| Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida |
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| Wednesday, 02 January 2008 | |
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You don't have to be the size of San Francisco or be as dense as New York to support a vibrant urban scene. Winter Park, an Orlando suburb, has mastered the art of creating a vibrant walkable street in the heart of an urban area known for highways, parking lots, and retail strip centers.
Park Avenue, Downtown Winter Park Since 1887, Park Avenue has welcomed winter-weary visitors. A canopy of century old oaks, quaint brick streets and thousands of acres of lakes provide the distinctive backdrop for Park Avenue's casually elegant offerings. Strolling "The Avenue" is a dynamic experience that is both exciting and relaxing. Bordered by a shady park that plays host to concerts and art festivals, Park Avenue is home to one-of-a-kind boutiques and well known shops, sidewalk cafes and world class restaurants, as well as world renowned art collections in the area's museums. Downtown Winter Park's charm is magnified in the truly unique details: hidden gardens and side streets that are home to unique stores, a farmer's market that attracts both locals and visitors alike each Saturday morning, festive parades that mark the seasons and the scenic boat tour that cruises the canals between the City's lakes overlooking the area's most prestigious homes. Often called "Little Europe", Park Avenue in Downtown Winter Park is a year round destination that is sure to charm visitors of all ages.
For more information: http://www.parkave-winterpark.com/ Can something like this sprout up in Jacksonville's urban core? What will it take to lay the foundation? |
January 2, 2008, 8:51 am
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
You don't have to be an Agent Spalko to figure out that demand and the free market creates and supports a scene like Winter Park and not tax incentives, bus routes and skyways to nowhere. I know the citizens of Travis County, TX are not happy with the tax breaks and subsidies that the tenants at Simon's The Domain get; however, the people are out in droves to the development. It'd be interesting to find out if the Winter Park retail stores get any tax breaks.
January 2, 2008, 8:55 am
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park's retail scene is all market rate.
January 2, 2008, 10:03 am
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
That is certainly a beautiful part of this state. There is a cycling race that takes place not to far from there and I have been there on a few occasions and got to walk through this town.
As far as if this could happen in Jax, I think it already is. 1661 Riverside is the first I've seen of this here and it appears to be doing quite well. Now, I think there is a definite need for more of its kind. Unfortunately, it appears that the majority of this kind of building is reserved for the less developed (speaking of existing versus non-existing buildings) areas of our city like Southside (i.e. Towncenter). I believe we're on the right track though with The Library and getting in some more well-known national ~gulp~ chains into the downtown area. That's very hard for me to say btw...having a not-so-positive opinion of the commercialization of our small towns, but that's another story.
To truly have something like Winter Park, we'd have to virtually level many of the buildings we have in our downtown area and start over. I think we're doing the better thing and repurposing what we already have. The lofts with the business space below are already in use downtown, and with the exception of the walkability factor, like I said, I think we're moving in the right direction.
January 2, 2008, 10:33 am
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
One thing that makes Winter Park special is that the buildings aren't completely new. Instead, there's a mix of old and new, just as what exists in Five Points with the older commercial strip and developments like 1661 Riverside and the Publix retail strip.
In downtown, this can happen along streets like Adams, Laura, Bay and Forsyth because there's pedestrian friendly building fabric already in place. What's needed to truly kick them off is infill development replacing the surface parking lots that currently rip apart the core, which is what you just hit on.
January 2, 2008, 11:32 am
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
I agree. Winter Park is special. It's a destination or day trip for the people in Orlando and a side trip, for the people who know about it, on their way to Orlando. To bad Jacksonville can't produce a downtown people would want to stop by for a visit on their travel down I95 or on I10.
January 2, 2008, 11:59 am
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
This is a question for Lakelander.
Have you seen the Winter Park Village, the former Winter Park Mall?
I personally haven't seen it, but from what I have read the architecture is disappointing. I have seen pictures on the internet and it looks okay. But I really liked the idea of transforming the old Dillards store into housing and eliminating surface parking lots. I just thought you might have some insight.
January 2, 2008, 12:49 pm
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
Yes, I've been there a few times. There's still a large amount of surface parking, but its essentially the same thing SJTC is, just on a smaller level. The old Dillards now has a Cheesecake Factory and a few retail shops at street level and apartments above. To me the architecture is what you would see with most Floridian strip mall developments. Its not award winning architectural design, but the redevelopment of the old mall into a successful lifestyle center is something that has breathed life into what had become an aging commercial corridor.
site aerial
project profile
http://www.castoinfo.com/lifestyle/case-study.html
http://www.castolp.com/lifestyle/profile.cfm?proID=8
Site Plan
http://www.castolp.com/files/ProjectDownload/WPV%20site%20plan%203-6-07367715.pdf
January 2, 2008, 12:55 pm
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
This image captures a piece of the old Dillards building.
