ROSEMONT, Fla. \u2014 City leaders on Wednesday broke ground on what officials describe as one of the largest redevelopment projects ever planned for Orlando\u2019s Rosemont neighborhood.<\/p>\n
The development, known as RoseArts District, is a $1-2 billion mixed-use project that will transform the former Lake Orlando Golf and Country Club into a community featuring thousands of apartments, retail space, educational facilities and other amenities.<\/p>\n
Phase One of the project will include approximately 1,600 apartment units, retail space and a charter school. When fully built out, the development is expected to feature about 5,600 apartment units.<\/p>\n
The project site sits on the former golf course property, which closed in 2014. Developers purchased the land, and the Orlando City Council approved redevelopment plans in 2021.<\/p>\n
The proposal previously raised concerns among some Rosemont residents, particularly about the potential impact a development of that size could have on traffic in the area.<\/p>\n
Developers say they have incorporated plans to address those concerns in-house.<\/p>\n
\u201cRoseArts is building its own road to facilitate and accommodate the traffic that may arise from the new development,\u201d said Jakub Hejl, chairman of Westside Capital Group. \u201cNot only are we accommodating our own needs, but we may actually be improving the situation on the roads that already exist here because we\u2019re not relying on the roads that are here.\u201d<\/p>\n
We asked the mayor about concerns about the demand for housing. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt is in the urban core. We\u2019re 10 minutes from downtown Orlando. It\u2019s not 90 minutes from your job,\u201d Dyer said. \u201cSo I think this is a really great opportunity for good housing in a good location.\u201d<\/p>\n
Construction on the first phase is expected to begin soon. Developers estimate it will take between three and five years to complete.<\/p>\n
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