Summary:
Project DTO-Advancing Downtown Orlando was initiated in April 2014 as a comprehensive visioning process to formulate the next chapter of Downtown Orlando’s evolution. The process emphasized significant public and stakeholder outreach and engaged two volunteer stakeholder groups to guide in development of the Project DTO work products, including DTOutlook, the 2015 Update to the Downtown Orlando Community Redevelopment Area Plan (“Redevelopment Plan”). One of the key findings was the need for green space within the Downtown Orlando CRA. An entire section of the Redevelopment Plan is devoted to addressing parks and open space, with the need to create and enhance open spaces within the CRA noted as an opportunity for the CRA to seize upon. Similarly, the importance of tree canopy within the CRA was noted in discussion as well as in the Redevelopment Plan. The opportunity to create signature gateways and entrances into Downtown is also discussed in the Redevelopment Plan, with the property known as Constitution Green located at Summerlin Avenue and South Street being noted as a potential gateway to Downtown on the South Eola Planning District map.
Under 163.400(d), Florida Statutes, the CRA, as a public body, may provide funds to the City for the purpose of aiding in the undertaking or carrying out of community redevelopment. By approval of the attached Agreement, pursuant to section 163.400(d), and in accordance with the Redevelopment Plan, the CRA would provide the City with $3,343,000 to be used towards purchase of the property known as Constitution Green for such land to be used as a City Park within the CRA. While Constitution Green has been green space within the CRA for some time, development of the site has been recently proposed. Purchase of the property by the City provides public ownership that enables the City and CRA to ensure its use as open space within the Downtown Orlando CRA.
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