Orlando...a big city

[FLAWDA-FELLA]

Originally Posted by jvance75

Phoenix has a skyline?

Phoenix may not have a very tall skyline, but at least they have a nice backdrop with the mountains, unlike some cities around the country.

[johnatl]

Guys, re: I-4 through downtown Orlando, it was lobbied heavily by the business community to be routed through the city. In particular, there was a guy named Bill Dial that was the head of SunBank (back then it was called 1st Orlando) who really threw his weight around. Back in those days, besides citrus - the other big industries were insurance and the Martin Marietta missle plant (now Lockhead Martin).

Man, am I showing my age or what?

[multifamilyinvestor]

I believe that it is narrow minded to view each city (Tampa and Orlando) in the context of their CBD. It is arbitrary that Orlando has more office space in downtown than Tampa or Miami. Clearly, Miami has a larger downtown than Orlando.

In my opinion, each cities urban area should be taken in it's entirety. In Tampa, I believe that the UT area, Hyde Park, Bayshore and Ybor City all add to the urban character of the city. Ybor is extrememly walkable, as is Bayshore with the longest continuos sidewalk in the world. I wonder how the droves of joggers, bike riders, dog walkers and stroller pushers walking past the highrise condominiums on bayshore would respond if you told them that their city was not walkable. How about the myriad of people walking down 7th avenue going bar hopping every Friday or Saturday night? As the city plans to open a major section of riverwalk in the next few years connecting channelside with downtown Tampa will only continue to become more walkable.

[jzquince69]

People need to relax and start reading threads from the first post to get an understanding as to who posted what and where and why before chiming in and making unfounded statements.

Everything I've posted has been in response to questions posed related to this topic. Don't shoot the messenger. And I don't have a short man's complex for Orlando.

But here's a few things to consider regarding this topic:

I'm the one who originally said Brickell was prob. not included in those stats for DT Miami.

I'm NOT the one who originally posted those stats for Fla. cities in the first place to make comparisons of DT office space.

Thirdly, I'm the one who said I CANT BELIEVE DT Orlando has more office space than Tampa and Miami. And I still don't.

Don't hang me b/c I reviewed every bldg/ listed in UPSDAN's website to verify that they were all, in fact, in DT Orlando, and that those numbers were not, in fact inflated.

And with regard to statistics, there is no such thing as "clearly" or "arbitrary" unless you know the parameters used to make those statistics.

[Jahi98]

Originally Posted by johnatl

Guys, re: I-4 through downtown Orlando, it was lobbied heavily by the business community to be routed through the city. In particular, there was a guy named Bill Dial that was the head of SunBank (back then it was called 1st Orlando) who really threw his weight around. Back in those days, besides citrus - the other big industries were insurance and the Martin Marietta missle plant (now Lockhead Martin).

Man, am I showing my age or what?

LOL @ showing you age.

Thanks to you and the couple other people that pointed this out. So, basically, the leaders wanted a big city, but really didn't plan for the explosive growth.

[multifamilyinvestor]

Originally Posted by jzquince69

People need to relax and start reading threads from the first post to get an understanding as to who posted what and where and why before chiming in and making unfounded statements.

Everything I've posted has been in response to questions posed related to this topic. Don't shoot the messenger. And I don't have a short man's complex for Orlando.

But here's a few things to consider regarding this topic:

I'm the one who originally said Brickell was prob. not included in those stats for DT Miami.

I'm NOT the one who originally posted those stats for Fla. cities in the first place to make comparisons of DT office space.

Thirdly, I'm the one who said I CANT BELIEVE DT Orlando has more office space than Tampa and Miami. And I still don't.

Don't hang me b/c I reviewed every bldg/ listed in UPSDAN's website to verify that they were all, in fact, in DT Orlando, and that those numbers were not, in fact inflated.

And with regard to statistics, there is no such thing as "clearly" or "arbitrary" unless you know the parameters used to make those statistics.

What is arbitrary is how the boundrys of a CBD is defined. I am advocating to view these cities in terms their broader urban character.

Also, square feet of office space is not the only thing that makes up a downtown. Obviously a downtown is composed of retail, hotel and residential space as well.

Finally I do not know why you are getting defensive at my post. I was not directing my coments at you. I was just saying that it is my opinion to view these cities only by the square footage of office space in the "CBD" is a narrow view.

[Jasonhouse]

^I don't know why he's getting defensive either... Nobody has attacked him.

