Downtown Orlando is about to look different in the next couple of years, with four massive developments moving forward simultaneously.
From a Church Street revamp to reimagining the old Orlando Sentinel site, the city is gearing up for one of its biggest transformations in decades.
Yehya Rizeq, who owns Crepe Delicious of Church Street, says the once-bustling corridor took a hit when COVID-19 struck in 2020.
“It’s quiet, not many people are down here, and the foot traffic is very slow,” he said.
He said that he and other business owners are ready for change. Plans show Church Street becoming an all-day destination, not just a nightlife spot.
“Each project is working on its own schedule, but the context of all that is really coordinating. So yes, there’ll be some time of growing pains,” said David Barilla, executive director of the Downtown Development Board and Community Redevelopment Agency.