Crossroads Plaza

[disneysteve]

Really sorry to hear this. Crossroads is a very active shopping center with many places to eat that Disney guests frequent all the time: Sweet Tomatoes, Flippers, Uno, etc. We never go to Goodings but we definitely go there to eat. There's also a big mini golf course there. I'd hate to see that center go away. We eat at Sweet Tomatoes at least once every trip.

 

[writerguyfl]

Looking at the flyover some more, it looks like they are possibly planning on changing the Sand Lake interchange over to a Diverging Diamond Interchange type. The lanes on Sand Lake will cross each other to the "wrong side" as they go under I-4. This is a really interesting new interchange type with increased traffic flow, but seems a bit radical for the area. I encountered my first one a while back somewhere around Pooler GA (IIRC - pulled off I-95 for gas) and it was a treat!

For anyone unfamiliar, this is what bankr63 is describing:

Source: http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.town...c7-ea0fbc2c1ee4/4fc7eec1c81b5.preview-620.jpg

Proposed I-4/Sand Lake Road interchange:

Source (pdf): http://www.i4express.com/Seg2Docs/SEGMENT2_SANDLAKE_ALT4_RECOMMENDED.pdf

 

[zebrastreyepz]

For anyone unfamiliar, this is what bankr63 is describing:

Source: http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.town...c7-ea0fbc2c1ee4/4fc7eec1c81b5.preview-620.jpg

Proposed I-4/Sand Lake Road interchange:

Source (pdf): http://www.i4express.com/Seg2Docs/SEGMENT2_SANDLAKE_ALT4_RECOMMENDED.pdf

They did this in Joplin at the I44/Range Line exit. It was really weird the first time we used it but I get why it works.

 

[Planogirl]

This is too bad. Not only do I hate when I see this type of thing but there are a few good businesses in that area.

 

[ww52]

Hi everyone - I'm bumping this old thread up hoping someone can give me an update. Strange that I can't find anything recent doing a web search.

We're going in July - Goodings is a kind of tradition for us, despite the outrageous expense. First trip there was in 1989 and we've stopped there every trup since (8 trips in all). It wouldn't be the same without it - but time marches on.

 

[MrKnight]

IMHO the Crossroads plaza is very dated and no longer serves it's original purpose.. Not to mention, I am sure Disney is perfectly okay with this and more than likely is a supporter for the project..

 

[MrKnight]

This is too bad. Not only do I hate when I see this type of thing but there are a few good businesses in that area.

The majority of the businesses in the Crossroads plaza are national retailers and chain restaurants, IMHO there is nothing special nor local about those businesses.. You can find those same businesses all over the area..

 

[rg35]

The majority of the businesses in the Crossroads plaza are national retailers and chain restaurants, IMHO there is nothing special nor local about those businesses.. You can find those same businesses all over the area..

Maybe true but locals still work and own local franchises of national chains. So there is impact beyond some big faceless corporation. A McDonald's franchisee is in most cases a local small business owner even though it's a huge international brand.

 

[disneysteve]

The majority of the businesses in the Crossroads plaza are national retailers and chain restaurants, IMHO there is nothing special nor local about those businesses.. You can find those same businesses all over the area..

While that's true, I'm not sure of your point. If you are staying on Disney property, and especially if you don't have a car, Crossroads is the closest and cheapest place to get to by Uber where you can get a decent meal and escape Disney prices for a while. Also, while some of the places are chains, they may be chains that aren't available nationally. For example, we love Sweet Tomatoes. We eat there at least once and often twice each trip. They are a chain but they don't have locations anywhere near our part of the country so going there is a treat for us. We also enjoy Flipper's which is a local Florida chain. I just checked and they have 15 locations, but they're all in central Florida. The only time we get to eat there is on our Disney trips, and we always get there once too.

As for Goodings, I would never shop there. We used to years ago when it was the only game in town but we switched to Publix years ago.

 

[bankr63]

Keep in mind that its actually the government that is appropriating the land for a new interchange as part of the I-4 twinning project; I don't think anyone local who lives with I-4 traffic will stand in the way of this; there is enough open land or rentable retail nearby that most of these places can relocate. I don't expect it is shutdown yet, last I read they were already well behind schedule on the construction. I guess that retailers will move out well before the bulldozers hit, so individual retail/restaurants may have already started closing.

 

[disneysteve]

I don't expect it is shutdown yet

Sorry. I didn't realize that was a question. No, Crossroads is not shut down. It is alive and well. We had dinner at Sweet Tomatoes earlier this month and the rest of the center was quite active as usual.

I think it's a disgrace that they are shutting down that many thriving businesses for this project.

 

[HopperFan]

This still has me curious, as while acquisitions can take a long time, since it had become quiet. I found a brand new study that was completed in November with recommendations for 535 from I-4 South towards 192 ........ a heavy traffic area ........ and this is a big project too.

Part of me was the I-4 project close and in Orlando Downtown is still such a nightmare, potentially this project was tabled or put on delay. So I started some back door googling and finally came upon this.

Map we have seen but ... the article seems to back that this is on delay until the central (Ultimate) project is done.

Jan 29, 2018

The above photo is what FDOT calls their "recommended alternative" for the I-4/SR 535 interchange upgrade project, which is listed as a part of the I-4 Beyond The Ultimate project. The I-4 Ultimate Project is a project to expand I-4 and add express lanes to the road through Downtown Orlando, with completion expected in 2021. The Beyond The Ultimate Project will expand I-4 through the northern and southern suburbs of Orlando once the main project is completed, with construction expected to begin around 2022. For a better look at the interchange reconfiguration map, you can download the original high resolution pdf here. Originally, FDOT had three alternatives for the reconfiguration of this interchange, called Alternative 1, Alternative 2, and Alternative 3. In those original plans, Alternatives 1 and 2 would have only effected the portion of the Crossroads plaza closest to I-4 (with Red Lobster, Taco Bell, Johnny's Hideaway, and the mini golf course being the only casualties). Alternative 3 would have not had any effect on the plaza at all, and is the reconfiguration plan the tenants of the plaza are still pushing for.

http://albertsonsfloridablog.blogspot.com/search/label/Gooding's

 

[ww52]

Thanks HopperFan - good research.

But 2022 start date? All Disney fans can tell you the significance of that year - WDW will be well into the 50th anniversary celebration then. (And I sure hope they don't turn the castle into a cake like they did for the 25th)

 

[HopperFan]

Thanks HopperFan - good research.

But 2022 start date? All Disney fans can tell you the significance of that year - WDW will be well into the 50th anniversary celebration then. (And I sure hope they don't turn the castle into a cake like they did for the 25th)

The question is what does that date really mean? So they will spend the next few years acquiring all the land. Then they will have to do demolition of everything. Then they will have to do water management and prepare all that land. I am sure they are working closely with Disney to minimize the impact but .............. Disney has been really pushing all the other exits that drop you in the middle of property or direct to Disney Springs. They would also have the exits that drop you direct into WWOS and DHS finished by then. I think the folks it will hurt most are the hotels outside Disney Springs that at this point rely on that exit.