GTR

I agree about utilizing the space better. I think it would make a lot more sense to have it run the span of the entire side of Eola or Summerlin versus a third of the way down Jackson. It just looks very random and the layout serves no real purpose other than some unknown vendetta against the Brownstones. I also would have liked to see some sort of water fountain/feature, a gazebo/pavilion, a small playground, some exercise bars or pretty much anything more than what we are getting, none of which would be difficult. An outdoor dining venue like Relax grill under the oak serving a dog-friendly menu would have been cool too, but this is Orlando so I don't even get my hopes up for that type of stuff.

Interesting location for the dog park on that property. It's like they deliberately tried to make the Brownstones' location even more undesireable. You have your choice of looking out onto garages or rundown duplexes or you can be right next to the dog run with the nice smell of a fully-loaded trash bin of dog crap wafting into your windows.

I am happy that they are not going through with the highrise at this time because I highly doubt it would be the type of building that parcel of land deserves. Something needs to go there that spurs the redevelopment of Lake Lucerne, lots of untapped potential there.

12 months is still sooner than never, although I hope I am wrong. ThIs is the office version of Citi Tower, so maybe I will be.

The original look wasn't attractive at all, so no loss here. One thing I will say is that I really like the layout and land use of this design. Developers of townhomes often have some "interior" units that open out onto a narrow and useless interior courtyard (see the Brownstones at Thorton Park), which allows them to pack in a few more units and point to there being some common space (as useless as it is). The design of this place prevents anyone having to have a less desirable interior unit.

I believe they have been doing catering for a while. Hopefully the food is a lot better.

I really don't think that part of the City needs another hotel and that is probably why the number of submissions was so low. Hopefully this spurs an expansion of the Grand Bo, which I would rather see than an all new hotel. As far as what to do with the space, while I applaud the idea of more green space, it is going to look real lopsided to have that space empty if CNL III is still a go. Plus the City needs the money from that land. So what can they do with that space? I can't see the need for another office tower there if it is taking this long for CNL, Capital Plaza and Tremont to pull the trigger. Maybe save the space until the condominium market eventually comes back.

That pool will be lucky to get a 3 hours of direct sunlight.

I agree, but doo-doo brown is hardly an appealing color either.

The SoDo townhouses look so much more attractive. Seems odd the better design would be hidden away in not the best of neighborhoods and the weaker design would be used in a high-value focal point setting:

More retail and less residential units...wonder if that is a result of the appeal?

Merman *cough cough cough* MERMAN!

I am sure that will happen too, but will take time for those developments to come to fruition. Not going to pop up over night or even over the period of a few months.

Walking by the construction site after the Citrus Bowl (or technically during third quarter) I was in disbelief that the stadium would be up and running for any part of this season. One issue I encountered on my long and depressing walk back from the Citrus Bowl was the complete lack of any potential stadium-supporting infrastructure around the new soccer arena. It is a decent walk from the arena to Church Street for a drink pre- or post-game. I cannot realistically see anything going up in time for the first season there. Stonewall is going to make a killing (and confuse quite a few people walking in unknowingly).

I imagine CNL III will break ground before this, at which point the need for more downtown Class A office space may be in question.

Thank you for clarifying. I was starting to think they switched phases in order to keep the income from the parking lot as long as they could and then using the parking lot on Phase 3 for public parking. That lot can be quite full on the weekends, wonder where it is going to all go.

The Mariposa lot was supposed to be Phase 3, but maybe they are deciding to move forward with it first since it appears to have less units than Phase 2 (i.e., safer).

I didn't envision a full dining establishment as I agree those should be pushed to the other more established nearby areas, but I would have thought a bar with the ability to serve limited food items (like Franks) would have been a given. Don't know if this space allows for something like that. Maybe an Eola Wine setup though. Odds on a smokeshop or vapeshop going in one of the spaces are probably very high!

I was surprised when walking by the other day that there appears little to no room for a restaurant or bar space on the ground floor. I knew most of the ground floor was going to be live/work space but I would have thought the corner unit would have been designed to accommodate more. Maybe I missed it.

It's a Christmas miracle! Better than world peace!

Perfect location for the Walgreens!

The fact that the additional studies have taken so long can't be good. Also the fact that the City Center got approved and will block any premium lake view rents can't be good either. I'd call this one done.

I am happy the little guy triumphed (although the backer of this project sounded like an uneducated douche on tv), but you have to wonder if Universal's plan entailed buying everything up between Wet N' Wild and the new land and completely leveling and reimagining North I Drive as we know it. Would have been amazing if that's what they envisioned.

I'd love to see the Art Museum near the library and the History Center to give the City a nice cluster of educational spots within a short walking distance. Maybe where the U Club is now if their highrise plan falls through again.