Orlando Extended Metro Developments (Volusia/Brevard/East Polk)

[spenser1058]

Compared to other states, Florida has a relative dearth of small college towns that engender a high quality of life, high walkscale and cultural/educational activities with a relatively low cost of living.

(Delightful!) DeLand has made the most of that model.

Edited January 28, 2020 by spenser1058

[jrs2]

On 1/27/2020 at 10:05 AM, spenser1058 said:

Compared to other states, Florida has a relative dearth of small college towns that engender a high quality of life, high walkscale and cultural/educational activities with a relatively cost of living.

(Delightful!) DeLand has made the most of that model.

very true.  

[spenser1058]

As NSB and (Delightful!) DeLand have preserved their historic districts, the more popular they have become.

As Daytona has neglected its history, the less popular it has become.

Sooo... remembering the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result, here goes Daytona again:

https://www.hometownnewsvolusia.com/business/volusia-business-news-keep-eyes-wide-open-on-downtown/article_ee6b2594-3bab-11ea-8ec5-6792fad8762e.html

From Hometown News Volusia 

[spenser1058]

NSB to get its first Starbucks on 3rd Ave. on the beachside:

https://www.hometownnewsvolusia.com/business/volusia-business-news-a-little-sameness-will-drip-on-new/article_e3eb689c-46a3-11ea-85cb-5f5aacc961bb.html

From Hometown News Volusia 

Meanwhile, a move is afoot to ban chains in the city’s historic districts (Canal St. downtown and Flagler Ave. at the beach). Stay tuned...

[jrs2]

https://www-news--journalonline-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.news-journalonline.com/business/20200222/i-95-widening-project-crosses-finish-line-in-daytona?amp_js_v=a3&amp_gsa=1&template=ampart&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=15825550549567&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From %1%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news-journalonline.com%2Fbusiness%2F20200222%2Fi-95-widening-project-crosses-finish-line-in-daytona

I really screwed up the posting of this link. 

Spencer1058 was right again.  This article states that the City and County each gave $20M to One Daytona ala financing to get that project built.  Money going there but not to the beach.

[AmIReal]

Rails to Trails proposal would allow you to walk/ bike from Eustis lakeside into downtown Mount Dora.

"This week, that trail -- dubbed the East Lake Trail -- got one step closer to being built. Mount Dora council agreed to enter a partnership with Tavares and Lake County to work on the Rails to Trails initiative for its construction."

https://www.dailycommercial.com/news/20200224/east-lake-trail-is-one-step-closer-to-being-built

 

[smileguy]

Update on Brown & Brown. 

 

[spenser1058]

Daytona City Manager Jim Chisholm is (finally!) retiring. He’s 75, which may explain why his ideas on urban planning seem to be stuck in the ‘70’s.

I could hope for better, but this is Daytona. Look for the next guy (or woman, although that probably would be too progressive for the powers that be over there) to be more of the same.

https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20200304/jim-chisholm-daytona-beachrsquos-city-manager-retiring

From the News-Journal 

[jrs2]

22 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

Daytona City Manager Jim Chisholm is (finally!) retiring. He’s 75, which may explain why his ideas on urban planning seem to be stuck in the ‘70’s.

I could hope for better, but this is Daytona. Look for the next guy (or woman, although that probably would be too progressive for the powers that be over there) to be more of the same.

https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20200304/jim-chisholm-daytona-beachrsquos-city-manager-retiring

From the News-Journal 

Awe, hec, I'm nowhere near 75 and I'm still stuck in the '70's.  He's probably stuck in the '50's.

[spenser1058]

This plan by Volusia County Schools to consolidate two beachside elementary schools suggests the peninsula isn’t growing much, certainly not with younger families.

You do have to wonder what the game plan is.

https://www.hometownnewsvolusia.com/news/citizens-can-get-first-look-at-school-merger/article_f7689ec6-5ca1-11ea-bd7b-9b7fe98e4d03.html

From Hometown News Volusia 

[spenser1058]

Foosaner Art Museum in downtown Eau Gallic closing after losing support from FIT. The complex is up for sale and residents are curious what will become of the area:

https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2020/03/06/foosaner-art-museum-education-center-up-sale-3-million-eau-gallie/4975945002/

From Florida Today

The Foosaner opened before Eau Gallie consolidated with Melbourne in 1968. One wonders if this is very delayed collateral damage? Melbourne seems quiet in all this. Also interesting is the story doesn’t indicate where the county stands on the closure. Of course, the economics of the area may be a factor. It’s time for a road trip - off to the BeeLine!

