Orlando Extended Metro Developments (Volusia/Brevard/East Polk)

[spenser1058]

Meanwhile, boosters arrive at KSC for NASA’s Artemis 1 moon mission:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/space/os-bz-nasa-sls-boosters-arrive-ksc-20200617-a4r2ds6wn5acjpuo2l7x25h2my-story.html
 

From the Sentinel 

“After all, it is rocket science and it’s one of the key components of our Central Florida economy.”

[spenser1058]

An interesting contrast: someone working to restore downtown Ormond Beach to its previous splendor while the powers that be in Daytona would rather level their much grander jewel and replace it with sterile new concrete:

https://www.hometownnewsvolusia.com/business/puffing-up-another-old-downtown-building/article_95f090ba-a42a-11ea-a068-336fca7e42a7.html

From Hometown News Volusia 

Also: photos of Beach St. in downtown Daytona from its better days in the 1960’s  through its decline after the Volusia Mall opened in 1974 three miles west across from the Speedway.

https://www.news-journalonline.com/photogallery/LK/20160721/NEWS/721009999/PH/1

From the News-Journal 

 

Edited June 29, 2020 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

And, because we could all use a little beach today...

http://www.volusia.org/news/new-smyrna.stml

[spenser1058]

The City is doing a lousy job of maintaining it but despite the neglect Daytona’s Broadwalk soldiers on.

[spenser1058]

Big expansion proposed for Coastal Woods apartments in NSB and the latest on dock plans for Riverwalk Condos:

https://www.cityofnsb.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2116

Edited July 6, 2020 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

New Extended Stay America coming to Titusville as Brevard expects more tourists for increased launch activity:

https://www.floridatoday.com/story/money/business/2020/07/09/124-room-extended-stay-america-hotel-coming-soon-titusville/5386396002/
 

From Florida Today 

[spenser1058]

C’mon everybody, here we go.....! SpaceX and NASA announce first full-length manned mission to ISS in late October:

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/14/nasa-spacex-crew-1-full-astronaut-mission-launching-on-october-23.html

From CNBC

The story says the Dragon capsule arrived in Florida in July so hopefully it will launch from Canaveral. It should provide a nice boost to Brevard’s economy due to tourist activity unless COVID goes crazy this fall.

 

Edited August 15, 2020 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Daytona Beach is also seeking to move beyond tourism with the MicaPlex Research Park at Embry-Riddle:

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/business/2020/08/17/daytona-embry-riddle-research-park-revs-up-local-economy/3362973001/
 

From the News-Journal 

Edited August 19, 2020 by spenser1058

[orange87]

3 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

Daytona Beach is also seeking to move beyond tourism with the MicaPlex Research Park at Emory-Riddle:

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/business/2020/08/17/daytona-embry-riddle-research-park-revs-up-local-economy/3362973001/
 

From the News-Journal 

The Research Park has three buildings completed so far and it's been a roaring success. There are now plans for a fourth building expected to break ground in 18 months.

[spenser1058]

New city hall proposed on former First Baptist site in downtown Daytona:

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/2020/08/23/daytona-beach-could-get-new-city-hall-and-downtown-parking-garage/3405959001/

From the News-Journal 

The current building is a late ‘60’s - early ‘70’s monstrosity that the city really should replace. The present city manager’s thinking process resides in that era, however, so it may be preferable to wait for someone with ideas from the current century (he’s scheduled to retire next year - in a particularly acute case of Orlando-itis, the present city manager is 75 years old and has had the job since God was a teenager - it shows in the city’s 1970’s mindset).

