ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando continues efforts to bring more people back to downtown with several redevelopment projects planned to enhance the area and attract visitors.
A major focus is West Church Street, which runs from Garland Avenue to John Young Parkway. On Monday, the city council will select a contractor to lead a transformation project for this roughly two-mile stretch.
The project aims to improve travel times, reduce congestion, and enhance pedestrian crossings along the corridor.
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West Church Street is heavily traveled, especially during events at big venues on the street: the Kia Center, Inter & Co. Stadium, and Camping World Stadium.
When events end, thousands of people move through Church Street at once, and residents hope the improvements will ease the often frustrating process.
The city’s goal is to make Church Street feel just as lively during the day as it does at night, while making it more comfortable and safer for pedestrians.
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Improvements to the street, along with a $400-million upgrade to Camping World Stadium, could entice people to arrive earlier for events and stay later, boosting the local economy and creating a thriving downtown.
“I think expansion and growth is good as long as it’s here to listen to what Orlando wants,” resident Sedrick Bernard.
This redevelopment is part of Orlando’s broader effort to revitalize downtown. It will complement the Canopy Project, which will transform the I-4 underpass on Church Street into an immersive, multimodal public space.
[READ: Jan. 26 Orlando City Council Agenda]