Downtown Orlando

Downtown Orlando

Downtown Orlando is the historic core and central business district of Orlando, Florida, United States. It is bordered by East Marks St in the north, Mills Ave in the east, Orange Blossom Trail (US Hwy 441) in the west, and Kaley Ave in the south. There are five enclaves in downtown; "Uptown" in the north around Lake Ivanhoe, "Lake Eola Heights" and "Thornton Park" in the east around Lake Eola, "Parramore" in the west, and the "Central Business District" (or the "Financial District") between Colonial Dr and Lake Lucerne in the center. In 2008, the estimated population of downtown was 18,287 with more recent estimates placing the population at 20,156. The daytime population is estimated to be 72,500.

Overview

Downtown Orlando is the economic heart of Central Florida. It is home to residential and commercial towers, local and state government offices, sports facilities, performing arts theaters, art galleries, a movie theater, retail, nightclubs, and parks. Downtown is removed from the tourist areas located in the southern half of the city; but does draw a significant number of visitors seeking to experience the "Real Orlando". It is also the location of numerous festivals, parades, political demonstrations, and other high-profile events year-round.

Geography

Neighborhoods There are 17 neighborhoods in downtown Orlando located in five major enclaves.

• Lake Dot
• Callahan
• Parramore
• Lake Eola Heights
• South Eola
• Thornton Park
• Colonialtown
• Lawsona
• Ferncreek
• Lake Cherokee
• Greenwood - The location of Greenwood Cemetery; Orlando's oldest cemetery containing graves of the city's founding fathers.
• Lake Davis
• Belle Air
• Delaney Park
• Lake Weldona
• Lancaster Park
• College Park - A small section east of Orange Blossom Trail is located downtown.

Uptown

Strengthen the Arm of Liberty

Uptown, located north of Colonial Dr. along Ivanhoe Blvd., is an urban cluster around Lake Ivanhoe similar to the Central Business District; but with less density. The area is dotted with open spaces planned for development in addition to construction of new residential and office towers. Lake Ivanhoe has a large gay community along with retail and nightlife.

Landmarks in this area include Lake Highland Preparatory School, Senator Beth Johnson Park, and the headquarters of the Orlando Ballet.

Parramore

Established in the 1880s, Parramore is the historical hub of Orlando's African-American community. The area is located just west of the Central Business district along Division Ave. Once a thriving neighborhood, years of neglect, crime, and homelessness have resulted in economic blight. Today, city leaders, business owners, and local residents are working together to improve the area.

It is a residential area with a large number of high intensity entertainment and office institutions; such as the Amway Arena, Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, US Courthouse for the Mid-District of Florida, Florida A&M University School of Law, county & state buildings, and Orlando Police Department headquarters. Smaller businesses include grocery stores, barber shops, and soul-food restaurants.

Central Business District

The central business district acts as Orlando's Financial District and is the most recognized feature of downtown. The majority of Orlando's night clubs are also in this area. Located here are corporate offices, Orlando City Hall, foreign consulates, and upscale hotels. SunTrust Center and City Commons are two large office complexes within the CBD. Church Street Station is also located in this area.

Lake Eola Heights

Lake Eola

Main article: Lake Eola

Lake Eola Heights is the location of Lake Eola Park east of the CBD. The park holds historical significance and is a frequent venue for local events and festivals. The park's most iconic landmark is the Lake Eola Fountain, permanently embedded to the bottom with concrete beams in the center of the lake. The fountain is illuminated nightly in various colors. In addition to the fountain, the park features swan boat rentals and the Walt Disney Amphitheater. Every Independence Day, the park is host to a large fireworks display which draws over 100,000 people to downtown. A 0.85-mile recreational pathway circles the park and leads to a playground.

Residential and commercial development is usually regulated to towers no greater than 250 feet tall. There are many historical "Florida style" bungalows and century-old oak lined brick streets. This area is unique in Orlando as it contains some of the oldest structures in the city and is Orlando's historic district. Howard Middle School, which was the original Orlando High School, is located here.

