The proposed $100 million Orlando Magic Sports and Entertainment Complex, on land north of the new Amway Center, should come as no surprise, if the project is agreed to by the Orlando City Council.
On Thursday, Mayor Buddy Dyer said, while the Orlando Magic Sports and Entertainment Complex is still very much a concept, plans for Parramore’s redevelopment and other Downtown locations have been in the works for about six to seven years now. He added that when the City entered into the Interlocal Agreement with the County in 2007, when the Amway Center was being conceptualized, so too was the area north of it.
“As part of that process (Amway Center development), there was discussion of how the block north of the Amway Center would eventually be incorporated into the redeveloped Amway Center,” Dyer said. “Hence you have the big glass atrium, the overlook of the Gentleman Jack Terrace and you have a total connection with the street outside.”
Dyer said, while over the years, several investors have looked at possibly investing in the Parramore area, none stepped forward except the Orlando Magic.
“There was really nobody willing to do anything over there,” he said. “…And the Magic to their credit continued talking about that block.” Dyer said about six weeks ago, Magic owners came offering to invest $100 million in the Parramore community, asking how best might this be done.
Commissioner Daisy Lynum, District 5, and representative for the area, when asked for her reaction to the proposed Orlando Magic Sports and Entertainment complex, lamented she had only heard about it two weeks ago, differing with Dyer. She added that the Black community does not own anything in the area anymore, as they have consistently sold their property to whites, who in turn develop the land.
According to Dyer, the Orlando Magic are committing between $2 to $3 million to undertake a feasibility study for the area and if the proposal is acceptable to the City, they would be given the option to purchase the land at fair market value.
There are certain criteria that would have to be met during the planning process for re-development of the area, Dyer said. These included, replication of the existing parking that exists, ensuring the current tenants who occupy existing buildings are taken care of, and an open and transparent process, which engages all stakeholders in Parramore, must be followed.
Dyer said he had talked with eight tenants who currently have businesses in the area and most were “pretty excited about the potential opportunity.” He added that, if the project moves ahead, the Magic will bring their corporate headquarters with 250 jobs, thus further revitalizing the area, 365 days instead of just 130 days on game nights.
Asked if there are any concerns that rents might be unaffordable once the area is re-developed for most of these African-American businesses, Dyer said, he was sure there will be discussions about rental subsidies for some period of time. He added though, he couldn’t exactly say how it would actually be worked out.
“We have already invested a substantial amount over the last couple of years, making sure they (existing tenants) were able to sustain themselves during the period of the Amway Center construction,” he said. “We have a lot invested in them already, trying to help those tenants be successful and we will not abandon them at this point.”
