Downtown Orlando Project Discussion

[leondecollao]

On 6/17/2022 at 6:08 PM, Uncommon said:

Great pic. For some reason this makes me wonder if the plan is still to convert Orange to a two-way street like it was announced a couple years ago.

It is an interesting question, especially considering they got rid of the fourth lane and street parking on the right side of the road for an extra wide bike lane.  That bike lane (or I guess they call it a multi-modal transportation lane) might be my favorite transportation improvement in town. That couple blocks corridor feels fresh, green, urban even. 

[codypet]

Magnolia just got a new traffic signal which runs counter to the two way plan with the roundabouts.

[spenser1058]

The Ambassador Hotel, which was once one of Orlando’s first Holiday Inns and included astronaut John Glenn among its investors, has received approval from Orlando’s planning board to become affordable housing and moves along to its next step in the process.

The purchaser seems to be one of the better companies in the business that realize hands-on management will be a key to its success.

As you might imagine, there was pushback from some College Park and Spring Lake residents but this is likely the best option available.

It does make one wonder why the Parliament House could not have been used for something similar (they were about the same age and construction), especially as it might have been ideal for Zebra Coalition. We won’t go there, though, and this seems a positive step.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orange-county/os-ne-ambassador-hotel-mpb-20220621-peboxyva4bg2dhkkbvsz4wgia4-story.html

From The Sentinel 

The property is at the NE corner of W. Colonial and N. Westmoreland.
 

 

Edited June 22, 2022 by spenser1058

[codypet]

Yea I understand the concern from College Park, but if they think the seedy hotel is any better, I think they're nuts.  

[jrs2]

FYI, they just updated Google Maps Street View.  it looks to  be no more than a month old now.

[F-L-A]

On 7/1/2022 at 2:00 PM, jrs2 said:

FYI, they just updated Google Maps Street View.  it looks to  be no more than a month old now.

And the coverage is more broken than ever. Takes you in every direction except the one you want to go in.

[spenser1058]

2 minutes ago, F-L-A said:

And the coverage is more broken than ever. Takes you in every direction except the one you want to go in.

Oh my.

[nite owℓ]

On 6/22/2022 at 8:40 AM, codypet said:

Yea I understand the concern from College Park, but if they think the seedy hotel is any better, I think they're nuts.  

They probably hoped it would all just go away one day and I don't blame them.  I've always thought the hotel would eventually get bulldozed and replaced with townhomes--I doubt there's enough room to build more "luxury" apartments. Nearby residents made good points about adding affordable housing to an already depressed area and families living in hotel-sized rooms only adds to a transient population.

[codypet]

Ambassador has a pretty sizable lot.  Especially compared to the Chevron/Picadilly site.  Moreso if they could buyup Motel X.  But that cost would probably kill the affordable aspect of it.

[nite owℓ]

FYI: Another Robinson St corridor public meeting on July 27th available online/phone/or in person. Received notice in the mail:

Hughey Ave to Mills Ave: https://www.cflroads.com/project/441143-2

Mills Ave to Maguire Blvd/Crystal Lake Dr: https://www.cflroads.com/project/447106-2

 

Off topic, but when I saw the FDOT envelope I immediately thought to myself, shet... I knew I was cutting it close at that yellow light and was expecting it to be a traffic camera citation 

Edited July 12, 2022 by nite owℓ

[codypet]

Man, I bid for that project.  Didn't win out, but I was very interested about being involved on that one.

[nite owℓ]

On 7/6/2022 at 8:07 AM, codypet said:

Man, I bid for that project.  Didn't win out, but I was very interested about being involved on that one.

If the project is up for bid, then what's the point of the upcoming public meeting? They most likely aren't going to make any changes based on public feedback so....

[Jernigan]

8 hours ago, nite owℓ said:

If the project is up for bid, then what's the point of the upcoming public meeting? They most likely aren't going to make any changes based on public feedback so....

It says design through early 2023?

[Uncommon]

It looks like Art 2 Park is finally under construction.

[codypet]

On 7/9/2022 at 12:44 AM, nite owℓ said:

If the project is up for bid, then what's the point of the upcoming public meeting? They most likely aren't going to make any changes based on public feedback so....

Sorry should have clarified.  Bid for the design, not the construction.

[dcluley98]

There was a silt fence up, materials on site, and a construction sign for the Art² Park (shipping container/foodtruck/interactive park) at the corner of Orange and Robinson just north of Seacoast Bank building. https://ascendstudios.com/projects/art2/
Seems a bit delayed, but starting construction. 

[JFW657]

So, from the rendering, it appears the canopy structure is only along the western edge of the site.

I would like to see it follow the building wall, too.

Like an L shape.  

I just don't think leaving that bare white wall hanging out there will be a plus.

Maybe they'll cover it with changeable graphics panels or a mural.

[spenser1058]

Hmmm, a park that doesn’t lead anywhere with a big blank wall butting up against it. This should never have happened! It needs a 7-Eleven built, quickly!

