Downtown Orlando Project Discussion

[veryamusing]

7 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

In that case, OUC would need to get into the project (and maybe Duke Energy as a tax writeoff). Worst-case scenario would be limited displays in the evening but access during the day. The signs were made to be seen during the day as well, although obviously not as cool.

What about the Historic Ivanhoe building, already owned by City / OUC?  Put a solar array in the field to the south.

Edited February 15, 2017 by veryamusing

[JFW657]

4 hours ago, alex said:

Didn't someone say it was cost-prohibitive to display all the signs because they use so much electricity? 

I wonder if they could replace the neon tubes with some type of LED rope lights?

Restore the original graphics and use the same colors but without the high power requirements.

[spenser1058]

That would depend on how historically accurate they wished to be as that's different technology. A legit museum would probably have some concerns with that. (For example, although I was happy we kept the Parliament House sign, it definitely looks different today than it did before the storm.)

[Mark Baratelli]

Wow! That Las Vegas neon museum treats the whole city as a museum! It places the neon signs as public art all over the city! How. Awesome. Would. That. Be.

_{^{"The Las Vegas Boulevard Signs Project partners the Neon Museum with the City of Las Vegas to install restored signs from the Museum collection along Las Vegas Boulevard, illuminating downtown Las Vegas. In 1996, the Horse and Rider from the Hacienda Hotel was the first sign restored and installed as public art in Downtown Las Vegas."}}

[JFW657]

2 hours ago, Mark Baratelli said:

Wow! That Las Vegas neon museum treats the whole city as a museum! It places the neon signs as public art all over the city! How. Awesome. Would. That. Be.

_{^{"The Las Vegas Boulevard Signs Project partners the Neon Museum with the City of Las Vegas to install restored signs from the Museum collection along Las Vegas Boulevard, illuminating downtown Las Vegas. In 1996, the Horse and Rider from the Hacienda Hotel was the first sign restored and installed as public art in Downtown Las Vegas."}}

Somehow I don't think lil ol' OrBlando is quite ready for that level of visual stimulation.... 

[metal93]

If Orlando tries what Las Vegas has done, I'd imagine they'd want to do it on International Drive or something, it's the closest thing we have to the Vegas strip.

[klstorey]

My dream is that businesses would sponsor signs, similar to how they did with the See Art Orlando. I'd love to see the signs scattered around Orlando, each in a clear protective shell or in an indoor setting. A few on Church St., a few along Orange. Maybe have a couple in local mall food courts or at I-Drive 360. In my dream world Orange Ave and Church St in downtown would glow with neon signs. I bet you could get many local businesses to get in on it. It can't be that expensive, compared to other large public art initiatives, to keep these things in operating order I think it's so sad that they're just sitting in a warehouse when no one gets to see them. Each deserves to be restored and displayed with pride. 

[spenser1058]

Our neon was more workaday and the collection includes signs from such wild spots as N Orange Avenue, Colonial Drive and Division St. The signs were generally smaller than anything you'd see in Vegas and represented gas stations, hotels and bakeries. Imagine the Pepsi-Cola sign in NYC or the CITGO sign in Boston (which isn't really neon). Our signs are from the same era as Eola's Centennial Fountain. It represents a time when the Space Age and rapid mobility and the car culture came to Orlando.

Edited February 16, 2017 by spenser1058

[JFW657]

34 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

Our neon was more workaday and the collection includes signs from such wild spots as N Orange Avenue, Colonial Drive and Division St. The signs were generally smaller than anything you'd see in Vegas and represented gas stations, hotels and bakeries. Imagine the Pepsi-Cola sign in NYC or the CITGO sign in Boston (which isn't really neon). Our signs are from the same era as Eola's Centennial Fountain. It represents a time when the Space Age and rapid mobility and the car culture came to Orlando.

True.

No giant neon cowboys or sexy cowgirls or martini glasses etc, etc.

I think an empty retail storefront or other commercial space somewhere either in or near Central Orlando or I-Drive would be sufficient for the time being. Just get it displayed somewhere. Maybe build a dedicated building down the road.

[codypet]

On 2/14/2017 at 11:13 PM, Jernigan said:

Lake and Central will be getting stop signs next week!

