193 replies to this topic

[jack]

That is true. Worked on a Trader Joes a few years back and they could not get their products here.

[Downtown Steve]

Last holdout sells property to developer of Mills Park

Edited by Downtown Steve, 19 March 2012 - 08:15 PM.

[Pete C]

I am really looking forward to this project getting off the ground! I can't believe this guy originally turned down $700,000 for that place. He is out of his mind for sure.

Edited by Pete C, 21 March 2012 - 08:35 AM.

[jnorlando]

There has been some movement on the property.  Some bulldozers and other heavy equipment.  They've moved some dirt around but there is no clear indication of what they are doing.

[Downtown Steve]

The Locally Preferred Alternative for LYMMO will it's connection to Mills Park on the north extension.

[FLheat]

jnorlando, on 15 May 2012 - 10:47 AM, said:

There has been some movement on the property.  Some bulldozers and other heavy equipment.  They've moved some dirt around but there is no clear indication of what they are doing.

This could be for the construction of the Urban Trail.  As of last week they got up to Virginia.  I will try to run that route in the next day or two.  The construction of this trail is taking forever, I really don't know what the hold up has been on this and the sidewalks around Lake Ivanhoe.

[FLheat]

FLheat, on 17 May 2012 - 08:42 AM, said:

This could be for the construction of the Urban Trail.  As of last week they got up to Virginia.  I will try to run that route in the next day or two.  The construction of this trail is taking forever, I really don't know what the hold up has been on this and the sidewalks around Lake Ivanhoe.

Nope, I don't think that's it, looks like the trail dead ends at Virginia for now.

http://www.cityoforl...ion_Meeting.pdf

[Downtown Steve]

This one seems to be more current:

http://www.cityoforl...railreduced.pdf

[bulldogger]

They have the trail going into that property now.  It is paved for about 30 yards past Virginia Drive as of Friday.  Also, the work at Lake Ivanhoe includes improvements to the exercise equipment along the trail.  It is taking a long time, but they are also making enhancements to the lights and it appears to be drainage, irrigation, and electrical conduits.  A nice touch overall.  I just hope the Oak trees don't upend and break the sidewalks in 2 years like the old sidewalks.  I'm guessing the size of the concrete "slabs" will deter this from happening.

[FLheat]

Here's an email I received from the city Project Manager:


Thank you for your interest in the Orlando Urban Trail and the Gaston Edwards Park Trail Projects. I have also been looking forward to the completion of the projects.  I have been working on the various stages of the project development for several years. It is exciting that we are getting close to their completion.  The process of acquiring federal grant funding, for the  design, right-of-way and construction along with acquiring the property from the railroad and private developers has  been challenging.

Both projects are currently scheduled for substantial completion in the middle of June.  At that point the projects would be open to public use.  Right now, the area is an active construction site and is not open to the public.  That is why there are still some unfinished sections.

The City bid both projects together so one contractor could achieve of an economy of scale by completing two similar projects at the same time in a close proximity.  The City's agreement with the contractor allowed them a certain number of days to complete the project by.  The agreement allowed for approximately 4.5 months and the contractor has been granted an extension of approximately 2 weeks due to combination of some unforeseen conditions in the projects.

There are portions of the Gaston Edwards Park trail opening that have been delayed due utility conflicts near Magnolia and due to the replacement of two stormwater pipes in the park. The stormwater project is resulting in several major utility relocations that are taking a significant amount of time. That work is nearing completion so we will be able to complete the trail gaps in the park.

The paving of the Orlando Urban Trail including the segment behind Mills Park is now all complete and most of the concrete work is almost done.  The irrigation system is in place and sodding has started.  The dry conditions over the last few months made local sod availability difficult.  Signage has been installed in many areas and the exercise equipment in Gaston Edwards Park has been installed.

In all fairness, our Contractor is committed to completing a quality project within the allowable amount of time.  They really do take pride in their work.  Over the next two to three weeks many items will be coming together and it will start looking more like a finished product. Several areas that were almost finished, but delayed due to the utilities should be done.

As far as the segment from Church Street to Magnolia, there are some smaller projects that make up the overall approach to finishing the complete trail.

• Gertrude's Walk from Church to Washington - Was renovated in 2010 and the concrete walkway is currently in place.
  
• There is a design build grant project that Lynx is managing to extend Gertrude's Walk from Washington St to Lynx Central Station.  I believe this is currently planned to occur over the 2nd half of 2012 and in 2013. (Design Phase and Construction Phase)
  
• The City is pursuing grant funding for the segment from Lynx Central Station to Magnolia.  This project is not currently funded, but we have applied for Federal Funding.  It includes a trail overpass across Colonial near the railroad corridor.

The City is completing the Mills Park segment right now.  The pavement is actually already done and our contractor has started sodding in that area. In 2010, we knew the timing of the part south of Virginia, yet Mills Park remained uncertain, so the City amended the agreement with the developer of Mills Park at the time, Pelloni and the City received all the needed right-of-way from them and the ability to build it ourselves so we would not have a gap in the trail.  Next we get FDOT to provide us additional grant funding and they let us extend the limits of the grant.  While Mills Park was originally required to build this segment, they were scheduled to build it several years ago.  With the economy the way it has been, no development is certain.

As you may be aware, Debartalo Development recently purchased Mills Park and has started the process for amending the PD.  We are hopeful that they will move forward with the development of their site soon.  The prospects of some retail and restaurant uses right along the trail are exciting.  They will be responsible for landscaping the trail and maintaining the landscaping.  Right now we are just placing a bare bones level of just sod in this segment. The construction activity on the site is actually our trail contractor using it as a staging area.

I hope this answers your questions.  I have also included a link to a recently completed Northeast Trails Map for the City.

http://www.cityoforl...railreduced.pdf

It represents the network that is scheduled to be in place by Mid June.  It also includes an extension of Cady Way that we completed in early December.

We are starting to plan a Ribbon Cutting event for the middle of July.  We hope to see you there and look forward to seeing you out running on the trail.

[FLheat]

Quote

The City is pursuing grant funding for the segment from Lynx Central Station to Magnolia.  This project is not currently funded, but we have applied for Federal Funding.  It includes a trail overpass across Colonial near the railroad corridor

I am encouraged to hear this, currently it is a long wait and dangerous to cross Colonial.  As I runner, I will use this path quite a bit.

[Downtown Steve]

Wow that is interesting!

Here's the City's proposal to Metroplan: http://www.metroplan...al_overpass.pdf

Edited by Downtown Steve, 21 May 2012 - 06:22 PM.

[Downtown Steve]

Back to Mills Park -

Here is a more recent, and unfortunately scaled back rendering and brochure from DeBartolo - including a parking deck being replaced by a lot on the western half.  Nothing that can't be added on to later though -

http://www.debartolo...s-park-ppt.html

Edited by Downtown Steve, Today, 06:24 PM.

[klstorey]

Wow, this new rendering is a huge let down from the original proposal.  I was really looking forward to the density that the development was going to bring to the area.  A strip mall with an apartment building next to it is not what the area needs.  Surface parking, single stories, this is the exact opposite of what Orlando needs.