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

[jrs2]

6 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

Daytona Soccer Fest is coming to the Speedway July 2 and 3rd - I guess it’s DIS’ way to fill in for the loss of the Firecracker 400:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-sp-daytona-beach-soccerfest-0318-20220317-rrvsgw6bqjgkfclw5b55mqutri-story.html

From The Sentinel 

No word so far if this will make a NASCAR fan of @dcluley98 …

 

Just think, though - if we want to we can extend SunRail to Palatka!

Daytona lost the Firecracker 400?  OMG.  when did this happen?

[spenser1058]

8 minutes ago, jrs2 said:

Daytona lost the Firecracker 400?  OMG.  when did this happen?

Well, it got moved, actually - it’s no longer over Independence Day.

[jrs2]

8 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

Well, it got moved, actually - it’s no longer over Independence Day.

oh, the date...  ok...

the soccer thing should be good; they have that tennis center off of LPGA, they have the golf, and the soccer should help expand the sports culture there a bit...

[jgardnerucf]

"I ain't want no got damn soccer in my race track, no sir ree, hell no, shoot."     

 

 

  Lol jk

[codypet]

They lost the Busch Clash (Formerly Bud Shootout) this year as well.  Unlike the Coke Zero 400, the Busch Clash went to LA with no replacement at Daytona.  Looking at the changes to the NASCAR schedule lately, Daytona fared better than a number of other tracks.  (Specifically Charlotte and Texas Motor Speedways).

[jrs2]

13 hours ago, jgardnerucf said:

"I ain't want no got damn soccer in my race track, no sir ree, hell no, shoot."     

 

 

  Lol jk

I think even Hazzard County Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrain (and Flash) would snuff you out as not being 'round deez parts...

Kud...jya jya-da-kud!

[spenser1058]

Interesting look at Titusville’s new Courtyard by Marriott, which was specifically designed to have optimum views of launches. It was developed  by Delaware North, who run the KSC tours and attractions.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-bz-space-coast-hotel-launches-20220329-fwk72bdsv5hqng372gus6st7w4-story.html

From The Sentinel 
 

Edited March 29, 2022 by spenser1058

[jrs2]

2 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

Interesting look at Titusville’s new Courtyard by Marriott, which was specifically designed to have optimum views of launches. It was developed  by Delaware North, who run the KSC tours and attractions.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-bz-space-coast-hotel-launches-20220329-fwk72bdsv5hqng372gus6st7w4-story.html

From The Sentinel 
 

now...that is an interesting business connection...

[spenser1058]

Orange City and Blue Spring State Park get huge coverage in the New York Times:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/09/us/trying-everything-even-lettuce-to-save-floridas-beloved-manatees.html?referringSource=articleShare

@orange87, if you hadn’t left town, you probably could have gotten a huge plug in for DeBary! *giggles*

[spenser1058]

Downtown DeBary is coming! No word yet if there’ll be a statue of @orange87 in the middle of town square…

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/real-estate/os-bz-moving-out-debary-main-street-20220415-q56dejei2rbj5bh6y5pxg7piwe-story.html

From The Sentinel 
 

[orange87]

40 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

Downtown DeBary is coming! No word yet if there’ll be a statue of @orange87 in the middle of town square…

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/real-estate/os-bz-moving-out-debary-main-street-20220415-q56dejei2rbj5bh6y5pxg7piwe-story.html

From The Sentinel 
 

Exciting things are happening in DeBary. White collar professionals are moving in, and the low income rednecks are being pushed out.

From the article you posted. A very dumpy bright blue Chinese restaurant that was a real eyesore has been replaced by a trendy/hip Mexican Grill. A big improvement.

BEFORE

AFTER

Edited April 15, 2022 by orange87

[AmIReal]

Hold your horses. Or for enough money, someone else's horses.  The Equestrian Hotel has opened near Ocala (a town apparently no one in New Yor has ever heard of).  It looks quite spiffy with the "neoclassical French architecture-inspired building, guests will find Hermès-reminiscent carpeting, more than 80 Schonbek Swarovski crystal chandeliers, and a front desk staff clad head-to-toe in Ralph Lauren..." Oh, and you may bump into John Travolta. 

https://www.travelandleisure.com/hotels-resorts/hotel-openings/equestrian-hotel-ocala-florida

Take that, Debary.

