Mayor’s Remarks
State of Downtown
October 2, 2008

Watch online
(Real Video | Windows Media)

Most importantly, we celebrate our accomplishments and we look to the future.
We celebrate our progress in reshaping and revitalizing our Downtown.
We look ahead… to the world class Downtown that everyone in this room is helping to build for all of Central Florida.

This year, unfortunately, it’s also vital to recognize that we are in the midst of a crisis on Wall Street and a larger economic slump for our country.

This financial climate means challenges for our families and local businesses. It means challenges for state and local governments. It means challenges for our Downtown. So, the program we have built for you today is designed to address our challenges:

• How do we sustain our Downtown revitalization through this economic down-turn?
• Why are America’s downtowns more important than ever?
• How do we best position Downtown Orlando as the engine that propels our central Florida economy?

We have put together a panel of experts to explore these questions and ideas. But, before we get into the discussion, I want to make a few announcements and acknowledgments:

• We have representatives from our hometown university, UCF: Provost and Executive Vice President - Terry Hickey, and, the Executive Director of the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy - Ben Noel. UCF President, Doctor John Hitt, could not be here. I want to thank him and everyone from UCF for their willingness invest in our Downtown. Terry and Ben, I know you are as excited as I am to announce that UCF is expanding its presence in Downtown Orlando!
  
  In 2005, UCF opened FIEA. Since that time, the school has been successful at graduating students that can go directly into high paying jobs in the growing field of interactive, digital entertainment. FIEA will now be part of a much larger Downtown facility that includes a variety of digital media and film disciplines. It will include UCF’s film school. It will house TV, film and motion capture studios. It will also be home to “Citi-Lab” a partnership between UCF and the University of Florida school of Architecture.
  
  Today, I have the pleasure of announcing the birth of the: UCF Center for Emerging Media. Along with the House of Moves, the Center for Emerging Media will anchor our creative village. In the near future, our creative village will be a place where professionals in the emerging media industry can live, work and play… all here Downtown.
   
• For many years, we’ve said one of the critical elements of our Downtown’s revitalization would be a superior downtown supermarket. Just last month, Publix at the Paramount opened its doors! Chad Wilson and Paul Bracker from Publix are with us.
   
• Another fundamental element is a downtown movie theater. I know… I know. If you were here two years ago, you might still have the tickets we gave out for the premiere. We are close to securing our movie theater and I am excited to tell you those tickets are still good!
   
• We are keeping the construction momentum moving Downtown. Yesterday, I helped break ground on Downtown’s newest high rise, the Montage. The Montage will be Downtown’s first environmentally-friendly, LEED certified residential building.
   
• Speaking of green buildings, OUC’s new headquarters is set to open on November 11th.
  It will be Downtown’s first LEED certified commercial building and it will set the standard for all future office buildings in our Downtown.
   
• Keeping Downtown, and our entire City safe, is our top priority. I hope all of you got a chance to check out one of our IRIS cameras as you made your way into the ballroom. These are “smart cameras” that can detect movement and alert police to crimes as they are happening. In the next few months, we will be launching phase two of our IRIS camera program beginning in our Downtown core. We’re doing this through a unique public-private partnership lead by Darden Restaurants and the Target Corporation.
   
• Many of our Downtown small business owners are here today. From Church Street… to Vendor’s Way. From Thornton Park… to Ivanhoe Village. From the SODO project where a new Target store will open as the anchor of an exciting mixed-use prototype… to Mills Park.
  I want to personally salute each and every one of you. You have made a commitment to Downtown and to the future of this community.
  
  I know challenges remain. I want to ensure our small business owners that our City is doing everything possible to set the stage for you to succeed. To further that effort, today, we launch a newly-enhanced “Business Assistance Team.” Whether it’s a helping hand in explaining the permitting process… A connection to business counseling… Or simply access to City services… The B.A.T. will offer a “one stop shop” designed to give our business owners help during tough economic times.
   
