Archive for the ‘East Orlando’ Category
Thursday, October 4th, 2007
Innovation Way…AKA the Alafaya Extension. There’s been a lot of speculation about when they’re going to start and complete this project. Dawn Pratt, who writes “East Orlando Life” wrote to Commissioner, Linda Steward, and received a reply from her aide. This is what Dawn reported. For the whole response visit Dawn’s article.
- The widening of Alafaya Trail will begin during 2009
- Innovation Way will stop short 800ft north of the Beachline and will be complete December 2008
- Innovation Way/Beachline Interchange is projected to begin 2009 and be complete in 2011
- Innovation Way from the Beachline to the 417 is projected to be complete some time between 2012 and 2017
Posted in East Orlando, Orlando | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007
Dawn Pratt gets an update from Commissioner Linda Stewart on the time line for extending Alafaya Trail (Innovation Way) to the 528 (the Beachline).
Hojin Chang is showcasing some of the houses that famous people live(d) in SW Orlando. This week she covers the one that Payne Stewart and Tracy McGrady called home, and Shaq’s house.
Rob Arnold gives us 6 Tips to Selling in a Buyer’s Market. (Excellent Post!)
The Orlando Sentinel covers the College Park Leisure Homes (trailers) eviction saga. It’s an interesting case of squatters vs developers right in the middle of Orlando.
Linda Hutchinson of Stirling Sotheby’s answers the question: What do the Rich Really Want?
Posted in College Park, East Orlando, Orlando, Quick Links, South Orlando | 1 Comment »
Friday, September 28th, 2007
I’m attending an interesting local conference called BlogOrlando today, located at Rollins College in Winter Park. What’s interesting about this is that there are a number of local bloggers who talk about real estate and the local communities in Orlando.
So far I’ve been able to meet Tim Welch (pictured), who writes Colonialtown blog, and Chris Gent, who writes about the Conway area, for the Orlando Sentinel.
I also had the chance to have lunch with Debra Horowitz who is an expert in the Avalon Park real estate market in East Orlando.
Blogging about communities within Orlando is an area I hope to see increase greatly. The best news about an area is put out by the locals in that community - I see our job at Roofable as finding some of the best news and commentary from them and helping even more people find it.
Posted in Avalon Park, Downtown Orlando, East Orlando, Orlando, Winter Park | 10 Comments »
Friday, September 14th, 2007
A word of warning should go out to anyone living in East Orlando - “You’re screwed” on UCF gamedays. Just get used to that idea and it will help you get over your frustrations for living on this side of town. The basic truth is that UCF cannot possibly handle the amount of traffic or parking for a University of Central Florida home football game at the new UCF stadium on campus.
I heard that they are planning to bus people from the Waterford Lakes Towncenter (I wonder if the property management company, Simon, knows about that?). What a goat-rope that is going to be. If you think it’s bad there, don’t even bother going towards Oviedo or anywhere around Alafaya Trail north of the 408.
Bill Couch from the Orlando Sentinel has created a really well done interactive map showing the traffic patterns and official parking areas around UCF for the game:
Posted in East Orlando, Oviedo, UCF Area | 3 Comments »
Monday, August 27th, 2007
This is what a retention pond should NOT look like.
Waterford Lakes is a fabulous community. I own a property in here. The Association is very good at sending notices when there’s an infraction. So, why don’t they do anything about this eye sore?
Let’s break this down…
First of all, I’m not a big fan of the chain link fence around a retention pond at the entrance of a community. If you’re going to put up a fence, at least build a nice iron one.
Second, an unmowed, weed infested ::: was that a mole cricket that just ran over my foot? ::: fungus-growing thatch of straw that someone, somewhere calls grass doesn’t really scream, “BUY IN HERE!”
This leads me to the most obvious, and most distressing, object of my wrath…an umbrella in the pond. I am not exaggerating when I say that this umbrella has been here since I bought the house almost 2 1/2 years ago. Does nobody else notice this? Is my neighbor’s patchy grass worth noting but an umbrella is easily overlooked? Granted, you don’t see the umbrella sometimes when the water’s high. It’s just a teaser, though, because as soon as the drought that’s been plaguing us returns, so does the umbrella.
All you realtors out there…you know this retention pond (or one like it)…how do you even begin to sell a house in this market when you enter a subdivision and see…THIS?
Posted in East Orlando, Orlando | 5 Comments »
Monday, August 20th, 2007
Outback recently opened a franchise in East Orlando. If you have never had their Kookaburra Wings, take advantage of the Curbside Takeaway and give them a try. You can call in our order (or order online), and then go pick the wings up 15 minutes later. They even bring the order out to your car. No waiting for a table or for your food, now just pick up the wings and take them home. Delicious!!!
