Mayor Buddy Dyer unveiled plans for SunRail this morning, involving downtown Orlando focusing on a well-known piece of undeveloped property.The property nicknamed "Caseytown," is the lot across Orange Avenue from the Orange County Courthouse was where the media was set up during the Casey Anthony trial. Mayor Buddy Dyer said he wants to transform the property into a central station for SunRail.
The 61-mile commuter rail line proposed to start from Deland and go to Poinciana, with 17 stops along the way, is still on scheduled for a 2014 launch date. The Orlando-downtown component is what Dyer spoke about today. The first phase of the $200 million proposal would build a hotel, seven- to 10-story apartment buildings and ground-floor shops and restaurants, all on the north side of the property across from the courthouse. The hope is when the office market improves, the second phase would begin and create primarily new office space for downtown."It will bring local jobs for construction and a nice, mixed-use development that is reliant on commuter rail for transportation," Mayor Dyer was quoted by Channel 13 News on Monday morning. According to Buddy Dyer, the Rida Development Corp. will pick up the $400 million price tag. Rida Development company also built Champions Gate and the Hilton Orlando resorts. Developers said the location would create easy access for apartment renters and downtown workers who take the train.
