SkyPlex was passed ...

[HopperFan]

Universal tried to stop it, but tonight, 3 hours and over 50 speakers later, the Orange County Commission unanimously approved the SkyPlex project.

 

[wilkeliza]

It sounded like some of the stuff in Vegas to me. Looks like Disney didn't care to give it attention but Universal sees it as a direct threat. I would think anything that brings people to Orlando would be good for all the tourist destination especially since Skyplex is probably a 1 day thing if that.

 

[DrivenByDisney]

The one thing I did not like about it, as a local (we live in Dr. Phillips) less than a mile from where this is supposed to be built. The traffic is already awful in this area and now the construction will worsen that and when it's done again, the traffic will get worse.

Combine that construction when the 'Ultimate I-4" construction gets closer to this area, traffic will be unbearable I'm afraid. The traffic at the intersections of both Turkey Lake & Sand Lake as well as Sand Lake and I-Drive is just ridiculous as it is. Can't wait to see what this does to it.

 

[HopperFan]

The one thing I did not like about it, as a local (we live in Dr. Phillips) less than a mile from where this is supposed to be built. The traffic is already awful in this area and now the construction will worsen that and when it's done again, the traffic will get worse.

Combine that construction when the 'Ultimate I-4" construction gets closer to this area, traffic will be unbearable I'm afraid. The traffic at the intersections of both Turkey Lake & Sand Lake as well as Sand Lake and I-Drive is just ridiculous as it is. Can't wait to see what this does to it.

They plan to build pedestrian bridges over the intersection. Their traffic study said doing this and removing all people from walking across the streets will speed up the traffic flow through the intersection.

 

[DrivenByDisney]

They plan to build pedestrian bridges over the intersection. Their traffic study said doing this and removing all people from walking across the streets will speed up the traffic flow through the intersection.

Sweet. Even more construction

Seems plausible I guess. Still ... Not quite sure where the base of these bridges would be. They're building the new McDonalds on one corner. There's a CVS/Walgreens on another corner. Tourist trap shops on another corner. The only corner that they have any say on is where the Perkins is now if I am not mistaken.

The intersection is still a mess as it is. A minor inconvenience in the grand scheme I'm sure. It will be interesting to see how all this plans out and what actually gets done and what does not.

 

[bankr63]

They plan to build pedestrian bridges over the intersection. Their traffic study said doing this and removing all people from walking across the streets will speed up the traffic flow through the intersection.

Wow, did Florida decriminalize mary jane for planning meetings? I have sat at those intersections for a larger part of my vacations than I would ever want to, and NEVER did I think the volume of foot traffic was the issue. Gotta say I feel for you DrivenbyDisney.

I am an IT guy, and once spent a week with on a programming course with a guy from Honeywell who designed traffic control systems. Gotta say that Orlando in general does everything he said was wrong, and it shows. I think one of the biggest problems is that all the blue haired drivers probably take their afternoon naps during the exceptionally long red lights in Orlando. Proper traffic engineering says that lights should cycle faster when traffic gets heavy, Orlando area appears to do the exact opposite.

 

[DrivenByDisney]

Hahahahahaha ... That seriously made me laugh out loud.

Unfortunately, you are correct in that statement as well. We drive that area all the time and it is awful. And like I said earlier ... The next intersection down towards where we live gets backed up worse and worse as the traffic in that area starts to worsen.

Should be very interesting to say the least.

 

[HopperFan]

Well they had over 50 people sign up to speak at the Commissioners meeting. I saw 4 stand up against it, two of which were Universal lawyers, one a man who lives west of Universal and one a teen whose main concern was the traffic .... because it is so bad the emergency vehicles would not be able to get to the "dead bodies from the crime and ride..."

So over 50 came in support. Many lived in the area, had businesses in the area and all were concerned about the poor condition of the area being addressed. Even with the tens of thousands of flyers sent out, there was virtually no opposition from the community.

Next up will be the big Unicorp project and with that I would expect Sand Lake to be widened especially if ...............

the bigger issue happens that has come to light in the last 24 hours with a Universal expansion.
Sand Lake will need to be double-decker.

 

[DrivenByDisney]

Yeah ... This area should get really interesting in the near future with all this going on.

Not even sure where or how they could widen Sand Lake near Turkey Lake. Businesses and the freeway overpass are there already. So there is no where to widen to around there. But again, we'll see.

Not even sure if they had 5,000 people speak out against it, if that would've changed their decision. It was unanimous, correct? Just have to wait and see for all this to go down.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

I'm a Dr. Phillips resident and I'm happy it passed. That side of I-Drive is awful and hopefully this project (and the development going up at Kirkman) will reinvent that half of I-Drive. I don't tend to go through the interest toon often so I don't think it'll really bother me. Traffic was always a mess there regardless. I do hope they start developing Universal Blvd./Carrier... lots of real estate there and hardly any traffic.

 

[DOOM1001]

South of Sand Lake is good with the convention center,the Orlando eye projects,Sea World and Aquatica and better hotels,the north side definitely needs a major redevelopment,a lot of older hotels and worthless shops,with Skyplex,whatever Universal does with WetnWild this area will definitely get a boost.The most exciting thing thats come out of this is the news of Universal buying those 450 acres behind the Orlando Eye development,whatta you think will go there?????

 

[HopperFan]

South of Sand Lake is good with the convention center,the Orlando eye projects,Sea World and Aquatica and better hotels,the north side definitely needs a major redevelopment,a lot of older hotels and worthless shops,with Skyplex,whatever Universal does with WetnWild this area will definitely get a boost.The most exciting thing thats come out of this is the news of Universal buying those 450 acres behind the Orlando Eye development,whatta you think will go there?????

It's not actually right on the other side of the Eye, some of those small tracts are potentially part of another project. The land that they are discussing is on the other side of the Lockheed plant. So you would need to go east on Sand Lake or way south on Universal closer to the Rosen Shingle to approach the land. Some issues I have heard is that it was previously owned by Lockheed and used for missile testing so land remediation may be necessary.

"Commissioners Ted Edwards and Pete Clarke said they were contacted by representatives of Universal who said the company has an option to buy the properties. According to Edwards and Clarke, Universal expressed concerns for overall planning in the area, and the impact of the proposed Skyplex rollercoaster on Universal's expansion plans....

Clarke and Edwards said Universal Orlando lobbyist John McReynolds contacted them a few days ago, telling them that the theme park resort has a contract on the property....

Edwards said McReynolds told him Sunday night Universal “had the property under contract, anticipated a quick closing.”

Edwards and Clarke said they were not told what the land would be used for.

“The impression is whatever it is, it would be big,” Edwards said. “It’s exciting.”


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...-universal-colony-property-20151201-post.html

 

[DOOM1001]

Yeah I saw the map of the 450 acres and it looked like it went from a little behind the Eye all the way towards the Rosen Shingle creek,so its definitely a huge amount of land,but I know what you're saying that its not right behind the Eye.Back when Universal owned the land back there I remember hearing the same thing that the land may need to be cleaned up.