Rida Development Corp's Mixed-Use Complex [Under Construction]

[spenser1058]

Yes, it would have been nicer to have gotten a more intense usage, but some of you may not realize how long the site has gone undeveloped ...

 

... over a quarter-century.

 

It's interesting to think of all the counter-history that might have changed this lot and the history of downtown:

 

* If Jordan Marsh had been able to purchase this lot from Orange Buick back in 1960 instead of settling for a mall addition to Colonial Plaza;

* If Bill DuPont hadn't gone nearly bankrupt in the early 90's and had built DuPont Centre II;

* If Ron Pizzuti had gotten permission more readily from the FAA to build his 600-foot highrise with the cube on top...

 

and the list goes on.  

 

In any event, I am with the consensus that it's good to get SOMETHING on that important site at long last.

[CaptainJustice]

Yes, it would have been nicer to have gotten a more intense usage, but some of you may not realize how long the site has gone undeveloped ...

 

... over a quarter-century.

More than twice as long as I have been here.

[JFW657]

It's interesting to think of all the counter-history that might have changed this lot and the history of downtown:

 

* If Jordan Marsh had been able to purchase this lot from Orange Buick back in 1960 instead of settling for a mall addition to Colonial Plaza;

* If Bill DuPont hadn't gone nearly bankrupt in the early 90's and had built DuPont Centre II;

* If Ron Pizzuti had gotten permission more readily from the FAA to build his 600-foot highrise with the cube on top...

 

and the list goes on.  

 

In any event, I am with the consensus that it's good to get SOMETHING on that important site at long last.

 

Or even if the old buildings that used to be there had never been demolished for DuPont's failed project. One can only imagine the cool little shops, restaurants & bars that could've fronted Orange Ave, & the old Nickel's Alley building by the tracks on Amelia could've been the home of various nightclubs over the years. Would've really added a lot to downtown.

 

I've always truly regretted the demolition of that block. Twenty five years & all we've had there is that fenced off eyesore. Sad.

[prahaboheme]

Are there any historical photos of this block?

[JFW657]

None that I know of. Most of the storefronts that faced Orange Ave were very non-descript, one story buildings. But on the NW corner of Orange & Livingston, was an ornate old red brick building with faux spiral column features & an ornate cornice that had the name of the building (either "American" or "United" Market Building) & the date 1925 cast in the concrete. I think it housed a porno theater in the late 70's & early 80's. It was kind of a seedy block, but there was a decent little breakfast & lunch place around 1983.

[prahaboheme]

I am most saddened when I think about the loss of the old San Juan Hotel, pictured here (the brick building and the highrise addition):  http://floridamemory.com/items/show/29212

 

If I could bring back one piece of Orlando's history, this is it.

[CaptainJustice]

I am most saddened when I think about the loss of the old San Juan Hotel, pictured here (the brick building and the highrise addition):  http://floridamemory.com/items/show/29212

 

If I could bring back one piece of Orlando's history, this is it.

Why?

[sunshine]

Rida...pls look at this and reconsider your plan

 

[eq74]

Are there any historical photos of this block?

Here is a picture looking North up Orange Ave from around 1981 before they took all the buildings away:

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidjloganjr/8373794880/

[JFW657]

Are there any historical photos of this block?

Here is a picture looking North up Orange Ave from around 1981 before they took all the buildings away:   http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidjloganjr/8373794880/

Couldn't access the pic. Any way you could d/l & post it? Thanks.

[codypet]

I am most saddened when I think about the loss of the old San Juan Hotel, pictured here (the brick building and the highrise addition):  http://floridamemory.com/items/show/29212

 

If I could bring back one piece of Orlando's history, this is it.

I'd buy the Beecham building, make it a theater again and screen Independent and classic films.  Oh dreams!

[Jernigan]

Case scheduled for the February 19th MPB meeting:

 

CENTRAL STATION 400 N ORANGE AVENUE

Master Plan approval for a two-phase development on an approx. 5 acre site for Rida Development. Phase 1 is comprised of a 5 story, 280 unit residential apartment

building with and integrated 424 space parking garage, an 85,122 sq. ft. 6 story hotel with 126 rooms, and a 131 space surface parking lot. Phase 2 is comprised of a 9 story, 950 space freestanding parking garage, an 8 story 167,360 sq. ft. office building and a 6 story 93,000 sq. ft. office building.

[prahaboheme]

Why the free standing parking garage at this lot? This is adjacent to the intermodal station. At this point I'm not convinced we are going to end up with a development that lives up to the potential of this location.

[FLClarkKent]

And why is the parking garage one story higher than any of the proposed buildings?

 

These plans don't make sense for this lot. It's a prime piece of real estate, one that I assume came with a prime price tag. So why spend so much to put in a small-ish apartment complex? Why wouldn't you want to build as big (and high) of an apartment tower as possible to maximize your profits? Seems like a waste of money (in addition to a waste of the lot's potential).

 

To those in know, does the city want to see a development of big impact, or do they simply want to get this lot developed (understandable, as it's been empty for so long)?

[bulldogger]

Underwhelmed.  

