Sarasota might not be close enough, but that doesn't make sense becuz Sarasota to Tampa is I believe close to the same distance from OIrlando to Daytona Beach.

I made the 500 post


The thing to look at is this: Bradenton/Palmetto is around 10 miles from Pinnellas/St. Pete, with the Bay being a natural barrier-- kind of like those maountain ranges near LA. But Bradenton to Tampa developed area is like 2x to 3x that distance.

Daytona to SR 44, which is the 1st exit in the West Volusia metro area (US 92 to SR 44) is 9 miles. THat land is undeveloped and either is now or used to be a wildlife refuge or protected wetlands for decades, another natural barrier.

Also, New Smyrna up SR 44 is roughly 10 miles to I-4 from 415/I-95 area.

But, like I posted before on that list, they recognize Tampa/St. Pete/Sara. and Orlando/Daytona/Melb. as the TV markets. Why they don't recognize Miami/Ft./PB is beyond me.

^ The TV market question is actually a pretty simple one. Palm Beach is a seperate TV market because it has its own network affiliates for each of the major networks. This is most likely a relic from when the area was less connected than it is now. The Palm Beach TV market also includes the Treasure Coast to the north... Martin Co., and probably St. Lucie and Indian River.

A few new tidbits of info from the ORL:


1. OIA jumped two spots to No. 12 in US with 34.1M passengers per year in 2005.

2. Belz Outlet & Designer Outlet: We all know this place. It's been here for over 30 years. It's outdated and has been renovated a couple of times.

Prime purchased it last year and is moving all of the Designer Outlet stores into a new and expanded main mall of 1M sq. ft.; they will add 80 stores to the existing 170 store fronts of the two enclosed malls (where I-Drive hits Oakridge)-- In essence, they will combine the two malls together into one giant bldg. and make it open air, like the Chelsea Premium Outlets near Disney. It will take 18-24 months and of the new stores coming, Neiman Marcus' outlet is one of them (as is at Sawgrass Mills).

^^Are they going to do anything with the old building?

Lots of construction activity in Orlando!

The Plaza
http://www.orlandoskyscrapers.com/sitebuilder/images/plaza001a_1_-480x345.jpg
http://img416.imageshack.us/img416/6106/dsc20405ey.jpg
Full Construction Thread (http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=248077&page=1&pp=20)

The Vue
http://www.vueorlando.com/img/renderings/day2.jpg
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/9664/dsc20015fp.jpg
Full Construction Thread (http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=248098)

55West
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/1643/55w0bi.jpg
http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/762/dsc19623qs.jpg
Full Construction Thread (http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=295821&page=1&pp=20)

Dynetech
http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/6407/dyneastvert7ib.jpg
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/6176/dsc20228yw.jpg
Full Construction Thread (http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=333593)

Nice pics Tim! Like how you compare them with the renderings.

Lots of progress going on in Orlando. Thanks for the update.

Great update. The Vue is really moving fast and 55W is wiiiiiiiide.

I really like the Dynetech design. 55 West reminds me of the Tradition Towers. The View and Plaza look sweet too. Thanks for the update. :)

Good werk, Tim.

Regararding BELZ:

-- If I understood correctly, they are going to gut both bldgs, remove their roofs, connect them, reface them and redo the walkway orientation (make it like a loop-- ORl. Premium Outlets), and move all the stores over incrimentally. THe renderings made it look as good or better than Premium Outlets.

Now, the old Designer Outlet bldgs on I-Drive... they will get new tenants, but not upper-end tenants.

FYI, Orl. Premium Outlets has a new Dior outlet to compliment the Millenia store.

Here is a dusk shot of Orlando. The Plaza is really making a density difference.
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/9906/dsc20693ie.jpg

nice shot.

Nice picture, I may have to visit Downtown Orlando soon to see how its going. :)

good werk, Tim. that time of day really brings out nice hues on that curved glass from the I-4 perspective.

IKEA announced yesterday that they are in fact going to build a 300,000 sq ft store at Millennia on 200+ acres (?) in the SE corner of the development.

Ferragamo and Juicy Coutre are also coming to Millennia.

Heh, Juicy Couture...

Memories. Anyway, love the Dynetech design.

Awesome pic, Tim. Orlando's developing quite nicely! :)

Might as well throw paramount in there.

55W-- they have installed the base of the 1st crane as of yesterday, and several of the tower or retail section rebar uprights are being installed on the SW corner of the lot abutting the tracks.

Hilton just announced plans to build a 1,000 room Hilton near Disney, and a neighboring 500 room Waldorf-Astoria as part of the complex, which will feature convention space, Waldorf New York's line of restaurants, Reese Jones golf course (18 holes). It's part of the Bonnett Creek development which will have a total of 2,400 units at buildout. It will be between Carribean Beach Resort and I-4.

closed. for a good time, go here:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=8754104#post8754104

part II