Pine Hills Community provides Views on Area Redevelopment

During the month of August, citizens and businesses in the Pine Hills community would have an opportunity to provide input into a new initiative, “Pine Hills on the Rise”, which is being implemented by the Pine Hills Business Redevelopment Task Force and Orange County’s Neighborhood Services Division.

Established in September 2009 by the Board of County Commissioners, the Pine Hills Business and Redevelopment Task Force is made up of 13 Pine Hills residents and business owners, and aims to develop pedestrian-friendly strategies to revitalize Pine Hills commercial areas.

Consistent with a previous completed report entitled, “Pine Hills Land Analysis & Strategic Plan”, the Task Force will focus its efforts on redevelopment of several commercial corridors of Pine Hills.  They are:

• West Colonial Drive (between Pine Hills and Hiawassee)

• Pine Hills Road (between Silver Star and W. Colonial)

• Silver Star Road (between Pine Hills and Hiawassee)

Now citizens and businesses of Pine Hills have an opportunity to offer their views and inputs into how to re-develop the area.    That process began with the launch of the “Pine Hills on the Rise” initiative implemented by the Task Force and Orange County Neighborhood Services Division on July 22.

More than 100 residents of the Pine Hills community participated in more than an hour long meeting where they were informed of the various efforts to reinvigorate several commercial corridors in Pine Hills.

JaJa Wade, Chairman of the Task Force informed that the economic and social situation is beginning to turn around.

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office overall crime is down 19 percent from one year ago, and violent crime, in particular, has declined by 31 percent.  Meanwhile, the Orlando Regional Regional Realtor Association data show that homes in the Pine Hills are are selling just as well or better than home in areas such as Hunter’s Creek and Waterford Lakes.  Also, there are reports that academic performance of schools is improving largely due to the $75 million reconstruction project of Evans High School.

The attendees engaged in a visioning exercise in order to reach consensus on several of the key issues for the Pine Hills area.  These are:

• How to create jobs and encourage businesses to locate in the area

• Enhanced crime prevention and safety initiatives

• Increased beautification and greater code Enforcement

• Creation of a redevelopment organization

During the month of August, citizens and businesses will have an opportunity to provide input on the project by completing surveys and attending focus groups.
For more information, please call Neighborhood Services at 407-836-5621.

Members of the Pine Hills Business Redevelopment Task Force are:

Chairman: JaJa Wade, ACE Construction Management

Members:

Barbara Anderson, Orlo Vista United
Michael Arrington, ACY Contractors
Allie Braswell, Central Florida Urban League
Ken Dwyer, Pine Hills Community Council
Susan Fortini, FASTSIGNS
Pinkie Freeman, Pine Hills Resident
Tim Haberkamp, Hardees
Anderson Hill, HZ Construction, Inc.
Capt. Dave Ogden, Orange County Sheriff’s Office
Gwen Parrish, Pine Hills Safe Neighborhood Partnership
Rev. Henry Postell, Postell Mortuary
Julie Salvo, Orange County Public Schools