Downtown Orlando Project Discussion

[nite owℓ]

Came across an interactive video of Toronto's Underpass Park:

 

And Miami's Underline Park:

 

I think our Under I4 park could potentially be a community asset. I see skateboarders & special events getting the most use out of a park like this. But cutting out the dog track would greatly reduce everyday pedestrian activity IMO.

Edited October 12, 2017 by nite owℓ

[dcluley98]

So I have always heard the reason we can't have tall buildings in Orlando is because of the FAA height restrictions surrounding the Orlando Executive Airport. We all have heard this reason before, but nobody ever really seemed to know any details about it. Well, I was digging around in old MPB reports looking for something and found this gem from April's Report: Updated Airport Zoning Regulations to Amend the Land Development Code.

"The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority has created several maps that will be incorporated into the LDC in order to implement the tall structure permit process. . . . The proposed LDC amendments associated with tall structure permits reinforce regulations already established by the Federal Aviation Administration in relation to airport hazards/obstructions. Applicants who are planning to develop or modify structures that fit the definition of an airspace obstruction, which exceed the height allowed by a specific imaginary surface, will still be required to obtain FAA approval. However, the State of Florida has determined that a local tall structure permit should also be required. It is duplicative, but it is State-required duplication. In practical terms, the City’s staff reports will no longer have conditions which simply defer to future FAA approval. Instead, staff will be coordinating more closely with GOAA to analyze new projects to determine if a local tall structure permit is required or not; and if so, the permit review and approval process will be integrated into the overall MPB approval process."

And here is the GOAA map, folks. Seems like much of CBD could go up to 500' and anything West of Orange and North of Church could go up to 549': 

Edited October 16, 2017 by dcluley98

[orlandouprise]

i like Miami's park better than Toronto's. Very tranformative like NYC highline

[Jernigan]

OBJ reporting that BBA Aviation is moving their HQ to a new office in Lake Nona.

What the article doesn't get into (because it's the OBJ...) is that this is one of downtowns largest employers leaving.  They have multiple floors of the Seaside Plaza building.

[steve_o]

BBA is quite a bit smaller now since selling their entire flight services side to a company out of Dallas.  

[Dale]

On ‎10‎/‎10‎/‎2017 at 5:23 PM, jrs2 said:

I was in Denver.  They have two buildings there that resemble the Fifth Third Bank and Citrus Center, only taller and with different dimensions.  The Fifth Third Bank clone has the same or similar base, but it's 3-4 times the height.  The Citrus Center clone is rectangular, and taller.  I wonder if it was the same architects.  There's also one that looks like a 1960's-'70's apartment tower in Chicago.

Among our top-tier cities, Denver has the drabbest skyline.

[Jernigan]

1 hour ago, steve_o said:

BBA is quite a bit smaller now since selling their entire flight services side to a company out of Dallas.  

I guess that's sort of good to hear.  I just hope it doesn't push back Capital Plaza 3 even further.   Highwoods owns both Seaside and CP 

[spenser1058]

Bungalower has more info about the park at Orange and Robinson mentioned during the State of Downtown. Perhaps most interesting is we may at last see the pop-up retail proposed in these threads for sometime.

http://bungalower.com/2017/10/18/city-looking-transform-empty-lot-outdoor-projection-park/

Edited October 18, 2017 by spenser1058

[sunshine]

Remove the palm trees and put some orange trees or put in an edible garden.

[spenser1058]

17 minutes ago, sunshine said:

Remove the palm trees and put some orange trees or put in an edible garden.

I have long bemoaned the loss of our heritage by not having any citrus trees downtown and would welcome them back. I know they can be a maintenance nightmare but I imagine some 4H or FFA group (not sure how far into the hinterlands one has to go to find those these days - Evans still had an FFA when I was in high school.)

[spenser1058]

BTW, the City has three community gardens in the area: Festival Park, Parramore and Colonialtown North.

[smonteserin]

1 hour ago, spenser1058 said:

BTW, the City has three community gardens in the area: Festival Park, Parramore and Colonialtown North.

Also at Lake Druid Park, and Greenwood Urban Wetlands.    

