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

[jrs2]

11 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

Remembering the Broadwalk back in the ‘70’s:

Family photos recall the heyday of Boardwalk's arcades

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinion/2021/09/20/paspalakis-family-photos-recall-boardwalk-arcades-heyday/8345631002/

From The News Journal 
 

I've got some old shots I'll post...the 'ole Paspalakis clan...wow...

New restaurant in OB on A1A, Dalmare Chophouse:

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/2021/09/20/new-dalmare-italian-chophouse-restaurant-opens-ormond-beach/8339914002/

[AmIReal]

There have been 711 accidents with 7 deaths in the past 5 years on A1A from ISP to Seabreeze (1 mile).  FDOT is working on some "innovative" changes including chicaning traffic lanes, wider sidewalks and the use of a Zicla Zipper for bike lanes all without acquiring any land.

https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2021/09/20/innovative-improvements-coming-to-a1a-in-daytona-beach

[spenser1058]

B-CU wins a $40000 grant from Home Depot and students are using it to spruce up The Quad. More external upgrades and a major rework of infrastructure is on the way:

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2021/09/26/bethune-cookman-update-their-quad-area-using-home-depot-grant/8382976002/ 

From The News Journal 

The school seems to be on its way back from a long period of decline. A new president and lay leadership like OC’s former Chief Judge Belvin Perry have made great strides in improving the school’s finances as it moves forward.

The campus is a big chunk of Daytona’s Midtown and the upgrades should have a ripple effect across the community also.

Another good news story as a new city manager tries to move the city past a long period of neglect that was aided and abetted by the good ol’ boy predecessor who stayed far too long (sounds familiar?).

Edited September 26, 2021 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Satellite manufacturer Terran Orbital is bringing 2,000 jobs to Brevard and will pay average wages of $84,000/year by 2025.

What’s also interesting is they will manufacture the products end-to-end, giving the Space Coast a depth of assembly it hasn’t always had:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/space/os-ne-desantis-press-conference-space-florida-20210927-6prieseczrdtdbhzvfls64zmlu-story.html

From The Sentinel 

[jrs2]

On 9/22/2021 at 9:00 AM, AmIReal said:

There have been 711 accidents with 7 deaths in the past 5 years on A1A from ISP to Seabreeze (1 mile).  FDOT is working on some "innovative" changes including chicaning traffic lanes, wider sidewalks and the use of a Zicla Zipper for bike lanes all without acquiring any land.

https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2021/09/20/innovative-improvements-coming-to-a1a-in-daytona-beach

Daytona needs wide sidewalks in that stretch like you see in Manhattan.  Since we don't have that kind of an easement, I'll take a 6' wide sidewalk if possible

23 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

B-CU wins a $40000 grant from Home Depot and students are using it to spruce up The Quad. More external upgrades and a major rework of infrastructure is on the way:

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2021/09/26/bethune-cookman-update-their-quad-area-using-home-depot-grant/8382976002/ 

From The News Journal 

The school seems to be on its way back from a long period of decline. A new president and lay leadership like OC’s former Chief Judge Belvin Perry have made great strides in improving the school’s finances as it moves forward.

The campus is a big chunk of Daytona’s Midtown and the upgrades should have a ripple effect across the community also.

Another good news story as a new city manager tries to move the city past a long period of neglect that was aided and abetted by the good ol’ boy predecessor who stayed far too long (sounds familiar?).

I always cut through there to see what's going on.  They need alot of new trees.  They need a whole bunch of new oak trees to make it look more like a campus.

And, I would put those yellow caution light crosswalks on ISB in at least two locations so their athletes can cross the street safely because at present, it's like Frogger for them and that is simply unacceptable.

[spenser1058]

8 minutes ago, jrs2 said:

Daytona needs wide sidewalks in that stretch like you see in Manhattan.  Since we don't have that kind of an easement, I'll take a 6' wide sidewalk if possible

I always cut through there to see what's going on.  They need alot of new trees.  They need a whole bunch of new oak trees to make it look more like a campus.

And, I would put those yellow caution light crosswalks on ISB in at least two locations so their athletes can cross the street safely because at present, it's like Frogger for them and that is simply unacceptable.

