Mills/50

[spenser1058]

Great post - welcome to the forum, metal93! The site you mention just to the west has been vacant for some time. There were two adjoining gas stations there for years so brownfield issues may be a problem, but I've not heard anything definitive. Personally, I still miss what was the closest Shell station to me *sigh*.

Edited October 6, 2015 by spenser1058

[metal93]

Thank you, spenser1058. So it was gas stations that existed there. I would generally oppose building gas stations in such an area but a small Wawa wouldn't hurt, though that would be superfluous as there are already two off Colonial not too far away. I suppose brownfield concerns and the expense of cleaning it up is what keeps things from being built there.

[AndyPok1]

Yeah, I think about how much nicer that intersection could be regularly (see previous posts in thread, ha), but getting the phone repair store demolished is so critical.  That corner is so frustrating for pedestrians.

[smileguy]

Thank you, spenser1058. So it was gas stations that existed there. I would generally oppose building gas stations in such an area but a small Wawa wouldn't hurt, though that would be superfluous as there are already two off Colonial not too far away. I suppose brownfield concerns and the expense of cleaning it up is what keeps things from being built there.

There has been what appears to be soil vapor extraction going on at both lots for a few years. 

[prahaboheme]

There's some nice infill developments taking shape in Colonialtown Square & Mills/50 along Ferncreek.  I'm enjoying seeing the transformation of this niche neighborhood into a "row" hood.

http://www.ferncreek5.com/

[spenser1058]

I'm really becoming quite fond of Colonialtown lately, especially the "old" C-town north of 50 between Mills and Ferncreek and south of say, Virginia. Very small lots and often without sidewalks, it reminds me of northern neighborhoods built for workers adjoining the factories where they toiled. When 17-92 and 50 originally came through, it altered much of the commercial areas that serviced it, but even that is changing back over time. I'm writing a post for the coffee house now which talks about how I realize the vision many of us had for downtown when redevelopment first got underway in the early '80's will never take place, and that our Main Street 'hoods and places like this are great alternatives. 

[prahaboheme]

Another major townhouse project was approved for rezoning along Fern Creek.  This is called the "Fern Creek 20 Planned Development" and involves 8 separate single family home lots combined into the larger development.

The Daily City reported:  http://www.thedailycity.com/2016/01/20-unit-3-story-townhouse-development.html

[JFW657]

Those are cool looking.

Too bad they're kind of hidden back off the main roads where fewer people will see them.

 

 

 

[Pete C]

I love this! More new townhomes in these areas is a great thing.

[cwetteland]

10 hours ago, JFW657 said:

Those are cool looking.

Too bad they're kind of hidden back off the main roads where fewer people will see them.

I suspect the people who will live there will have no problem with that.

Edited January 9, 2016 by cwetteland

[Jernigan]

Some welcome progress on 50 - 

 

The closed Chevron at Fern Creek (1601 E Colonial) will be redeveloped sooner than later.

The closed Tire Kingdom (2001 E Colonial) is being renovated to a retail store sooner than later.

No word on our elusive Kobe 

[JFW657]

Would be nice if they'd extend the storefront West to fill in most of that front parking area, since they have pretty ample parking in the rear, not to mention enough room for a few spaces along the Hampton Ave side....

Maybe repair that broken retaining wall on the corner.

Place is an eyesore.

 

[UngaBungalow]

8 hours ago, Jernigan said:

Some welcome progress on 50 - 

 

The closed Chevron at Fern Creek (1601 E Colonial) will be redeveloped sooner than later.

The closed Tire Kingdom (2001 E Colonial) is being renovated to a retail store sooner than later.

No word on our elusive Kobe 

Is the Tire Kingdom a for sure thing yet? I'm working with a group that's trying to buy it rather than lease it. The realtor is notorious for not answering phone calls. 
 

[alex]

On ‎3‎/‎26‎/‎2016 at 5:08 PM, Jernigan said:

The closed Chevron at Fern Creek (1601 E Colonial) will be redeveloped sooner than later.

Any word if this will be a mixed-use project or if the project will combine the Chevron and Kobe lots? This article from January said it would be a mixed-use project, but I haven't heard anything since.

I really hope we get some height on that corner. When I read that article, I made this scale comparison of the Chevron/Kobe lots to Thornton Park Central on Summerlin. Something with integrated parking would be great and pretty feasible from the standpoint of available space.

 

[UngaBungalow]

It makes sense to cap the corner of Ferncreek and Colonial with a multi-level, mixed-use development. Especially when you consider all of the townhouses going in just up the street. I'm interested in seeing how the Kobe lot owner incorporates the added Chevron land into his plan. 

[Jernigan]

The Barneys /Kobe site also applied for a construction fence permit so that looks right.

[RedStar25]

I'm also excited about the new restaurant "Ash"! 

[UngaBungalow]

19 hours ago, Jernigan said:

The Barneys /Kobe site also applied for a construction fence permit so that looks right.

Jernigan, I don't see anything pulled online yet. Did this just happen?

[Jernigan]

On 3/29/2016 at 0:29 PM, UngaBungalow said:

Jernigan, I don't see anything pulled online yet. Did this just happen?

 

Definitely seems like part of the same project or at least set of projects

[Jernigan]

Demo permits applied for this week for Chevron and Barneys  

[UngaBungalow]

On 3/27/2016 at 10:41 PM, JFW657 said:

Would be nice if they'd extend the storefront West to fill in most of that front parking area, since they have pretty ample parking in the rear, not to mention enough room for a few spaces along the Hampton Ave side....

Maybe repair that broken retaining wall on the corner.

Place is an eyesore.

 

A nonprofit I work with put an offer on the Tire Kingdom space. He's asking $2.2M

[Jernigan]

2-story Office/retail proposal for 634 E Colonial

http://www.cityoforlando.net/city-planning/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2016/05/ARB2016-00019report.pdf

[JFW657]

I hope they don't bulldoze all the trees surrounding that parcel and turn it into another concrete desert.

But you know they probably will.

[JFW657]

I see in the ARB Conditions of Approval, there is a mention of a bufferyard in the back with a required tree canopy because it backs up to Eola Heights.

That is encouraging.

[popsiclebrandon]

That would be a huge improvement but look very out of place there. I think it would be hard to get active street retail with the heavy traffic but it works just up the street so why not?