Majority do not feel safe in downtown (poll) (Orlando: crime, young professionals)

[Jayson Belew]

This isn't great news for downtown. OPD needs to step up on crime and other problems in downtown.


https://www.clickorlando.com/news/lo...-survey-shows/

https://www.clickorlando.com/traffic...ntown-orlando/

[Arcenal813]

There are two sides to Downtown Orlando, and they feel vastly different, despite being adjacent to each other.

There is Orange Ave and side streets including Wall Street, which on any given night is full of trashy young drunken debauchery, and then there is East of Rosalind down to Summerlin, which includes South Eola and Thornton Park, which is more popular among young professionals, as well as an older, more mature 40+ crowd.

Basically, if one is out at night downtown and wants to hang out, you go West of Rosalind on the Orange Ave side where there is trash, loud blaring music, drunks, weed smoke, people fighting, and heavy police presence, or you go East of Rosalind, where it's still active, much less rowdy, and much cleaner.

[brinkofsunshine]

Originally Posted by Arcenal813

There are two sides to Downtown Orlando, and they feel vastly different, despite being adjacent to each other.

There is Orange Ave and side streets including Wall Street, which on any given night is full of trashy young drunken debauchery, and then there is East of Rosalind down to Summerlin, which includes South Eola and Thornton Park, which is more popular among young professionals, as well as an older, more mature 40+ crowd.

Basically, if one is out at night downtown and wants to hang out, you go West of Rosalind on the Orange Ave side where there is trash, loud blaring music, drunks, weed smoke, people fighting, and heavy police presence, or you go East of Rosalind, where it's still active, much less rowdy, and much cleaner.

Yes, I definitely feel safer east of Rosalind. I hate that the Orange Ave.-area rowdiness has given the downtown area a bad name.

[LKJ1988]

All cities have a bad part.

[Jayson Belew]

Originally Posted by LKJ1988

All cities have a bad part.

That's true, little one, but cities don't want their downtowns to be a dump. Not a good look for Orlando.

[rogercobb]

I feel pretty safe around Lake Eola during the day but at night not so much. I never know what cast of characters is going to be loitering around my car or urinating in the area. And I'm fed up getting accosted for money. I've had friends tell me to dress in crappy clothes and usually it keeps people at bay but not always.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by rogercobb

I feel pretty safe around Lake Eola during the day but at night not so much. I never know what cast of characters is going to be loitering around my car or urinating in the area. And I'm fed up getting accosted for money. I've had friends tell me to dress in crappy clothes and usually it keeps people at bay but not always.

I will say, something needs to be done about that Publix corner. The entrance is always blocked off by beggars, some in wheelchairs, as well as random solicitors. You'd think Publix would want to keep their entrance clear and clean.
I also used to constantly get accosted for money walking out of my old office in Capital Plaza. Again, bums just sitting by the stairs, waiting for the next person to walk out. I think that Grapefruit Lymmo line is partially to blame for that.

[equinejump7]

I typically feel safe downtown. There isn't much going on to begin with. I do find the widespread homeless population to be a major deterrent though. Like other cities (SF, Portland, etc) Orlando completely ignores the lack of addressing homelessness and/or preventing them from loitering around Lake Eola and such. Not a good look and deters many locals from frequenting downtown as much as they might if it were cleaned up.

[bmw335xi]

I feel pretty safe in downtown, it's just there isn't much to do besides drinking and some restaurants. It would be nice to see retail stores open up. I agree though East of Rosalind feels much safer. It's a beautiful downtown, just not a whole lot to do.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

I feel pretty safe in downtown, it's just there isn't much to do besides drinking and some restaurants. It would be nice to see retail stores open up. I agree though East of Rosalind feels much safer. It's a beautiful downtown, just not a whole lot to do.

For all of the growth that downtown has gone under in the past years, it's insane that they haven't implemented some sort of major retail into the plans.