SAVE THE TREES!

[spenser1058]

The Canaveral Port Authority has approved a plan for the long-planned aquarium to move forward.

It will be operated by the Brevard Zoo and apparently be a lot more than just a big tank. Apparently, there will be opportunities to see dolphins and manatees* in the Banana River and Indian River Lagoon as well

https://www.Orlando sentinel.com/business/tourism/os-bz-port-canaveral-aquarium-update-20210929-sjs663jkirhgjefalavhxonr6m-story.html 

From The Sentinel 

(*assuming of course the Tallahassee idiots don’t kill off all the manatees first, which they’ve been well on their way to doing lately)

 

[jrs2]

23 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

The Canaveral Port Authority has approved a plan for the long-planned aquarium to move forward.

It will be operated by the Brevard Zoo and apparently be a lot more than just a big tank. Apparently, there will be opportunities to see dolphins and manatees* in the Banana River and Indian River Lagoon as well

https://www.Orlando sentinel.com/business/tourism/os-bz-port-canaveral-aquarium-update-20210929-sjs663jkirhgjefalavhxonr6m-story.html 

From The Sentinel 

(*assuming of course the Tallahassee idiots don’t kill off all the manatees first, which they’ve been well on their way to doing lately)

 

LOL.  that would explain why I saw what appeared to be Thick Zaddy Blago Hair DeSantis on his yacht spear fishing in the Intracoastal...  It's like that Southpark episode Whale Wars or Whale Whores where the Japanese are slaughtering dolphins while shouting "F*ck you dolphin!" because they had a photo of the pilot of the Enola Gay and it was, you guessed it, a dolphin.   Maybe when the police asked him what the perpetrator looked like, the description he gave was that of a manatee.  He's like that Illinois State Trooper in the Blues Brothers who's like "I'll get those Blues Brothers if it's the last thing I ever do!"  Uncle Ron has been busy...

Yeas, I am ROTFL!

[spenser1058]

NASA Chief Bill Nelson says private space industry boosts Florida more than Apollo did:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/space/os-ne-bill-nelson-space-coast-20211001-u3zbcvddzbaelhddytweqzd3mq-story.html

 

From The Sentinel 

 

[spenser1058]

The Daytona Beach Municipal Band was a feature of the city until 1980 (perhaps not coincidentally its demise came just about the same time The World’s Most Famous Beach began its descent into h**l):

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinion/2021/10/03/1927-1980-city-funded-daytona-beach-municipal-band/5847486001/

From The News Journal 

Sgt. Pepper, eat your heart out!
 

 

 

Edited October 3, 2021 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

The first step in solving a problem is admitting you have one. We seem to be there with Daytona’s Beachside:

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinion/2021/10/03/column-daytona-needs-fix-its-decrepit-core-beachside/5927445001/

From The News Journal 

It seems, however, to rapidly devolve into the Simpsons: “Can’t somebody else do it?”

Columnist Pat Rice hints at something I’ve long suspected - how many of these folks live on the Beachside?

Also, did you notice that most of the folks quoted are from the bigger, (mostly) newer hotels or ones long since taken over by corporate interests? Not unlike the question about a small lot on another thread in downtown O-town, both Daytona and Orlando were built at the grassroots but now the powers that be can’t be bothered unless the solution is a massive sterile project.

Until we get folks involved at the micro level again, we won’t see much progress. In Orlando’s case, most of the smaller projects have been shifted to the Main Street ‘hoods and, voila, they’ve been often thriving (go, @smileguy!) Imagine that.
 

Edited October 4, 2021 by spenser1058

[jrs2]

11 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

The first step in solving a problem is admitting you have one. We seem to be there with Daytona’s Beachside:

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinion/2021/10/03/column-daytona-needs-fix-its-decrepit-core-beachside/5927445001/

From The News Journal 

It seems, however, to rapidly devolve into the Simpsons: “Can’t somebody else do it?”

Columnist Pat Rice hints at something I’ve long suspected - how many of these folks live on the Beachside?

