depechecureguyorl

I would love to see Church St be turned into a "Lincoln Road" type of venue. It looked like it was getting closer to that reality back in the 90's, until Church St. died. Now that there are more residential towers being built in downtown, it's a perfect opportunity to turn Church St. into a pedestrian mall. Thoughts? I think it could work. Granted, Lincoln Rd is huge, but Church St. could be a smaller, double-decker, version. It's something besides another theme park...

^ Lord, I can't WAIT for the Post-Crotty era!

Hmm...after my $20 trip downtown using the toll roads, paying $15 to park, then getting mugged in Parramore, how can one NOT have a great time at the Scamway Arena??? No thanks.

^ agreed! We have too many effing toll roads in this joke of a town. Why is Orlando the ONLY major metro with one Freeway in the state of Florida? Miami and Tampa, yes, have toll roads, but they also have at least one other Freeway! Jacksonville has NO toll roads! Ugh...I used to love Orlando, but too many money hungry, good ole boy politicians run this town. Crotty is the W-O-R-S-T!!! I hate it here now.

Ugh...the ugliest building in Orlando is also the EMPTIEST building in Orlando. Maybe they'll want to use it for another "explosion" scene in a movie..."Lethal Weapon 5" maybe?

^ what? only interested in patrons with large assets? (sorry, couldn't resist).

^sigh...I rest my case.

I wouldn't call it "hate" per se; more like disdain for what's come to fruition. For all the hype, broo ha ha, and pomp given to 55W before construction began, I was expecting something akin to a "feather in the cap". Instead, we get a "bend in the rim" of this cowboy hat. Not to mention this ugly building took 5 years to even get off the ground. I would prefer to see commercial development downtown rather than empty, cavernous, condo buildings being sold to foriegn investors. And let's not start with the fact that over 75% of the proposed buildings downtown have gone the way of the dodo. At this point, I'll take the big open cube on the skyscraper roof anyday...at least the pizzutti plot would've had a building on it rather than a field of grass. Just my opinion...

well, it's all easy enough really...I-4 West goes South and I-4 East goes North. Turnpike North goes West and Tpk South goes East. It should be simple for an out of towner to figure out...

i guess. IMHO, 55W is the ugliest building downtown. it looks like it belongs on Disney property, not an urban center. Oh well...density is density in Orlando.

you're right. i thought this building would be taller...it's very squat the way it looks.

I heard on the news that the Apopka Bypass/Maitland Blvd extension is under construction. Anyone know how far along the project is? I've noticed a lot of construction going on around the Hwy 441/Mtld Blvd intersection, but that's the extent of what I've seen.

In 25 years, Orlando will finally get a 600 footer to offset the sea of 400 feet buildings. The ORL skyline already looks denser than Tampa or Jax's, but no where close to Miami's...what we lack in height we compensate for in density. Oh, and in 25 years...Orlando will look like...ORLANDO.

there is. the article says it expires in 2 years and Mica is unsure if he'll push to extend it. i hope he does. Had Mobility 20/20 included options to free up congestion on surface roads and options to convert the existing toll roads into freeways, then I would have voted "yes". As it was, however, toll lanes on I-4 is rediculous; especially when they want to use the money for more buses and "some light rail". Jeez...

No, I don't work for Rosen and personally, I would love it if all the tourists stayed away from Orlando. I don't care if they like it here or not. Oh, and thanks for stating the obvious "it's a city and it happens".

Random thought: While driving down south Kirkman Rd (past the Turnpike overpass) I noticed how dark and unsafe for pedestrians that road is. No sooner do I think that when I see a tourist almost get hit by a car while trying to cross the road from the AmSouth bank area over to the McDonald's/Hooters area. Can't something be done to make that stretch of road a lot safer for tourists? More lighting? More signage that tells people where everything is? I think we often overlook that yes, I-Drive may be the main tourist drag, but the overspill is now reaching Kirkman/Major Blvd due to Universal Orlando's increasing popularity. South Kirkman has been drab and dark for years, but now, it's time to modernize and liven up that spot in the tourist corridor. I know that the city envisions a sort of "Grand Boulevard" akin to Paris' "Champs-Elseeys", but that is only supposed to run from Sand Lake Rd. to International Dr. IMO, that vision should go all the way up to the Turnpike. Oh, and an interchange with the Turnpike wouldn't be so bad either.

i think that either Jacksonville or Tampa Bay would have to lose their NFL team first before Orlando is considered a viable option for an NFL franchise. Even if that happens, the Citrus Bowl upgrades probably would not be up to NFL standards. It might host NFL exhibition games, another World Cup, and hopefully an SEC bowl. However, for the love of God, PLEASE, no more Monster Truck Superbowls!!!

i have to agree with you on that one. i always thought 528 was a little known highway; easy access to the beach, etc, etc...until i got trapped on it one day during rush hour. even with EPass, it's a nightmare. It's so outdated with only 4 lanes...yes, FOUR lanes...and that's the highway tourists mainly see when they visit Orlando...pathetic. It's seriously overdue for an upgrade...I also think there are too many tolls on that road; heading west from 436, you're immediately dumped into a toll both. After you think it's over, there's yet another toll less than 3 miles away.

I'm sure it will be a big-name hotel; hopefully a Ritz or another Waldorf. However, given the small demand for hotel rooms downtown compared to the tourist district (where 30+ storey hotels are built), I think it would be safe to assume that the hotel would probably be no bigger than the Westin across from city hall; maybe 15 stories tops.

...and the higher tolls that will come with it!

Personally, I think that it's great news our local leaders are moving ahead with agreements, plans, and now have set timetables as to when these respective projects will begin. Honestly, I like the PAC idea and designs a little more than the arena; and I believe the Citrus Bowl should be demolished, not refurbished, with a new stadium built to modern standards. Then maybe we'll get an NFL team...are the Jags REALLY happy in Jacksonville? ;-) To hear all the negative nancies about these projects would make one think that they would be perfectly happy with Orlando remaining a cultural vacuum. There arguments that the $$$ could be better spent on schools, roads, etc. hold no water as FL Law does not allow for tourist taxes spent on those things. Unless the state Law changes, then Orlando may as well benefit locally from the people who come to visit & only stay in the tourist district.

Thanks to both! :-)

Sky City? Apparently a $300M project coming to downtown approved by Orlando City Council w/construction set to begin in 2009. Has anyone heard of this project? Here's an article from Commercial Property News: $300M Orlando Mixed-Use Gets Thumbs Up

if anything, I hope the PAC is built. i could care less about a new arena and the Citrus Bowl? Please! They need to just tear it down and save $100M in the process. Talk about beating a dead horse.