[Downtown Orlando Project Discussion]

Everything you could possibly want to know about the I-4 improvement project: YouTube Link

 

6 years to completion?  I'm taking the over.  WAY over... That said, I do think the final product is going to be a great improvement

[College Park]

Found this online.  I think this will be a good addition to the neighborhood, and it's great news the concept is coming from established business owners.

 

http://community-paper.com/2013/10/24/ice-cream-shop-to-open-in-college-park/

 

This will be an excellent addition to the neighborhood - short bike ride/walk for an awful lot of families.  Anyone have an idea what might go in the old Ace Hardware space on Edgewater?  I really wish they hadn't moved out.

[The Yard at Ivanhoe | Mixed-Use [Under Construction]]

Speaking of Ivanhoe Village, I have friends who own a resturant in the area and we were discussing ways to encourage the Uptown residents to head toward the Ivanhoe Row/Virginia/Mills Market area rather than across Colonial and downtown for nightlife options.  Any ideas?  We  discussed advertising, fliers - even golf carts/pedicabs.  It's actually a much more pleasing walk (along the lake once you get past the mildly confusing Orange/Magnolia/S Ivanhoe intersection).  When Uptown reaches a critical mass - if they ever get around to building The Sevens - I think this area has an awful lot of promise (Colonial is a bit of a wall).

[The Yard at Ivanhoe | Mixed-Use [Under Construction]]

An update on the OUC Building. The repairs are going to be costly. 

 

I sure hope they find a way to save this building.  I'm more pro-development (at least in the current time period) than anything, but there are several great looking older buildings in this area, including the OUC building and several of the art-deco buildings further down the street.  I know it's too much to hope for someone to convert this into loft spaces or condos - but what a great location!

[MLS Soccer Stadium]

I certainly hope so. If any inidcations, Amway Center, Amway Arena and Dr Phillips has yet to make any impacts.

 

I agree that the arenas/venues themselves haven't exactly spurred the local development (or retail) some people imagined, but regarding yesterday's vote - there's more to it than the stadium.  One could say the Amway Arena/Center didn't make an impact, but would you say having the Orlando Magic franchise hasn't made an impact?  I would argue that it has, and that's the more important aspect of the vote - assuming the MLS deal gets done - adding a second major league franchise.  Let's face it, the NFL/NHL will never move a team this close to the Bucs/Bolts, and MLB barely survives anywhere in FL.  MLS was really our only shot to leave the dreaded one-franchise ("dried up pond", is that what Shaq called it?) city club. 

 

Organic growth gets talked about a lot on this forum (sorry - long time lurker).  In my opinion, organic growth occurs when people have pride in their community - in the regional or hyper-local sense.  Whether or not you're a sports or arts fan, these are the things that bring communities together for a common cause.  Hundreds of thousands of people flock back to small college towns in the middle of nowhere every Saturday in the fall because of their shared fandom.  Sporting and cultural events draw on nostalgia, and help people plant roots - or want to return.  This longview is also what's driving Mr Hitt and UCF athletics (with that enormous, young alumni base that is only now leaving the school with a memory of big-time football and basketball games).  A sports team is largely just a rally cry for municipal pride - which is something Orlando sorely needs to grow...

[MLS Soccer Stadium]

Today's the day.  I'm pretty nervous - it would be a shame to come so close to a second major league franchise only to lose it by one vote.  I hope OCSC came prepared with every shred of evidence they can put heads in beds (NCAA Tourneys for soccer, lacrosse, etc, US Men's and Women's team events, international friendly's).  To be honest, I wish the commisioners would - just for a moment - recognize that civic pride in sports teams and cultural/quality of life improvements by performing arts centers can't be measured by "economic" impact alone...

[Downtown Orlando Project Discussion]

_{I saw some people working on "the asparagus" outside of city hall this morning - are they really going to fix it?  It would make sense with the See Art Orlando stuff lighting up soon...}