Downtown Orlando Project Discussion

[spenser1058]

6 minutes ago, JFW657 said:

Technically speaking, yes they are moving to a significantly shorter building, but that shorter building is part of a larger parcel of buildings all associated with the taller Sun Trust Center tower.

So in effect, they're getting the cachet of a taller building that is in the real heart of downtown rather than up in the boondocks where they were, without actually being in one, and while probably paying a lower price per square foot than if they'd located in the main tower.

Win/win.

That's the best spin anyone could possibly put on that. James Carville would tip his hat to you on that, sir!

[JFW657]

1 hour ago, orlandoguy said:

For the current BOA lobby space, it begs the question: do any other banks want a branch that large, and will there be any takers once BOA vacates?

If not, is there any possibility the empty branch space could be reconfigured for some street level retail?

My question concerns the use of the term "branch" to describe a downtown tower location. I've always assumed the word branch suggests a more suburban location.

If another bank moves into the vacancy left by BoA, I'm guessing it would become their Orlando area main HQ, possibly with a floor or two of office space above. 

And with their name and logo on top of the building.

Just now, spenser1058 said:

That's the best spin anyone could possibly put on that. James Carville would tip his hat to you on that, sir!

Not spin, my good man.

If you stop and think about it, they'll be in the same center, just not the main tower.

Of course, they won't get their name across the top, but maybe they don't feel that's necessary.

[spenser1058]

2 minutes ago, JFW657 said:

My question concerns the use of the term "branch" to describe a downtown tower location. I've always assumed the word branch suggests a more suburban location.

If another bank moves into the vacancy left by BoA, I'm guessing it would become their Orlando area main HQ, possibly with a floor or two of office space above. 

And with their name and logo on top of the building.

 Not sure about orlandoguy, but by "branch", I mean the part of the building where the tellers are and folks who open accounts and such. As opposed to the offices upstairs for managers and commercial bankers.

[Jernigan]

Lincoln Plaza (now “300 S Orange”) completes the courtyard but isn’t the same building.  You’ll find that out as soon as you go to a meeting in one building, park in the others garage, and try to get the parking validated.  It’s owned and managed by Highwoods while SunTrust Center is Piedmont. 

It’s not a huge surprise that financials are downsizing obviously.   I think the move from interior lobby to exterior facing retail services is a positive for streetlife and foot traffic.   

SunTrust Center and BOA Center both have huge stoic lobbies and are scrambling to humanize them.   There are about 10-15 easels set up in the BOA lobby now reimagining the space.   It reminds me of walking through a dead mall.  Here’s a photo of one easel. 

Edited November 11, 2018 by Jernigan

[orlandoguy]

I can confirm interior construction and redecorating is well underway at BOA Center on the upper floors and in the parking garage annex. It’s already made for some interesting temporary arrangements for restrooms and other facilities, my own office included.

The elevator modernization that began a year ago is also part of the work. They’re about halfway done.

I’m grateful to the new building ownership for undertaking the changes, but cynically I think it has less to do with making the lobby space & courtyard more people-friendly and more about attracting a new tenant with the advance knowledge BOA was leaving.

[codypet]

8 hours ago, orlandoguy said:

For the current BOA lobby space, it begs the question: do any other banks want a branch that large, and will there be any takers once BOA vacates?

If not, is there any possibility the empty branch space could be reconfigured for some street level retail?

I guess they can do what they're doing to the old Wells Fargo space downtown.  Its just up there in no man's land.

[spenser1058]

10 minutes ago, codypet said:

I guess they can do what they're doing to the old Wells Fargo space downtown.  Its just up there in no man's land.

One reason Citrus Center is able to stay as fully occupied as it is despite being one of the oldest towers downtown is because of the Citrus Club up top. There are more than a few BoA types who'll no doubt be thrilled to have it right across the street.

Your point about duPont Centre being no man's land is spot on to most of the downtown crowd.

[gibby]

If all or most of the recent proposals make it out of the ground, it will no longer be no man's land.

