City Centre Developer Proposes Taking Away "Under Utilized" Portion of Lake Eola Park

Taken from the Save Lake Eola Park website

Taken from the Save Lake Eola Park website

Taken from the Save Lake Eola Park website

Taken from the Save Lake Eola Park website




Update 7/27/15: this building was approved and goes before City Council in August. 

There's a building potentially coming to 215 E. Central Blvd  in downtown Orlando called City Centre that could change the face of one corner of Lake Eola Park, swathing it in shade and taking up 1.65 acres of public park land for it's own use. 

The building will be discussed at the Municipal Planning Board Meeting at City Hall on Tuesday July 21 at 8:30am.

The development is conforming along all property lines except the east. The Developer is requesting proposed modifications to the minimum allowed rear setback of 10 ft. to allow an eastern setback of 0 ft.

Taken from the Save Lake Eola Park website: 

It's a 28-story mixed-use development with the following:
  • 215 multifamily units
  • 9,467 sq. ft. of ground floor retail
  • 1,955 sq. ft. café
  • 30,669 sq. ft of commercial/ retail 
  • Mezzanine space on the 11th floor
  • Integrated parking structure

The proposal includes what the Developer is calling "enhancements" to Lake Eola Park and the activation of an area that presently contains what the Developer is calling "relatively under utilized park space."

The applicant proposes the following: 
  • outdoor seating 20 ft. in width but limited to max 15 ft (?) 
  • waterwall
  • addition of pedestrian pathways and landscaping along eastern property line 
...all within Lake Eola Park. 

The Developer must enter into agreement with the City of Orlando to include the following prior to being issued a permit for any construction on park property:
  • agreed upon improvements
  • lease of the portion of the park where the Developer intends to make improvements
  • access to the park and improvements
  • the in tended use of the area and other items

Outdoor Dining
  • ARB staff supports the outdoor dining area use on the east side of the project. However, final design and configuration of the outdoor dining area and adjacent landscape design will require approval from the City’s parks and real estate divisions. The approval by parks shall incorporate a maintenance agreement defining the maintenance requirements and responsibilities of the Applicant.
  • The outdoor dining pad areas shall extend no more than 15-feet from the building facade.
  • The outdoor dining area pads shall be as close to finished grade as is feasible so as to maintain its presence as part of the park.
  • The collection basin/water feature at the base of the water wall shall extend no more than 20-feet from the building façade. E. The walkways connecting the outdoor dining area to Lake Eola Park shall be no more than 10-feet in width. The sidewalk surface shall match the materials and finish of existing sidewalk surfaces in the area and surrounding the historic Speery fountain.
  • Impacts and removal of existing mature or specimen trees shall require mitigation as determined by the city arborist. 
  • The final design of the outdoor dining area and adjacent landscape improvements shall be submitted as part of the ARB Final Review.
  • Prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the café space the outdoor dining area shall receive a Sidewalk Café Permit and an ARB Minor Review and for the proposed layout, furniture, lighting, landscape and other pertinent features of the outdoor dining area. 

The site currently contains 3 structures (office and commercial uses) built between 1925-1958. 
  • 1925– Structure at 205 E. Central Ave. constructed
  • 1927– Structure at 215 E. Central Ave constructed
  • 1958– Structure at 1 N Rosalind Ave constructed

Bus Stop
  • The bus stop on Rosalind Ave shall be relocated north of the proposed driveway and the loss of revenue due to the removal of the metered parking space shall be paid by the developer/owner.