ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer touted a new apartment building project in downtown Orlando during his State of Downtown address on Wednesday.
Dyer said Sky House, a $63 million, 23-story apartment building located next to the Orange County Courthouse, will also be constructed. SkyHouse will offer 320 units in a residential tower located on Magnolia and Livingston streets.
The developers say the property will be modeled after a similar project in Atlanta, featuring private balconies, a rooftop pool and city views.
Dyer added that apartments and office spaces are 97 percent full in Orlando.
"The residential market has had great success in our downtown over the last several years," he said. Dyer also said 100 businesses opened in the city last year.
"Today, four years after the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression our downtown remains an economic engine," Dyer said.
Developers said the construction of SkyHouse will bring 500 jobs immediately to the local economy.
The city will also launch a bike- and car-sharing program to promote an earth-friendly lifestyle. Dyer also introduced a program to reftrofit houses to make them more energy efficient.
In focusing on growth, Dyer said there are 17 projects worth $1.9 billion currently under construction or planned in Orlando.
Dyer also focused on an initiative focusing on an earth-friendly lifestyle in his annual State of Downtown address.
"Who knew that the most exciting announcement would be about solid waste and garbage collection- but it is," Dyer said.
Dyer said in the speech, delivered Wednesday morning on the floor of the Amway Center, that under an expanded program called Green Works the city will plant one tree for every person living in Orlando.