The big news of the month has been the unveiling of the design for the new performing arts center (Dr. Philips Performing Arts Center, or DPAC). The design can be seen here, http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-dpac2408aug24,0,4845661.story. The primary design element is a large cantilevered roof that stretches over Magnolia Ave, which will remain open to traffic, cutting through the center of the complex (though it’s believed the street will be closed during events). The $408M complex will include 3 theaters in all, a 2,800 seat Broadway style theater, a 1,700 search opera house and concert hall, and a small 300 seat theater intended for local and community shows. The complex will also contain rehearsal rooms, offices, and educational space. The massive complex will occupy 2 blocks, across from City Hall, bounded by Orange Ave, South St., Rosalind Ave., and Anderson St., with Magnolia Ave cutting through the center. The east block will contain the performing arts theaters, while the west side will contain a large outdoor performance space intended for outdoor shows, flanked by a hotel and office building.
In other news, the old Lynx bus station has finally been demolished to make room for a new Orlando Firehouse (incidentally, the current firehouse it is meant to replace will be displaced by the performing arts center). The 2-story station will be located between Pine St. and Central Ave. (north of 55 West).
In retail news, the SoDo shopping complex is nearing completion. The anchor Super Target is set to open on October 12, with a soft opening before then. The complex is located just “So”uth of “Do”wntown on S. Orange Ave., north of Michigan Ave.
Also the downtown Publix (located in the Paramount building) is now complete, with shelves stocked and signs up, and will be opening at 8:00am on Sat, Sep 6!!
In restaurant news, the Black Olive restaurant is completing build-out in the Plaza complex (it will be located just behind Corona Cigar Co.). The Mediterranean-style Italian restaurant will feature a weekly-rotating seasonal menu, fresh baked bread, hand-made cheeses, and 165 types of olives throughout the year. It is scheduled to open in September.
On an arts note, a new arts program featuring guitars will be deployed to various locations around downtown, similar to the Lizart project a few years back. The giant guitars are being created by local artists and can currently be seen in the works at some of the local studios, such as the City Arts Factory.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Downtown Orlando Happenings...
In Arena news, a new computer rendered video of the new Arena has been published and is pretty impressive. Check it out: Link to Video Notice the bar/restaurant overlooking the court, pretty cool, along with the outside pedestrian areas.
The big news in development has involved the Church Street Station complex. The complex, owned by Cameron Kuhn, is being foreclosed upon, along with other Kuhn properties and projects that are in financial difficulty. Ironically, the businesses and restaurants at Church Street seem to be doing better than the complex owners, especially with the increase in pedestrian traffic on the street now with the near completion of the 55 West tower. It’s expected the foreclosure will not have any immediate impact to the complex, and business will be as usual as far as the public will be aware. The most likely result of the situation is that the complex will eventually be under new ownership. Additionally, the planned 25 story Hilton Hotel that is to be built on the lot next to the Church Street Station Ballroom is progressing forward.
In other news, the soap-opera of Tradition Towers continues. The massive 2 tower high-rise planned for across the street from the library in the lot currently occupied by the University Club looks to be fading away as actually being constructed. With the death of the Broad Street Partners managing partner and now accusations of embezzlement growing, the future for the project looks pretty grim. However, there is still hope given that the project had so many entities involved, and a new developer taking over to continue the project is not out of the question.
The SoDo “SOuth of DOwntown” retail complex is nearing completion. The anchor Super Target is just weeks from completion and build out of the numerous retail and residential components are moving forward.
In restaurant news, the new Tijuana Flats in Thorton Park has opened! It occupies the former Geletone gelato shop and Renovations Spa space, in the same complex as Hue and Shari Sushi. So the best tacos and burritos in town are back downtown. Also, NYPD Pizza has opened in The Plaza. Rumor is that it will also soon be expanding to the next door space formerly occupied by the short-lived Cool Blue Burrito. And Café Aroma will soon be opening in the former Rojo space on Orange Ave.
The big news in development has involved the Church Street Station complex. The complex, owned by Cameron Kuhn, is being foreclosed upon, along with other Kuhn properties and projects that are in financial difficulty. Ironically, the businesses and restaurants at Church Street seem to be doing better than the complex owners, especially with the increase in pedestrian traffic on the street now with the near completion of the 55 West tower. It’s expected the foreclosure will not have any immediate impact to the complex, and business will be as usual as far as the public will be aware. The most likely result of the situation is that the complex will eventually be under new ownership. Additionally, the planned 25 story Hilton Hotel that is to be built on the lot next to the Church Street Station Ballroom is progressing forward.
In other news, the soap-opera of Tradition Towers continues. The massive 2 tower high-rise planned for across the street from the library in the lot currently occupied by the University Club looks to be fading away as actually being constructed. With the death of the Broad Street Partners managing partner and now accusations of embezzlement growing, the future for the project looks pretty grim. However, there is still hope given that the project had so many entities involved, and a new developer taking over to continue the project is not out of the question.
The SoDo “SOuth of DOwntown” retail complex is nearing completion. The anchor Super Target is just weeks from completion and build out of the numerous retail and residential components are moving forward.
In restaurant news, the new Tijuana Flats in Thorton Park has opened! It occupies the former Geletone gelato shop and Renovations Spa space, in the same complex as Hue and Shari Sushi. So the best tacos and burritos in town are back downtown. Also, NYPD Pizza has opened in The Plaza. Rumor is that it will also soon be expanding to the next door space formerly occupied by the short-lived Cool Blue Burrito. And Café Aroma will soon be opening in the former Rojo space on Orange Ave.
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