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ORLANDO, FL – October 15, 2024- Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer delivered his annual State of Downtown address to an audience of residents, business owners, professionals, and community members, in collaboration with the Downtown Orlando Partnership and hosted at the KIA Center.
Mayor Dyer reflected on the state of Downtown Orlando, highlighting the introduction of the DTO Action Plan. What started as Project DTO 2.0, this plan has evolved into a collaborative roadmap designed to make Downtown a welcoming space for everyone.
"This is a big, ambitious plan that will set the stage for Downtown to own the future. In the blink of an eye, our urban economy has shifted to one now focused on a demand for non-conventional offices and residential buildings that offer a total lifestyle, not merely a workplace.”
Throughout his address, Mayor Dyer set the tone for a transformative landscape of Downtown Orlando, outlining the overarching vision and mission of the DTO Action Plan, which includes three "Big Ideas":
DOWNTOWN IS EASY TO GET AROUND
“The city is revamping its streets, sidewalks, bike lanes, and public transportation systems to create a modern transit network that improves opportunities for residents and businesses, enhancing the quality of life in Downtown Orlando.”
A key aspect of this plan involves revitalizing Magnolia Avenue.
- Magnolia Avenue will anchor Downtown’s biggest destinations and help turn it into a magnetic, regional, social hub-providing cultural and social activities for all.
- Magnolia Avenue between Livingston Street and Robinson Street will be reconstructed to provide extended sidewalks, on-street parking, and an expanded public realm.
- Robinson Street to Washington Street will be redesigned for a more straightforward vehicular experience, by aligning travel lanes and shifting transit routes to Rosalind Avenue and Orange Avenue.
- LYMMO will be realigned to adjacent corridors and curbside and bus route changes will be made on Central Boulevard.
Similarly, Orange Avenue, a vital economic corridor, will undergo changes.
- Orange Avenue and Rosalind Avenue will be reconstructed to enable two-way traffic, which will improve street layouts for curbside uses like outdoor dining, and enhance connectivity to nearby parks, promoting the area as an “18-hour city.”
- The new Orange Avenue will exemplify how flexible park spaces can enhance civic character, featuring pocket parks like 30 South Orange that cater to daytime workers and nightlife.
In addition to modernizing roads and bike trails, the city plans to expand its transit options to include Ride DTO.
- The new Ride DTO program will provide eco-friendly and on-demand rides within Downtown for just one dollar.
- To encourage participation, Ride DTO is offering users three free rides with the code “RIDEDTO” when you download the app here.
- Daily service begins at8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
DOWNTOWN IS AN ICONIC PARK
“Downtown Orlando's transit infrastructure modernization is part of a broader vision to transform the area into a vibrant urban park network of smaller, creatively designed parks.”
One of the key projects in this vision is the redevelopment of Lake Lucerne.
- The streetscapes of Orange, Magnolia, and Rosalind Avenues to Lake Lucerne will be redesigned to transform the lakefront into a lively destination with jogging paths, fitness equipment, fishing overlook, paddle dock, event lawns, dog parks and playgrounds.
- The CRA will install 100 floating flower arrangements, each approximately 4 feet wide to be deployed in Lake Lucerne.
Additionally, "The Canopy," an innovative, urban oasis beneath I-4, is set to create a unique leisure destination by repurposing underutilized infrastructure, similar to the acclaimed High Line in New York.
- As part of the new design, the city will also pilot a temporary rideshare zone and parking concept in the Pine Street and Central Boulevard area that will include the installation of approximately 150 temporary, public parking spaces that can be utilized for both short-term parking and ride share services.
- The Canopy is expected to begin construction in early 2025and is expected to take approximately 24 months to complete.
Further revitalization efforts will focus on Church Street.
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The plans aim to transform the area into a festival street with improved access to hospitality venues, enhanced pedestrian crossings, and family-friendly activities, while permanently reconstructing the street from Garland Avenue to South Street.
A new urban pocket park called Art Squared will also be established at the corner of Orange and Robinson, featuring a café, art gallery, and space for food trucks. It is expected to open early 2025.
Lake Eola remains a beloved destination, but there are plans to expand and modernize it over the next decade.
- It will include a new southwest entrance and infrastructure upgrades.
- Located at the northeast corner of Central Boulevard and Rosalind Avenue, the.12-acre expansion will bring new features to the park, such as artwork, updated lighting, large sidewalks, new benches, shade trees and native landscaping.
A NEIGHBORHOOD FOR EVERYONE
“It’s important that we understand how our first two big ideas flow into and strengthen our third big idea. When we modernize transit, when we transform our urban core into a giant park and living canvas, we are creating a downtown for everyone.”
This is exemplified by Westcourt, which will feature a hotel, residential units, a dog park, and an entertainment venue operated by Live Nation.
- The project will add needed event space, including the construction of a 65,000 square foot space that includes venue space that can accommodate1,000 people in banquet or concert style seating and approximately16,000 square feet of Hotel Meeting Space.
- Live Nation will house a 3,500-seat entertainment venue.
Efforts to create a Downtown for everyone also extend to enhancing the local food scene.
- This is exemplified by Good Salt Restaurant Group that has invested in the city, owning a total of five restaurants, three of which are located downtown, with the upcoming opening of Sparrow expected early next year.
- Downtown Development Board/CRA continues to offer business assistance programs, with over 1.4 million awarded to spur new retail and restaurants.
Mayor Dyer also announced the launch of the Clean and Safe app, which enables residents to easily report non-emergency maintenance and public safety concerns, such as overflowing trash cans or graffiti, by providing a description, location, and photo. You can download it for free on any smartphone device.
With a notable increase in Downtown residents over the past two decades, the city is committed to ensuring a range of housing options for all income levels.
- This includes both market-rate and affordable housing developments, as well as initiatives to support homeownership, leading to an increase in the number of residents in Downtown by over 60%.
- Through the Accelerate Orlando initiative, the city is utilizing federal funds to tackle homelessness, aiming for a 50% reduction in unsheltered residents by 2027.
- 19new single-family homes were created in Parramore, with down-payment assistance provided to new homeowners through the CRA Down Payment Assistance Program and the City of Orlando’s Housing Department, ranging from $20,000 to $40,000.
For additional photos and a copy of the address transcript visit:2024-State of Downtown Media.
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