PROJECT DTO: ADVANCING DOWNTOWN ORLANDO

City of Orlando, FL

Renaissance led the award-winning Project DTO, a visioning process that created a 10-year Vision Plan for Downtown Orlando, accompanied by a Community Redevelopment Agency Plan update and Strategic Marketing Plan. To develop the Vision Plan, the City embraced a stakeholder-driven initiative and created a task force supported by people with a collective passion for downtown Orlando. Stakeholders were broken down into nine committees that covered topic areas such as economic development, urban lifestyle, open space and amenities, sustainability, arts and culture, and social fabric. Committees created Findings of Need reports that provided both a bold future and enhanced quality of life for residents, businesses and visitors. To preserve the character of neighborhoods and amplify accessibility and mobility, the concept of a well-connected transportation network that puts people first became a key element of all committees. Big ideas included promoting balanced use of all transportation modes - not only transit, but bike and pedestrian amenities through street and green networks; activating the street level of blocks and pedestrian realm both day and night; and creating mixed-use development nodes that connect people from home and work to shopping, entertainment, arts and business.

The Vision Plan is accompanied by a Community Redevelopment Agency Plan update and development of a Marketing Plan and branding strategy. The process entailed more than 100 appointed task force and advisory committee members comprised of downtown stakeholders, focusing on nine distinct topic areas ranging from arts & culture to transportation, economic competitiveness and social fabric.

The new CRA Plan Update and Vision Plan will be used to build upon recent accomplishments like SunRail commuter rail service, opening of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, construction of the new Amway Center, renovation of the Citrus Bowl, and groundbreaking on construction of a new Major League Soccer stadium in Downtown guide public and private investments through 2042. The plan is being developed in complementary fashion with the Parramore Neighborhood Comprehensive Plan, focusing on public health and revitalization of an historic African American community. The City adopted the CRA Plan in May 2015.

In 2015, Renaissance and its team won an APA Florida Award of Excellence in the Best Practices Category for Project DTO – Advancing Downtown Orlando. In addition to the Vision Plan, the city’s Parramore Neighborhood Comprehensive Plan also received an Award of Excellence in the Neighborhood Planning Category by the Florida APA.