimated to have a population of about 2.22 million as of April 1, up from 2.13 million on April 1, 2010...In the Sunshine State, South Florida ranked No.1 with a population of 5.67 million followed by Tampa (2.8 million). Jacksonville ranked No.4 with a population of 1.4 million and Sarasota/Bradenton came in fifth (718,532).

[spenser1058]

prahaboheme, on 03 April 2012 - 06:46 PM, said:

Hard to believe it's been only 2 terms for Dyer.

Well, 2 and change since he finished Glenda's last term but good news nevertheless!

[XpressEnterprise]

Buddy Dyer Wins Again!

[DeepEyez]

YES!!!!

[spenser1058]

"Want to buy a mall? Orlando Fashion Square is up for sale."

http://www.orlandose...0,2468636.story

Interesting details about its sub-par sales per square foot. Of course, if anyone at City Hall were thinking about the future of downtown, they would attempt to leverage the sale to a great opportunity to move retail back to the core where it started by finding an alternative use for the mall, but as usual when it comes to downtown retail (other than bars), all we hear are the sound of crickets. But I'm not bitter!

[Downtown Steve]

I welcome the day that we find out someone is buying the land and redeveloping it.  Some nice vertical buildings on Colonial would be great stair casing down and connecting to Baldwin Park.  With Cady Way Trail going right through it in a Winter Garden like thoroughfare.

It's a beautiful dream

In the meantime, Colonial Plaza has to be smiling.

[ct36]

Not sure where else to put this, but YSL is opening a boutique at the Mall at Millenia.
I am glad to hear about the sale of the Fashion Square. The area is not that nice, but with Baldwin Park now I think it could easily turn around. While it wouldn't likely attract tourists, renovating this mall and adding more/better stores would really win over the locals!

[ThatFloridaDudeJ]

I have ran out of my Orlando Sentinal monthly readings, what are some plans for the mall area?

[Downtown Steve]

There won't be any plans anytime soon at least until there is a buyer unless the City steps in.

I guess there are 3 general outcomes that could happen:

1) Another firm purchases the mall and invests in improving it.

2) The mall is repurposed into a school, corporate center, or other facility.

3) The land is repurposed, mall may/may not be retained in current form, likely infill development over much of surface parking.

[FLClarkKent]

I think this is exciting news. Lots of potential for redevelopment at this mall, along with the rest of that stretch of Colonial (all the way down to 436).

[klstorey]

Downtown Steve, on 04 May 2012 - 06:54 AM, said:

There won't be any plans anytime soon at least until there is a buyer unless the City steps in.

I guess there are 3 general outcomes that could happen:

1) Another firm purchases the mall and invests in improving it.

2) The mall is repurposed into a school, corporate center, or other facility.

3) The land is repurposed, mall may/may not be retained in current form, likely infill development over much of surface parking.

I do agree that maybe retail isn't best for this location anymore.  I would love to see the mall taken over by more offices and maybe a good museum or two.  Heck, why not have Full Sail buy it?  Studio space, a large movie theater on site, it would be perfect for them.

FLClarkKent, on 04 May 2012 - 08:15 AM, said:

I think this is exciting news. Lots of potential for redevelopment at this mall, along with the rest of that stretch of Colonial (all the way down to 436).

The East Colonial Drive Vision that the city has was updated in Feb-March.  In those reports it shows the older plans for Fashion Square having both indoor and outdoor shopping and a residential component added to the eastern edge of the mall property.  The city seems to be designing its plans around the assumption that this and the GOAA property plans are both still in place.

That makes me wonder who ever buys the mall would surely at least be made aware of these plans and possibly pressured by local stakeholders (like the city officially or unofficially) to continue with these remodeling plans.

Check out the Bennett Road and Herndon Ave presentations for the most details on the Fashion Sq plans.  It even looks like the city is planning on adding a couple of new roads in that area to connect to this proposed residential addition to the mall.

[Downtown Steve]

These plans remind me of the presentations for the Semoran Blvd visioning plan.   Very modest and hopefully bigger plans are made behind the scenes while this just serves as a planning exercise.

I mean it doesn't take a lot of "vision" to stick a Dunkin Donuts in the empty lot next to the Arby's.  I don't think that a lack of intersection enhancemnets are what is keeping Dunkin away.