Metro Orlando Headlines

[bic]

I concur.

[sunshine]

Orlando planning board backs new Wal-Mart

Proposal for John Young Parkway supercenter now goes to council.

Rich McKay {sodEmoji.|} Sentinel Staff Writer

Posted December 19, 2006, 3:44 PM EST

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/...-home-headlines

Please write to your council and asked them to forced walmart to build an urban walmart with parking garage.

[Boomer136]

Did you guys just watch the James Bond movie, hence the casino???

I rather Orlando develops a theatre district with permanant broadway show like vegas. People go to Vegas for gamble and for shows. People can come to Orlando for themeparks or for shows...that will be great

Whether they come downtown remains to be seen, but Orlando has the big time perm shows like a Cirque and now the Blueman Group. These work well because they are unique to the location, even if the brand and style is everywhere. The specific show won't be coming to your town, if you want to see it, you have to come to Orlando. You also get the equivalent of Parrot Heads who have to go to every Cirque or BMG show there is.

The Dr. Phillip's will be hosting shows that can and will be seen all over North America. The trick would be turning the Carr into a perm show that tourists who plan their vacations out months in advance can count on seeing and plan on going, and know they won't see anywhere else. In NY, although a touring company will come to their town, they get to see the mythic "Original Broadway Cast", or if it's older, the replacements who still work in New York and therefore unique in terms of perceived quality. Or the other route of having so much in one place, all sorts of shows, something is bound to catch your interest.

Vegas has shows to attract people for gambling, they are marketing, not so much a money maker in themselves.

[mrh3]

Whether they come downtown remains to be seen, but Orlando has the big time perm shows like a Cirque and now the Blueman Group. These work well because they are unique to the location, even if the brand and style is everywhere. The specific show won't be coming to your town, if you want to see it, you have to come to Orlando. You also get the equivalent of Parrot Heads who have to go to every Cirque or BMG show there is.

The Dr. Phillip's will be hosting shows that can and will be seen all over North America. The trick would be turning the Carr into a perm show that tourists who plan their vacations out months in advance can count on seeing and plan on going, and know they won't see anywhere else. In NY, although a touring company will come to their town, they get to see the mythic "Original Broadway Cast", or if it's older, the replacements who still work in New York and therefore unique in terms of perceived quality. Or the other route of having so much in one place, all sorts of shows, something is bound to catch your interest.

Vegas has shows to attract people for gambling, they are marketing, not so much a money maker in themselves.

That's cool. More theatre space will be great for the community. Now to find enough people to support it...

[neon9]

Orlando planning board backs new Wal-Mart

Proposal for John Young Parkway supercenter now goes to council.

Rich McKay {sodEmoji.|} Sentinel Staff Writer

Posted December 19, 2006, 3:44 PM EST

Please write to your council and asked them to forced walmart to build an urban walmart with parking garage.

I was there to speak against it, however with all the objections people had it still passed unanimously (public comment took at least 2 hours and the vast majority was negative). This is a 5 acre store on a 30 acre site and it does not have a single sidewalk connection to any other existing sidewalk, not even a x-walk across the street. But they did put a very expensive covered arcade on the building, which is totally useless since the site is surrounded by a wall and the building faces the parking lot anyway. And of course, I think arcades are usually to connect different stores, but this is one huge warehouse so it doesn't make a lot of sense...

Who these grown people wearing big yellow shirts are ('YES TO WAL-MART'), I would love to know. They didn't have the guts to stand up and speak.

[bulldogger]

I was there to speak against it, however with all the objections people had it still passed unanimously (public comment took at least 2 hours and the vast majority was negative). This is a 5 acre store on a 30 acre site and it does not have a single sidewalk connection to any other existing sidewalk, not even a x-walk across the street. But they did put a very expensive covered arcade on the building, which is totally useless since the site is surrounded by a wall and the building faces the parking lot anyway. And of course, I think arcades are usually to connect different stores, but this is one huge warehouse so it doesn't make a lot of sense...

Who these grown people wearing big yellow shirts are ('YES TO WAL-MART'), I would love to know. They didn't have the guts to stand up and speak.

That guy in front looks like Nick Lachey. I hear he's out of a job (his job of kissing Jessica Simpson's ass).

Seriously, they are probably Guetzloe's henchmen.

[sunshine]

Hopefully this walmart will take away some of the crime that come with Walmart Metrowest. It is easier to ride a bus to Walmart Orlando from Pine Hills than Walmart Metrowest.

[neon9]

That guy in front looks like Nick Lachey. I hear he's out of a job (his job of kissing Jessica Simpson's ass).

Seriously, they are probably Guetzloe's henchmen.

My guess was UCF college republicans or something. Who else has time to sit in a 5 hour city meeting wearing a big goofy yellow T-SHIRT looking concerned but not speaking? This is the worlds second biggest corporation (+/-) and they need people with homemade t-shirts in the audience?

If it's Nick then he's really hit rock bottom

[sunshine]

Come on, Nick is muscular and sexy but this guy is ......... he can only wish he has Jess.