Edited April 22, 2022 by AmIReal

[jrs2]

19 hours ago, AmIReal said:

Hold your horses. Or for enough money, someone else's horses.  The Equestrian Hotel has opened near Ocala (a town apparently no one in New Yor has ever heard of).  It looks quite spiffy with the "neoclassical French architecture-inspired building, guests will find Hermès-reminiscent carpeting, more than 80 Schonbek Swarovski crystal chandeliers, and a front desk staff clad head-to-toe in Ralph Lauren..." Oh, and you may bump into John Travolta. 

https://www.travelandleisure.com/hotels-resorts/hotel-openings/equestrian-hotel-ocala-florida

Take that, Debary.

wow.  that looks awesome.  yeah, isn't Marion the world leader in  equestrian-ism?  I thought The Commonwealth was but not in the past decade.

[JFW657]

Melbourne leaders to discuss Margaritaville riverfront complex

MELBOURNE, Fla. — Plans for a new hotel, marina and event venue are taking shape in the city of Melbourne.

The proposed Margaritaville Marina and Riverwalk will consist of a seven-story, 146-room hotel, restaurant, a 221-slip marina and event lawn.

The new marina and riverwalk will be built on what is now a vacant lot along U.S. Route 1, just north of NASA Boulevard.

“This is an amazing development for the city of Melbourne. You’re looking overall with the marina concept and Margaritaville probably upward of an 80-90 million dollar project with the hotel, the restaurants, the lawn, the boat slips. This is going to be an amazing development,” (Mayor Paul) Alfrey said. 

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/melbourne-leaders-discuss-65-million-margaritaville-riverfront-complex/TIDQJ45IFZA3FFFW6LQRSFKVHE/

Proposed building site:

This would be a huge shot in the arm not only for Melbourne, but for all of South Brevard County.

And even Central Brevard would benefit. 

 

 

 

 

[jrs2]

ht

tps://www.portcanaveral.com/About/Recent-News/Canaveral-Port-Authority-Officials-Break-Ground-on

Edited May 26, 2022 by jrs2

[jrs2]

https://www.portcanaveral.com/About/Recent-News/Royal-Caribbean’s-New-Wonder-of-the-Seas,-World’s-

New RC Oasis Class ship, the Wonder of the Seas, will homeport at Port Canaveral in November.  Talk about street cred as a cruise port.

[jrs2]

https://www.portcanaveral.com/About/Recent-News/MSC-Cruises-Seaside-to-Homeport-at-Port-Canaveral-

MSC Cruises Seaside to homeport at PC in 2023...

And, Carnival's Mardi Gras, it's largest ship, is already homeported at the new Terminal 3 since this past summer.

That's impressive.  this has been a concerted effort to make PC the best cruise port out there and as a result, they have formed these strong business relationships with these cruise lines and now the port has six large modern cruise terminals.  Terminal 3 just opened.  Terminal 1 opened  around five plus years ago and housed the RC Freedom then an Oasis class ship.  Before that, they built Terminal 6 on the north side maybe around 2012 or so.  They have added parking decks to all of these terminals.  Back around 2000, the only garage was at what is now Terminal 10.  A lot of changes and this has evolved into a hardcore cruise port.  

[spenser1058]

*croons the theme to “The Love Boat” just like Jack Jones*
 

Did you imagine Gopher would one day be a Congressman?

Edited June 3, 2022 by spenser1058

[eq1974]

The Port has come a long way sine the 80's when once in a while my friends and I would splurge and drive from Orlando to let "Sea Escape take you on a day cruise!" Man those ships were...umm...not Wonder of the Seas... But look at the price and we always had a good time. Though between us friends we always drew straws to see who drove all of us from Orlando because back then your car wasn't in the most safe location. At least I wasn't there the day there was some sort of miscommunication and no body could get their car to drive home when ship returned and docked at night because the parking lot fence was locked and no one was around with a key!

