Workshop Notes
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Activity Update and Stage 2 Efforts
Kathy Ramsberger provided an update on the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts activities and Stage 2 efforts.
Parramore Neighborhood Plan
The revitalization of the Parramore neighborhood has been a top priority of the City of Orlando’s for many years. In 2003 we commissioned a task force to develop strategies to revitalize Orlando’s historic Parramore community.
Through that task force, we developed and launched the Pathways for Parramore initiative in 2005. Through this initiative, we have made significant strides in transforming the Parramore community block by block: helping lifelong renters own their first homes, opening new restaurants and retailers and even attracting national headquarters investment. The City has reduced crime by staggering numbers and many of the greatest advances have been with the youth initiatives.
And ten years later we are still committed to continuing this mission. Over the past year, we have engaged the community in a planning process. On Monday, January 26, we reviewed the results of this collaborative effort with the new Parramore Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan.
This plan will build on the successes of the Pathways for Parramore initiative and continue to further the vision for a healthy, sustainable and vibrant community for residents while preserving, enhancing and celebrating the culture and heritage of Parramore.
City Council Meeting
General Items of Notes
MLK Weekend
Mayor Buddy Dyer thanked all the City employees and the volunteers on the MLK Commission for all your hard work to make all of the events associated with MLK Weekend a huge success.
ORLANDO Sign Lighting
The Mayor invited everyone to join him, our City Commissioners and our Public Art Advisory Board to celebrate Downtown Orlando’s newest arts and cultural installation with the official lighting of the iconic ORLANDO sign at the Orlando Citrus Bowl on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
The ORLANDO sign once crowned the scoreboard at the Orlando Citrus Bowl where it was seen by hundreds of thousands of stadium visitors through the years. Prior to demolition of the stadium one year ago, each of the seven individual letters were salvaged and have been transformed into the new 54-foot iconic ORLANDO sculpture.
Wednesday’s event will highlight the new ORLANDO sculpture and showcase the more than 100 color-changing LED lights that have been retrofitted into each letter.
Men’s Service Center Grand Opening
Also, this Wednesday, our City Commissioners and Mayor Buddy Dyer will celebrate the grand opening of the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida’s new Men’s Service Center.
The new center will house up to 250 individuals and allow us to help homeless men in a way we have never been able to help before.
This new approach, combined with our other strategic efforts and community partners, will help us continue to move the needle and address the issue of homelessness in our community.
Black History Month Celebration
Next week, on Tuesday, February 3, the Mayor invites everyone to join him at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Rotunda to kickoff Black History month.
The event will recognize the contributions and positive influence of African Americans in Orlando and feature historical information from the Florida Historical Society.
Neighborhood Watch Leaders Forum
On Wednesday, February 4, Mayor Dyer will join with the Orlando Police Department to recognize and celebrate the commitment of our City’s Neighborhood Watch leaders at the 30th annual Leaders Forum.
During this event, our City Commissioners, Chief Mina and the OPD Crime Prevention Division will recognize a number of individuals and neighborhoods for their outstanding efforts and commitment to Neighborhood Watch.
On Monday, January 26, Mayor Dyer recognized and thanked all of our neighborhood watch members and block captains for partnering with us to help keep crime down in our neighborhoods and our City.
SELF Program:
As part of the City’s GreenWorks initiative, we have partnered with SELF, a non-profit community loan program, to provide energy assessments and favorable financing to pay for energy efficiency improvements. SELF helps homeowners finance replacements of air-conditioning units, weatherization, roof repairs or new, insulation, solar water heater, solar panels, windows and doors. For more information visit CityofOrlando.net.
Items of Notes:
Housing #1 – There was a tri-party agreement on Monday’s agenda between the City’s Housing and Community Development Department, our Families, Parks and Recreation Department and the Orlando Housing Authority to provide CDBG funding to refurbish and expand the playground to include a basketball court and a covered pavilion at the Citrus Square Apartments.
Mayor Dyer thanked Commissioner Gray for his leadership in making this great project happen.