[Xander]

Why is this project continuing to get smaller? And where was the mention of retail space? If this parcel doesn't contain a substantial amount of retail, it will absolutely be a waste of a huge opportunity for this city. Even NORA is taller than these apartments will be, too. Not liking where this is going.

[Abent1988]

To call this project a disappointment would be a huge understatement IMO.

[Xander]

To call this project a disappointment would be a huge understatement IMO.

I think the reason why people are calling it a disappointment thus far is because people had grand visions for this block. It's the most centralized parcel left in all of downtown, and it's a crucial, bridging piece at the busiest mass transit hub Orlando will ever see. Building a 5-story apartment complex and a hotel seems to fall short of the mark some of us were hoping it would meet. The other thing that irks me about this is the amount of time it's taken for RIDA to submit for final approval. This project has been talked about for quite some time, and I understand the time window was supposed to bring the first phase online right with SunRail, but somehow I doubt that's going to happen at this point. I expected more than what we've seen so far. Let's see if they can turn it around. 

Basically, i'm tired of the lack of information associated with this project, and it's been talked about a little too long for my taste, and the plans have been scaled down since it's announcement twice, by my count. This property needs to be GRAND. It needs to be unifying. It needs to live up to the land it sits on. It needs to be our hub. I hope they truly understand that.

[Xander]

This project was announced in October in 2011. Not only has it not been approved yet, but we don't even have an announced groundbreaking date yet. It was said that construction would start in the first quarter of 2013 and completion would be in May of 2014. At this point, I won't believe this project is actually happening until ground is officially broken and concrete is actually being poured. 

[truebluecfl]

Does anybody else think that this would be a much better fit?

http://www.scoringthird.com/2012/06/orlando-city-stadium-site.html

Also include ground retail and restraunts on all sides, and possibly an office or hotel tower on the West side included? Last thing we need is another wall of 5 story apartments on Orange Ave.

[prahaboheme]

If RIDA doesn't have the goods to give Orlando the project it deserves, they shouldn't build it.  I hope the city "encourages" Rida to go back to the table and incorporate a truly mixed use intermodal development into this very important block.  There is no reason we need to settle for anything less than grand; we've waited this long.  I can wait longer.

 

Unfortunately it appears that Rida simply wants to jump on the apartment and midrange hotel craze and cash in.

[spenser1058]

If RIDA doesn't have the goods to give Orlando the project it deserves, they shouldn't build it.  I hope the city "encourages" Rida to go back to the table and incorporate a truly mixed use intermodal development into this very important block.  There is no reason we need to settle for anything less than grand; we've waited this long.  I can wait longer.

 

Unfortunately it appears that Rida simply wants to jump on the apartment and midrange hotel craze and cash in.

 

Once upon a time, there was an actual vision for downtown. The "vision thing," as Dubya's daddy used to put it, is not something Buddy has ever had and it is not currently reflected by City staff. Buddy, who one suspects is going to be preoccupied with Tallahassee until he decides to run for governor or not, is all about big, shiny projects and is not one to tarry on the myriad, microlevel decisions required to make a unique whole.

 

Goodness knows, that approach is better than anything the county has done, so one does not look a gift horse in the mouth. For those of us who desire a particularly urban sort of downtown (and not just another suburb with taller buildings), however, the onus is upon us to look forward to the next election.

 

It turns out that Mayor Bill had those unique qualities but in such an understated fashion they were frequently ignored. The courage it took for him and city staff to create restricted zoning districts, for example, and not just allow the developers carte blanche to do what they wanted, is the type of trait we haven't seen since.

[FLClarkKent]

Does anybody else think that this would be a much better fit?

http://www.scoringthird.com/2012/06/orlando-city-stadium-site.html

Also include ground retail and restraunts on all sides, and possibly an office or hotel tower on the West side included? Last thing we need is another wall of 5 story apartments on Orange Ave.

I think a soccer/outdoor concert venue would be a perfect fit, actually.

[alex]

Europe is known and loved for its historic pedestrian streets with retail and restaurants.  Using one to connect the Courthouse to the Lynx Station seems like a no-brainer, so I'm really surprised they haven't mentioned retail yet.  I'm not even that worried about the height (although I agree, more is appropriate for this site).  But the overall uses and design of the site are really lacking.  Of course, we haven't seen any definite plans, but a domineering parking garage and no retail could ruin the whole site.  

 

Furthermore, the plans we've seen don't even show the site's cut-through passage as being on-axis with the Courthouse.  Wouldn't you want people to get off the train and look down an active pedestrian street and see one of our most iconic buildings in front of them?

 

 

 

BTW, really liking the soccer stadium idea -- Rida should take it's plans and buy the two lots north of the station.

[Jernigan]

I don't think Dyer lacks vision - but he seems to be impatient and even hasty.   

 

I'm not on the skyscraper bus usually, but for this block, some more height would be nice.  I'm a little disappointed in seeing hotel and residential.  This is a commuter rail.  It makes sense for offices to be on the other end of the tracks from the suburban residential areas.  I'm not sure the allure of a hotel or apartment above a commuter rail station will be unless you happen to work in downtown Kissimmee or Winter Park.  Most of the other stations will not have jobs right on top of them. 

 

Twin office towers with first floor (or two) of retail would be killer there.