ORLANDO, Fla. – City leaders are breaking ground Tuesday morning on the first phase of the Church Street Festival Project, the latest effort to revitalize one of downtown Orlando’s most historic stretches.
The 10:30 a.m. groundbreaking marks the start of construction on the section of Church Street between Garland Avenue and the railroad tracks — the first of three phases planned over the next several years.
The full project will span Church Street from Garland Avenue to Magnolia Avenue, with the goal of creating a festival-style atmosphere that prioritizes pedestrians while maintaining vehicle access.
Phase one includes repaving the road with two 11-foot travel lanes and a curbless roadway connecting to pedestrian spaces — designed to support outdoor dining, events, and local businesses. City leaders say the redesign will also reduce cut-through traffic.
David Barilla described the vision for the street: “Think large sidewalks for sidewalk cafes, think the ability to have different types of activities in the street, but also ensure that there is access to vehicles as well.”
Work on the first phase is expected to wrap up by the end of the year.
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