Thornton Park

Thornton Park is located immediately east of Lake Eola Heights and is centered around Lake Lawsona along Thornton Ave. The area is similar to Lake Eola Heights, in that it contains historical homes and the streets are paved with brick. However, Thornton Park has a more "cosmopolitan" feel, as it is the location of exclusive restaurants, high-end fashion boutiques, and Star Tower; which has some of the most expensive condo units in Orlando. It has also become one of the most desirable places to live in downtown; attracting young professionals and urban dwellers. As a result, the area has become a lively 24/7 neighborhood, with a diverse mix of people.

History

Early years

Prior to the arrival of European settlers in 1837, the Orlando area was occupied by the Native-American Creek and Seminole tribes. In 1838, Fort Gatlin was built a few miles south of downtown Orlando on the shores of modern day Lake Gatlin; where ruins of the fort remain to this day. Settlers knew the area as "Jernigan" until 1875 when the "Town of Orlando" was incorporated and centered around today's Church Street. Orlando became a city in 1885 and downtown was the only population center for many years. Church Street was the commercial hub for the new Orlando where original pioneers, such as Joseph Bumby of England, settled in the town and built a hardware store known as "Bumby Hardware Store". The store remained an Orlando fixture until the 1960s, but the name "Bumby" is still famous in the city.

Downtown's Heyday

By the 1920s, Orlando had grown from a cattle town to a major citrus growing center. The city constructed the Orlando Public Library in 1923, the Orlando Municipal Auditorium (now Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre) in 1926, and several grand hotels; namely the Angebilt and San Juan Hotels. By this time, the city's population had grown to 20,000 people.

Great Depression to Post-War Years

The Federal Government's Works Progress Administration programs during the Great Depression helped Orlando remain economically stable. New parks were developed, the Municipal Airport (now Orlando Executive Airport) was built, and the city also built a new football stadium at Tinker Field (now Florida Citrus Bowl). By 1944, enough jobs were created to increase the city's population to 45,000 people. Orlando became a major military center when World War II brought the development of McCoy Air Force Base and Pinecastle AFB, located southeast of downtown. This status strengthened with the 1968 opening of the Orlando Naval Training Center east of downtown.

Decline and Redevelopment

Walt Disney World's 1971 opening in southwest Orange County brought major development to Orlando, but not to downtown. During this time, development in downtown was mainly focused upon the construction of office towers, such as the Citrus Center and the original Sunbank building. However, downtown began to fall into a state of decline. The "Angebilt" and "San Juan Hotels" were abandoned and left to crumble. The San Juan was eventually demolished, but the "Angebilt Building" would years later be transformed into an office building with retail on the ground floor. Lake Eola Park became a haven for prostitutes and drug addicts. In addition, downtown department stores and family owned businesses closed or moved to the newly constructed Fashion Square Mall east of downtown. As a result, the downtown population base moved out to the suburbs after the opening of Interstate 4.

Redevelopment in downtown Orlando began in the early 1970's and continued into the 1980's. Bob Snow opened Rosie O'Grady's in 1974 at Church Street Station, which quickly became a popular tourist attraction and local hot spot. Several skyscrapers were constructed, including Suntrust Center and Dupont Plaza (now Bank of America Center) in 1988. Lake Eola Park was redesigned and the Walt Disney Amphitheater opened in the park around the same time the annual "Orlando Shakespeare Festival" was established. On the other hand, downtown's population base still had yet to rebound to previous levels and major corporations were still opening locations outside of the city center.