Also, did you notice that most of the folks quoted are from the bigger, (mostly) newer hotels or ones long since taken over by corporate interests? Not unlike the question about a small lot on another thread in downtown O-town, both Daytona and Orlando were built at the grassroots but now the powers that be can’t be bothered unless the solution is a massive sterile project.

Until we get folks involved at the micro level again, we won’t see much progress. In Orlando’s case, most of the smaller projects have been shifted to the Main Street ‘hoods and, voila, they’ve been often thriving (go, @smileguy!) Imagine that.
 

the big problem is vagrants sleeping under The Pier and using the bathrooms at the County park adjacent to The Pier- it's the County's fault for that; nobody else's--unless The City built it.

Aside from that, I see investment in The Plaza Resort & Spa- they are repainting it and probably renovating the interior as well; Hard Rock; The Whitehall- Marriott Renaissance and new parking garage; The Beachcomber- Westgate; The Mayan Inn became a renovated Comfort Inn; The Streamline Hotel was renovated and rooftop bar opened up again a week and a half ago.

Also, the abandoned gas station on US 92 is under redo at Peninsula.

In OB, the Fishbones became and Italian Chophouse, opened last week.  A few months ago, Peck Plaza finished it's renovation and Top of Daytona opened/ reopened once again- very popular restaurant.

Also, Surf Style, a chain from Alabama, had opened in OB on A1A near where Piggly Wiggly used to be last year.  A couple months back, they opened a store on A1A between Seabreeze & Ora, maybe close to Oakridge.  

Right now, the building at the SE corner of Main St & A1A was razed.  Not sure what the plan is.

Regardless of what Nascar says, I know several merchants along the A1A corridor and they say as of a week ago that people are actually shopping again and purchasing the wares they're peddling.

They just got to get rid of the riff raff in the core, and at the intersection of US-1 & US 92.

Edited October 4, 2021 by jrs2

[jrs2]

...and the County and/or City are both at fault for building those beachfront public parks; anyone and everyone can park there for free.  that is a loss of revenue and also attracts undesirables that are not staying at hotels or paying to park on the beach.  they come and do BBQ's at the free grills that are set up.  Granted, that helps out the hotels from policing their parking lots, but that's a big loss of $$$ they could use to reinvest.

[spenser1058]

Arnold’s in Milwaukee ain’t got nuthin’ on the Moonlight Drive-In over in Titusville, still going strong after all these years:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/food-restaurants/os-et-cool-old-school-drivein-restaurants-in-central-florida-orlando-20211010-34cbylyknnexrakpronvx3g5ma-story.html

From The Sentinel 
 

[jgardnerucf]

Meh. Plenty of other local drive-ins more worthy.

[jrs2]

As promised.  This is a 1960's shot.  The Sightseeing Tower is blue here.  It was later changed to yellow with red stripes in the 1970's.

Now look at that shot of it u/c.  Now that is something you rarely see.  Just look at it...  How cool is that?

Now look at the beach shot and another Boardwalk perspective shot.  

Then you have the newer shot when they painted it yellow.

And then there is yet another beach shot that shows a lot of the older structures that used to be nestled between Ocean Avenue & A1A to the north of Main Street intersection...

[spenser1058]

Daytona’s having another unsanctioned truck meet this weekend but apparently the cops and FHP are everywhere. Hopefully, these yahoos will take the hint and head to the Redneck Riviera next time. Let PCB deal with this nonsense.

[jrs2]

On 10/22/2021 at 10:50 PM, spenser1058 said:

Daytona’s having another unsanctioned truck meet this weekend but apparently the cops and FHP are everywhere. Hopefully, these yahoos will take the hint and head to the Redneck Riviera next time. Let PCB deal with this nonsense.

I saw some of that... lots of pretty LED's...

[spenser1058]

A long-vacant strip center on FL A1A just north of ISB on Daytona’s beachside peninsula is about to fill with tenants.

Originally built in the area’s heyday of 1947, it has sat empty for 14 years because it has no parking. 

Here’s the fun part - the new Daytona city government concluded it was stupid to make the building sit empty for another 14 years just because of the parking rule when folks could just walk up from the beach (which is probably what they did in the first place back in 1947). That’s especially important for this location, one of the city’s most blighted.

