Downtown Orlando Project Discussion

[XpressEnterprise]

3 New Hotels in 3 Years

[prahaboheme]

More hotels downtown is a good thing -- services including retail tend to follow.

[codypet]

I'm excited about the idea of putting the old OUC building to good use for one of them. Trying to get it a historic landmark.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-cfb-cover-downtown-hotel-20120115,0,7342437.story

Edited January 17, 2012 by codypet

[XpressEnterprise]

I guess we will soon witness another boom in downtown. With the $200 million "central station," the $100 million dollar complex with Amway Center, and there is another I can't seem to remember at this point. Hopefully more will follow.

[Jernigan]

I think those are the only two "complexes" going up. But add to that Steel House, Creative Village, and trains and LYMMO expansion, there will be a lot for us to take in on a daily basis come 2013-2014.

[sunshine]

World of Beer and subway backed out of those deal..so they wont be there....

[smileguy]

World of Beer and subway backed out of those deal..so they wont be there....

I blame Downtown Steve's comment on here for Subway!

[Jernigan]

Ha - that's fine. Just don't blame me for the World of Beer. I was pretty excited about that.

That said, sunshine - how breaking is this news about WOB backing out?

They have a Facebook page that they have been using up through this past Saturday and on Jan 1 they posted "Coming Soon!"

http://www.facebook.com/WOBDowntownOrlando

Edited January 18, 2012 by Downtown Steve

[Jernigan]

$1.66B Wekiva Parkway gets approval

A decades-long drive to build a highway across the Wekiva River likely came to a successful end Tuesday after the project won approval from a key regional transportation board.

The decision means construction on the $1.66 billion Wekiva Parkway could start as early as this fall at the west end near Apopka. Work on the east end, where the toll road links with Interstate 4, would begin in 2017. The parkway would largely follow State Road 46 and be complete by 2021.

[sunshine]

the person own those spaces also own the space that a friend of mine was leasing....so he told me the "news"

[mrh3]

Ain't that a sign o' the times.

[smileguy]

It looks like West Church St. is getting some streetscape upgrades between Amway and the Citrus Bowl. This seems to include BRT lanes that are not in the current expansion phases. Any thoughts on that?

From the City Council item - "The project includes upgrades to the existing pavement sections, widening sidewalks on both sides, new street lighting, undergrounding existing overhead utilities, a faux bridge at the new Parramore Heritage Park, upgrades to stormwater collection systems, intersection signalization upgrades, future "Lymmo" type service lanes to the Citrus Bowl, landscaping and irrigation and other aesthetic improvements."

[prahaboheme]

The streetscape upgrades are sorely needed. That is a welcome improvement. The Lymmo BRT lanes are not. Who is going to use them and why isn't the priority the North/South axis extension?

[Jernigan]

I'm not sure which one is the priority (E/W or N/S) but if the E/W is going to be done, then now is the time to do it along with the rest of the improvements to W. Church Street. I know their goal is to have them both done by the end of 2013 before SunRail arrives.

In terms of SunRail, I'd put E/W as a higher priority than N/S. If I live outside of Orlando and take the train in, I have the choice to get off at Orlando Health, Church Street, LYNX Central Station or Florida Hospital. AKA, the center and the north and south ends of the North/South LYMMO track.

The only reason I'd have to walk far is if I worked in an office in Thornton Park/Eola Heights/Colonialtown. And on the west end, the LYMMO would connect those residents to the train that they could then take north or south outside of Orlando or to the hospitals.

[John Hargrove]

I agree. I think the primary motivation for the E/W over the N/S is SunRail.

Though I do think the E/W route is a joke. I live in 55W, want to shop in Thornton Park, and it will still be less of a pain in the ass to use my car.

[prahaboheme]

Lynx issues new RFP for FlexBus study, demo

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/blog/2012/02/lynx-issues-new-rfp-for-flexbus-study.html

[Grand Emperial]

Anybody remember that Globe shaped building a bunch of middle-eastern developers were trying to build in Orlando as a part of a series of Real Estate Investment Exchanges?

I'm having a tough time finding the picture of the actual building.

[alex]

Steel House made some visible progress over the past week. The plumbing looks like it's been done for a while now, but last week they got a rather large crane (second one downtown!) and at the end of last week the parking garage started to take shape. Sorry for the bad car pictures, but I was excited to see it take shape:

Renderings of the final project:

[Jernigan]

Great to see an update on this project! Thanks for taking the photos. I drove by yesterday and noticed it looked like work had been done but didn't catch a glimpse of that prefab concrete from Colonial.

Also noticed that the gaudy green building on E. Colonial across Magnolia from the 7-11 (northeast corner) is now repainted and has the signage for a Boys & Girls Club. Much better looking than before.

[Pete C]

Also noticed that the gaudy green building on E. Colonial across Magnolia from the 7-11 (northeast corner) is now repainted and has the signage for a Boys & Girls Club. Much better looking than before.

They did much more than just repaint it...the exterior was completely renovated (and inside I believe as well). The old front facade was completely ripped out and rebuilt, and they they added some nice architectural (art deco?) features on the sides. They really did a great job reusing that building.

Edited February 20, 2012 by Pete C

[bulldogger]

And this whole time, I thought someone ran their car into the building.

[Pete C]

And this whole time, I thought someone ran their car into the building.

LOL, exactly...I am pretty sure that happened. Not sure if that prompted the new front or if they planned it from the start.

[alex]

They did much more than just repaint it...the exterior was completely renovated (and inside I believe as well). The old front facade was completely ripped out and rebuilt, and they they added some nice architectural (art deco?) features on the sides. They really did a great job reusing that building.

Snapped this while heading north on Magnolia. Definitely looks a lot better.

[klstorey]

Coming Soon: Buildings in Downtown

In-depth look at the buildings downtown that have recentley or will soon break ground (Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Cambria Suites, Steel House, and 899 North Orange) forwarded by a brief history of downtown's growth.

[klstorey]

Heading to Tampa the other day I noticed some markers around where the new Regency Village Drive I-4 flyover (near Vineland Ave) to Palm Parkway is going. It is about to break ground soon so this may be the first small signs of the construction there. It was just a few stakes in the ground with ribbons on them but still an exciting sign!