Apopka aims to strengthen its downtown

[speck76]

Apopka aims to strengthen its downtown

Sandra Mathers {sodEmoji.{sodEmoji.|}} Sentinel Staff Writer

Posted March 19, 2006

APOPKA -- Imagine the quaint shops of Mount Dora lining downtown side streets in Apopka. Or a Winter Park Village town center with adequate parking plunked down somewhere near City Hall.

Farfetched? Maybe not.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/custom...-home-headlines

I always like to see this type of news

[JRS1]

the Apopka by-pass (414) will help get a good portion of the 441 northbound traffic off of 441 in downtown Apopka-- that is, as long as that traffic originates somewhere south of the 414/441 interchange. otherwise, its business as usual along with 436 westbound traffic heading towards 441 north as well.

if they don't figure out how to get those cars and trucks off of 441 downtown, they can forget about redevelopment aspirations.

[metropolis]

I recently moved from Miami to Apopka and I find that there's a tremendous amount of potential in downtown Apopka for development. This could look similar to Mount Dora if businesses are willing to take a chance and invest. One thing that I think will help this become an eventual reality is the new population moving into Apopka. If you drive around Errol Estate and the surrounding areas you will find a large number of new subdivisions under construction, take all of Errol Estate along with the Rock Springs Ridge area and you have thousands and thousands of middle to upper class folks who live only minutes from Downtown Apopka and could bring these shops/stores quite a bit of business.

The problem that I see is South Apopka, which smothers the southern side of Downtown Apopka. This is a higher crime area with beat up old houses. The boldest step, and possibly the catalyst to get these things going is for new housing to be developed right in Downtown Apopka. The first development or two would have to sell at low prices, because honestly, who wants to live in the current day South Apopka? But once it started cleaning up and new homes/condos/townhomes started popping up, you may quickly see a transformation take place.

There are some signs of improvement in Downtown Apopka. The Gentry Insurance building just went up right next to Wendy's right on 441 (across from City Hall) and it's a gorgeous colonial (brick), two-story office building. Also, around the corner of 441, on Central (I believe), across from Washington Mutual, there was an old faded, white building that just got remodeled completely and it looks gorgeous; I wish I had a picture to post.

If anyone else has info on Apopka, I'd like to read about it.

Sincerely,

Metropolis

[Hisma]

Well I lived in Apopka for 10 years, did middle school and high school there, wow I absolutely hated it. Apopka High school is a dilapadated piece of sh!t that needs to be demolished, I hope they build the new school soon. Also, the atmosphere was just very depressing growing up, a mostly blue collar suburb with a run-down downtown choked with traffic and sprawling sub divisions. Oh yea, my house was also robbed 3 times.

Anyways, whenever I see news on Apopka trying to expand or "reinvent" itself, I just laugh to myself. I honestly can't see why someone would want to live there except for the affordable housing.

[Migman]

Well I lived in Apopka for 10 years, did middle school and high school there, wow I absolutely hated it. Apopka High school is a dilapadated piece of sh!t that needs to be demolished, I hope they build the new school soon. Also, the atmosphere was just very depressing growing up, a mostly blue collar suburb with a run-down downtown choked with traffic and sprawling sub divisions. Oh yea, my house was also robbed 3 times.

Anyways, whenever I see news on Apopka trying to expand or "reinvent" itself, I just laugh to myself. I honestly can't see why someone would want to live there except for the affordable housing.

Dude I totally know what you mean. I took the SAT at Apoka High and I literally got lost trying to find my way out of that insane circular building. Honsetly, who designed that POS?

[GRS328]

I recently moved from Miami to Apopka

ouch... that sounds tough. welcome to the forum, though