Orlando Outlook (Jacksonville, Tampa, Bloomingdale: lease, credit, how much)

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by DavieJ89

The economy of Central FL is actually quite diverse IMO and isnt completely dependant on tourism like Las Vegas is (a metro area of similar population size as well)

The economy here wont falter like it would in Vegas if a few big conventions were to skip out or if tourism were to drop, at least not in Orange County and Seminole County which arent tourism dependant like Osceola County is

But nobody really cares about Osceola County anyway. Do they?

Actually 31% of Orange/Seminole/Osceola's population is employed in tourism related jobs while Las Vegas is at 29%, making Central Florida more tourism oriented. The City of Orlando itself is at 19%, yet has half the population of Las Vegas (240,000 to 584,000) and a third less land mass which would make it nearly as concentrated.

Florida Project (http://www.sirerglobalinvestments.com/newweb/fiorlando002.html - broken link)
Las Vegas may be most tourism-dependent city in U.S. - Las Vegas Sun

[Pete C]

For all the talk about how dismal Orlando area wages are, we are pretty much right in line with the other major metros in Florida in terms of median income. Seminole County actually has by far the highest median income in the state of Florida. This info is straight from city-data.

Tampa Bay Area:
Hillsborough County: 47,168
Pinellas County: 43,224

South Florida:
Palm Beach County: 49,579
Broward County: 48,844
Miami-Dade County: 41,533

Jacksonville:
Duvall County: 47,024

Other:
Sarasota County: 45,341
Collier County (Naples): 52,988

Orlando:
Seminole County: 56,283
Orange County: 46,897
Osceola County: 42,753

[Soup Not See]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

I don't dismiss the projects but feel it's "cart before horse" at best because I don't feel local politicos are even focused on diversifying the job market with so many of these projects clearly pandering to increasing traffic flow to the theme parks or to/from the airport.

Sure there's been the Lake Nona-Medical City project, though it is attributed to UCF's desire for a new medical school as well as the Veterans Administration's desire for a new facility. Nemour Children's Hospital is need based with ORMC/Winnie Palmer a divided operation with care primarily for Women and Babies, and no other facility in the Orlando area specifically geared toward Pediatrics which every other major city in Florida has already had. The Sanford-Burnham cancer research facility partnered with UCF and the VA to build at Medical City, not by initiatives originated by local officials.

DPAC is a great addition to the city for the small local demographic that will use it and is something the city officials will spray photos of all over city promotional material as a "Hey look at us...we're in the big leagues" kind of way. How many locals do you suppose will be able to afford attending events at DPAC given the average salary here?

Meanwhile the greater good is being ignored as the city continues to overwhelmingly attract service industry jobs..which as we all know do not pay well, require little skills and will continue to attract a demographic to the city that quite frankly cannot be looked at proudly.

In tandem, the brain drain will continue as UCF and others continue to graduate students who will not/cannot find appropriate jobs here and consequently move elsewhere.

Up until now everyone involved in planning seems perfectly content to stick their heads in the ground and pretend it's not happening, but the statistics/numbers do not lie. This city cannot continue to ride the coattails of tourism if it hopes to ever become a relevant, major city.

Best post of the entire thread ... Orlando excels at entertaining tourists and that's about it ... to attract professionals here and away from other more relevant areas like SF, Boston, Seattle, Denver, et al, Orlando has to offer more than roller coasters, the beach, food trucks, and a sprinkling of livable downtown areas. What professional in their right mind would leave an exciting urban area for 7 months of swamp-like weather, average schools at best, and minimal attractions outside of work ?

Accept your fate Orlando, be the best at tourism you can be and live with the minimum wage demographic monster you've created by being the best at something.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by leftee

Best post of the entire thread ... Orlando excels at entertaining tourists and that's about it ... to attract professionals here and away from other more relevant areas like SF, Boston, Seattle, Denver, et al, Orlando has to offer more than roller coasters, the beach, food trucks, and a sprinkling of livable downtown areas. What professional in their right mind would leave an exciting urban area for 7 months of swamp-like weather, average schools at best, and minimal attractions outside of work ?

