Metro Orlando Headlines

[FLClarkKent]

Yeah, it's not a great location, traffic wise. I hate trying to get up and down 17-92.

[popsiclebrandon]

Not sure they can get by without a light there so that would make like 4 lights (I think) to get from Fairbanks to WP Village. This won't be pleasant.

[FLheat]

Amazon to bring 3,000 jobs to Florida in deal with state

"Florida had landed the deal with Amazon to create 3,000 full-time jobs with benefits and more than $300 million in capital investment by the end of 2016. About 1,500 of those jobs could come to the Interstate 4 corridor."  - I would assume this would make sense being close to the airport.

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-amazon-florida-sales-tax-and-jobs-20130613,0,228877.story

[popsiclebrandon]

Good for the state economy but sucks for any Amazon user here who will have to pay sales tax. Probably make other places cheaper to use till they tax all of the internet purchases.

[Bungalower-MattBroffman]

I just thought I would share the Flipboard magazine I created for Orlando News...started as a way for me to catch up on what's happening but made it public. I try to focus and post only the non-crime/traffic news. Let me know any feedback you have. Enjoy. (Flipboard App required)

 

http://flip.it/Efj72

[JFW657]

Just saw on the news tonight they're starting demo for Trader Joe's next week.

 

Slated for completion by May 2014.

 

Project to include a "Shake Shack" gourmet burger place, a gourmet bakery, a boutique salon, & a fitness facility.

 

In back on the lakefront there will be a boardwalk with paddle board rentals.

 

Link to story with video:

 

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/trader-joes-open-winter-park-demolition-underway/nYrKG/

 

Seems to look pretty typical "Winter Parky".

 

 

 

 

 

.

[Alleri459]

Wow, Winter Park continues to transform even more into a food destination for the area.

[sunshine]

Another huge asphalt lots facing the street....but go job on utilizing the lake...not sure if the residents would like the paddle boats idea..

[prahaboheme]

Winter Park is getting a Shake Shack?  Wow - I'm surprised but have to say that this city continues to impress.  Clearly Orlando's status is on the rise.  It may just be a "burger joint" but it has huge appeal and they choose their locations wisely.

Edited July 16, 2013 by prahaboheme

[Alleri459]

Now that I look at it more, the parking and traffic situation could be problematic.

[popsiclebrandon]

Considering taking a spot in there but my gut says parking, traffic, and the fact that people get their groceries and go makes that a bad spot, especially at the crazy rent they want.

[alex]

I wonder if they could link the boardwalk area to Ravaudage via the shopping center that's between them and with a pedestrian bridge over Lee Rd. 

 

It would be cool to eventually have a pedestrian experience from downtown Winter Park, through Morse/Winter Park Village, to this development and up to Ravaudage/Lake Lily/downtown Maitland.  With a streetcar/trolley line that could really become an urban environment.

[JFW657]

Another huge asphalt lots facing the street....but go job on utilizing the lake...not sure if the residents would like the paddle boats idea..

 

Yeah, that was my initial reaction too. Would've been better if they put the parking behind the buildings, but if they put a lot of decent sized trees in the lot & maybe a decorative knee high wall across the front with low shrubbery, that could go a long way towards softening up the appearance of it.

[sunshine]

The entire OC should implement a regulation for developer to build up to street or required them to hide the parkings or put it above the business... LA just adpoted the "build up to street" regulation and SLC already has it. I think SoBe has "hiding the garage" building requirement.

 

This just seem like a weired suburban development in a transition area.

[FLClarkKent]

The entire OC should implement a regulation for developer to build up to street or required them to hide the parkings or put it above the business... LA just adpoted the "build up to street" regulation and SLC already has it. I think SoBe has "hiding the garage" building requirement.

 

This just seem like a weired suburban development in a transition area.

 

While I don't disagree with the concept, the developer in this case is wanting to make a lakefront shopping center. Can't put parking out back, because the lake is out back.

[spenser1058]

A couple of great stories about places with long ties to the community:

 

 

After 68 years, Miller’s is still all in the family

 

http://www.wpmobserver.com/news/2013/oct/02/after-68-years-millers-still-all-family/

 

 

To understand round icon's appeal, look to its initial 1960s incarnation

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/os-joy-wallace-dickinson-1006-20131006,0,6654695.column

[spenser1058]

Libraries evolving into technology and community centers

 

I continue to be amazed as dead tree technology declines that our local library (OCLS) finds new ways to remain relevant. Best of all, it bodes well for the continued usage for one of our truly non-derivative downtown buildings in its original purpose, enlightening the community. (Disclosure: I'm a Friend of the Library based on all the things OCLS and OPL do so well.)

