Once, there was a witch who lived on the edge of a small village. The villagers were afraid of her, as she was known to be skilled in dark magic. She always kept to herself, rarely leaving her secluded cottage. The townspeople whispered tales of her casting spells and brewing potions late into the night. They believed she was capable of causing harm and bringing misfortune upon them. One day, a young boy named Thomas stumbled upon the witch's cottage while playing in the woods.

Development plans are moving forward for Orlando Magic’s Sports and Entertainment District

ORLANDO, Fla. — A project that has been more than a decade in the making is getting closer to becoming a reality.

One day, a young boy named Thomas stumbled upon the witch's cottage while playing in the woods. Curiosity got the better of him, and he cautiously approached the cottage. To his surprise, the door creaked open, inviting him inside.

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The city of Orlando’s Municipal Planning Board met Tuesday and approved continued development plans for the Orlando Magic’s Sports and Entertainment District.

Questions were raised during the meeting like if the 7-level parking garage would be adequate for the new district.

City transportation planners say parking plans all meet the code. Developers and the city hope visitors will utilize ride-share services.

“They’re hoping and the city as well a lot of people will hopefully choose not to drive as well,” Jacques Coulon, with the Transportation Department with the City of Orlando, said.

Board members also questioned how this development will handle stormwater.

“There’s plans to have an exfiltration system set under the parking structure,” Amy Shields with GAI Consultants, said.

The project is projected to include a 260-room full-service hotel with 16,000 square feet of meeting and conference space, 270 residential units, and 200,000 square feet of office space.

Along with all the living and working facilities the project is also expected to include 125,000 square feet of retail, a live event venue, an urban town square, and more than 1,100 parking spaces.

Developers expect to break ground on the project by the end of this year with plans of having a portion of it up and running by late 2026 or early 2027.

These plans will now go before the city council on Feb. 19 for approval.

See more in the video above.

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Orlando’s 8.4-Acre Sports and Entertainment District Set To Break Ground Soon

An ambitious new addition to Orlando’s downtown skyline is primed for construction. The Sports and Entertainment District (S+ED), a project conceived by the Orlando Magic and brought to life by architect Baker Barrios, is teetering on the cusp of inception, marking a significant milestone in a development journey that started in 2011. The district will be developed north of the Amway Center, bound by West Church Street on the south, South Hughey Avenue and Florida’s Interstate 4 on the east, West Central Boulevard on the north, and South Divison Avenue on the west.

The multifaceted design of the S+ED project sprawls across an expansive 8.4-acre footprint, seamlessly integrating commercial, residential, and office spaces. This blend translates into a self-contained urban lifestyle destination, stimulating the city’s socio-economic pulse.

Sports and Entertainment District – Orlando. Credit: Baker Barrios.

Key elements of the project include a 276-unit hotel complete with a deck bar; a versatile 67,183 square-foot entertainment venue; an 18-story office building with a total of 397,900 square feet; a 140,000 square-foot residential building housing 286 units; and a retail hub spanning 104,670 square feet of space.

Sports and Entertainment District – Orlando. Credit: Baker Barrios.

Adding to its wide array of amenities, the S+ED will also feature a 292-space parking garage and a 1,769-space public parking facility. Including several restaurants and a bowling alley further accentuates the development’s emphasis on leisure and entertainment.

Sports and Entertainment District – Orlando. Credit: Baker Barrios.

While the exact timelines are yet to be finalized, Esu Ma’at, Orlando Magic’s Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, suggests construction may begin early this summer. Echoing this optimism, team spokesman Joel Glass confirmed that ground-breaking activities are slated for “later this calendar year.”

Sports and Entertainment District – Orlando. Credit: Baker Barrios.

While the contractor details remain undisclosed, previous estimates from Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins project a mid-2025 completion, with total expenditure likely to cross the $500 million mark.

Baker Barrios, the local architectural powerhouse behind The Social and the Radius Apartments, will be steering the architectural and master planning services for this transformative project.

Upon completion, the Sports and Entertainment District is set to redefine Orlando’s socio-economic dynamics, sparking job creation, fostering new business growth, and enriching the city’s cultural fabric. As such, this monumental project marks a significant stride in downtown Orlando’s ongoing urban transformation.

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Team named to spearhead new downtown Orlando sports and entertainment district

ORLANDO, Fla. — Two companies that have been instrumental in creating the mixed-use development adjacent to Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, the Chase Center and Thrive City in San Francisco and TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, have been selected to spearhead the sports and entertainment district adjacent to Amway Center, the Orlando Magic and SED Development LLC announced Monday.