[jzquince69]

Multifamilyinvestor, I completely agree with both points made in your latest post. However, noone is using those office space stats as a basis to judge whether one city is better than the other, as you stated.

Am I the only one who read those "mine's bigger than yours" (page 1) and the later "short man's complex" (page 3) comments? Those comments are why I said "don't shoot the messenger." Besides, I was only giving info which was requested earlier in the thread.

Anyway, here's three more companies a forumer asked earlier about having a substantial DT Orlando presence:
1. Qwest
2. Regions Bank
3. TD Waterhouse

[jzquince69]

TD Waterhouse's offices are inside Capital Plaza.

[drjnieto]

How many projects are active for O Town?

[RETROMANIA]

Orlando is also known as the pop-stars making industry, such as: Nsync, Mandy Moore, O-Town, etc

[zerobullchip]

Originally Posted by FALTAN.LUNAS

Orlando is also known as the pop-stars making industry, such as: Nsync, Mandy Moore, O-Town, etc

He's in jail for fraud or something like that. Wouldn't want to hang my hat on that.

[jzquince69]

Originally Posted by zerobullchip

He's in jail for fraud or something like that. Wouldn't want to hang my hat on that.

I don't think anyone's "hangin' their hat" on that point. Besides, you don't erase history b/c Pearlman turned out to be a scumbag. Facts are facts and Transcontinental created the Late '90's bubble-pop scene, period.

[FlaNatv]

Yea Orlando has played host to major pop culture history since Disney and beyond. Even before that, the Tech culture of NASA was joined at the hip to Orlando. Also prior to that continuing history, many sailors experienced the basics of the U.S. Navy at the former Orlando Naval Training Center. It's undeniable that Orlando has played an important role in Recent History. And they're probably just getting started.

Orlando's always underestimated.

People can't see the forest for the Mickeys.

[hoosier]

Originally Posted by Lakelander

From what I understand, Jax's consolidation was done for local political reasons which were mainly to get rid of a corrupt city and county government. However, some of the side effects, which are positives, include what you state. However, I think the biggest positive of consolidation is the central city's ability to afford massive public improvements or presenting impressive corporate relocation incentive packages, because the leeching suburbanites also have to pay taxes. For example, over the past couple of years a new state-of-the-art arena, minor league ballpark, main library, federal courthouse and a nice sized riverwalk have all been constructed without undergoing 10-20 years of planning or asking the state to help fund these projects. $100 million has also been set aside to start a 29 mile BRT system. I truly believe that these projects were able to be streamlined through government faster than the typical city, mainly because of consolidation. Since Jax's consolidation, many cities, such as Nashville, Indianapolis, Louisville, Augusta and Athens, GA have followed suit. If Orlando was consolidated, it would have light rail running by now and if Tampa were consolidated, the orginal Central Park plan would be well underway. Although it will be difficult for Florida's other major cities to accomplish, I hope that each central city will make it a priority to annex or consolidate with their core county, as much as possible to lessen the power their county governments and suburban communites currently have.

Indy consolidated in the early 1970s. JAX followed suit.

[Lakelander]

Jax was consolidated in 1968, a few years after Nashville (1962-my first statement was incorrect on this one), but a few years before Indy (1970).

[IraVehementi]

I consider Nasa basically part of orlando.

[gregmiami305]

orlando doesn't deserve the title as the 4th biggest city in florida.
it should belong to ft.lauderdale
FT.lauderdale has a building boom that is TEN times bigger than orlando
Ft.Lauderdale has a skyline of a city with the population of 400k-600k
its a bigger and better skyline than Orlando but based on city limits its only around 180k

[noland123]

Originally Posted by Lakelander

Jax was consolidated in 1968, a few years after Nashville (1962-my first statement was incorrect on this one), but a few years before Indy (1970).

Do you thinks its possible for a city like Miami with it's 35 independent municipalities to consolidate its government?

[Hanshin-Tigress]

Originally Posted by gregmiami305

orlando doesn't deserve the title as the 4th biggest city in florida.
it should belong to ft.lauderdale
Ft.Lauderdale has a skyline of a city with the population of 400k-600k
its a bigger and better skyline than Orlando but based on city limits its only around 180k

awww boohoo. Orlando>Fort lauderdale.

For lauderdale skyline is better than ours but we are the 4th biggest city our metro is like second biggest or something..third or second.
"The Orlando-Kissimmee, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), also known as the Orlando Area, Metro Orlando or (more colloquially) Greater Orlando, is the state of Florida's third most populated metropolitan region, and the 28th-largest metro area in the United States. "