Orlando Attractions Area News & Developments

[JFW657]

4 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

Now if they'll just finish the I-4 E onramp there at Kirkman. Everyday has become an adventure in H**l there. I'm not sure who is worse- the clueless tourists trying desperately to find the Turnpike (or worse, the Millenia exit) or the Martin engineers in their Acuras trying to speed ahead in the merge lane and causing a massive bottleneck when they run out of room *sigh*.

Gawd I am so glad I don't have to drive down that way anymore.

[AndyPok1]

Yeah, I've started working from home 4 days a week because getting onto I4 from Kirkman has been wretched.  But yeah, I drove over the new overpass a few times.  So nice!  First of many improvements from Ultimate.

 

[dcluley98]

New I-drive Aloft/Element Hotel planned next to SeaWorld. 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/brinkmann-on-business/os-cfb-aloft-element-seaworld-20170810-story.html/

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2017/08/10/seaworld-area-hotel-to-be-dual-branded-starwood.html

 

Edited August 11, 2017 by dcluley98

[jrs2]

9 hours ago, dcluley98 said:

New I-drive Aloft/Element Hotel planned next to SeaWorld. 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/brinkmann-on-business/os-cfb-aloft-element-seaworld-20170810-story.html/

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2017/08/10/seaworld-area-hotel-to-be-dual-branded-starwood.html

 

there's a nice little cluster of development at that corner already, that's been getting more and more built up over the past five years or so, at the NE and SW of that intersection; hotels, restaurants, the WaWa, CVS?, Panera, etc.  it's exploded recently with construction.

[spenser1058]

Kevin Yee from Mice Age makes a great point: Is the "REAL" Disney Decade still to come?

http://micechat.com/168393-kevin-yee-real-disney-decade-happening-right-now/

[jrs2]

It looks like McFadden's Irish bar and restaurant, which is closed, is going to be redeveloped into  what looks to be a 5-6 story Element by Westin hotel over at I-Drive 360.  This is along Universal Blvd adjacent to the garage entrance.  It's on the Goodings Plaza side of the project and adjacent to the Sleuth's Mystery Dinner show.  The OBJ reported.

[codypet]

Geez I remember shopping at the Radio Shack in that plaza not 15 years ago.

[Boomer136]

McFaddens was really new, right? I thought they had their soft open when I was working on finishing out Sea Life Aquarium.

[jrs2]

2 hours ago, Boomer136 said:

McFaddens was really new, right? I thought they had their soft open when I was working on finishing out Sea Life Aquarium.

it was.  It was a redo of what was there, then was shuttered.  I was shocked. 

[jrs2]

OBJ reported on that Grand National shopping plaza that's about $100M to go directly across Oakridge from the outlet center.  Looks nice in the renderings.  includes hotel, etc.

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2017/08/16/100grand-national-shopping-center-to-be-welcome.html

I believe this is that project from North American properties.  What really excites me about this, is that there are workers doing site work as we speak, but, when they build this out, Premium Outlets will run out of spill over parking.  And, they will finally be forced to pony up and build a garage.

Edited August 17, 2017 by jrs2

[spenser1058]

That brings back memories of Shoppers World right there on the curve that tried to compete with Belz in the early days of the outlet mall but never could. It had a 1960s look about it, even though it was built decades later.

Year after year it sat and finally was torn down, just in time for that area to boom.

[jrs2]

1 hour ago, spenser1058 said:

That brings back memories of Shoppers World right there on the curve that tried to compete with Belz in the early days of the outlet mall but never could. It had a 1960s look about it, even though it was built decades later.

Year after year it sat and finally was torn down, just in time for that area to boom.

I don't know if I ever went there.  I always thought Belz was cool back in the day with the two buildings.  It's interesting now to see what they do when they realize people can no longer park across the street.

[shardoon]

Welcome back Empire..............

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2017/08/17/land-purchase-may-signal-return-of-empire-hotel.html

[jrs2]

5 hours ago, shardoon said:

Welcome back Empire..............

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2017/08/17/land-purchase-may-signal-return-of-empire-hotel.html

So, this is just west of the bridge over 528 that connects Westwood directly to the west entrance of the OCCC West Bldg.  Lot of "west" in that sentence.

I wonder if they'll keep that high rise design still.  I hope so.

[shardoon]

41 minutes ago, jrs2 said:

So, this is just west of the bridge over 528 that connects Westwood directly to the west entrance of the OCCC West Bldg.  Lot of "west" in that sentence.

I wonder if they'll keep that high rise design still.  I hope so.

Considering their previous design, I would hope not. It would be a shame for something like an Extended stay, which is right next door to be built. That stretch of Westwood Blvd can fit quite a few side by side high rise convention hotel. In fact, if it was up to me, I would raze all those low rise hotels from the price gouging gas station onwards........... build 5-6 tall convention hotels........... in my dreams lol. 