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/os-library-evolution-20131006,0,1198196.story

Edited October 7, 2013 by spenser1058

[gibby]

That is great.  Now that the book drop-off window along the north side of the downtown library has been closed, that building frontage should be redone to allow a sidewalk and maybe some ancillary use that could compliment the library use.

[spenser1058]

That is great.  Now that the book drop-off window along the north side of the downtown library has been closed, that building frontage should be redone to allow a sidewalk and maybe some ancillary use that could compliment the library use.

 

The drop-off chute is still there, it's just unstaffed now. So you'd have to figure out where to put that. The north side of the library is also where the loading dock is, so that would also present a problem. I'm pretty familiar with that stretch, since I go that way heading over to Magnolia every morning and also drop off a lot of books back there. On that block-long stretch, I'm not sure how much you can really do with it, especially since the space for trucks is pretty small and requires some bit of skill to get in and out of there even without dodging pedestrians. There's a sidewalk on the St. George/ATT side of the street. which is used by the transients the church assists. Of course, the AT&T building is mostly a blank wall except for the door not open to the public. I'm not sure how given the current uses of the block you can change it much but perhaps if AT&T's equipment becomes obsolete and the library eliminates the need for the loading dock, it's certainly worth revisiting.

[gibby]

I also walk that stretch a lot.  I'm most interested in having the sidewalk extend through but the loading area would likely need to stay.  Outside of the loading area, there's probably still room for some kind of pedestrian interaction with the building.  I didn't realize that the chute was still used so my sidewalk idea probably could not work anyway.

[spenser1058]

Dyer touts progress downtown, looks to future

 

(A) 'The mayor acknowledged one area where downtown has stubbornly fallen short. Creating a healthy retail, restaurant and hospitality sector has been "the most challenging," he said.

(B) 'Dyer said he is appointing a new task force, Project DTO, to draft a strategic plan for downtown growth over the next 10 years."

 

Now the important question: will (B) finally get professional retail experts to address (A) or are we just going to continue appointing political hacks who have no access to the people in retail who can actually do something? Enquiring minds want to know.

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-state-of-downtown-orlando-20131009,0,3254988.story

 

 

 

Edited October 10, 2013 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Along the same lines, let's take a look at a January 27, 2013 article from the Sentinel:

 

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-01-27/business/os-downtown-orlando-group-20130127_1_downtown-orlando-downtown-mix-retail-downtown

 

Several interesting things: 

(1) Whatever happened to Orlando 2.0? Their website, http://futureorlando.com , hasn't been touched in ages. 

 

(2) Note this chestnut from the guy we're relying on to bring more retail downtown, Thomas Chatmon, a political hack with zero retail experience:

"You can't incentivize retail to be successful," Chatmon said. "There's a saying that retail follows rooftops. The more people you have living in an area, the more successful retail you're going to have." Of course, that's exactly what Orlando did to bring Publix and the Plaza Cinema Cafe downtown. Mr. Chatmon, more people live downtown today than ever before. I guess this means retail is exploding from Lakes Ivanhoe to Lucerne, right? Oh, wait...

 

(3) Has anyone noticed the retail, ummmm, renaissance over on East 50? At Fashion Square, they announced yet another entertainment venue today, while Colonial Plaza has brought us a spanking new - are you ready? - Bealls Outlet!  Yep, at this rate we'll be competing retail-wise with, uh, Pine Hills! Mayor Bill Frederick used to complain about wig shops and tattoo parlors downtown. Now we have a zillion bars and a dozen 7-Elevens. This is progress! The definition of insanity: "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." 

Edited October 10, 2013 by spenser1058

[FLClarkKent]

While I'm not particularly enamored with the Beall's Outlet, I disagree with your opinion about what's happening with the retail scene in Colonialtown.

While Colonial Plaza did indeed add a Beall's Outlet to its tenant lineup (a less upscale store, as Spencer noted), it's also adding an Ulta (upscale enough for Winter Park Village). With the addition of Ulta and Orange Fitness Concepts, Colonial Plaza will be 100 percent leased with a mix of national retailers. That's no small feat, especially when you look at supposedly more desirable retail centers like Winter Park Village (which is just now demolishing the long shuttered Borders) that have vacant space (that restaurant space next to Chamberlain's can never seem to keep a tenant for long).

