Orlando-Downtown Vacation Help (Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa: credit, skyscrapers, real estate)

[Alphaman]

Originally Posted by Mountaingirl67

Why would anyone pick a place with zero culture just to live near Disney, I don't get it. And if there is not downtown why not just live in the country so you still have zero culture but don't have congestion, high costs and crime? To each his own I guess.

I didnt pick Orlando to live near disney as a matter of fact I didnt pick here at all I moved when I was still a kid and I moved away and came back because now this place feels like home.

I have family here and I like a warm climate. I would rather live in St petersburg by the beach but right now thats not an option.

[Wilshire81182]

There are plenty of newer cities in the US like Orlando that have less history and culture but still manage to be decent places to live. Houston, Phoenix, Las Vegas, etc. There is some culture here, a great climate, nice neighborhoods and people, and entertainment options. I would not live here if I felt like I would be victimized by crime or there was no culture. To an outsider like you, I would just not suggest a trip specifically to visit the few blocks and highrises that makeup downtown Orlando. I personally think your posts are ignorant and insulting.

[vdecapio]

It is so funny to me how people in Florida cities get pissed when someone asks why the downtowns are undeveloped. Outsiders have valid reason to be confused/perplexed as to why a city would totally neglect its downtown. And when Florida residents make the typical comment....well we are happy here as it is. I hate that stupid comment.

Realize the potential of a downtown area as an international tourist destination and a reflection of the city....its image and identity. Don't make the stupid comments....well downtown will just always be dead and well we like it that way. I hear that same stupid comment over and over again about Jacksonville. Its embarassing actually.

Florida is a great state and the downtowns should be developed into something that gives Florida a better reputation. Outsiders should not be criticized for wondering how a modern city could have no newspaper stand, cafes, bakeries, etc. Don't call a person ignorant for wondering why Orlando's downtown is dead. Its human nature to wonder why.

[Wilshire81182]

The point is, it is not that important. To make blanket statements about why someone would live somewhere when you have never lived there or even visited is ignorance. People do not come to Orlando to experience our downtown or our culture. People do not live here to go downtown and stare at buildings or experience urban culture. I think that all of the major cities in Florida (Miami, Ft Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville) have decent downtowns, but there is not a lot to do in the downtowns. There are enough eateries, clubs, etc. to support the work crowd and the club goers at night in Orlando. Residential towers are being built but not selling that well. There is just not a downtown culture here and there is nothing wrong with that, it is just different. Maybe over time we will develop more in that direction. I feel it is important to tell someone who wants to visit particularly for the downtown that it is lacking, but I don't think I should have to endure judgement because some people choose to be ignorant. What about Washington DC that does not have a traditional downtown? Or Detroit that has a city center that most in the metro do not dare go to because of crime/blight? Los Angeles is also a world class city that has very little to see or do in their downtown. But no because I live in Orlando, I have to endure criticism because someone has this preconceived notion that a city needs a downtown to have this checklist of things in it and then watch them respond with disgust when it is not exactly what what they expected.
If you do come, how about enjoying the fact that Orlando has a very clean, kept up downtown core that is surrounded on 3 of its 4 sides by beautiful older neighborhoods.
One of those includes the Lake Eola Heights historic district. There are several other areas of interest like Edgewater Drive in College Park or Park Ave in Winter Park. The part of downtown Orlando that myself and others have referred to is Thornton Park. It is not just one intersection, but it is a fairly compact area.
There are also historic districts in Longwood, Kissimmee, and Sanford. One of the oldest university in Florida is here, one of the houses of Al Capone is here in Belle Isle. The largest outdoor mall in the state is here. The most successful outlet stores in the world are here. There are master planned communities with sidewalk cafes and shops that each contain an almost satellite city-like core. There are celebrities that live here when their money could by them a home anywhere in a world. It didn't seem to bother them that there is not enough to do downtown.
The point is if you are looking for one thing, a good downtown, maybe Orlando lacks in that department. But as a whole, Orlando is not lacking and offers a great place to live and visit. I would say it is more suburban than urban, more like a conglomeration of neighborhoods. To each their own is right.

[bdpop]

I have always though of the Orlando area as one big suburb, but without the big city to support it; kind of like Long Island without NYC.

[Alphaman]

It`s not so much that someone criticizes Orlando downtown its the way some people say it. The OP sounded like anyone who moves to Orlando must be idiots because the Downtown sucks that is what I take offense at not that someone thinks we have a crappy downtown because we do and thats the truth.

It could be better and it was back in the day just don`t insult people because they live here.


Orlando is not everyones cup of tea neither is NYC for some people and its fine to post comments about what you think is wrong just don`t post like some arrogant person because you feel superior because your state has a better downtown.

[Silence Dogood]

Originally Posted by vdecapio

It is so funny to me how people in Florida cities get pissed when someone asks why the downtowns are undeveloped. Outsiders have valid reason to be confused/perplexed as to why a city would totally neglect its downtown. And when Florida residents make the typical comment....well we are happy here as it is. I hate that stupid comment.

Realize the potential of a downtown area as an international tourist destination and a reflection of the city....its image and identity. Don't make the stupid comments....well downtown will just always be dead and well we like it that way. I hear that same stupid comment over and over again about Jacksonville. Its embarassing actually.

Florida is a great state and the downtowns should be developed into something that gives Florida a better reputation. Outsiders should not be criticized for wondering how a modern city could have no newspaper stand, cafes, bakeries, etc. Don't call a person ignorant for wondering why Orlando's downtown is dead. Its human nature to wonder why.

Extremely well put. How dare someone actually think that one might be able to get an out of town newspaper downtown in a Metropolitan Area of 2,000,000 people. I just got back from Waynesville North Carolina and much to my surprise (Downtown Mainstreet) there it was an out of town Newspaper stand in a city of 15,000 people. Those people that live there, must be really ignorant!!!!!!

[Wilshire81182]

That is because nothing happens in towns of 15,000 people. how is that for ignorant?

[bdpop]

I remember back in the 70s when I was a kid, there was a JC Penney, Ivey's, Newstand (that sold out of town papers) a record store (Southern Music), a bakery and many other stores downtown. When the malls came in, the stores started to close because everyone was now going to the malls.

[Metallisteve]

Orlando's last shot at a historic or cultural downtown was flushed down the drain my the crook Lou Pearlman when he destroyed Chruch Street. My brother tells me that Cheyenne Saloon has or will reopen, but that's only one piece of what was a great area. I was fortunate enough to experience the Church Street Station area as a kid in the 80's and also got to see it as a ghost town right before Pearlman tore it all down. I was doing some work witht eh Improv and got to access the areas behind it just before they started working. But, I digress...

Even though it was a make-shift history or past for downtown, it was more of a culture or landmark than anything else in downtown. You can also thank Disney for sucking the life out of downtown as well. When Pleasure Island opened up with it's free parking, downtown became deserted.