Mills/50

[codypet]

I believe so.  I think the buildings have to be up toward the street as part of the streetwall requirements of the area.

[JFW657]

29 minutes ago, codypet said:

I believe so.  I think the buildings have to be up toward the street as part of the streetwall requirements of the area.

Plus, if you look closely at the site plan, you can see the dumpster enclosure at the SE corner of the parking lot, lower right corner of the drawing. No way they'd ever put the dumpster out on Colonial Dr.

[Mark Baratelli]

On 2/27/2018 at 9:41 PM, Jernigan said:

Where is "the old Barnie's and Chevron" site where this Racetrac is going? I don't know where this is.

[Jernigan]

NE corner of Fern Creek and 50

[spenser1058]

Another piece by Ennis Davis at metrojacksonville.com, this time on Mills/50:

https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2018-mar-an-up-coming-neighborhood-orlandos-mills-50

I am so impressed by his work!

[JFW657]

3 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

Another piece by Ennis Davis at metrojacksonville.com, this time on Mills/50:

https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2018-mar-an-up-coming-neighborhood-orlandos-mills-50

I am so impressed by his work!

Very nice!!! 

I must admit, I haven't seen a better 404 PAGE NOT FOUND that I can remember!!!

Bravo!!! 

j/k 

[spenser1058]

Let' try this one:

https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2018-mar-an-up-coming-neighborhood-orlandos-mills-50-

[alex]

Quote

Located just northeast of Downtown Orlando, Mills 50 was recently recognized as one of the top 12 neighborhoods across America about to get crazy popular.

If only there were some large, empty parcels with high-density zoning to accommodate people wanting to move to this popular neighborhood...

[JFW657]

The article tells a lot about the history of the area, then states:

"Today, the district is supported and promoted by Mills 50 Main Street. Co. with a mission to foster the diverse neighborhood by stimulating business and promoting creative culture within a pedestrian friendly community. " 

But it doesn't say much about any future revitalization plans.

They need to invest in a nice street scaping project. Take down those ugly overhead utility lines and concrete poles, etc. Maybe put in some landscaped medians. 

Same with Corrine Dr.

[codypet]

I believe FDOT is working to do just that in the near future for Mills.  (Within the next 2 years)

[Jernigan]

Mills 50 is definitely good at having articles written about them.  As a local, I just don't get it...

[spenser1058]

8 hours ago, Jernigan said:

Mills 50 is definitely good at having articles written about them.  As a local, I just don't get it...

Housing-wise, I think you're right. SoDo, especially if you factor in Lake Davis/Cherokee, has an amazing wealth of architectural styles and price points.

It's in the business districts that Mills/50 stands out. The idea of diversity that Orlando proclaims as its modern myth really began with Little Saigon at the intersection of Mills and Colonial.

Then, in the late 80's and 90's, the ViMi District popped up with lots of small gay shops. When The Center moved in and the rainbow flags flew, the neighborhood's reputation was set. Lots of affordable fixer-uppers as downtown was getting pricy also helped solidify the hipster cred.

Most of these articles were written by out of towners who can easily find Mills/50 and the interesting parts. In SoDo, you have to dig a little deeper (like around the Amtrak station.)

Interestingly, SoDo is getting more of the small businesses and the Pulse tragedy has made it an important stop in the district. Meanwhile, Mills/50 is getting a Racetrac, so the areas are becoming more similar.

Personally, among the new developments, I prefer SoDo to Mills Park.

[popsiclebrandon]

Audubon is the one that makes no sense to me. There is very little in that area but it gets a large portion of the national press about Orlando. Not sure which PR firm is pushing those articles but their clients and biases definitely shine through.

[bqknight]

6 minutes ago, popsiclebrandon said:

Audubon is the one that makes no sense to me. There is very little in that area but it gets a large portion of the national press about Orlando. Not sure which PR firm is pushing those articles but their clients and biases definitely shine through.

They have really good, local food. East End, P is for Pie, Blue Bird, Gourmet Muffin, soon to be Bem Bom. Corrine is just a really nice strip that leads into Baldwin, which people love. 

[leondecollao]

What other area would you write about? Mills 50 and Audobon are definitely the most trendy (millennial wise) parts of town. I recently advised a travel writer to write about mills 50 and Audubon (plus Ivanhoe) so I am clearly part of the problem lol.