 

3 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

Bungalower has more info about the park at Orange and Robinson mentioned during the State of Downtown. Perhaps most interesting is we may at last see the pop-up retail proposed in these threads for sometime.

http://bungalower.com/2017/10/18/city-looking-transform-empty-lot-outdoor-projection-park/

It would be cool the see the Spanish revival building on the other side of the parking lot near the plot of land proposed for the outdoor space,  repurposed for something. Those bricked in windows look a bit unwelcoming. I wonder if they could work out some deal for that building in the future and incorporate it into the parklet, adding other amenities like a playground, or splash zone, or chess tables, or a bocce court, or a fountain, to further activate that corner...

 

. 

[codypet]

Wasn't that the spot where they originally said they were going to build a 3 story building when they torn down the attached switching building?

[leondecollao]

Activity on both the Magic lot and Church Street plaza today. 

[uncreativeusername]

Wow, @leondecollao - what a vantage point!  Looking forward to updates  

[JFW657]

Would be cool for someone (if possible) to set up a streaming webcam in that window and post a link to it. (hint hint). 

[orange87]

21 hours ago, leondecollao said:

Activity on both the Magic lot and Church Street plaza today. 

So it looks like they're doing construction on the Magic lot. Does that mean they're starting to build this... 

[codypet]

Yea, I'm kinda confused.  Is the blue fence for the surface lot or are they going to build a few buildings too?

Edited October 19, 2017 by codypet

[popsiclebrandon]

23 hours ago, smonteserin said:

Also at Lake Druid Park, and Greenwood Urban Wetlands.    

 

It would be cool the see the Spanish revival building on the other side of the parking lot near the plot of land proposed for the outdoor space,  repurposed for something. Those bricked in windows look a bit unwelcoming. I wonder if they could work out some deal for that building in the future and incorporate it into the parklet, adding other amenities like a playground, or splash zone, or chess tables, or a bocce court, or a fountain, to further activate that corner...

 

. 

This building has always confused me. How long has it been vacant, what used to be there, and will they ever use it again? Could be something really cool there.

[metal93]

28 minutes ago, codypet said:

Yea, I'm kinda confused.  Is the blue fence for the surface lot or are they going to build a few buildings too?

I wouldn't get my hopes up too high. It might just be site work moving around some infrastructure and laying some pipes. At best maybe they intend to build out Pine Street through there and the plaza and leave the building footprints as grass lots/parking for the moment and wait for the buildings to come later - kind of like what exists near Crescent Central Station or in the DPAC  plaza?

[spenser1058]

9 minutes ago, popsiclebrandon said:

This building has always confused me. How long has it been vacant, what used to be there, and will they ever use it again? Could be something really cool there.

I can't remember the name but it was a firm that made rubber stamps (remember those?) My parents once got me one for Christmas from there back in my total nerd phase when I fancied myself a child entrepreneur. The building is owned by Dr. Phillips (assuming they haven't sold it),an uber conservative spinoff that owns older buildings throughout west Orlando. Although it seems to be changing, they have never had a problem with holding properties for decades and the quality of the buildings was such they'll probably outlast all of us.

[JFW657]

Strangely enough, I've always kind of liked the red brick windows. 

I don't know why, but I just think it looks cool.

Certainly unique.

[jgardnerucf]

This was once home to the very beginning of the haunted house "Terror on Church St" during Halloween time before it moved to the old empty Woolworth corner.

[spenser1058]

https://m.facebook.com/Help-Save-the-Historic-WDBO-Building-217201794969511/

The old WDBO Radio building in all its 1947 art deco splendor is now officially toast. Make way for the next Baker Barrios visor monstrosity (actually, no plans yet, let's just tear it down because we can.) As wonderful as Orlando often is, why we can't do a  better job of repurposing our historic gems escapes me. It's not like we have many of them.

"...Put up a bunch of ugly boxes and Jesus, people bought 'em...." Don Henley and the Eagles, "The Last Resort"

[spenser1058]

Plans underway to spruce up OPL exterior:

http://www.thedailycity.com/2017/10/new-landscaping-fencing-and-gates-to.html?m=1

From The Daily City

It seems both western sides of the Central and Rosalind intersection will see a transition now.

I'm pleased to see the City has been diligent in keeping the Brutalist essence of the building intact. If it goes as proposed, this should brighten the area while preserving one of our primary architectural assets downtown. Good job so far!