Also of note, the shopping center further east on Colonial (Bed Bath and Beyond, Sports Authority, etc.), is also nearly 100 percent occupied thanks to the addition of a Buy Buy Baby (apparently, that's where you buy clothes for babies rather than actually purchasing babies. Who knew?).

Sure, it's not Brooks Brothers or Cartier or some Park Avenue boutique where you can buy seersucker suits handstictched by albino Eskimos (perfect for brunch at the trendiest gastropub du jour!). But it's good, solid retail that's open for business, that brings in traffic, and keeps a part of downtown active, alive and vibrant. And that helps adjacent areas (Fashion Square, the Milk District, ViMi), become more successful and vibrant, in turn.

[sunshine]

Along the same lines, let's take a look at a January 27, 2013 article from the Sentinel:

 

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-01-27/business/os-downtown-orlando-group-20130127_1_downtown-orlando-downtown-mix-retail-downtown

 

Several interesting things: 

(1) Whatever happened to Orlando 2.0? Their website, http://futureorlando.com , hasn't been touched in ages. 

 

(2) Note this chestnut from the guy we're relying on to bring more retail downtown, Thomas Chatmon, a political hack with zero retail experience:

"You can't incentivize retail to be successful," Chatmon said. "There's a saying that retail follows rooftops. The more people you have living in an area, the more successful retail you're going to have." Of course, that's exactly what Orlando did to bring Publix and the Plaza Cinema Cafe downtown. Mr. Chatmon, more people live downtown today than ever before. I guess this means retail is exploding from Lakes Ivanhoe to Lucerne, right? Oh, wait...

 

(3) Has anyone noticed the retail, ummmm, renaissance over on East 50? At Fashion Square, they announced yet another entertainment venue today, while Colonial Plaza has brought us a spanking new - are you ready? - Bealls Outlet!  Yep, at this rate we'll be competing retail-wise with, uh, Pine Hills! Mayor Bill Frederick used to complain about wig shops and tattoo parlors downtown. Now we have a zillion bars and a dozen 7-Elevens. This is progress! The definition of insanity: "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." 

(1) Typical Orlando...all the talks but no actions

(2) Thomas Chatman ... refer to above... I had some personal experiences with DDB...yes, they do not know about retails and dont have the personel to do it. You can build all the retails space you want but nobody is there to market it. 7000 sqft of retails in the Vue (prime location) sitting empty, Church street station and exchange..nada...Camden retails space..empty...Hue and urbanthink spcaes...empty...KEL buidlings retails ...Eola 101....

(3) Retails...that's a never ending debate..it is rather frustrating when I read news that Miami is building mall downtown, Greenville getting retails.... even comparing to smaller cities like St Pete, Austin and even West Palm Beach...we are way behind in downtown retails...and in term of restaurants.......I only go to downtown restaurants once awhile just because of it is in downtown...I can find better food at Dr Phillips, Winter Park and even I drive for the same prices or cheaper...and until then we are waiting for the next 7-11 to open...We have Darden, Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock in town...they even invest as far out in MAlaysia but not in downtown Orlando.

[jack]

This is my two cents. 

 

1. I have yet to meet an urban retail specialists in Orlando. We have a lot of brokers that specialize in what we have a lot of...malls, out parcels, and power centers
2. I am not familiar with a city that used City Hall to successfully bring in retail. Generally, it seems they lucked into it.
3. Thomas, if I am not mistaken, came from the private sector as a small business owner. He owned retail shops back in Georgia. Hardly a political hack.
4. I don't know what happened to Downtown 2.0. Maybe they realized this crap is hard. 
5. I could have told you that the retail in the VUE would fail 6 years ago. Bad location and a bad idea. Camden, remarkably, may be worse. 
6. Eola Square/ South Eola is another story. It is off of the main drag in its own location and has not created the critical mass to attract people. And it is expensive. 
7. Cities and neighborhood generally get the retail they deserve. Our metro area punches above our weight because of our influx of tourists. But that leads to desirable stores located in the outlying areas. On top of that, most of the wealth in this region is north (Seminole County) or SW ( Dr. Phillips).