Dead Malls: Orlando Fashion Square

[thelakelander]

A brief virtual look at the rise and fall of Orlando's Fashion Square Mall.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/dead-malls-orlando-fashion-square/

[jaxjaguar]

The plans for this mall are a great example of what should be done with the Regency space. The same group that built Winter Park Village are behind this. It's essentially a more compact version of the St Johns Town Center. Imagine just the original walkable strip of SJTC condensed into a square with Apartments above and behind the retail.

[thelakelander]

If it materializes, it will be great for that area and fit right in with Baldwin Park. The plan is certainly applicable for Regency.

[jcjohnpaint]

Hell, it would is better than the TU site.

[jaxjaguar]

Here are some images of what's proposed. Notice all of the buildings clustered in the bottom right half of the first image between Maguire and McCullough? That's all currently surface parking. Urbon, just out of frame, was also formally mall parking. Now it's a pretty nice 4-5 story apartment complex with connection to the West Orange Bike trail that also runs through this area.

[Zac T]

What's stopped Regency from getting redeveloped like this? Is the demolition cost too high or the owner just not interested? It's in one of the most populated areas of the city and has a high profile location with tons of traffic. It amazes me that it's sat dead like this for so long

In my fantasy world, Jax would get awarded a Major League soccer franchise and they'd build a state of the art soccer-stadium at Regency

[jaxjaguar]

What's stopped Regency from getting redeveloped like this? Is the demolition cost too high or the owner just not interested? It's in one of the most populated areas of the city and has a high profile location with tons of traffic. It amazes me that it's sat dead like this for so long

In my fantasy world, Jax would get awarded a Major League soccer franchise and they'd build a state of the art soccer-stadium at Regency

Maybe we should ask the owner of they're willing to turn it into surface parking with some public funding. It's worked downtown so time to spread it into the suburbs! Lol

On a serious note, it would be cool if they did something similar to Baldwin Park in Orlando. Put in some large public green space in the middle where the mall is and surround it with townhomes, condos, affordable apartments and tree lined walking paths. It would beatify the area a bit and add further support for all of the businesses in that area. Duval needs some modern nature filled development to draw people back from St Johns. This massive plot of land is a good chance to do that.