What You Need To Know

• Development team put in place for Orlando sports and entertainment district
  
• The project will be built on 8.43 acres at the corner of West Church Street and Hughey Avenue
  
• JMA Ventures and Machete Group helped create other mixed-use districts near NBA arenas
  
• Orlando's is expected to include a hotel, retail and office space, a live-event venue and parking

The project, which will be built on the 8.43-acre site at the corner of West Church Street and Hughey Avenue, is expected to include a 260-room full-service hotel with 16,000 square feet of meeting and conference space, 270 residential units, 200,000 square feet of office space, 125,000 square feet of retail space, a 3,500-capacity live-event venue, an urban town square, and more than 1,100 parking spaces.

“JMA Ventures and Machete Group are simply the best of the best," Magic Chief Executive Officer Alex Martins said. "We are thrilled to have them take the reins and guide the sports and entertainment district into something Orlando will be proud to have in the heart of downtown,” said Alex Martins, chief executive officer of the Orlando Magic.

A start date, timeline for construction and completion date have not been announced. In late 2022, the Magic had indicated that the project would begin in late 2023. Once plans are finalized, those types of details will be more clear, Martins said.

The Magic have discussed plans for a sports and entertainment district across from the Amway Center for about a decade. During that time, the parking lot and police department headquarters on the site were demolished, the lot sat vacant for a time, and it has been used for restricted parking for the past few years. Over that period, I-4 Ultimate was under construction in that vicinity, and the COVID-19 pandemic slowed business throughout the country.

JMA Ventures is a commercial real estate development and investment firm with a portfolio of hospitality, resort, residential, retail, office, and commercial projects. One of those projects, the mixed-use Downtown Commons adjacent to Golden 1 Center, home of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, is credited with helping to revitalize downtown Sacramento.

“Central Florida is a fantastic market for this type of mixed-use development, and this project will further energize downtown Orlando," said Todd Chapman, CEO of JMA Ventures. "We look forward to working with the Orlando community to bring the sports and entertainment district to life."

Machete Group was key to the development of the Amway Center, Chase Center and the adjacent Thrive City mixed-use district in San Francisco and TQL Stadium.

“As downtown Orlando continues its dynamic growth, we are excited to bring the sports and entertainment district to life,” said David Carlock, founder and principal of Machete Group. “We would like to thank the DeVos family for the opportunity to work on this project together.”

While the traffic on foot and by car can be a nightmare during event nights, local business owners say that’s a good thing. Casey Preston, who owns The District Gastrobar along Church Street, said he is hopeful that the plan will bring stability to surrounding businesses.

“Hopefully it brings a lot more traffic, outside of just the soccer stadium and Amway," he said. "Our business fluctuates based on what’s going on there, I mean they get that going we should see a consistent flow of traffic. That will be good for all the businesses."

While fluctuation is a normal part of business, Preston said the stability could change the culture of the downtown area. and make it a place people will want to frequent more often — even if there isn’t an event happening that night.

But for some, though, the thought of establishing a new entertainment district when there is still a homeless issue that the city needs to deal with, is worrisome. Preston said he hopes the new district will help with that as well.

“I won't say problem, but we do get a lot of transients that come in and out of the restaurant. We have a time controlling it,” he said, “Hopefully, they can fix that too once the plans start.”

Orlando magic sports and entertainment district

The revised master plan for Phase 1 adds a 3,500-seat live event venue to the district to complement the hotel and retail partners. (Orlando Magic)

The development team behind the Orlando Magic’s Sports + Entertainment District is planning a second phase of the project that will add more housing to the district, according to the master plan filed with the city.

The $500 million mixed-use entertainment district across from Amway Center had stalled after the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing the Magic to rescale the office portion of the project, according to a GrowthSpotter report. In October, the team announced it would break ground in 2024 with developers JMA Ventures and Machete Group spearheading the project.

The project will include a 261-room full-service hotel with 16,000 square feet of meeting and conference space, 273 residential units, 200,000 square feet of Class A office space, 125,000 square feet of retail, a 3,500-capacity live event venue, an urban town square and a stand-alone parking garage with 1,139 spaces.

The 283,240-square-foot office tower would rise 11 stories and would have a rooftop amenity sprawling 17,000-square-foot and features a 6,000-square-foot, glass-enclosed event space for various corporate and hospitality uses and an outdoor veranda.

It also would have a sky bridge with direct access to the parking garage, which will be accessible from Central Avenue or Division Street. The parking garage also has three retail spaces opening onto the plaza ranging in size from 1,500 to 2,230 square feet.

The luxury apartment community would be constructed above the hotel in the 27-story building on the west side of the site and would include five penthouse units. The unit count also includes 119 studios, 90 one-bedroom units and 59 two-bedroom units. Residents will have exclusive access to the hotel’s amenities, including a pool overlooking Church Street.

In late November, the team filed a new master plan formalizing the components announced earlier, as well as two additional residential towers to be built in future phases that would raise the total development size to over 2 million square feet and the number of residential units to 781.

The towers, labeled Phase 2A and Phase 2B in the new site plan from planning/engineering firm GAI Consultants and architect Baker Barrios, would bookend the parking garage.