[AmIReal]

18 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

You do have to wonder what the game plan is.

I think the "game plan" is to eliminate 2 underutilized, out dated and severely in need a replacement schools that are very near each other with 1 newer building.

[spenser1058]

3 minutes ago, AmIReal said:

I think the "game plan" is to eliminate 2 underutilized, out dated and severely in need a replacement schools that are very near each other with 1 newer building.

For the schools, yes. But what of the beachside? 

[jrs2]

3 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

For the schools, yes. But what of the beachside? 

Ah, I see your point...less money going towards the beachside?

[spenser1058]

It’s the fact that the population seems to be shrinking. That’s not something that happens in Central Florida. Unless it’s all old people filling up those houses (and that would make it St. Pete and Miami Beach in reverse), then there’s a reason for the depopulation. It would be nice to know what that is and what are the plans to fix it?

Of course, maybe the Frances and Browns have all suddenly become Bernie Bros and are depopulating the peninsula before climate change arrives!

Edited March 9, 2020 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Daytona’s monument to sprawl along the LPGA corridor is getting just what it needs: another strip center!

https://www.news-journalonline.com/business/20200328/another-retail-center-coming-to-daytonas-red-hot-lpga-corridor

From the News-Journal 

 

Edited March 28, 2020 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Just because I miss it so:

https://www.volusia.org/news/new-smyrna.stml

[spenser1058]

The Anchor Inn, a B&B in downtown NSB, has been purchased by an Orlando couple. No further info yet: 

The announcement comes via Hometown News Volusia. Here is the Inn’s website:

https://anchorinnbnb.com/

[spenser1058]

The legacy of Mary McLeod Bethune and the fight to keep B-CU going in downtown Daytona Beach:

https://www.wmfe.org/bethune-cookman-university-mary-mcleod-finance-statue/150216

From WMFE

[spenser1058]

Because of the COVID-19 shutdown, Bok Tower will be streaming its  Easter service this year. 

Even if you’re not religious, this is a great opportunity to see one of the most architecturally significant (and just down right beautiful) structures in Florida (it also sits atop one of the highest points in peninsular Florida) and hear its amazing carillon.

Even though it’s 60 miles away and the traffic is a pain, I’m still a member so I recommend it highly. Don’t miss your chance to check it out and forego the hassle!

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/coronavirus/os-ne-coronavirus-bok-tower-easter-livestream-20200402-fkpcpub4mvfcbgoa3gfgpktksq-story.html

From the Sentinel 

 

[spenser1058]

Ohhhhh, this is way cool.

The SpaceX crewed flight which will be the first American rocket which will take astronauts on a test run to the ISS in May (subject to COVID-19 complications; “there’s always something” as Admiral Kirk noted in “The Wrath of Khan”, but I digress), will feature NASA’s retired “worm” logo instead of the older “meatball”.

Maybe it’s just me, but the worm looks more like something the UFP would have come up with. May it Live Long and Prosper!

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/space/os-bz-nasa-the-worm-logo-space-commercial-crew-20200402-akn6zzzaznba5lfavspugustje-story.html

From the Sentinel 

Edited April 6, 2020 by spenser1058

[codypet]

I hadn't realized the retired the worm.

[spenser1058]

On 4/2/2020 at 2:51 PM, codypet said:

I hadn't realized the retired the worm.

Yep, at first they ditched the meatball as out of date (70’s you know). Then , after a few years and in the ‘80’s started getting back into the past, people wanted the meatball back and the worm seemed like it belonged with a leisure suit.

So, about ‘93, the worm was officially out. It’s been creeping back among the millennials and the private companies like it because it seems to set them apart from the “old” NASA. And here we are...

Edited April 6, 2020 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Two miles of Howland Blvd. and various sewer projects have been approved for the Deltona area by the Volusia County Council:

https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20200411/county-oks-19m-for-howland-boulevard-widening-sewer-upgrades-in-deltona

From the News - Journal 

[spenser1058]

Joy Wallace Dickinson remembers the heydays of the drive-in theaters in Central Florida as she awaits the return of Lakeland’s Silver Moon, the closest one still in business (assuming COVID-19 doesn’t close it permanently):

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/os-fe-joy-wallace-dickinson-20200419-w7pvbwt5jjc5zbmonbc2vzyt34-story.html

From the Sentinel

How many of the local drive-ins do you remember?