Edited March 13, 2018 by leondecollao

[alex]

I agree with @spenser1058 that the SoDo development itself is way better than Mills Park—particularly this half-built, toned down version of the original we ended up with. Orlando Health is a major asset for SoDo, the Lake Lucerne project will be transformative, and the surrounding residential neighborhoods are generally nicer.  But as an admittedly biased resident of Mills50 (Colonialtown North), I have to say that Mills and Colonial are at the cusp of becoming a vibrant extension of downtown Orlando, while everything under construction or planned in SoDo feels disconnected and/or extremely suburban.

Mills50 has a transit-ready grid system; is not as confined by expressways, industrial uses, or lakes; is bounded by great neighborhoods like North Quarter, Ivanhoe, and Audubon Park; and is minutes away from Downtown, Winter Park, and Baldwin Park. It also feels more like a city, with various community anchors (The Center, YMCA, Hillcrest Elementary, Fern Creek Elementary [TBD], Asian cultural institutions), a robust arts scene (Snap gallery, Will's Pub, music scene in general, cultural festivals, martial arts schools, ballet school), plenty of "Orlando institutions" (Colonial Photo & Hobby, Track Shack, Wally's, Viet Garden, vintage Publix), independent specialty stores, and a couple of 1920s-50s architectural gems.

But I also agree with @Jernigan that it can be hard to get why it's so popular. On the surface it's just a worn-out looking commercial corridor—although the murals, recent renovations, and street crossing improvements have helped. But what I tell out-of-towners is that it's all about the businesses. I could make an even longer list for Mills50 (and Audubon), but nowhere else in Orlando are you going to find places like Lineage, Lazy Moon, Snap Space, Dandelion, Lack Viet, Black Bean Deli, Sanctum, Pho 88, The Strand, King Cajun, Tako Cheena, Wally's, Will's, Guesthouse, Pig Floyd's, Uncle Lou's, Hawkers, etc. all in a continuous urban setting. If we had a stronger urban history to rehab like other cities (old brownstones, substantial warehouses, streetcar lines, etc.) Mills50 would be up there with Wicker Park in Chicago or Burnside in Portland, OR.

 

 

[Jernigan]

The Ice Cold Auto Air at Fern Creek and 50 is being rezoned to make way for a Starbucks.  ZON2018-10008

cc: @Mark Baratelli

[spenser1058]

6 minutes ago, Jernigan said:

The Ice Cold Auto Air at Fern Creek and 50 is being rezoned to make way for a Starbucks.  ZON2018-10008

cc: @Mark Baratelli

I'll miss the sign but it hasn't been nearly as cool since the city made the arrow stop gyrating.

[JFW657]

Send it to the Morse storage facility in WP with all the other iconic old Orlando signs for display in a possible future  sign museum someday!!!! 

 

[popsiclebrandon]

That sign is great and Starbucks sucks so that is a loss.

[Universe_Explorer]

The Ivanhoe->Mills 50->Audubon area is as close to hipster Brooklyn (vs Manhattan) as Orlando gets - the trendier, hipper, "artsier", grungier neighbor that interests folks of a certain type and irks others. To be honest, Ivanhoe (with help from the new developments) is the only part that feels "urban" to me - although Mills 50 has a lot of great businesses , it's just ruined by "50".  Colonial is such a wall of pedestrian unfriendly hatred that I can't get past it.  I fully support the new trend of townhomes around the area, because I think thats a perfect demographic mix.  Audubon has cool stuff, but beyond a couple small neighborhoods everyones gotta drive there, it feels more like a destination. And don't pretend the Baldwin Park people actually walk down Corrine.  

[codypet]

15 hours ago, popsiclebrandon said:

That sign is great and Starbucks sucks so that is a loss.

Hmmm to me that all but confirms that Dunkin goes in across from Lazy Moon on that old Coastal/Shell site.

[spenser1058]

Bungalower notes the dirt lot fronting on Mills Ave is up for sale. When Mills Park was sold it was not included in the sale.

It's interesting to ponder how much more slapdash the entire process surrounding Mills Park was compared to SoDo. It's a situation made even worse by the fact that we still have a 2.5 acre dirt lot fronting the development after all this time in a booming economy. Tacky much?

http://bungalower.com/2018/05/09/that-dirt-lot-in-mills-park-is-for-sale/

[jgardnerucf]

8 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

Tacky much?

Piss poor power lines...

[JFW657]

I remember all of our grand expectations for that place when it was first announced. 

Then, in typical Orlando fashion, we got half baked cake on an empty lot.

Can you say "Central Station"?