Downtown Orlando Project Discussion

[eq1974]

On 9/29/2021 at 7:04 PM, JFW657 said:

I think that idea might have been briefly discussed but I don't think it was ever seriously considered. 

They started to build the hotel shown in the model, but the bottom fell out of DuPont's company and work stopped while they were still driving the pilings. 

Here is an alternative design for the DuPont hotel that never was and probably was the one the pilings were for.

So did we dodge a bullet? 

I think it would have been nice (but what did the back look like from I4? Would love to know). It blends with the retro classic design of the office tower and reminds me of one of those old hotels still standing in Manhattan.

[JFW657]

18 minutes ago, eq1974 said:

Here is an alternative design for the DuPont hotel that never was and probably was the one the pilings were for.

So did we dodge a bullet? 

I think it would have been nice (but what did the back look like from I4? Would love to know). It blends with the retro classic design of the office tower and reminds me of one of those old hotels still standing in Manhattan.

Pretty ugly.  

[IAmFloridaBorn]

18 hours ago, eq1974 said:

Here is an alternative design for the DuPont hotel that never was and probably was the one the pilings were for.

So did we dodge a bullet? 

I think it would have been nice (but what did the back look like from I4? Would love to know). It blends with the retro classic design of the office tower and reminds me of one of those old hotels still standing in Manhattan.

Oooo that's ugly. 

[opivys85]

Does anyone know if there are any plans to do something with this lot downtown? Seems like it's been there undeveloped for a long time.

[spenser1058]

2 minutes ago, opivys85 said:

Does anyone know if there are any plans to do something with this lot downtown? Seems like it's been there undeveloped for a long time.

There have been several plans ever since it burned but nothing ever seems to come of them. Personally, I was hoping for the bar with the slide…

[JFW657]

1 hour ago, opivys85 said:

Does anyone know if there are any plans to do something with this lot downtown? Seems like it's been there undeveloped for a long time.

There was at least a couple of proposals for that corner.

This, for one....

....Pine Street gardens.... https://bungalower.com/2017/04/23/wish-pine-street-gardens/

There were also plans for a two or three story building, possibly with something like a rooftop bar, but I'm not sure about that. It's been so long I'm hazy on he details.

 

https://bungalower.com/2013/09/19/developer-proposes-new-entertainment-building-on-orange-pine-in-downtown/

There may have been a slightly shorter, two story version of the above also, but I don't think there were ever any drawings or renderings of it.

I would like to see something at least five or six floors there.

 

[codypet]

The old building that burned down was 3 stories too right?

 

[spenser1058]

Just now, codypet said:

The old building that burned down was 3 stories too right?

 

I think so.

[JFW657]

3 hours ago, codypet said:

The old building that burned down was 3 stories too right?

 

Yes.

The building is on the left with the water tank on the roof.

[spenser1058]

I wonder what differentiation there was between the four dime stores that led it to make sense to have so many.

By the time I came along, they sold mostly the same stuff.

[Jolly Roger's Crackers]

With all the projects going on it is hard to keep up....but it broke my heart to see that the old Live Oak tree (in that small fenced off green space just south of the courthouse) fell under the saw recently. Razed to the ground (completely). I have no idea what is going to be built there (and am too tired to search) but it is sad to see an old tree like that (in the center of downtown) just discarded and trashed. Cheers.

[JFW657]

2 hours ago, Jolly Roger's Crackers said:

With all the projects going on it is hard to keep up....but it broke my heart to see that the old Live Oak tree (in that small fenced off green space just south of the courthouse) fell under the saw recently. Razed to the ground (completely). I have no idea what is going to be built there (and am too tired to search) but it is sad to see an old tree like that (in the center of downtown) just discarded and trashed. Cheers.

"....And they wrote it all down as the progress of man." - John Prine ~ Paradise  

[dcluley98]

Driving down Colonial today, there was equipment on site of the old brownfield gas station demoing the slabs on the NE Corner at Fern Creek. 

