By Jim Carchidi
January 21, 2026
Updates are on the way in downtown Orlando with a mix of projects aimed at reshaping the look and appeal of streets and community spaces. Dubbed the DTO Action Plan by Mayor Buddy Dyer at his 2024 State of Downtown address, the purpose is to shift the urban model from a work environment to a walkable, engaging lifestyle center. Downtown Development Board & Community Redevelopment Agency Executive Director David Barilla provided an update on timelines and budgets that includes views of the properties and the visions for their redevelopment.
Two-way design
A current photograph of Magnolia Avenue facing Orange County Courthouse (above) versus the proposed look of a more attractive, pedestrian-friendly street (below). Photos and renderings courtesy of the City of Orlando.
The plan begins this month with reconfiguring the one-way Magnolia Avenue into a two-way street. Medians and planters will be removed to make room for lane widening and on-street parking. And LYMMO bus operations will be integrated into the normal traffic flow.
During construction, Magnolia Avenue will be closed to vehicles for two-blocks at a time but pedestrians will have access to both sides of the road. Barilla told The Orlando Real that construction costs total $2.8 million and the project will have a five-to-six-month timeline for completion. After the street redesign phase is finished, landscaping and pedestrian access upgrades will begin.
“The City of Orlando’s Parking Division is actively working with downtown businesses to understand their freight loading and unloading needs and identify solutions that will support operations during construction and beyond,” Barilla said. "Particularly in areas where new street designs may modify or relocate existing freight zones.”
New pocket park
The empty lot at 30 S. Orange Ave. has hosted art installations in recent months. The parcel will be redesigned with landscaping, seating and shaded areas.
Construction of downtown Orlando’s next pocket park will begin in February. The 0.10-acre lot at 30 S. Orange Ave., vacant since a 2005 fire destroyed the former building, will have a shaded area, greenspace, a water feature, and food truck parking. The idea is a slightly scaled down version of the Art² park that opened in October by the corner of Orange Avenue and Robinson Street, which includes the third location of the popular Á La Cart dining venues.
According to Barilla, the 30 S. Orange budget is estimated at $5 million and the construction timeline is between six and eight months. The park will not require the same art curation and venue management as Art².
Church Street traffic
The Church Street redesign will add landscaping, improve drainage, and level the street to the sidewalk for better mobility.
A plan to revive the long dormant Church Street district begins with a festival street. The goal is to boost foot traffic and economic vitality with improved pedestrian access and the capacity to host pop-up events and community gatherings.
The first phase, estimated at $3.4 million, will change the corridor between Garland Avenue and the railroad tracks into two 11-foot-wide lanes with the street flush to the sidewalk. A semi-pervious street surface and drainage upgrades will be added along with new lighting and landscaping.
Construction is expected to begin in April. The street will be closed throughout construction and sidewalk access will be maintained for pedestrians.
Under I4
Interstate 4 lanes running through downtown Orlando will provide shade for the walking paths and public art at The Canopy community space.
The Canopy will be an urban gathering space filling 10 acres beneath Interstate 4 with immersive art designs, highlighted by a massive digital mapping and projection system. “There are local graphic and tech teams involved in the lighting/projection visuals,” Barilla said, “but there are no murals within this project. FDOT has asked us not to impact the newly painted I-4 bridge and supports.” Construction costs are estimated at $30 million and work is expected to begin over the summer with completion slated for next year.
Gateway goal
The Lake Eola Gateway project will open the corner of Rosalind Avenue and Central Boulevard into Lake Eola Park by replacing the City Center building with walkways and public art.
A new access point between Lake Eola Park and the central business district will begin its initial design phase in February.
A proposed signature gateway between the spaces will require the removal of the City Center building at 205 E. Central Blvd. It will be replaced with a plaza, shaded areas, and a direct view of the Lake Eola fountain. The estimated design and construction budget is $12 million. The neighboring property at 215 E. Central Blvd. dates back to 1927 and is under evaluation as a future part of the Gateway project. The building is visible in the project rendering, behind the gateway art piece.
“We anticipate the final scope for design later this year,” Barilla said, adding the overall design and construction timeline is 16-18 months. He also said community meetings are an anticipated part of the Gateway project process, but no dates have been decided.
Sponsor: The Orlando Real is sponsored by the Pozek Group — the #1 real estate team in Orlando and the Official Real Estate Team of the Orlando Magic.
About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
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