Historic Downtown Building Owner Donates Arts and Cultural Asset

Last updated on January 22, 2019

Historic Downtown Building Owner Donates Arts and Cultural Asset to City of Orlando

Rogers Building will continue to provide cultural offerings for the community and be renamed to the Rogers Kiene Building in honor of donor, Ford Kiene

ORLANDO, Fla. – Jan. 22, 2018 – Today at the Orlando City Council meeting, the city formally accepted the donation of the Rogers Building, one of the oldest commercial buildings in downtown Orlando, to ensure the preservation of this historic building and the continuation of the arts offerings the building has provided for decades.

The more than 130 year old building is being donated by its current owner, Ford. W. Kiene, who is also a local Orlando resident and supporter of the arts in Central Florida.

“The city has worked hard to incorporate arts into everything we do as a community and to increase these types of cultural offerings for our residents and visitors,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.  “We are grateful for this generous donation from Ford and how it will continue to further our efforts growing our burgeoning arts and culture scene.”

As part of the acquisition of the property, the building has  been officially renamed in honor of the donation as the Rogers Kiene Building.

“The Rogers Building represented an opportunity to reawaken and restore a piece of downtown history,” said Ford Kiene, Chairman of City Beverages. “It is with much enjoyment and pleasure that I yield ownership to the City of Orlando, as they have such a deep commitment to the arts as well as historic preservation. It will be a gathering place for the arts in Orlando.”

Built in 1886 by Englishman Gordon Rogers and investors, the Rogers Building is one of the few surviving Victorian structures in the city and downtown. Today, the building is home to monthly curated art exhibits, artist talks, movie series and more.

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