Recent years

Until the late 1990s, downtown was relatively small when compared to other cities of Orlando's size. Starting in 1998, downtown was changed when a building boom began and continued through the 2000's decade. A new city hall was built and residential towers were constructed around Lake Eola and along Magnolia Ave. CNL Financial Group established a major footprint in downtown with the construction of CNL City Center Commons, a complex of office towers surrounding Orlando City Hall. CNL continues to expand their presence downtown even today. The boom roughly doubled the size of downtown density and dramatically changed Orlando's skyline. In 2005, the term "Manhattanization" was locally applied to Orange Ave when a large number of construction cranes loomed over downtown. As of 2009, skyscraper development slowed; but is being replaced by other development projects.

Skyscrapers

The majority of the tallest towers in Central Florida are located downtown. Of the 71 existing skyscrapers in the Greater Orlando region, 42 are located downtown.

Orlando Skyline

The tallest skyscrapers in Orlando are:

• Suntrust Center, 1988, 441 ft (134 m) is the tallest building in Central Florida.
• The VUE at Lake Eola, 2008, 426 ft (130 m).
• The Orange County Courthouse, 1997, 416 ft (127 m).
• The Bank of America Center, 1988, 409 ft (125 m)
• 55 West on the Esplanade, 2009, 377 ft (115 m)
• Solaire at the Plaza, 2006, 359 ft (109 m)
• Dynetech Center, 2009, 357 ft (109 m)
• Citrus Center, 1971, 258 ft (79 m)
• Premier Trade Plaza Orlando, 2006, 256 ft (78 m)
• CNL Center City Commons, 1999, 250 ft (76 m)

Towers built in downtown Orlando have not exceeded 441 ft (134 m) since the completion of the Suntrust Center in 1988. There has never been an "official" reason why; but local architects speculate the reason is because the Orlando Executive Airport is located just east of downtown. The airport's flight path is over downtown, thus the Federal Aviation Administration has imposed height restrictions.

Transportation

Downtown Orlando is served by three main arteries, two limited access highways and several secondaries as well as many byways.

Limited Access

• Spessard L. Holland East-West Expressway (SR 408)
• Interstate 4 (SR 400)

Arterials

• Orange Avenue (One Way SB)
• Rosalind Avenue (One Way NB)
• Colonial Drive (E/W)

Secondaries

• Hughey Avenue (SB Along I-4)
• Garland Avenue (NB Along I-4)
• South Street (WB Along SR 408)
• Anderson Street (EB Along SR 408)
• Robinson Avenue (E/W Along North Side of Lake Eola)
• Central Avenue (E/W) Along South Side of Lake Eola)

Public Transportation

Bus

The Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (CFRTA), better known as Lynx, operates the regional bus service with its central station and offices located at 455 N Garland Avenue.

Lynx Operates a zero-fare bus route called Lymmo (Link 31) along a completely separate and dedicated right-of-way. Because this bus system runs on its own right-of-way and controls the traffic signaling, in most cases it is superior to automobile travel within the downtown area.

Rail

Downtown is currently not served by any form of advanced rail travel. However plans have been approved and ground has been broken on the new SunRail. A North-South commuter rail that will run mostly along existing CSX/Amtrak rails and provide service between Deland and Poinciana. A large transfer station has already been constructed downtown and currently handles Lynx bus transfers. However, this station is designed to accommodate commuter rail traffic.

Air

The Orlando Executive Airport is located 4 miles east of the CBD. While technically not in downtown proper, the airport serves the downtown district.

Government

The US District Court Middle District of Florida's courthouse is located at 401 West Central Boulevard.

The Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration operates its Orlando office on the 9th floor of the Orlando City Hall at 400 South Orange Avenue.

The United States Postal Service operates the Downtown Orlando Post Office at 51 East Jefferson Street.