Three cheers for thinking outside the box, something the previous good ol’ boy city manager who held the job for decades (sound familiar?) refused to do.

Just as in this case and in others where cities like Charlotte agreed parking did not have to be included for an apartment building in a walkable area, it sure is nice to see some new thinking. Maybe one day that will trickle down to The City Beautiful although it’s unlikely with the current government ossifying in place as Daytona’s did until very recently.

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/business/real-estate/2021/10/29/long-vacant-daytona-beachside-retail-building-finally-lands-tenants/8575456002/

From The News Journal 
 

Edited October 31, 2021 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Protogroup is out of $$$ to complete the Daytona Grande project and accompanying road improvements. They’re going to the City to bail them out.

Free enterprise, you know…

 

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2021/11/02/daytona-beach-protogroup-oceanfront-hotel-facing-possible-bankruptcy/6244885001/ 

From The News Journal 

[spenser1058]

An interesting race for Daytona Beach City Commission District 2 has resulted in a win (after a runoff) for very active civic gadfly Ken Strickland.

District 2 covers the beachside north of Seabreeze but also includes the mainland around Mason Ave.

The News-Journal notes he rarely misses any meetings related to Daytona Beach governance and is also a member of Sons of the Beach (which promotes driving on the beach).

He’s had a colorful working career including ownership of the Paradise Club (adult entertainment) from 1995 -2013 before he retired.

He was active if unsuccessful in trying to send longtime city manager Jim Chisholm packing (bravo!) but is enthused about working with new city manager Deric Feacher. He’ll be good for the commission if his tendency to be voluble doesn’t get him in too much trouble.

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/local/2021/11/02/daytona-beach-chooses-ken-strickland-as-new-city-commissioner/6242213001/

Edited November 3, 2021 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

The latest Publix in Ormond Beach we posted about several months ago is about to open.

That’s not the most interesting part of the article, though. That stretch of Granada between the Intracoastal and FL A1A has been in a down cycle for a while (not unlike most of the peninsula). The article notes several new things coming to the area, including some interesting mom and pops.

Btw, I’m willing to bet the Super X Foods wasn’t the first grocery there. I’m almost certain if you go back to the ‘70’s, there was a  Winn-Dixie there. But I digress…

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/business/2021/11/03/5-things-know-beachside-publix-opening-thursday-ormond/6246577001/

From The News Journal 
 

 

[spenser1058]

I mentioned “management by wandering around” as something all too missing here in The City Beautiful, but City Manager Deric Feacher, the best thing to happen to Daytona government in decades, is literally “walking the walk”.

This wasn’t just a Midtown drive-by, either. He spent four hours in the neighborhoods having discussions with residents (not just shaking hands) and he brought senior staff along with him.

This is a plan for government that works. We’re already seeing changes at The World’s Most Famous Beach. It long seemed like a lost cause but it turns out that bringing in a fresh perspective can make all the difference. 

We’ve also seen one of the area’s premier families getting involved with their city again on a macro level and that has also been huge.

Great job all around!

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2021/11/06/daytona-beach-city-manager-starts-neighborhood-revitalization-with-walking-tour/6289650001/

From The News Journal 
 

 

[spenser1058]

Meanwhile, one of the last big projects in the “old” Daytona is languishing, a reminder of what happens when you turn your city over to out of town developers who are focusing on everything but the holistic environment that remains when they leave town.

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinion/2021/11/07/anyone-optimistic-protogroup-hotels-future-daytona/6279881001/

From The News Journal 

 

[spenser1058]

FDOT’s  having a public meeting Wednesday night to review some of the latest plans for A1A and adjoining beachside roads.

Residents have also come up with possibilities like making Main St. from Peninsula to A1A pedestrian only except during special events.

There’s a new energy on the beachside it’s great to see.

Btw, you can sign up to participate online. The address is in the article:

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2021/11/08/daytona-beachs-main-beachside-corridors-will-be-focus-of-meeting/6305072001/

From the News Journal 
 

Edited November 8, 2021 by spenser1058