[spenser1058]

11 hours ago, gibby said:

If all or most of the recent proposals make it out of the ground, it will no longer be no man's land.

You are absolutely correct - the only problem is they've been saying that since the mid-1980's.

At some point, it has to change but what we got up there did little to inspire anyone's confidence. The fact that Buddy waaaaay oversold the project when he announced it didn't help.

Edited November 12, 2018 by spenser1058

[JFW657]

1 hour ago, spenser1058 said:

One reason Citrus Center is able to stay as fully occupied as it is despite being one of the oldest towers downtown is because of the Citrus Club up top. There are more than a few BoA types who'll no doubt be thrilled to have it right across the street.

Your point about duPont Centre being no man's land is spot on to most of the downtown crowd.

Hey, wait a minute here!!!!!.....  I referred to it as being "up in the boondocks" before codypet called it "no man's land", but I didn't get any acknowledgement for having made such a keen and pithy observation.... 

Whassup wit dat???? 

[spenser1058]

9 minutes ago, JFW657 said:

Hey, wait a minute here!!!!!.....  I referred to it as being "up in the boondocks" before codypet called it "no man's land", but I didn't get any acknowledgement for having made such a keen and pithy observation.... 

Whassup wit dat???? 

Don't worry - you're still our hero!

[JFW657]

9 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

Don't worry - you're still our hero!

OK then.

I feel better now... 

[codypet]

11 hours ago, JFW657 said:

Hey, wait a minute here!!!!!.....  I referred to it as being "up in the boondocks" before codypet called it "no man's land", but I didn't get any acknowledgement for having made such a keen and pithy observation.... 

Whassup wit dat???? 

Marketing my good sir!

[Jernigan]

Just slap a Pegasus on BoA now and let UCF start moving offices in.   Start with the employees who’s offices aren’t ready on day 1 and then use them for future expansion when everyone wants to be downtown in year 2-3.

[spenser1058]

5 minutes ago, Jernigan said:

Just slap a Pegasus on BoA now and let UCF start moving offices in.   Start with the employees who’s offices aren’t ready on day 1 and then use them for future expansion when everyone wants to be downtown in year 2-3.

Charge On!

[Jernigan]

@orlandoguy can you get photos of other renderings or perhaps they’ve emailed a pdf to tenants?

[orlandoguy]

[mention=28644]orlandoguy[/mention] can you get photos of other renderings or perhaps they’ve emailed a pdf to tenants?

I can grab some shots of the renderings in the lobby. They didn’t show us anything beyond those, but happy to post them.

[spenser1058]

Bungalower thinks the Angebilt is going to be sold and become a coworking space:

https://bungalower.com/2018/11/13/historic-angebilt-building-selling-to-coworking-business/

[RedStar25]

I'm still waiting for this building to go residential. 

[JFW657]

I think The Angebilt has the potential to be the nicest residential high rise in downtown if done right. 

Whatever they do with it, please just fix that damned out of whack east facing window!!!! 

[Jernigan]

Permit application for Embrey Apartments at the Packing District.  310 units 

[jgardnerucf]

I'm still not going to call it that.

[spenser1058]

2 minutes ago, jgardnerucf said:

I'm still not going to call it that.

Long live Fairvilla!

[sunshine]

Renovations slated for 105-year-old downtown Orlando building; nightclub to shutter

"One of downtown's oldest buildings is about to receive a facelift and a new, nationally focused tenant lineup.

Orlando-based local internet marketing company Launch That LLC is planning a ground-floor renovation of the 105-year-old One South Orange building, which it owns through related entity One South Orange Development LLC. Construction on the 6,500 square feet of space, which includes storefronts on Orange Avenue and Central Boulevard, will start in 2019 and tenants are expected to move in late next year or early 2020."

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Yay...one beer place closing!

 

[spenser1058]

I wonder if anything’s left of the mezzanine and if it will still overlook the ground floor. 

And the tiny little ladies that sat on a stool in each of the elevators before they were automated. When I was a kid, I wondered if they were allowed to leave the elevator or just stayed in there all the time. That made me sad.

I sooooo miss Ivey’s...