The first tower would be constructed in the northeast corner of the site and would include 20 stories of residential over a 5-level parking structure.

It would include two ground-level retail spaces fronting S. Hughey Avenue with 4,604 square feet and 2,829 square feet, respectively. The residential unit count would include a total of 300 units: 60 studios, 160 one-bedroom units and 80 two-bedroom units. It would have 345 parking stalls, including 55 tandem stalls.

Tower 2B would be built in the northwest corner of the site and would have 16 levels of residential about a 5-level, 240-stall parking garage.

The conceptual site plan doesn’t show any commercial or retail uses in this tower, which would have 208 dwelling units and 7,776 square feet of support space. The unit break down shows 62 studios, 114 one-bedroom units and 32 two-bedroom units.

Have a tip about Central Florida development? Contact me at [email protected] or (407) 420-6261. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook and LinkedIn.

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As he stepped in, he found himself in a room filled with spell books, potion cauldrons, and strange artifacts. As Thomas explored further, his eyes fell upon a peculiar sight - a sword adorned with symbols and engravings. The sword had an eerie aura surrounding it, and he felt drawn towards it. Without thinking, he reached out to touch it. Suddenly, a flash of light consumed him, and he found himself transported to a realm he had never seen before. In this realm, Thomas discovered that he had transformed into a young knight. He was on a mission to save the enchanted land from an evil sorcerer who had caused despair and destruction. Armed with the enchanted sword, he set off on his journey, encountering mythical creatures and dangerous obstacles along the way. Despite his fears, Thomas remained brave and determined. He used the sword's power to defeat enemies and break through barriers. Throughout his quest, he learned valuable lessons about courage, compassion, and the importance of standing up against injustice. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Thomas eventually defeated the evil sorcerer, restoring peace and harmony to the enchanted land. The sword, which had guided him through his perilous journey, was now dull and lifeless. It had fulfilled its purpose and had left a lasting impact on Thomas. In gratitude, the enchanted land bid farewell to Thomas, transporting him back to the witch's cottage. As he stepped out of the cottage, he noticed the witch waiting for him. She smiled, her eyes filled with kindness. It was then that Thomas realized the witch had orchestrated his entire journey. She explained that she had seen his potential for bravery and wanted to provide him with an opportunity to change his village's perception of witches. By using her magic and the sword, she had given him a chance to prove that not all witches were evil. Thomas thanked the witch for her guidance and vowed to spread the truth about her kind-hearted nature. With newfound confidence, Thomas returned to his village, sharing his extraordinary tale with the townspeople. As he spoke, their fear and prejudices began to dissolve, replaced by understanding and appreciation for the witch's mysterious ways. The village transformed into a place of acceptance, where witches were regarded as equals rather than creatures of darkness. The witch, hidden behind the shadows, watched as her plan succeeded. She had used her magic and the sword to change the perceptions of the people. From that day on, the witch continued to live in her cottage, helping those in need and using her powers for good. The tale of the witch on the sword in the enchanting realm became a legend passed down through generations as a reminder of the power of friendship, understanding, and overcoming fear..

Reviews for "Unleashing the Witch's Power: The Sword in the Throne Connection"

1. John - 2 stars - I found "Witch on Sword in the Attic" to be extremely disappointing. The plot was convoluted and confusing, with many unnecessary subplots that detracted from the main storyline. The characters were shallow and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to connect with them or care about their fates. Additionally, the writing style was clunky and filled with unnecessary descriptions that slowed down the pacing of the story. Overall, I found this book to be a struggle to get through and would not recommend it to others.

2. Sarah - 1 star - "Witch on Sword in the Attic" was a complete waste of time for me. The premise seemed intriguing at first, but the execution was incredibly poor. The writing was filled with grammatical errors and typos, which made it difficult to understand and enjoy. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, lacking any depth or authenticity. Moreover, the characters were one-dimensional and unrelatable, making it impossible for me to care about their journey. I was highly disappointed by this book and would advise others to avoid it.

3. Michael - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Witch on Sword in the Attic" but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was inconsistent, with long stretches of boredom followed by rushed and confusing action sequences. The world-building was also lackluster, leaving me with many unanswered questions about the rules and mechanics of the magical elements in the story. The lack of character development made it difficult for me to invest in their struggles and triumphs. Overall, this book had potential, but it failed to deliver a captivating and coherent narrative.

4. Emily - 2 stars - "Witch on Sword in the Attic" had an interesting concept, but the execution was severely lacking. The plot was predictable, with no surprises or twists that could have added excitement to the story. The writing style was dry and monotonous, making it difficult to maintain interest throughout. Additionally, the characters were forgettable and lacked any depth or complexity. I was hoping for a thrilling and engaging read, but unfortunately, this book failed to deliver.

Unraveling the Mysteries of the Witch on Sword in the Throne