Washington and Summerlin are apparently getting a stop light.   It comes up on the City's website.

[JFW657]

1 hour ago, codypet said:

Washington and Summerlin are apparently getting a stop light.   It comes up on the City's website.

Seems like a roundabout would've done the trick and looked better there.

[steve_o]

6 hours ago, JFW657 said:

Seems like a roundabout would've done the trick and looked better there.

Agree.  Or at least a 4 way stop.  I feel like drivers race to traffic lights while focusing on them rather than focusing on pedestrians.  Also feel like Orlando's answer to all traffic situations is add more traffic lights.  

[codypet]

8 hours ago, JFW657 said:

Seems like a roundabout would've done the trick and looked better there.

I don't think the Right of Way is available there.  I agree a 4 way stop would have worked.

Edited February 16, 2017 by codypet

[popsiclebrandon]

12 hours ago, codypet said:

Washington and Summerlin are apparently getting a stop light.   It comes up on the City's website.

They announced that like a year ago. Dumb then, still dumb now. But maybe it will get them to re-time and fix Summerlin and Robinson.

[Jernigan]

File this under, "How does this happen?!"  or "Turns out it could be worse than another 7-11"

Mama B's on 50/Orange is under contract...

...Magic Pet. A premium pet supply and grooming company.

Price not known at this point.

I'm not sure if I'm underestimating the cash Magic Pet has to throw around or overestimating Mama B's position to negotiate here...

Is it wrong to hope they keep the area clean, keep the grass mowed, and fail within 18 months?

[JFW657]

Just what one of the most high profile corners in all of downtown Orlando needs.

Great. 

 

[alex]

Holy crap... You know it's rough when your first thought is "well, Mama B's isn't so bad there." 

Edited February 17, 2017 by alex
Apparently UrbanPlanet auto-changes swear words, so that's fun. 

[smileguy]

As we talk about downtown retail, I think a pet store is important. That being said, I was hoping for an Unleashed by Petco in one of the high-rises. 

[bqknight]

1 hour ago, smileguy said:

As we talk about downtown retail, I think a pet store is important. That being said, I was hoping for an Unleashed by Petco in one of the high-rises. 

I do agree - I have no issue with a Pet Store. There are quite a few animals downtown. We do have a Woof Gang in Thorton though - I walk over there to get treats and the dog groomed, it's convenient. 

[AndyPok1]

11 hours ago, Jernigan said:

File this under, "How does this happen?!"  or "Turns out it could be worse than another 7-11"

Mama B's on 50/Orange is under contract...

As in... they're going to reuse the Mama B's building or build something new?

[JFW657]

I think a pet supply store downtown is a great idea.

Just wish they'd find a different location for it.

 

[metal93]

You would think a pet store would try to locate themselves in South Eola or Thornton Park, or near the Constitution Green dog park, where I imagine a lot of the people in the apartments and condos have dogs. But I supposed they wanted the Colonial/Orange lot for high visibility.

It is very likely that they will use the same building. If they demo and build something, then I'll be very optimistic to hope that it is at least a 2-story building built up to the street edge (preferably Orange) with no parking, or at least push the parking to the back.

I was actually hoping that Craig Ustler would have bought that corner lot and completed his hotel.

Edited February 17, 2017 by metal93

[bqknight]

23 minutes ago, metal93 said:

You would think a pet store would try to locate themselves in South Eola or Thornton Park, or near the Constitution Green dog park, where I imagine a lot of the people in the apartments and condos have dogs. But I supposed they wanted the Colonial/Orange lot for high visibility.

It is very likely that they will use the same building. If they demo and build something, then I'll be very optimistic to hope that it is at least a 2-story building built up to the street edge (preferably Orange) with no parking, or at least push the parking to the back.

I was actually hoping that Craig Ustler would have bought that corner lot and completed his hotel.

There is already one over there - not sure having another RIGHT there would make sense. 

[JFW657]

56 minutes ago, bqknight said:

There is already one over there - not sure having another RIGHT there would make sense. 

Plus, there are a lot of pet owners in and around North Quarter, too. 

[Jernigan]

I even would say a pet store on that corner is a great idea.  Just wish it was on a portion of the first floor of a mid rise!

Edited February 17, 2017 by Jernigan