 

Edited August 23, 2020 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Three rockets going off in the next few days at the Space Coast. It’s incredible what’s happening over there. Go East, young man, for there lies the future!

https://www.wftv.com/weather/space/3-rocket-launches-scheduled-lift-off-space-coast-this-week/ZXVGUALVNREG7GL2NLWZSDH4ZA/
 

From WFTV 

[orange87]

On 8/23/2020 at 8:12 AM, spenser1058 said:

New city hall proposed on former First Baptist site in downtown Daytona:

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/2020/08/23/daytona-beach-could-get-new-city-hall-and-downtown-parking-garage/3405959001/

From the News-Journal 

The current building is a late ‘60’s - early ‘70’s monstrosity that the city really should replace. The present city manager’s thinking process resides in that era, however, so it may be preferable to wait for someone with ideas from the current century (he’s scheduled to retire next year - in a particularly acute case of Orlando-itis, the present city manager is 75 years old and has had the job since God was a teenager - it shows in the city’s 1970’s mindset).

As someone who grew up in Connecticut, I've always enjoyed the north east's beautiful stately architecture. By comparison, I've found much of the architecture in Florida to bland at best.

[spenser1058]

9 minutes ago, orange87 said:

As someone who grew up in Connecticut, I've always enjoyed the north east's beautiful stately architecture. By comparison, I've found much of the architecture in Florida to bland at best.

There are some beautiful places with great architecture in the state. The problem is too many people moving in with no sense of our history allow too many developers and politicians to throw up dreck for a quick buck.

Winter Park has some beautiful homes and Rollins has one of the most attractive campuses in the country. 

Bok Tower is also incredible. We just have to demand better. It goes all the way down to the basics - when Habitat For Humanity homes survived Hurricane Andrew better than what the developers built, that was a sign the current model is ridiculous.

[orlandouprise]

Unfortunately FL has always been about throwing it up asap and as cheap as possible.  Architecture / landscaping, etc...seem to be an afterthought.  Don't know why, but it just is that way generally.

[prahaboheme]

The northeast also does not have large swaths of unincorporated county land. I think this plays a big role in how development in Florida tends to run amuck, developers pretty much getting away with anything, and a lack of contextual, thoughtful urban design.

[spenser1058]

1 hour ago, prahaboheme said:

The northeast also does not have large swaths of unincorporated county land. I think this plays a big role in how development in Florida tends to run amuck, developers pretty much getting away with anything, and a lack of contextual, thoughtful urban design.

That’s definitely been the case historically but the culprits lately are sometimes switching places. At the moment, for example, OC often has stricter regulations regarding wetlands than Orlando.

[spenser1058]

A demonstration that “free parking” isn’t free and trying to wrap it up in soothing gobbledygook to pass the costs on to taxpayers. Don’t worry, though: the developer will still make his money.

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinion/columns/2020/08/30/daytona-just-say-no-15-million-parking-garage-developers/5654599002/
 

From The  News-Journal

[spenser1058]

The New York Times looks at the “Shark Capital of the World”, New Smyrna Beach:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/03/style/shark-attacks-florida-fear.html

[spenser1058]

“Avalon is just a terrible idea by a really good developer.”  - Sprawl marches on into the Palmetto Curtain :

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/business/columns/2020/09/05/avalon-park-developer-forges-ahead-controversial-daytona-project/5690780002/

From the News-Journal

 

Edited September 6, 2020 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

A Main St. building in downtown Lakeland, likely vacant for a couple of decades, has been purchased with plans to restore it:

https://www.theledger.com/story/news/lottery/2020/09/05/lakeland-main-street-building-purchased-new-owners-335-k/5719310002/
 

From the Lakeland Ledger 

It seems the idea a building unused for years must be demolished is, ummmm, fake news. Who knew?

