Downtown Orlando

The downtown area of Orlando, Florida is far removed from the famous attractions that draw tourist to the region.

Downtown Orlando is similiar to any large city in which it cantains a number of highrises, that dot the downtown. They include Bank of America Tower at 408ft tall and 29 stories, Orange County Courthouse at 417ft and 24 stories and Suntrust Center Tower at 441ft and 32 stories are the tallest.

The main route through downtown is Orange Avenue which one way moves south and is known by locals for its heavy set nightlife, and tall offices that dot the Roadway. Other main roads include Magnolia Avenue, Central Boulevard, Hughey Avenue, and Colonial Drive.

Two main highways that run through downtown are Interstate 4 and the toll road the East-West Expressway.

Downtown is home to many Urban ammenities such as a 18,000 seat arena known as the TD Waterhouse Centre which host the Orlando Magic NBA team, the Orlando Predators Arena Football Leagues team. It also is host to a popular nightclub known as Club Paris after Paris Hilton.

Downtown Orlando has many parks. A major urban park is centered downtown known as Lake Eola , which you can rent Swan Boats or just walk around the Park. Under the growing number of highrises.

There are several areas of downtown Orlando, Uptown is one which is binded by Colonial Drive on the southand Lake Ivanhoe on the North.Eola is one binded by Rosaland on the west.Parramore binded by Hughey on the east. The Central business District binded by The East-West Expressway on the South and Colonial Drive on the North

Eola

An area of Downtown binded by Rosaland on the west and is centrally located around Lake Eola. There are several areas that make up this area including Thornton Park, Lake Eola, and North Eola. In general this area is very pedestrian friendly and is toned down from the extensive number of high-rises just to the west in the Central Business District. Housing is mixed mainly including small fixed up bungalows and some apartment midrises. This may change soon as a number of highrise condominiums are being proposed or built in the area. Such projects include The Sanctuary, Thornton Park Central,Star Tower, Eola South, Osceola Brownstones and Thornton Park RCA which is scheduled to include a Urban Publix, the first of its kind in Downtown Orlando. Just north of Lake Eola is Eola North which is very similiar to Thornton Park but is yet to see the explosive development as other areas of downtown.

Uptown

Uptown is very similiar to the Central Business District but is still developing a character. It has much open space left for an area of downtown, yet has high aspirations to become a unique are with significantly tall highrises being planned such as Orlando Towers a twin building 330ft and 360ft Residential aprtment and condominium project near Lake Ivanhoe, The Ivanhoe another set of twin towers both set at 400' with over 500 residences binded by Karks, and Park Lake Treet on North Orange Avenue, North Orange twin 20 story buildings near Colonial Drive, all with significant planned retail space and expected to drastically change Uptowns skyline from the current 3 under 300' buildings.Lake Ivanhoe at the North has a significant gay community with several nightclubs and a number of antique shops which is increasing every year. It still is car oriectnted and its urbanity needs to be improved.

Parramore

Parramore is considered the blighted area of Orlando located just west of the Cenrtral Business district, with a significant deep rooted African American culture. In its time Parramore was a vibrant neighborhood but since crime, and prostitiution have labeled this area the ghetto of Orlando. It is significantly residential with a large number of High intensity entertainment and Office institutions such as the TD Waterhouse Center, Bob Carr Preforming arts Center, Federal Courthouse, and Police Headquarters. Significant projects have yet to emerge yet city funded and citizen encouraged redevelopment projects continue to pour into this region to improve this area.

Central Business District

The CBD is the most recognized and Urban Region of Downtown. It consist mostly of high-level highrises with an occasional skyscraper and cantains a extensive network of Nightclubs including, the Blue Room, Big Belly Brewery, Bar Orlando, Rhythm & Flow (one of the better clubs), the large entertainment venue Church Street Station, and the newly opened Club Paris under Paris Hiltons name. There are a number of Offices including Bank of America, SouthTrust Bank, Wachovia, Suntrust Center. This area is by far the busiest and is encountering intense development. Some of which include the 400' 55 West on Church Street, The Vue a 426' condo development soon to be the second tallest in the city, Tradition Towers twin 415ft buildings just west of Orange Avenue, and Premier Trade Plaza the largest mixed use development constisting of twe office towers and a rsidential tower fully equipped with a 12 screen movie theatre. Other projects are always rumers and emerging.