Downtown Orlando Developments

• Lot next to proposed Magic Entertainment Complex sells with intent to be developed

  An undisclosed buyer just dropped a little more than $2.24 million for land abutting the Orlando Magic’s Sports and Entertainment District, with plans to eventually develop the lot currently used for parking. According to deed filed with Orange County Monday, West Side Venture Fund VII, LLC bought...

• Magnolia hotel design sails through Orlando ARB courtesy review

  Maybe it was the lecture from Planning Director Dean Grandin at the start of the meeting, or the design tweaks by Baker Barrios, but in either case a planned 19-story mixed-use tower sailed through Orlando's Appearance Review Committee with only minor comments. Grandin told the ARB members they...

• Banner breaks ground on downtown Orlando's newest apartment tower

  Construction is now underway on Downtown Orlando's next luxury apartment tower overlooking Lake Eola, and developer Banner Real Estate Group expects to be able to deliver the first units in late 2020. "We've got all our permits and and crews fully mobilized today," Banner's development director,...

• Fort Myers equity firm planning downtown hotel with penthouse condos

  Fort Myers-based Conor Acquisitions has filed plans with the City of Orlando for a new, 19-story mixed-use tower downtown that would be anchored by a 256-key Radisson Blu luxury hotel. Radisson launched the "upper upscale" Blu brand in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and has more than 300 hotels...

• Orlando's office vacancies drop to lowest in the nation, benefits landlords

  At a time when nationwide vacancy rates are expected to rise, Orlando is boasting the lowest vacancy rates for office space throughout the U.S.  According to a new report from Newmark Knight Frank, vacancy rates in Orlando fell to 6.3 percent, down from 6.5 percent a year ago.  Last week, Revathi...

• X Orlando developer eliminates green wall, reduces height to appease neighbor

  The largest multi-family project ever planned for downtown Orlando will lose its most distinctive feature, the controversial "living wall," as part of a settlement between the developer and the owner of a the 6-story Central Station apartments next door. Manhatten-based Property Markets Group had ...

• Phil Kean-designed brownstones heading to downtown Orlando's North Quarter

  Elevation Development has signed on to finish an urban brownstone development by award-winning architect Phil Kean Design Group that stalled after being approved two years ago. Elan Residences is one of two small-scale, luxury housing developments now planned in downtown Orlando's North Quarter...

• Downtown apartment tower approved despite objections over height, retail

  Calling a 10-story apartment building with less than 4,000 square feet of ground-floor retail a "lost opportunity" for downtown, Orlando's Municipal Planning Board on Tuesday reluctantly approved a zoning change for the project on the lot immediately south of Bank of America tower. The vote followed...

• City staff recommends approval for downtown apartments on Diocese land

  Orlando's planning staff is recommending conditional approval for a new 10-story downtown apartment tower after the developer agreed to add retail space on the ground floor. Tennessee-based Mid America Apartment Communities (MAA) is under contract for a 2-acre corner lot at 336 N. Orange Ave.,...

• SunRail boosted property values around stations by $2.4B, study says

  A new study commissioned by the Florida Department of Transportation has confirmed what local transit enthusiasts have promised: SunRail is proving to be a good investment. Property values around the first 12 stations increased by $2.4 billion (63 percent) from 2011-2017, and FDOT estimates that...

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• SunTrust backs Creative Village apartments with $66M loan

  SunTrust Robinson Humphrey has backed the first Class A, market-rate apartment building in Creative Village to the tune of $66 million. Co-developers Ustler Development and The Allen Morris Company have already started construction on the 14-story, $108 million building at the corner of Amelia...

• City staff, board wowed by new design for Zoi House skyscraper in downtown Orlando

  Exciting. Gracious. Magnetic.  Those were just a few of the words members of Orlando's Appearance Review Board (ARB) and staff used to describe the latest design for the 41-story Zoi House, proposed to be the city's tallest skyscraper. Miami-based MEC Development Associates  and their team from ...

• Orlando CRA to build single family homes in Parramore's Carver Park

  An effort to provide affordable home ownership opportunities in the downtown Parramore neighborhood is back on track, with Orlando’s Community Redevelopment Agency stepping in to provide what could be an $8 million investment in 41 new homes. A memorandum of understanding between the redevelopment...

• Orlando staff recommends hybrid design with living wall for X Orlando tower

  Orlando's Appearance Review Board (ARB) staff wants yet another design change for the proposed X Orlando as the developer seeks approval for the next two phases of the largest residential building ever proposed for downtown Orlando. The city's ARB and Municipal Planning Board have already approved...

• Developer refines design for planned downtown apartment tower

  Tennessee-based Mid America Apartment Communities (MAA) has added a 10th floor and tweaked the design for a proposed 327-unit apartment tower just south of the Bank of America tower in downtown Orlando. The initial Master Plan (MP) filed in August was for nine stories. Adding a 10th floor means...