[Whipp]

Who these grown people wearing big yellow shirts are ('YES TO WAL-MART'), I would love to know. They didn't have the guts to stand up and speak.

[gibby]

My guess was UCF college republicans or something. Who else has time to sit in a 5 hour city meeting wearing a big goofy yellow T-SHIRT looking concerned but not speaking? This is the worlds second biggest corporation (+/-) and they need people with homemade t-shirts in the audience?

If it's Nick then he's really hit rock bottom

Holy crap! That was my guess, seriously.

[neon9]

Come on, Nick is muscular and sexy but this guy is ......... he can only wish he has Jess.

I guess I should stop knocking the guy, but you're right, I looked again and he's got fat little gouty fingers. Looks like something Pillsbury cooked up.

To get back on topic, looks like one of our city commisioners is going to prison....again....

Of course they did let him (Ernest Page) out so he can appeal, how nice of them.

[sunshine]

Big city politics....but doesnt have a big city to match..

[prahaboheme]

I emailed the city council on the Walmart proposal. Everyone should do the same!

[sunshine]

what did u say in the email? no walmart or modified walmart? and share the email address.

[Bucktown_Orl]

My guess was UCF college republicans or something.

Theres Republicans at U.C.F.???

[spenser1058]

Just an aside - the only college campus Richard Nixon spoke on as president was FTU (the name of UCF before 1978). It was the only one he considered conservative enough to brave. UCF has come a long way since then but still has more than its share of the young GOP'ers in training.

On the other hand, the gay/lesbian group on campus is more active than I could have imagined in my wildest dreams back when I was a student in the '80s.

[JRS1]

Walmart probably paid those people like $100/head to go there and just sit there wearing those t-shirts.

[sunshine]

I have no problem with walmart as long as they would consider more aesthetic pleasing building and more urban setting. We should not have recycle strip mall design from long time ago again and again.

[MaXxlife]

Orlando's downtown has new chief

Source: Sentinel

A redevelopment executive from Albany, Ga., has been hired to run Orlando's Downtown Development Board and its Community Redevelopment Agency, which oversee development of the city center.

Thomas C. Chatmon Jr. has served as president and chief executive officer since 1998 of Albany Tomorrow Inc., the agency that handles redevelopment in the southwestern Georgia city.

The two executive director posts in Orlando had been vacant since July, when Frank Billingsley was promoted to city economic development director. But Billingsley had done double duty during the search for his replacement, continuing to look after the downtown boards' business.

Billingsley served on the committee that searched for a replacement and made a recommendation to Mayor Buddy Dyer, who announced Chatmon's appointment Thursday.

In Albany, Chatmon was instrumental in developing and executing the $210 million Albany Downtown Riverfront Master Plan. The city has tied its downtown redevelopment to the Flint River, which flows through the city center. Other projects on Chatmon's watch include the Flint RiverQuarium, the Turtle Grove Play Park, and the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel and Conference Center.

"Thomas' experience with downtown revitalization and master planning is the right fit for our community during this exciting time," Dyer said. "With the unprecedented level of growth and activity taking place in Orlando, I am confident that, with Thomas' forward-thinking approach, our city's downtown renaissance will continue to thrive."

Billingsley said: "I'm excited to have someone with his talent and energy join our team." Billingsley said he has known Chatmon for some time through his membership in the International Downtown Association.

Chatmon, who holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Morehouse College in Atlanta, is expected to start work in mid-February.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyone have any info on this guy?

[sunshine]

They have someone from Albany, GA to help develop downtown Orlando. That's really encouraging ...........pause................................................NOT

[bulldogger]

They have someone from Albany, GA to help develop downtown Orlando. That's really encouraging ...........pause................................................NOT

At first, I thought they were talking about the capitol of New York. Then, I read another paragraph and it is a city in Georgia. I have never even heard of Albany, GA. I'm glad we got the guy that put Albany, Georgia on the map.

[bic]

Hey....look at that-- not a single Orlando forum post on Christmas day. I guess you guys have lives afterall.

[mrh3]

Well, on an apples to apples comparison, Albany, GA pop. 76,939 metro pop. 162,842 vs. Orlando, FL pop. 233,213 metro pop. 1,963,112 is quite a stretch. Maybe they didn't advertise the position very well. Orlando has a tendancy for what ever reason to bring in these people from smaller metro areas to run things. The guy who came down to run the Sentinel was from Indianapolis, The Metro EDC guy a few years back was from some small town in NC. It's like Orlando is a proving ground for up and coming professionals rather than a make or break career defining location.

Edited December 26, 2006 by mrh3

[scottb411]

I've been to Albany several times in the last few years to visit family. Orlando and Albany are worlds apart when it comes to downtown development. The billboards for their new aquarium read "There's something fishy going on in Albany." Their entire downtown is about the size of college park with a small playground and is a very dangerous place to be once the sun goes down. It's not a very safe place to be when the sun is still up. I'm not saying he isn't qualified, but saying Albany measures up to Orlando is like saying Orlando measures up to a Chicago or NYC as far as downtown development is concerned. It just isn't there.

Edited December 26, 2006 by scottb411