Edited October 6, 2021 by dcluley98

[RedStar25]

On 10/1/2021 at 6:01 PM, eq1974 said:

Here is an alternative design for the DuPont hotel that never was and probably was the one the pilings were for.

So did we dodge a bullet? 

I think it would have been nice (but what did the back look like from I4? Would love to know). It blends with the retro classic design of the office tower and reminds me of one of those old hotels still standing in Manhattan.

Am I correct in remembering that the Dupont Center was supposed to be a twin tower development originally? 

[spenser1058]

15 minutes ago, RedStar25 said:

Am I correct in remembering that the Dupont Center was supposed to be a twin tower development originally? 

It was indeed envisioned as one initially and then, when the finances weren’t there, the project got scaled down a couple of times and then abandoned.

Edited October 6, 2021 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

41 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

It was indeed envisioned as one initially and then, when the finances weren’t there, the project got scaled down a couple of times and then abandoned.

It is, btw, a tragic story how Bill duPont got led in the wrong direction by powers that be in local financial and legal circles. That was bad enough but it’s also how we came to be saddled with the DeVos clan. 

The history of Orlando could have been quite different and much more equitable, which is ironic considering a duPont was involved, but Mr. duPont was a quiet gentleman and one of the good guys.
 

Edited October 6, 2021 by spenser1058

[orange87]

Cogent Bank Moves HQ to Downtown Orlando

Here's an article nobody can read: https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2021/10/08/exclusive-cogent-bank-to-move-hq.html

[IAmFloridaBorn]

22 hours ago, orange87 said:

Cogent Bank Moves HQ to Downtown Orlando

Here's an article nobody can read: https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2021/10/08/exclusive-cogent-bank-to-move-hq.html

7,000 ish SQ ft in CBL tower 2 by November.

[smileguy]

On Monday, October 18, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer will join District 5 City Commissioner Regina I. Hill and members of the Orlando Downtown Development Board, Dr. Phillips Center, Dr. Phillips Charites, and Ascend Studios to break ground on Art², a new .28 acre park located on the corner of Orange Avenue and Robinson Street in downtown Orlando. 
 

Amenities at the park will include a two-story container structure with a café, art gallery, stage, seating, space for two food trucks, green space for scheduled activities, and more. Anticipated to open in Spring 2022, this new park will help further meet the vision set forth in the DTOutlook plan by the community to ensure downtown Orlando remains “An Awesome Outdoor City.” 

[JFW657]

21 hours ago, smileguy said:

On Monday, October 18, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer will join District 5 City Commissioner Regina I. Hill and members of the Orlando Downtown Development Board, Dr. Phillips Center, Dr. Phillips Charites, and Ascend Studios to break ground on Art², a new .28 acre park located on the corner of Orange Avenue and Robinson Street in downtown Orlando. 
 

Amenities at the park will include a two-story container structure with a café, art gallery, stage, seating, space for two food trucks, green space for scheduled activities, and more. Anticipated to open in Spring 2022, this new park will help further meet the vision set forth in the DTOutlook plan by the community to ensure downtown Orlando remains “An Awesome Outdoor City.” 

Go Buu - ddy!!!  Go Buu - ddy!!!  

Go Buu  ddy!!!  Go Buu - ddy!!!

[spenser1058]

Buddy’s almost as good a mayor as the Magic are a basketball team! 

[orange87]

12 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

Buddy’s almost as good a mayor as the Magic are a basketball team! 

Buddy would be a huge improvement over DeSantis for Governor at least.

[spenser1058]

7 minutes ago, orange87 said:

Buddy would be a huge improvement over DeSantis for Governor at least.

We can definitely agree on that!

[jgardnerucf]

7 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

Buddy’s almost as good a mayor as the Magic are a basketball team! 

Your Duval ass ain't welcome to opening night this Fri then.     Enjoy Veterans Memorial Pkwy sleaze.

[spenser1058]

6 hours ago, jgardnerucf said:

Your Duval ass ain't welcome to opening night this Fri then.     Enjoy Veterans Memorial Pkwy sleaze.

I haven’t attended a Magic game since the DeVos family brought their evil ways to town.