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.