Winter Park & Maitland

[spenser1058]

I had always wondered if Rollins and/or the University of Tampa would seek to grow  and move to the next tier of private schools as their cities grew.

They seem to have made the decision to remain small. Of course, upping your game to the level of a Vandy, Emory or Duke requires quite an endowment (Emory, for example, runs on Coca-Cola money). It would be interesting to watch Rollins grow, extending the campus down Fairbanks most likely.

Otoh, Rollins is still one of the most beautiful campuses in the country and to grow significantly would affect not only the school but, by extension, Winter Park.

In a gentler time, the mantra of conservatives was, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Maybe that applies here.

[prahaboheme]

2 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

I had always wondered if Rollins and/or the University of Tampa would seek to grow  and move to the next tier of private schools as their cities grew.

They seem to have made the decision to remain small. Of course, upping your game to the level of a Vandy, Emory or Duke requires quite an endowment (Emory, for example, runs on Coca-Cola money). It would be interesting to watch Rollins grow, extending the campus down Fairbanks most likely.

Otoh, Rollins is still one of the most beautiful campuses in the country and to grow significantly would affect not only the school but, by extension, Winter Park.

In a gentler time, the mantra of conservatives was, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Maybe that applies here.

Rollins doesn’t need to “grow” per say to gain stature in the liberal arts colleges lane — see Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin, the Pomona colleges. They are a well regarded regional college that seems well connected locally. 

I always thought Stetson was well positioned to grow and expand, although they seem to be pretty context to also remain a regional player.

[Urban Mail Carrier]

I believe that Stetson and Rollins need to step up. Not to the size of another UCF but at least big enough to provide variety to our area. They need to provide a different perspective, more convenience,  more alternative.

Edited January 7, 2020 by Urban Mail Carrier

[spenser1058]

The Ruth’s Chris steak house at Winter Park Village will be torn down and rebuilt. The new version will be about 1500sf larger.

The article also notes the lifestyle Center is still up for sale if you have an extra $150 mil sitting around.

https://bungalower.com/2020/01/12/winter-park-steakhouse-to-be-razed-and-rebuilt/

From Bungalower 

[JFW657]

That seems like awfully extreme measures just to add 1,500 sq ft of space.

I guess they know what they're doing, though.

[spenser1058]

When it comes to cranky politics, WP is still the champ! A 12-hour meeting and still zero decisions- is this a great country or what?

These two perennials - the Canopy  project and the Orange Ave. Overlay - still await action by the city commission. Stay tuned!

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orange-county/os-ne-winter-park-canopy-construction-price-20200114-fcnbfdoeqvdcxc6b4ilozt4x54-story.html

From the Sentinel 

 

[spenser1058]

What could be the future of Orange Ave. over the next decade in WP. Check out Demetree’s plans for Winter Park Station (including the old Lombardi’s Seafood building).

Keep in mind this is Winter Park and they’ll likely argue about it all long past the time Buddy finally decides to retire next door in Orlando:

https://bungalower.com/2020/01/20/winter-park-approves-overlay-district/

From Bungalower 

[jrs2]

Ravadauge:

So, the first hotel is being built out along Lee Rd. and west of Ale House.  It looks sharp and ornate; reminds me of the Alfond Inn in a way.

That being said, as of earlier today, the hotel spoken of before slated to front 17/92, well, there is finally movement on the property.  The parcel is now getting dug on.  It might be the same construction crew as the other hotel. 

That development is going to look sharp when it nears completion.

[KJHburg]

went to downtown Winter Park for the first time today and I see why people love that town and suburb.  Very nice.  Love their signage for businesses. Pottery Barn   in the old theater looked great.  Drove through some the neighborhoods near Rollins College too very pretty. 

 

Edited January 22, 2020 by KJHburg

[nite owℓ]

23 hours ago, KJHburg said:

went to downtown Winter Park for the first time today and I see why people love that town and suburb.  Very nice.  Love their signage for businesses. Pottery Barn   in the old theater looked great.  Drove through some the neighborhoods near Rollins College too very pretty.

 

You certainly get around in a short amount of time and seem to have good orientation of the greater Orlando area, kudos. (I get lost very easily, even with GPS lol.)

