Take a few moments to read an article from the Orlando Business Journal regarding the newest downtown condo development

New Downtown Condo Project

- Erin Wanner

Trusted Downtown Condo Real Estate Expert

Call Erin @ 407-595-5055 for more information.

The down turn in the real estate market is still being felt almost 3 years after it’s inception. The downtown luxury condominium complex called the Star Tower has filed for bankruptcy.

The 18 story complex has less than half of it’s 100 units sold after 5 years of being on the market. The price of these condos ranged from $500K – $2mil while the market was hot. Recent 2/2 units have sold as low as in the $200K range as the effects of foreclosure set in.

If you are looking for a quiet luxury arrangement, now is your time to start your research!

Finally a tennant has moved into the retail space below the Vue on Rosalind and Robinson. The law firm of Stovash Case & Tingley are occupying the once, vacant for months, space. They moved from the main Central Business District area (previous office was in the Sun Trust Tower CBD) in to the space which is near the edge of the main business sector.

The 30+ employee law group will have rights to use the facilities of the Vue including the gymnasium,  and swimming pool.

Some nice perks if you ask me!

For those of you DT’ers who are into gogo tequitos and slurpees, your late night cravings can soon be be satisfied conveniently… Right from the heart of Church Street.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the 2800 Sq Ft retail area has just been completed downtown and a 10 year lease has been signed off on by 7 Eleven.

We should see this new store fully operational by mid/late Fall 2010 just in time for Magic basketball season.

Just checked out the theater last night and received a small slip of paper with some “unwanted” news on it. Effective on September 1, 2010, the Buy Local Orlando card will only give you the half price discount on Wednesday after 4pm. Many of us have gotten accustomed to the great 50 percent discount every day but apparently so did the rest of downtown Orlando. I always wondered how the theater made money only charging $5.50 for a flick on most days. It was clearly a marketing tactic that I know worked well till now.

There is a new management company in there(i think it’s like the 3rd one since it opened) and I am not too fond of their level of service. Lots of standing around and talking, and not much work being done. It should not take 10 minutes to get a small tub of popcorn and a drink when there is only one person in front of you. I digress.

I really like this theater so I hope the revised Buy Local plan doesn’t turn away once happy patrons(forcing it to shut down). The parking situation has already done that for a lot of folks. What do you think?

Some of the footage seen in this 7 minute interview with Chris Johnson was filmed at a downtown Orlando condo…see if you can figure out which one!

According to local sources, the 32 story high rise in the heart of downtown Orlando will be on the auction block Friday as a part of a court-ordered foreclosure auction. The developers are said to owe more than $239 Million in construction costs for he project.

55 West has been through many phases of uncertainty since it’s initial groundbreaking back in 2005. It was originally built to compete in the, at-the-time, condo boom. Since then, it was most recently announced in early 2009 that the project would become a mixed use facility that would lease out 50-70% of it’s 360+ units(for  at least for the short term).

Formal details of the auction have not been released but check back for more updates.

Downtown Darryl can be your best resource(along with this website of course!) in getting information on any of the pre-existing or new condo developments in the downtown area. I had the pleasure in meeting him a few weekends ago and took a look at some Solaire units. He is very knowledgeable, down to earth, and he will work hard to get you where you want to be. If you’re looking to buy or sell in the downtown area, this is the guy to go to…the name says it all!

You can view his website here: www.downtowndarryl.com

Here is a picture I snapped last evening and it’s looking good. The theater will feature 1,100+ leather rocker seats, 12 screens, 2 wine bars, and a full menu.

The escalators now work so you can go up and take a look at the ticket booths and the main lobby area.

6 more days until the Grand Opening!

For more information on showtimes call 407-982-5444

I snapped this picture on the way to lunch today…Looks pretty close to the drafts(see my previous posts for renderings). I am sorry it’s a blurry pic but I was moving and took it with my sub par camera phone :/

The theater opens to the public May 29th(2 weeks from today!)