[jrs2]

7 minutes ago, shardoon said:

Considering their previous design, I would hope not. It would be a shame for something like an Extended stay, which is right next door to be built. That stretch of Westwood Blvd can fit quite a few side by side high rise convention hotel. In fact, if it was up to me, I would raze all those low rise hotels from the price gouging gas station onwards........... build 5-6 tall convention hotels........... in my dreams lol. 

the link shows a 21+ story building; slim and tall; rooftop pool.  is this the previous design you're talking about?

[shardoon]

1 hour ago, jrs2 said:

the link shows a 21+ story building; slim and tall; rooftop pool.  is this the previous design you're talking about?

yes, this was what was originally planned on universal blvd. OBJ just pulled a previous rendering. i just read my previous post and i got confused too lol. i would love for this design to follow onto westwood blvd..........

 

Edited August 18, 2017 by shardoon

[jrs2]

On 8/18/2017 at 4:52 PM, shardoon said:

yes, this was what was originally planned on universal blvd. OBJ just pulled a previous rendering. i just read my previous post and i got confused too lol. i would love for this design to follow onto westwood blvd..........

 

They would have pseudo direct access to the OCCC via the bridge.  The other location was good, distanxe-wise.  it looks like this parcel is roughly the same distance to an OCCC entrance as the former location.  I wonder how walking over the bridge works for conventioneers.

[jrs2]

From the Orlando Eye:  The new Starflyer base going up.  Hollywood Plaza Garage.  Also, TopGolf and Andretti Racing.

 

Edited August 22, 2017 by jrs2

[tc01]

Nice update!!!!! 

[shardoon]

On 8/20/2017 at 10:27 AM, jrs2 said:

They would have pseudo direct access to the OCCC via the bridge.  The other location was good, distanxe-wise.  it looks like this parcel is roughly the same distance to an OCCC entrance as the former location.  I wonder how walking over the bridge works for conventioneers.

Although technically close by to one concourse, the other is very far away.....and even walking to the closer concourse is over a bridge and completely uncovered exposed to the elements. 

[jrs2]

Aventura Resort updates:

One shot is from the red light in front of Sapphire Falls.  The other is from the lobby of Cabana Bay.  The other is from the shuttle bus drop off for Volcano Bay which shows the far side of the tower, notably the first two tall levels on the back side.

 

[aent]

So apparently the city is now considering streetcar on the former maglev route... Publicly funded, slower, and not-elevated. I hope they don't do that. Might as well just stick with buses as streetcar will prevent any better system from being built. They should apologize to Globalvia for refusing to let them in the airport and ask them if there is any way to make it up to them...

[jrs2]

34 minutes ago, aent said:

So apparently the city is now considering streetcar on the former maglev route... Publicly funded, slower, and not-elevated. I hope they don't do that. Might as well just stick with buses as streetcar will prevent any better system from being built. They should apologize to Globalvia for refusing to let them in the airport and ask them if there is any way to make it up to them...

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2017/08/28/streetcars-may-replace-proposed-maglev-route.html

So, are they talking about an I-Drive circulator, or the route from OIA to I-Drive?  I don't have a subscription to OBJ.

 

On a positive note, the hotel which had stalled out at the North I-Drive bend (past Municipal Drive) seems to have started construction again the past few weeks.  It seemed to be stalled out for almost a year.  No write up in the OBJ either.  It looks like there are another 3 floors higher than they were.

Edited August 28, 2017 by jrs2

[HankStrong]

16 hours ago, jrs2 said:

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2017/08/28/streetcars-may-replace-proposed-maglev-route.html

So, are they talking about an I-Drive circulator, or the route from OIA to I-Drive?  I don't have a subscription to OBJ.

This article is not behind the pay-wall.  If it was when you found it, they've released it.

 

It doesn't say anything we haven't rehashed over and over.  Maglev's agreement lapsed for their elevated train.  No immediate alternatives were given.  Mayor Jacobs prefers a light rail system.  The article estimates $50M-$70M a mile and publicly-funded instead of the Maglev private option.

Weirdly (but it is the OBJ) it references using a system like New Orleans or Boston, but shows a photo of the Atlanta Streetcar which is NOTHING like the systems in NOLA (old timey and old timey LOOKING single trolley streetcars) or Boston (a subway/above ground train) shown.

The streetcar systems in Atlanta (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Streetcar), Cincinnati (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_Bell_Connector), DC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_Streetcar), Portland (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Streetcar), Phoenix (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_Metro_Rail), Seattle (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Streetcar), or Tucson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Link) are probably more likely options.  I probably missed a couple of examples, but something like these would be more in line with what they are talking about.

However, be it maglev or light rail, I still 100% believe that THIS route needs to be elevated over traffic or at least dedicated lane.  I think elevated is an insanely better option and a must if they go to the airport.  Maybe it is fine once it is on I-Drive to flow with traffic, but...

 

ETA:

All those wiki links and I missed a complete list one.  Boo on me.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streetcars_in_North_America