• Another project we are excited about is the Renaissance at Carver Square which will go up where the historic Carver Theater once stood. This mixed-use project includes a community theater and commercial space, along with a small business incubator, providing education and networking components.
  
  I am pleased to announce the anchor tenant for the Renaissance at Carver Square will be the Urban Trust Bank. Founded by Robert Johnson, owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats and founder of B-E-T, the Urban Trust Bank will not only serve as a Downtown branch, but as the home office for the entire company.  It’s exciting to have Mr. Johnson play a part in the revitalization of Parramore and Downtown Orlando.
  
  I want to recognize the CEO of the Urban Trust who is with us today, Dan Fisher.
  This public-private partnership is another important advance for Parramore that will ensure the neighborhood’s future as a thriving downtown residential and business district. We have made an unprecedented investment in the neighborhood: Through this project… Through the Pathways for Parramore initiative… And now, through Community Venues… We have laid the foundation to change the future for downtown residents both east and west of I-4.
   
• A year ago we made history when we committed to building our Community venues.
  Today, I’m happy to report we are on course to bring world class arts and entertainment options to Downtown Orlando.  We’ve broken ground on our Events Center. We are well into the design stages of our performing arts center.
  
  On Monday, we will award the architectural contract for the Citrus Bowl renovation.
  This week, the contract for the steel to build the events center was awarded to a local company, Schuff Steel.  With a steel fabrication facility in our own backyard, this means almost 300 jobs for local workers. We are extending education and job opportunities through our Community Blueprint. Like FDR did in the 1930’s, we will use our public projects to provide jobs and job training during tough economic times.
   
• Our Community Venues will propel our Downtown toward a brighter future. But, we still need more transportation options if we are going to rival the great downtowns of the world. That’s where commuter rail fits in. I’m sure most of you have followed our collective effort to make commuter rail a reality. The local, state and federal funding is in place. The only piece of the puzzle remaining is legislative approval of some legal language. Many of you have asked, “What can I do to help?” My friends, we are going to get this done! And, you can play an important part.
  
  In your bags, you’ll find some information about the project. You’ll also find a blank post card. Right now, the governor, Florida’s CFO and many new legislators are forming their priorities for the coming year. We need to tell Tallahassee that Commuter Rail isn’t just vital to Central Florida.  It’s vital to the transportation future of the entire state. So, it should be their priority. I’m asking that each of you write a personal note, asking our state leaders to make Central Florida’s Commuter Rail a priority. And, put your name and address on it. If you do it today, you can drop it off in the back of the room and it will be mailed for you.
   
• Commuter rail is just another great example of a shared dream that we are turning into reality because of partnership and cooperation. Everything we have accomplished and all that we aim to achieve for Downtown comes from our ability to work together. I have no better partners than our City commissioners. I would like to thank each of them for their commitment to Downtown and the residents of our City. I also want to recognize and thank our CRA Advisory Board and our Downtown Development Board. Thank you, to our friends on the Orange County Commission represented here today by Commissioner Mildred Fernandez. I also want to thank my wife Karen, for all you do for our community and our family.

Our Downtown has faced challenges over the past five years. We have overcome every one in order to lay the foundation for a world class urban center. This is a credit to every single person in this room. I want to thank all of you for believing in Downtown Orlando. Yes, there are new challenges ahead. But, the state of our Downtown remains filled with potential and ready to meet any obstacle!

State of Downtown Discussion Panelists:

David Feehan, president of the International Downtown Association. David has devoted more than 35 years to rebuilding and revitalizing cities. He has directed downtown programs across the country.

Doctor Jerry Mitchell, professor of public affairs at Baruch College at the City University of New York. His research focuses on downtown development both here in the US and in Europe.

John Thomas, Director of Policy and Political Affairs for the Florida League of Cities.
He represents the interests of more than 400 cities. He also serves as Executive Director of Florida’s Urban Partnership.

Back to top