ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando city commissioners are expected to approve the second phase of a project that would transform Church Street downtown into a “festival street.”
“It’s really going to provide almost like a window into what the future of downtown looks like,” said David Barilla, the executive director of Orlando’s Downtown Development Board.
Construction for the first phase of the project will begin this summer and cover the portion of Church Street between the Central Florida Rail Corridor and Garland Avenue.
The second phase, which costs about $728,000, would include a section of Church Street between Central Florida Rail Corridor and Orange Avenue.
“Think large sidewalks for sidewalk cafes,” Barilla said. “Think the ability to have different types of activities in the street, but also ensure that there is access to vehicles as well.”
Barilla noted that the Church Street project is part of a larger 14 project plan to invest in downtown Orlando.
“This year, it’s going to be about groundbreaking after groundbreaking,” Barilla said. “And then next year, it’ll be about ribbon-cutting after ribbon-cutting.”
The investments in downtown Orlando come as city leaders work to shift the narrative about the area, which has been plagued at times by notorious incidents of crime and the departure of long-time businesses.
News 6’s Mike Valente asked Barilla how he will ensure that construction will not negatively impact the businesses that are still along Church Street.
“Construction is a disruption any way you slice it. We understand that,” Barilla said. “What we’re working very hard to do is to minimize the impacts to the best extent that we can. We want the community to know that, you know, shops are still open in downtown. There is some construction, but they need their support, and we’re looking to help them along the way as well.”