January 2, 2008, 1:52 pm
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
Thanks for the info. In the mid eighties I worked for Ivey's Department store and worked in that store several times. I was in the DT Jax store in visual merchandising and when other stores needed help, they would often send me. At the time the Winter Park and Regency stores were the two best Ivey's stores in Florida. I'm not sure if they ever remodeled that store when it was Ivey's but it was very outdated.
January 2, 2008, 4:09 pm
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
In downtown, this can happen along streets like Adams, Laura, Bay and Forsyth because there's pedestrian friendly building fabric already in place. What's needed to truly kick them off is infill development replacing the surface parking lots that currently rip apart the core, which is what you just hit on.
Whoo hoo! Down with parking lots, up with multi-use in-fill...and lots and lots of bike lockers:-D
January 3, 2008, 7:49 am
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
I've been many times to Winter Park on business and watched the changes. There was investment by the local government in creating walkable sidewalks, traffic calming, rezoning for multi-use stores, on-sidewalk cafes, etc. You can't help but want to walk over and look in the store windows and be enticed inside.
Jax has done a few of these things but not in a coordinated way. Downtown Jax used to be very walkable. It started to change in the late 1960s and 1970s. Jax is one of the most unfriendly towns for small business in the state. The small shops with interesting window displays to attract shoppers don't exist in Jax downtown. There is nothing friendly in the scale of most downtown business. Sure there are lots of towering office buildings. So what. That doesn't make for a viable business sector in downtown. Someone on this forum talked about the damage done by DVI to businesses. That is the truth. Jax leaders need to quit sneering at small business owners and spend more time listening to them and helping out. Small business owners need to unite and become a force for change.
January 4, 2008, 1:06 am
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
For a long time, I've thought of downtown Winter Park as the model of what all downtown's in Florida should be striving for.
All the elements for a walkable, vibrant, and livable environment are established. This is a very good city to bring attention to.
No doubt, Winter Park's downtown is uniquely situated. Park Ave starts at the southend with a beautiful, private college campus and the bricked portion ends about 1 1/2 miles to the north in a country club. The lakes that surround downtown are flanked by million dollar homes. Many of the lakes themselves are connected by tree-canopied canals with boathouses along the way. This place is great! I'd highly recommend anyone to visit and also take the (unofficial)nice homes tour along Palmer and Alabama north of Downtown off Park Ave.
January 5, 2008, 12:33 am
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
January 6, 2008, 10:35 am
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
Beautiful photos. Thanks so much. Can't help but notice the natural area which has been improved for park appearance, the cars parked both sides of the street, the kids and parents on the sidewalks, the windows showing Christmas merchandise, the beautiful landscaping, brick planters as benches. Yep, Winter Park is very upscale- no trash in the gutters, graffiti, drunks on the sidewalks. But still, we could do more. Right? Sigh.
January 6, 2008, 10:49 am
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
lindab: what would you suggest we do?
January 6, 2008, 11:09 am
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
by "we" do you mean the city administration, downtown merchants; "we" as citizens, private developers, political leaders?
Not trying to be cagey but feel we all have some role to play.
January 6, 2008, 11:17 am
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
great so what wouild you do? Say it
January 6, 2008, 7:45 pm
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
Hire the homeless that want to work, offer several steps including "day money" and a complete rehab program for those that want out. Use City issued tickets for pay, tickets that could be exchanged for better meals, room and uniforms. Bonus "tickets" for citizen compliments, directions etc..., Pay by the pound for litter turned in, dirt swept up, or paint crews. The list and chances are endless. Perhaps even a center for improved living with school connections and JOB interviews.
J Just enroll in the program
A Always welcome
C Change your life
K Keep yourself clean
S Shelter and food provided
O Overcome hardships
N Nice work
V Vision for your future
I Incredible opportunity
L Learn to love Life Again
L Live
E Enter the workforce again
Ocklawaha
January 6, 2008, 11:45 pm
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
Great acronym!!!!Great idea!!!!!
January 6, 2008, 11:58 pm
Re: Elements of Urbanism: Winter Park, Florida
One interesting and important note about Winter Park, is that Rollins college(est. 1920s), the Country Club, the Park, and many of the structures were there before Disney World was even thought of. This place was not contrived and created from a mold. Similar to most of Jax(from what I know). This fact is contrary to most folks perception about plastic Central Florida also it makes the place more special than say, Celebration(not that Celebration is bad, just lacking uniqueness and history). Back to Jax, it's got plenty of history and old structures. Therefore, lots of potential Park ave type places.
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