Other Outback locations in Orlando include:
Image courtesy of PerryW on Flickr.
Posted in Commercial, East Orlando, Orlando | No Comments »
Saturday, August 18th, 2007
I don’t know about you but I’d never heard of this chain of pubs until I saw one being built in my Waterford Lakes neighborhood. This establishment is being built on the corner of Woodbury Road and Waterford Lakes Parkway (you know, that little back street going to the Waterford Town Center).
For months I had been wondering what this huge building was going to be. I thought maybe it was a Baby’s-R-Us or another fitness center. Finally, the anticipated “Coming Soon” sign appeared. I craned my neck as I drove by, nearly hit the guy in front of me, and read “Firkin and Kegler…something…something…pub…something… something.” What!?
So, for your reading delight, I present my research titled, “What in the World is Firkin and Kegler?”…minimal though it is. At least you don’t have to go research it, right?
Founded in 1987 by Stanley Adelson and Ian Fisher, experienced restauranteurs and South African ex-patriots, The Firkin Group of Pubs is a chain of full service restaurants modeled after the traditional neighbourhood British pub. Canada’s largest pub chain with 33 locations, the Firkin has expanded to the US with units (only 8 so far) open in locations ranging from Florida, Michigan, Virginia, New York, Illinois and Texas. Another 120 are in development and scheduled to open over the next few years.
The concept for the franchise is based on generating an inviting pub environment; combining an individual name, such as that of an animal, with Firkin - a nine-gallon wooden barrel used for storing ale; and lastly, creating individual Firkins where “Everyone’s a little different, ones just right for you.”
Each Firkin location has its own individual identity and is best known as a casual and comfortable neighbourhood establishment serving an extensive lunch and dinner menu, a brunch menu on the weekend at select locations and a late night menu. Each Firkin location offers eight different specials daily with set menu fare ranging from traditional British pub dishes such as Shepherd’s Pie and Bangers, Beans & Mash to signature items as the Firkin Steak Sandwich and Cajun Greek Salad.
The average size of a Firkin is between 2,500 – 4,500 square feet with average seating ranging from 80-100 plus bar seating. The average check is between $12 - $14 per person.
The origins of the Firkin are rooted in Toronto, Ontario, Canada where in 1986 Adelson and Fisher became franchisees of Toronto’s Empire Pubs, opening up the Fox and The Firkin. Adelson and Fisher soon purchased the location from Empire and with no copyright on the name, the Firkin Group of Pubs was established.
For more information visit www.firkinpubs.com
Posted in Commercial, East Orlando, Orlando | 15 Comments »
Friday, August 17th, 2007
Location: Lake Underhill Road and Waterford Chase Blvd.
Time: Approximately 6:00pm Monday through Friday
Those Impacted: Anyone who lives in Avalon, Timber Springs, and Waterford Chase.
Those Unfairly Impacted: Anyone who lives in Waterford Lakes past the stop sign.
State of Traffic: Backed up on Lake Underhill with the intent of turning right onto Waterford Chase
State of Mind: Irritated, borderline road rage
Events of interest: Drivers intentionally blocking the merge lane so other drivers can’t cut in line. Drivers speeding down the left turn lane to the front of the line then making a quick cut across two lanes of traffic to turn right onto Waterford Chase. A lot of tailgating.
Latest Road-Rage-Prevention Method: A stoplight! It’s been a long time coming but I’m hopeful it will alleviate the massive congestion on Lake Underhill.
This intersection and the first Stoneybrook exit onto Alafaya Trail are my two pet peeves in the Waterford area.
What are your intersection nightmares?
Posted in East Orlando, Orlando | No Comments »
Thursday, August 16th, 2007
In East Orlando, because of the sudden growth over the last 10 years, you’ll often see large well-built houses, farms or distinctive properties nestled up against suburban sprawl. When one of those larger-than-every-one-else houses comes on the market, everyone is naturally curious on both the price and how it will sell.
The property shown above, 11135 Lokanotosa Trl, Orlando, FL 32817, is being listed at just over $700,000. What it has going for it is that it’s walking distance to an elementary school and University High School. It’s near UCF and quite close to the Waterford Lakes Town Center. The problem is that it’s kind of like an ugly duckling - it’s not ugly at all, but it stick out so much from the surrounding area that it doesn’t fit in.
The home is being sold by the owner, not handled by any real estate agent.
Posted in East Orlando, Real Estate for Sale | 5 Comments »
