Growing better together: That’s the goal as Orlando leaders study strategic growth along the Virginia Drive corridor.
- Virginia Drive corridor connects Ivanhoe Village with Mills 50
- Near Orlando Urban Trail, area is top spot for redevelopment
- 'The Yard at Ivanhoe' going in on lot at Virginia and Alden
George Saunders is the general manager of Ten10 Brewing Company, one of several new businesses along the road, an area which is one of Orlando’s most popular areas for redevelopment.
"It's a good area to walk around in. It's right along the Orlando Urban Trail,” Saunders said.
The popular corridor connects the Ivanhoe Village neighborhood with the Mills 50 neighborhood.
Ten10 Brewing, which used to be a printing shop, recently celebrated its first year in business.
And just like the leaders behind the ongoing Virginia and Lake Highland Transportation & Land Use Study, it's already looking toward the future.
"If we had the ability to close off the street, attract more people, it's not a great street for biking down," Saunders said. "But you do get a lot of foot traffic, especially with a newer multi-use facility.”
In the shadow of Florida Hospital, Saunders is referring to an empty lot that is already spoken for.
The mixed-use development, which is located at the intersection of Virginia Drive and Alden Road, is tentatively called "The Yard at Ivanhoe."
Plans call for 630 apartments and 50,000 square feet of retail space, which is the equivalent of about a football field.
"I would like to see going forward, still having the ability for smaller, independent places to continue to have businesses around here, despite the growth,” Saunders said.
Meanwhile, developer Chance Gordy said The Yard will be a central meeting place, with independent shops, embracing the character of the growing neighborhood.
Saunders echoes those sentiments.
He hopes the future of Virginia Drive means a closer, tight-knit community.
“It would be cool to have a street festival, set up a band in the middle of the street. We would definitely be pouring beers there, maybe attract some new people to the brewery and just attract some new people to area who don't know that all of this great stuff exists over here,” Saunders said.
City leaders are hosting a community kickoff to talk about plans for the Virginia Avenue area at 6:30 p.m. Monday. That's happening at Leu Gardens on Forest Avenue.
Concurrent to the input process, a study is being conducted that should take about six months. A vote by the Orlando City Council to accept any transportation or land use zoning changes is expected early 2017.