An Ivanhoe Village property with two of the popular district’s more distinct buildings may soon be redeveloped.
Plans have been filed with the city of Orlando to redevelop the 1.3-acre property at 1155 N. Orange Ave., which has long been home to Lightstyles of Orlando, a home lighting and ceiling fan shop, as well as office furniture store Workscapes.
In place of the two retail buildings would rise a 14-story tower with 252 apartments, 7,864 square feet of ground-floor retail and associated parking, according to a master plan request filed with the city.
The property is directly across North Orange Avenue from Lake Ivanhoe and its park and walking trail, with train tracks for the Central Florida Rail Corridor directly behind it.
Why this matters: New infill apartment developments are important for economic dynamism in Orlando’s downtown neighborhoods. In the short term, they create opportunities for contractors and vendors during their construction — as well as add housing inventory amid the region’s housing shortage.
In the long term, the added density created by infill apartments can help build the consumer base for downtown-area shops and restaurants to remain vibrant.
