By Jim Carchidi
December 2, 2025
A long-anticipated rehab of the former Orlando Sentinel property at 655 N. Orange Ave. is set to move forward after years of speculation.
The effort, discussed during the Dec. 2 State of Downtown event, represents a $2 billion investment by Miami-based real estate firm, Midtown Development, in partnership with London’s Heatherwick Studio. The project will transform the 20-plus-acre site, bisected by Concord Street and bounded by N. Orange Avenue, N. Magnolia Avenue, Colonial Drive, and E. Amelia Street, into Orlando’s next vibrant neighborhood while aligning with the DTO Action Plan goal of creating meaningful gathering spaces and new mobility options.
The Orlando Sentinel property has been vacant for more than five years. Three buildings that occupied the lot adjacent to Orange County Courthouse were demolished in 2021. Image courtesy of Google Earth.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said the project will include unique design features that will attract thousands of new residents and dozens of new businesses to downtown. He told The Orlando Real the new neighborhood will be a cornerstone of the city, similar to Lake Eola, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and the upcoming Westcourt Orlando mixed-use complex. "It will be a huge iconic catalyst in the history of the city of Orlando," he said. "I think 10 years from now, downtown Orlando will be a totally different place than what we see it as today."
Details are in progress but are expected to mirror the community-focused developments that both project partners are known for.
Partners and vision
Miami-based Midtown Development, together with Rosso Development and Proper Hospitality, announced plans in October for a $2 billion makeover of Miami’s Midtown neighborhood. Designs feature connectivity and landscaped public spaces, and the redevelopment will bring 924 residential units, 60,000 square feet of office space, and more than 120,000 square feet of designer retail. While the Miami project is independent of the Orlando Sentinel property renovation, it offers a possibility of what the designs could look like.
A rendering of the planned redevelopment of Miami's Midtown neighborhood. Image courtesy of Proper Hospitality
"Our shared vision with the City of Orlando and Heatherwick Studio is to transform this integral downtown site into a vibrant, walkable neighborhood,” said Midtown Development Principal Alex Vadia in a prepared statement. “We’re focused on energizing the ground level with curated retail and (food and beverage), open spaces, and gathering places that define what a true neighborhood can be in the heart of downtown Orlando.”
Heatherwick Studio is renowned for elegantly-designed community spaces, such as New York City’s Little Island, Tokyo's Azabudai Hills, and Milwaukee’s Davidson Park. Founder and design director Thomas Heatherwick said in a prepared statement that the goal of the Orlando project is a destination with its own unique identity. "The opportunity that's so exciting is to be part of the wider revitalization of downtown," he said.
Little Island public park in New York (above) and Tokyo's Azabudai Hills mixed use development (below) are among Heatherwick Studio's architectural portfolio. Images courtesy of Heatherwick Studio
History
The Orlando Sentinel property was owned by Tribune Publishing until a 2014 reorganization. It was sold in 2016 for $35.1 million to Midtown Development affiliate, Midtown Opportunities, and was vacated when the newspaper transitioned to remote work in late 2020.
The Sentinel buildings were vacated in 2020 with gates and barriers erected to block parking access. The only remaining structures are the newspaper's former office building and press building. Photos by Jim Carchidi
More to come
Project timelines are in development and updates will be provided as plans progress. For more information, stay tuned to The Orlando Real.
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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