Edited September 7, 2020 by spenser1058

[AmIReal]

This may be old news... I see Seminole County is branding as "Orlando North". Ran across this advertorial on Lonely Planet

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/orlando-north-florida-eco-adventures?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid social&utm_campaign=cs&fbclid=IwAR03my0skdjE9m1h0IMAb-pLLBH7h-CD8Yq4ifRUtkBtrFN8NA8Omf_wv9U

 

So I clicked on the sponsor link and it takes me to "orlando north", but the URL is DoOrlandoNorth, which I read as Doorlando north... I dunno, just thought it was funny.

https://doorlandonorth.com/?utm_medium=display&utm_source=lonely-planet&utm_campaign=supplemental-campaign-fy20&utm_content=Custom-Article-Sponsor-Logo&utm_term=

[Jerry95]

10 hours ago, AmIReal said:

This may be old news... I see Seminole County is branding as "Orlando North". Ran across this advertorial on Lonely Planet

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/orlando-north-florida-eco-adventures?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid social&utm_campaign=cs&fbclid=IwAR03my0skdjE9m1h0IMAb-pLLBH7h-CD8Yq4ifRUtkBtrFN8NA8Omf_wv9U

 

So I clicked on the sponsor link and it takes me to "orlando north", but the URL is DoOrlandoNorth, which I read as Doorlando north... I dunno, just thought it was funny.

https://doorlandonorth.com/?utm_medium=display&utm_source=lonely-planet&utm_campaign=supplemental-campaign-fy20&utm_content=Custom-Article-Sponsor-Logo&utm_term=

I remember hearing about this a few years ago. Lake Mary has always done a great job with it's economic development marketing, but this just seems to miss the mark to me. Seminole County has it's own charm, weird to see it brushed to the side in the name of "Orlando". I guess if it works

Edited September 10, 2020 by Jerry95

[jrs2]

On 8/23/2020 at 8:12 AM, spenser1058 said:

New city hall proposed on former First Baptist site in downtown Daytona:

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/2020/08/23/daytona-beach-could-get-new-city-hall-and-downtown-parking-garage/3405959001/

From the News-Journal 

The current building is a late ‘60’s - early ‘70’s monstrosity that the city really should replace. The present city manager’s thinking process resides in that era, however, so it may be preferable to wait for someone with ideas from the current century (he’s scheduled to retire next year - in a particularly acute case of Orlando-itis, the present city manager is 75 years old and has had the job since God was a teenager - it shows in the city’s 1970’s mindset).

I thought the mixed use plan was going on that property.

18 hours ago, AmIReal said:

This may be old news... I see Seminole County is branding as "Orlando North". Ran across this advertorial on Lonely Planet

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/orlando-north-florida-eco-adventures?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid social&utm_campaign=cs&fbclid=IwAR03my0skdjE9m1h0IMAb-pLLBH7h-CD8Yq4ifRUtkBtrFN8NA8Omf_wv9U

 

So I clicked on the sponsor link and it takes me to "orlando north", but the URL is DoOrlandoNorth, which I read as Doorlando north... I dunno, just thought it was funny.

https://doorlandonorth.com/?utm_medium=display&utm_source=lonely-planet&utm_campaign=supplemental-campaign-fy20&utm_content=Custom-Article-Sponsor-Logo&utm_term=

they got their own TopGolf now. 

In the words of that mayor of Tombstone in the movie Tombstone:  "Yes sir...not so toney after all"

[AmIReal]

4 hours ago, jrs2 said:

I thought the mixed use plan was going on that property.

It is... it is shown as "multi-family, restaurant and grocer on the drawing. There is also another project in works on the next block east of there, between Palmetto and Beach that includes multi use.

I was in Daytona yesterday and decided to drive over the newly opened Silver Beach Bridge (used to be the draw bridge). It was ok... nothing special. But then I turned north on Beach and was surprised how far they have come along on the renovations there. They should be pretty nice when completed.

If the 2 above mentioned builds get done, plus the Brown and Brown building AND the reno on Beach St then this area will have seen some major changes. Hopefully that bodes well for the local businesses.

[spenser1058]

12,937 sf office building and design center coming for local firm Paytas Homes on Taylor Road in Port Orange:

https://www.hometownnewsvolusia.com/news/paytas-plans-continuing-for-port-orange-office-building/article_13c58778-ee24-11ea-9fdb-87c6af830440.html
 

From Hometown News Volusia