Accept your fate Orlando, be the best at tourism you can be and live with the minimum wage demographic monster you've created by being the best at something.

Orlando isn't in the same tier as SF, Seattle or Boston. It's silly to even mention that as an ideal goal.

[Soup Not See]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

Orlando isn't in the same tier as SF, Seattle or Boston. It's silly to even mention that as an ideal goal.

Who said anything about an ideal goal ? Orlando will never be in the same tier as any of those cities. But the discussion was partly about bringing professionals to Orlando to decrease the minimum wage demographic in the area ... where do you think those professionals would come from ?

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by leftee

Who said anything about an ideal goal ? Orlando will never be in the same tier as any of those cities. But the discussion was partly about bringing professionals to Orlando to decrease the minimum wage demographic in the area ... where do you think those professionals would come from ?

Projects like the medical city, the new medical school at UCF and expansions at ORMC/Florida Hospital. Expansion of existing industries and companies in Orlando like Lockheed Martin, Darden, etc.

[IAm_FloridaBorn]

Originally Posted by Pete C

For all the talk about how dismal Orlando area wages are, we are pretty much right in line with the other major metros in Florida in terms of median income. Seminole County actually has by far the highest median income in the state of Florida. This info is straight from city-data.

Tampa Bay Area:
Hillsborough County: 47,168
Pinellas County: 43,224

South Florida:
Palm Beach County: 49,579
Broward County: 48,844
Miami-Dade County: 41,533

Jacksonville:
Duvall County: 47,024

Other:
Sarasota County: 45,341
Collier County (Naples): 52,988

Orlando:
Seminole County: 56,283
Orange County: 46,897
Osceola County: 42,753

Yeah but a lot if not most people who live in seminole county, does not work in seminole county, so I still think salary is subjective as to letting that determine how well a place is doing.

[IAm_FloridaBorn]

Originally Posted by leftee

Best post of the entire thread ... Orlando excels at entertaining tourists and that's about it ... to attract professionals here and away from other more relevant areas like SF, Boston, Seattle, Denver, et al, Orlando has to offer more than roller coasters, the beach, food trucks, and a sprinkling of livable downtown areas. What professional in their right mind would leave an exciting urban area for 7 months of swamp-like weather, average schools at best, and minimal attractions outside of work ?

Accept your fate Orlando, be the best at tourism you can be and live with the minimum wage demographic monster you've created by being the best at something.

You and that Kyle dude have to be the most negative people I've ever encountered, esp via internet, wow. Good thing there are more positive people in Orlando area than negative down lookers as you two.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by IAm_FloridaBorn

You and that Kyle dude have to be the most negative people I've ever encountered, esp via internet, wow. Good thing there are more positive people in Orlando area than negative down lookers as you two.

It's not negativity, it's reality and fact, which is something you clearly don't have a handle on. People like yourself are the reason why the area is in the predicament it's in with your "Everything is beautiful in Orlando" rose-colored glasses on and personally have never seen a more complacent group of citizens than I've seen here. This is a discussion forum about the City Of Orlando, and not a Chamber of Commerce chat room so if you don't like to hear things that upset your one dimensional view of this city, I would suggest forming a support group so you can talk on and on about how Medical City, SunRail and DPAC are going to make the city somethin' special.

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by SkateboardB

This might be a wried suggestion but I'd like to see more skyscrappers within the Orlando Downtown area. Its skyline is sooo small, and Orlando is such a big city. You may not think about it but a lot people are attracted to City Skylines. I think the tallest building there is 500 feet. Now I'm not saying we need to be like NY, or Philly or something, but I'd like to see some more skyscrappers in Orlando. I think that would be a nice addition to the downtown area.

FAA restrictions play a large part in that. Downtown is close to executive....