[orlandocity87]

"Our massive 19 ft x 10 ft LED video wall will be used for digital art, YouTube events, streaming music festivals and other events, gaming tournaments, and of course, movies nights."

 

[spenser1058]

1 hour ago, orlandocity87 said:

"Our massive 19 ft x 10 ft LED video wall will be used for digital art, YouTube events, streaming music festivals and other events, gaming tournaments, and of course, movies nights."

 

Which, of course, presents the point - instead of whining about Eola while we wait for the next step, why not work with the city to program the space in the mean time? Or transplant some big ol’ trees! I keep mentioning about the agenda here - there’s been this enormous hatred of this since Day 1 even though it was very popular with the public (many of whom voted for it with their $$) and even though it hasn’t sat unfinished but a fraction of the time other empty lots downtown have (the MEC site littered and with a sadly drooping chain link fence has gone on for five years - five! Why not a peep about that?

Edited July 12, 2022 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Finally?

Orlando’s Robinson Street remake will slow cars for bikes, walking, parking, landscaping
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/transportation/os-ne-robinson-street-overhaul-finally-20220719-wysktg4tdvdy5odxw4z7dqv624-story.html

From The Sentinel 

“FDOT will hold a community meeting Wednesday, July 27, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church of Orlando, 1901 E. Robinson Street.

“Nothing has been finalized and what we (are) looking to do is say ‘hey, this (is) where we are, what do you think?’” Fontanelli said. “People can really feel like they own this project.” @dwSouthEola, might there be hope?

cflroads.com/projects/Road/SR526

It’s a really good, in-depth article which covers the road’s history, how people are affected by its racetrack nature today and how the changes will affect a roadway that includes parks, a school, housing and way too many lawyers’ offices.

We’re going to get a big feel next year for how a road diet may work as OUC is planning major infrastructure work with significant lane closures.

The important thing to remember is that we have a grid downtown and there are multiple ways to get where you need to go. It’s quite different from the cul-de-sacs in the ‘burbs that all open on to one main racetrack.

*cue theme from Knots Landing*

 

 

Edited July 19, 2022 by spenser1058

[jrs2]

On 7/19/2022 at 1:33 PM, spenser1058 said:

Finally?

Orlando’s Robinson Street remake will slow cars for bikes, walking, parking, landscaping
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/transportation/os-ne-robinson-street-overhaul-finally-20220719-wysktg4tdvdy5odxw4z7dqv624-story.html

From The Sentinel 

“FDOT will hold a community meeting Wednesday, July 27, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church of Orlando, 1901 E. Robinson Street.

“Nothing has been finalized and what we (are) looking to do is say ‘hey, this (is) where we are, what do you think?’” Fontanelli said. “People can really feel like they own this project.” @dwSouthEola, might there be hope?

cflroads.com/projects/Road/SR526

It’s a really good, in-depth article which covers the road’s history, how people are affected by its racetrack nature today and how the changes will affect a roadway that includes parks, a school, housing and way too many lawyers’ offices.

We’re going to get a big feel next year for how a road diet may work as OUC is planning major infrastructure work with significant lane closures.

The important thing to remember is that we have a grid downtown and there are multiple ways to get where you need to go. It’s quite different from the cul-de-sacs in the ‘burbs that all open on to one main racetrack.

*cue theme from Knots Landing*

Ha!  Gary Ewing; Joan Van Ark.  who even those who those two actors/ characters are?

[spenser1058]

37 minutes ago, jrs2 said:

Ha!  Gary Ewing; Joan Van Ark.  who even those who those two actors/ characters are?

I never really watched it - I just liked the theme song. I also always wondered about the endless vistas of cookie cutter houses on cul-de-sacs on the opening titles and, even though they were by no means inexpensive, I wondered why anyone would want to live there. Then again, from an early age as a child of the ‘burbs, all I could think of was getting out.

https://www.google.com/search?q=knots+landing+you+tube&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:0ab0ec9c,vid:mrEtSUhCDtA,st:0
 

Edited July 20, 2022 by spenser1058

[JFW657]

33 minutes ago, jrs2 said:

Ha!  Gary Ewing; Joan Van Ark.  who even those who those two actors/ characters are?

If you're a fan of The Rockford Files, Joan Van Ark did three episodes. 

One with Paul Michael Glaser who went on to play Starsky in Starsky and Hutch.

She shows up only once in this little "Women of The Rockford Files" video, though. Starting at 1:30 to 1:37.

That's her in the video thumbnail too, btw.

Now you know.  

 

 

[spenser1058]

5 minutes ago, JFW657 said:

If you're a fan of The Rockford Files, Joan Van Ark did three episodes. 

One with Paul Michael Glaser who went on to play Starsky in Starsky and Hutch.

She shows up only once in this little "Women of The Rockford Files" video, though. Starting at 1:30 to 1:37.

That's her in the video thumbnail too, btw.

Now you know.  

 

 

Or as NBC would put it, The More You Know… (of course, Knots was on CBS, a spin-off of Dallas).