Downtown South (Sunrail/Amtrak, SODO, Orlando Health, Lymmo, Orange/Michigan Avenues)

[AndyPok1]

Business should have definitely been there.  I'm extremely bummed.  Trading my urban/walkable through the neighborhood Starbucks for one that requires crossing Michigan AND Pineloch is awful

[JFW657]

3 hours ago, AndyPok1 said:

Business should have definitely been there.  I'm extremely bummed.  Trading my urban/walkable through the neighborhood Starbucks for one that requires crossing Michigan AND Pineloch is awful

Look on the bright side... more exercise. 

[Jernigan]

The other bright side is that the existing building could become something even better.   You could be able to walk to a local coffee shop with a social scene and still have Starbucks not far away.

[codypet]

I gotta talk to my Sport Clips girl because she swore to me there's no SODO location coming.  I'll have to give this plan to her next time I see her.

[AndyPok1]

1 hour ago, Jernigan said:

The other bright side is that the existing building could become something even better.   You could be able to walk to a local coffee shop with a social scene and still have Starbucks not far away.

Fair point.  My Starbucks trips have drastically decreased since they got rid of the Frap Light base.  I'm not having empty calories!

Wonder if the location could get a liquor license 

[spenser1058]

38 minutes ago, AndyPok1 said:

Fair point.  My Starbucks trips have drastically decreased since they got rid of the Frap Light base.  I'm not having empty calories!

Wonder if the location could get a liquor license 

GO ANDY!

[codypet]

Bring Back Checkers!

[HankStrong]

When we moved further from Starbucks, my wife quit going so often.  WIN FOR MY WALLET!

[spenser1058]

13 minutes ago, HankStrong said:

When we moved further from Starbucks, my wife quit going so often.  WIN FOR MY WALLET!

Don't get too comfortable - they've been adding Starbucks to Publix lately and, in Florida anyway, there's no escaping the P (even if they just blew a fortune on the wrong candidate.)

[mdeancherry]

17 hours ago, AndyPok1 said:

Business should have definitely been there.  I'm extremely bummed.  Trading my urban/walkable through the neighborhood Starbucks for one that requires crossing Michigan AND Pineloch is awful

There's still one in Target. You've got to cross Orange but it's the closest one to the current Crystal Lake location.

[Universe_Explorer]

Seems crazy that they'd close that location.  There's always a line for the drive through and rarely available seating inside.  Heck, I'm actually sitting in it right now surrounded by people with Orlando Health badges.  I guess it's good news for the Foxtail Coffee that is supposed to be opening across from ORMC in the old Mama B's, if they ever actually start the build out 

[JFW657]

Well, they've "replaced" the trees that they cut down along Michigan in front of Boston Market and Zoe's.

Scrawny little saplings that look like oaks, but will likely take the better part of a decade before they're big enough to start providing decent shade.

[spenser1058]

Ahhhh, progress!?!

[Jernigan]

Looks like one space is already leased at Orange & Michigan:

https://images1.loopnet.com/d2/5VhFEO_TgriSu0MdQppUXvVUwXQCgaQ3SDs_coPrEVY/document.pdf

[sunshine]

With all these business and build up, the area still feel extremely suburbans. I wish the city would invest some money in landscaping the area to make it more inviting.

[Jernigan]

Orange Ave is a beast and I think the compromise with FDOT was a very big one. The curb-to-curb improvements start early next year I think.  Things like bulb outs and enhanced crosswalks will help but personally I’d add signals at both Crystal Lake and Harding.

[spenser1058]

Just don't try to put a rainbow crosswalk across Orange Avenue!

[codypet]

23 hours ago, Jernigan said:

Looks like one space is already leased at Orange & Michigan:

https://images1.loopnet.com/d2/5VhFEO_TgriSu0MdQppUXvVUwXQCgaQ3SDs_coPrEVY/document.pdf

You what drives me nuts about these graphics is how they appear to make them busier than they really are.  There's not gonna be 2 Starbucks, Lucky's isn't open yet, and Bealls Outlet is long gone.

[AndyPok1]

21 hours ago, Jernigan said:

Orange Ave is a beast and I think the compromise with FDOT was a very big one. The curb-to-curb improvements start early next year I think.  Things like bulb outs and enhanced crosswalks will help but personally I’d add signals at both Crystal Lake and Harding.

Signals?  Ehhh.... You want 5 signals in 9 blocks?  I mean, I jaywalk across Orange all the time in those spots, so yeah, it'd help, but think that's super overkill for the amount of ped traffic.

[WAJAS]

1 hour ago, AndyPok1 said:

Signals?  Ehhh.... You want 5 signals in 9 blocks?  I mean, I jaywalk across Orange all the time in those spots, so yeah, it'd help, but think that's super overkill for the amount of ped traffic.

How about no signals, but signaled or enhanced crosswalks?  I agree that a full-on signalized intersections in unnecessary.

[AndyPok1]

I'm all for enhanced crosswalks, but I guess my question is.... how much walking traffic is there (or I suppose rather, *could there be* going between Wadeview and SoDo.  Wadeview still is lacking sidewalks on half the streets.  

[Jernigan]

Chicken and egg, man...

We walk to Starbucks and drive to Target.   The Target is closer!

Add to that the bus stops at Crystal Lake, the new townhomes under construction etc.   

heres a comparison to the CBD.  Could you imagine if we only had these 4 crossings?

[JFW657]

[spenser1058]

Just now, JFW657 said:

*Thinks of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree*

[codypet]

While I'm upset they took down the old trees, that's considerably better than palms and crepe myrtles.