If I had to do it all over again, I'd probably leave downtown Orlando for WP but hindsight is 20/20. The older I get, the more I appreciate WP's sanitized city, streetscape, stability and safety.

[Urban Mail Carrier]

Looks like The Edith Bush foundation is relocating across the street to 221 S Knowles. Apparently to make way for the demolition of their present building  at 199 W Welbourne.

[KJHburg]

4 hours ago, nite owℓ said:

You certainly get around in a short amount of time and seem to have good orientation of the greater Orlando area, kudos. (I get lost very easily, even with GPS lol.)

If I had to do it all over again, I'd probably leave downtown Orlando for WP but hindsight is 20/20. The older I get, the more I appreciate WP's sanitized city, streetscape, stability and safety.

Hey I like to see what makes a city tick so I always head downtown and can judge a city from how its downtown is and then I like non touristy places.  Sure did I stay on International Drive sure did and went to the Madame Tussauds and your ICON Wheel but I like to explore and see where the real folks live.  Driving from Winter Park to Lake Nona I saw areas few tourists see LOL.  

Winter Park is a great little suburb and I can see why people really like it. 

[spenser1058]

19 minutes ago, KJHburg said:

Hey I like to see what makes a city tick so I always head downtown and can judge a city from how its downtown is and then I like non touristy places.  Sure did I stay on International Drive sure did and went to the Madame Tussauds and your ICON Wheel but I like to explore and see where the real folks live.  Driving from Winter Park to Lake Nona I saw areas few tourists see LOL.  

Winter Park is a great little suburb and I can see why people really like it. 

It even made it into the original Preppy Handbook!

BTW, as a Charlotte resident, you might like this: the Iveys’ likely bought Yowell-Drew and brought the department store chain south to Florida as a result of vacationing in WP during the winter (basically the reverse of what we Florida leaf-peepers do in NC during the fall...) 

Edited January 24, 2020 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Winter Park has approved $41.7 million for the new library but don’t call it “Canopy”!

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orange-county/os-ne-winter-park-canopy-construction-price-20200128-up6ii7eutrgdjmv37g34f62xyq-story.html

From the Sentinel 

[JFW657]

Sooooooooo ugly.

Shades of the 1964 World's Fair revisited.

I hope they plant some trees around it to soften the appearance a bit.

[popsiclebrandon]

Ooooof where is that going? That doesn't fit Winter Park at all.

[jack]

MLK Park. Where the old civic center was. 

Edited January 29, 2020 by jack

[JFW657]

2 hours ago, popsiclebrandon said:

Ooooof where is that going? That doesn't fit Winter Park at all.

The word "pretentious" comes to mind.

[sethM]

It’s really missing some trees in the renderings, I think it’ll look great once the space is filled out a bit. 

[JFW657]

10 minutes ago, sethM said:

It’s really missing some trees in the renderings, I think it’ll look great once the space is filled out a bit. 

Hopefully the trees will quickly grow tall enough to completely obscure the buildings. 

[codypet]

13 hours ago, JFW657 said:

Sooooooooo ugly.

Shades of the 1964 World's Fair revisited.

I hope they plant some trees around it to soften the appearance a bit.

I'm reminded of the Jetsons for some reason.

[JFW657]

9 minutes ago, codypet said:

I'm reminded of the Jetsons for some reason.

Exactly.

A similarity that is not lost on others as well....

 

[jgardnerucf]

I see 2 wesley snipes' demolition man hair cuts peeking over a wall. 

[HankStrong]

1 hour ago, JFW657 said:

The word "pretentious" comes to mind.

So, you're saying it does fit?

[spenser1058]

15 minutes ago, HankStrong said:

So, you're saying it does fit?

I was going to say - we’re talking Winter Park, for heaven’s sake.

Further, this is located in an area that has no dominant architectural style (especially with the demise of the Mt. Vernon Inn, the predominant aesthetic is highway bland).

Given the state office building (that forced the rerouting of I4) that would fit into a retro modern motif has been there since the ‘50’s, I think WP picked a good place to try out some avant-garde. There’s certainly more effort attempted here than in the nearby fast fooderies.

Edited January 29, 2020 by spenser1058