• Ustler unveils design concepts for Creative Village Central Park

  New conceptual drawings for the Creative Village Central Park show an urban park that can host large events while also providing plenty of shady areas meant for intimate gatherings. Ustler Development submitted a design package to City of Orlando in late September seeking feedback on the initial...

• New downtown tower next to Orange County Courthouse would be city's tallest

  A proposed 450-foot mixed-use tower next to downtown Orlando's Orange County Courthouse could be the city's tallest. Miami-based MEC Development Associates filed a Master Plan (MP) with the city for its second "Zoi House" tower project at the southeast corner of N. Orange Avenue and E. Livingston...

• GreenTree readies plan for $300M infill redevelopment next to Amway Center

  Local developer Timothy Green has spent much of the last year assembling nearly two city blocks adjacent to downtown Orlando's Amway Center and will submit plans in October for a $300 million mixed-use entertainment district that highlights the neighborhood's rich cultural heritage. The filing...

• Magic to file revised master plan for downtown entertainment district

  With groundbreaking anticipated in 2019, the Orlando Magic and its new architect have revised the master plan for the long-anticipated Sports and Entertainment District across from the Amway Center and are actively seeking development partners for the hotel and multifamily components of the district....

• City board green lights design for X Orlando apartment tower

  Orlando's Appearance Review Board gave tentative approval Thursday to Manhattan developer Property Markets Group (PMG) for the first phase of its proposed three-tower mixed-use project on one of the most high-profile lots in the central business district. "I think what we’re looking at here is...

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• Apartment tower planned on church-owned land in downtown Orlando

  Tennessee-based Mid America Apartment Communities (MAA) is eyeing a 2-acre corner lot in downtown Orlando for a new 325-unit apartment tower with ground-floor retail. MAA filed a Master Plan (MP) with the city for 9-story tower and parking garage at 336 N. Orange Ave., immediately south of the...

• Brothers behind local lender buy downtown Orlando train depot, seek known retailer

  The brothers and co-CEOs of FBC Mortgage paid $3.975 million on Monday for downtown Orlando's historic Church Street Train Depot property, with plans to draw in a national or regional retailer and crowdsource to learn what the public wants there.  Located at 78 and 90 W. Church St. a block east...

• PMG updates rooftops, 'living wall' options for tri-tower project in downtown Orlando

  Manhattan-based developer Property Markets Group (PMG) has continued to evolve its design for a proposed three-tower residential project in downtown Orlando, and heads into a city architecture review hearing this week with staff support of its latest changes.  GrowthSpotter first reported on the...

• Co-developer & design plans surface for Creative Village's first market rate apts

  Coral Gables-based The Allen Morris Company will co-develop the first market rate apartments in downtown Orlando's Creative Village with Ustler Development, marking its second Class A multifamily venture locally since 2014.  Located at the southwest corner of Amelia Street and Terry Avenue, the...

• Local developer spends $1.9M to expand office holdings in downtown Orlando

  An affiliate of local developer Liberty Investment Properties paid $1.9 million on Wednesday to expand its holdings in downtown Orlando's Park Lake neighborhood, buying the office building of a veteran commercial real estate appraisal firm that neighbors its own.  Located at 824 Highland Ave.,...

• Sarasota affordable housing group seeks rezoning to aid Orlando motel conversion

  A Sarasota-based affordable housing operator is trying to overcome hurdles to rezone and repurpose a former crime-ridden motel in downtown Orlando's Pine Hills neighborhood as low-income apartments.  One Stop Housing, a family-owned multifamily investment group with more than 1,800 rental units...

• Developer files initial site plan for first market rate apts project in Creative Village

  Ustler Development  and a co-developer could break ground as soon as October on the first market rate apartments project in Creative Village, filing an initial site plan last week for the 14-story building.  Located at the southwest corner of Amelia Street and Terry Avenue, the 1.59-acre Parcel...

• Two-way avenue conversion & 'complete streets' to be studied for North Quarter

  A new in-depth study could begin this month on converting one-way avenues in downtown Orlando's North Quarter District to two-way traffic, bringing hope to neighborhood stakeholders of a "complete streets" investment that can sustain retail, dining and lifestyle services.  Orlando's City Council...

• Gilbane wins design-build contract for $17M Orlando community center

  A team led by Gilbane Building Company was chosen Thursday for the design-build contract to renovate and construct Orlando's new Grand Avenue Community Center, a project budgeted at $17 million back in April.  The City of Orlando announced its choice of Gilbane for the project after its staff reviewed...

• Mission BBQ files plans as third outparcel for Orlando Fashion Square redevelopment

  Maryland-based fast casual chain Mission BBQ filed plans last week for its second Greater Orlando location, with a third in negotiations in the airport submarket as Central Florida takes a prominent place in the company's growth plan. A Master Plan filed with the City of Orlando confirms Mission...