Actually in 2000 we did Premiere's Big Red Boat for a week.  Got back after a week in the morning and disembarked, and the next group of passengers got on. The next day at the first port the boats were seized, the Big Red Boat was no more, and I think the passengers had to find their own way back to Florida. Ahh...good memories...just kidding. It's been nice to see the Port beef up it's game over the years. 

[jrs2]

On 6/3/2022 at 6:38 PM, spenser1058 said:

*croons the theme to “The Love Boat” just like Jack Jones*
 

Did you imagine Gopher would one day be a Congressman?

I thought Captain Stubing for sure...

[jrs2]

On 6/3/2022 at 9:44 PM, eq1974 said:

The Port has come a long way sine the 80's when once in a while my friends and I would splurge and drive from Orlando to let "Sea Escape take you on a day cruise!" Man those ships were...umm...not Wonder of the Seas... But look at the price and we always had a good time. Though between us friends we always drew straws to see who drove all of us from Orlando because back then your car wasn't in the most safe location. At least I wasn't there the day there was some sort of miscommunication and no body could get their car to drive home when ship returned and docked at night because the parking lot fence was locked and no one was around with a key!

Actually in 2000 we did Premiere's Big Red Boat for a week.  Got back after a week in the morning and disembarked, and the next group of passengers got on. The next day at the first port the boats were seized, the Big Red Boat was no more, and I think the passengers had to find their own way back to Florida. Ahh...good memories...just kidding. It's been nice to see the Port beef up it's game over the years. 

flashback!

I totally forgot about all that; The Big Red Boat... I remember the Sea escape commercials.  You know, Carnival got things going.  The RC ported a ship here- them or Norwegian.  Then Disney created their DCL division in the mid to late '90's.  That really gave PC some notoriety.  But DCL was the main cruise line ala quality.  But then RC docked the Freedom here in the mid-2000's.  That was a springboard.  Then you had the ports of call ships coming here, and those did well. Then, The Big Red Boat was probably converted into The Big Red coral reef.  Meanwhile, Sun Cruz Casino was being competed with Sterling Casino cruise in the early 2000's...

The new exit was built; fly over ramps; then the port started making good money which yielded the two newest very large terminals on the south side.

It looks like Terminal 3, which just opened, was designed as a "mirror image" of a sister terminal- future terminal to be built adjacent to it to the west.

And I wouldn't be surprised if and when NASA's fascination with Bezos or whomever ends, that newest dock/berth on the north side which is currently being used by them for rocket retrieval boat docking, may in the future be converted to civilian cruise ship use- or cargo- if PC ever agrees to allow a RR to dock on site.

Maybe FEC will do a deal with them- "we'll open a passenger stop for Brightline if you agree to let us build a RR cargo bridge over the lagoon to PC"- if they were offered that deal, I would take it (if it was of FEC's dime).

[orange87]

DeBary golfer Keith Greene earns spot in next week's U.S. Open

Article: https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/sports/local/2022/06/08/one-9-000-u-s-open-hopefuls-debarys-keith-greene-earns-his-shot-brookline-ouimet-the-country-club/10000285002/

[spenser1058]

Daytona Beach Shores, VCSO and Daytona Beach show they’re serious about taking back the beachside from truck meet hooligans:

Dozens of trucks towed, arrests made during Daytona Beach truck meet
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/florida/os-ne-trucks-towed-arrests-made-unsanctioned-event-daytona-beach-20220613-n5sl3cgbdzgf7l2iyjxu2tjov4-story.html

From The Sentinel 

Just one more step in demonstrating beachside residents have just as much right to a peaceful existence as everyone else. The special events which have led to plummeting property values and deteriorating neighborhoods for decades are being brought to heel. The local governments are at last serving citizens rather than one misguided industry (significantly, even that industry finally realized pandering to the lowest common denominator among visitors was affecting the image -and profits- they so crave).
 

[spenser1058]

A new addition to Disney’s fleet, the Wish, has arrived at Port Canaveral in preparation for its shakedown cruise:

 

https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/202206/9012/

 

From Theme Park Insider 

[spenser1058]

7-story apartment complex w/parking garage proposed for Downtown Lakeland:

https://www.lkldnow.com/city-oks-7-story-downtown-apartment-complex-parking-garage/

From Lakeland Now