Downtown Orlando’s The Place to Be

It is a very exciting time for Downtown Orlando. Many new businesses have opened and there are four big drivers outlined below that are sure to create a bright future and strong economic boost for the city of Orlando.

Some of the new businesses include:  Baby Grands Dueling Piano BarMojo Cajun Bar and GrillHeat Tandoor and Lounge, Boss Nightclub, Vain NightclubStigma Tattoo BarDowntown Market and Cafe, Pine 22 Burger Bar, The Beacham Music Venue

And many more coming soon such as: a new middle eastern grill, a lounge where your table will also be a computer, and a Cuban cafe!

Downtown Orlando’s Economic Renaissance (source: downtownorlando.com):

The City of Orlando is in the midst of an unprecedented public-private initiative bringing thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in economic development to the Downtown core. Here is a snapshot of the biggest projects:

Amway Center:
Project
• Sports, entertainment and events complex, opening Oct. 1, 2010.
Location
• West Church Street just west of Interstate 4 in Downtown Orlando (property bordered by Church and South streets and Division and Hughey avenues).
Highlights
• Venue for NBA and collegiate basketball, arena football, indoor soccer, hockey, concerts, stage shows and exhibits.
• $480 million total construction cost
• Seven levels, 875,000 square feet (nearly triple the size of the existing Amway Arena)
• 20,000 seat capacity
• 1,100 high-definition, digital monitors
• 60 suites
• 1,400 club seats
• 37 restrooms
• 1 concession point of sale for every 125 spectators
• Parking: Nearly 7,000 spaces within five-minute walk of center; enclosed bridge connecting to parking garage.
• NBA’s largest high-definition scoreboard
• Graphic wall facing Interstate 4
• Indoor-outdoor facilities

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts:
Project
• Multi-cultural center for artistic excellence and education.
Location
• Nine acres across from Orlando City Hall in Downtown Orlando (property bordered by Orange and Rosalind avenues and Anderson and South streets).
Highlights
• 2,700-seat Disney Theater for large, amplified productions, including Broadway shows and concerts.
• 1,700-seat multiform theater that can be adapted in layout and acoustics to accommodate performances, including the symphony, opera and ballet.
• 300-seat community venue for theater, dance, music and education, in partnership with the University of Central Florida.
• Outdoor plaza designed for local functions, performances, civic events and festivals accommodating up to 3,000 guests.
• Educational facility comprising 10,000 square feet of space for classrooms, performance areas in dance, music and theater, training seminars, school-day performances and workshops.
Economic benefit
(First year of operation)
• 4,000 jobs
• $240 million in economic impact

SunRail/High-Speed Rail:
Project
• Orlando will serve as a hub for SunRail, the region’s first commuter rail system, and a bullet train that will be America’s first true high-speed rail line.
Location
• SunRail will run 61.5 miles from DeLand in Volusia County, through Downtown Orlando (with multiple stops), and south to Poinciana (Kissimmee area) in Osceola County.
• High-speed rail will travel at speeds of up to 186 mph from Tampa to Orlando, with multiple stops, including Orlando International Airport, the Orange County Convention Center and Walt Disney World.
Highlights
• Orlando will serve as a transit hub for the SunRail and High-Speed Rail systems.
• Construction is scheduled to begin late 2010 on SunRail and in 2011 on High-Speed Rail.
• SunRail is funded through a partnership between the federal government (50 percent) and Florida (25 percent), with the balance from the City of Orlando and Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties.
• High-Speed Rail is funded entirely by the federal government.
Economic benefit
(Through 2035)
• 277,000 jobs
• $10.9 billion in economic impact

Creative Village:
Project
• A new urban neighborhood of digital-media and other high-tech businesses, supporting educational facilities and residential units, retail/commercial and hotel rooms.
Location
• Redevelopment of 68 acres at and surrounding the existing Amway Arena and Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, just west of Interstate 4 in Downtown Orlando.
Features
• 900,000 to 1 million square feet of office/creative space.
• 300,000 to 500,000 square feet of higher-education space.
• 25,000 square feet of K-12 education space.
• 1,200 to 1,500 residential units.
• 125,000 to 150,000 square feet of retail/commercial space.
• 150 to 200 hotel rooms.
Economic benefit
• 6,500 construction jobs
• 8,000 permanent jobs, $300 million in wages

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