Education and Institutions

Public and Private Schools

• Lake Highland Preparatory School
• Howard Middle School
• Hillcrest Elementary School
• Trinity Lutheran School
• Fern Creek Elementary
• Jones High School
• William R. Boone High School

Colleges

• Valencia Community College - satellite campus
• University of Central Florida - satellite campus
• Florida A&M University - School of Law

Places of worship

• First Presbyterian Church of Orlando
• St. James Cathedral in Orlando
• First United Methodist Church
• Masjid Al Haq Mosque
• Trinity Lutheran Church
• Downtown Baptist Church
• Park Lake Presbyterian Church

Hospitals

• Florida Hospital Orlando
• Orlando Regional Medical Center
• Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children
• Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies
• M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando
• ORMC - Lucerne Pavilion

Places of interest

Loch Haven Park, north of downtown on Mills and Princeton Avenues, serves as the cultural center of Orlando and consists of the following:

• The Orlando Science Center
• The Orlando Museum of Art
• The Orange County Historical Museum

Arts & Culture

• The Orlando International Fringe Theater Festival is held annually downtown.
• Calle Orange, an annual heritage festival celebrating Puerto Rican culture.
• The Orange County Regional History Center - Located on Central Blvd. The building was once the Orange County Courthouse.
• CityArts Factory - Located in the CBD. Features works by local artists and holds workshops.
• Plaza Cinema & Cafe - The first movie theater in downtown in nearly half a century.
• The Orlando Shakespeare Festival - held annually at Lake Eola Park in the Walt Disney Amphitheater

Hotels

Major hotels in downtown Orlando include:

• Crowne Plaza Orlando Downtown Hotel
• Embassy Suites Orlando - Downtown
• Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando (Marriott)
• Sheraton Orlando Downtown Hotel
• Sonesta Hotel - Orlando Downtown

Sports

Downtown is home to the Amway Arena which hosts the Orlando Magic NBA team and the Orlando Predators Arena Football League team.^[1] The Florida Citrus Bowl hosts The Capital One Bowl in addition to other events year round. Tinker Field is a historic downtown ballpark next to the Citrus Bowl.

Diplomatic Missions

• British Consulate Orlando
• Mexican Consulate Orlando
• Consulate of Haiti
• French Consulate Orlando
• Argentine Consulate Orlando
• Consulate of the Ivory Coast - Orlando
• Dutch Consulate in Orlando

Resulting from Orlando's reputation as a major international destination and many countries establishing embassies in the city, Orlando now has the second highest number of foreign consulates in Florida next to Miami.

Popular culture

Downtown Orlando's skyline can be seen in the films Passenger 57, Ernest Saves Christmas, D.A.R.Y.L., Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector, Lethal Weapon 3 (doubled for Los Angeles), and Miami Connection (doubled for downtown Miami).

Seven Mary Three's fourth studio album is entitled Orange Avenue.

Future plans

Downtown in the focus region for major development projects that have already been approved by the City of Orlando. Some of these projects are under construction, with completion nearing the end of 2010. The largest of these initiatives, The Triple Crown for Downtown, is already underway.

• Amway Center - The first initiative of the Triple Crown. Construction began in 2008 and is scheduled for completion in October, 2010. It will be the new home of the Orlando Magic and the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. In addition to other events, the venue will also bring major concerts back to Orlando.
• Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts - Located across from City Hall on Orange Ave, it will replace the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre and will be built in phases. Phase I, scheduled to begin in the fall of 2010, will include a 2,800 seat amplified hall and a 300 seat theater for smaller productions. Phase II, construction date unknown, will include a 1,700 seat acoustic hall for ballet, orchestra, and opera performances.
• Florida Citrus Bowl - Originally scheduled for a $75million renovation, decreases in tourist tax revenues have forced city leaders to re-evaluate their options for this facility. Plans now call for far less money to be spent on renovations and may now include a few cosmetic changes to the stadium.

A more ambitious project planned for downtown calls for completely transforming the Orlando Centroplex, the home of the current Amway Arena, into a "Creative Village". The project is to be privately funded and plans call for satellite schools for the University of Central Florida and the University of Florida, 1 million square feet of office space, residential apartment buildings, and a large central park with sporting facilities and an amphitheater.

External links

• Downtown Development Board/Community Redevelopment Agency
• Orange County Regional History Center
• City of Orlando Parking Website