Conceptual drawing of Lake Mary's SunRail station and surrounding development.
(Florida Department of Transportation / November 26, 2011)
A few cities already have developers with proposals for building near stations, while others are still drawing plans for taking advantage of the pedestrian traffic that SunRail could bring when it starts rolling in 2014.
Construction on the first 31 miles is expected to start in January. In anticipation, Orlando officials last month announced plans for a $200 million mixed-use project around the main SunRail stop at the Lynx Central Station downtown. The project by Rida Development Corp. will include a hotel, mid-rise apartment building, office space and retail on the ground level.
Although smaller cities along the rail line don't have plans as ambitious as Orlando's, they are working on creating vibrant spaces that can attract riders.
In Lake Mary, for example, developer Chris Mahnken is planning a 30,000-square-foot building across the street from the station, said the city's community development director, John Omana Jr. It will offer space for offices, shops and restaurants.
The city plans to have a kiosk in the building so that residents can pay their utility bills while waiting for the train, Omana said. It also plans to build a plaza and fountain near the entry to the station at West Lake Mary Boulevard and Palmetto Avenue.
Nearby, Epoch Properties plans to build a 200-unit luxury apartment complex. The Winter Park company built The Lofts at Uptown Altamonte, a complex in Altamonte Springs.
City officials said the developers are working on financing, but neither developer could be reached for comment last week.
In Longwood, Orange Crown Holdings plans to build a $23 million residential-commercial building next to the station, which will be across from the city's historic center at Church Avenue and Ronald Reagan Boulevard. It would have retail space on the ground floor and 200 apartments above.
Managing partner Ryan von Weller said the Orlando developer should have financing lined up within three or four months. The company also plans to build a 120-unit apartment complex for seniors two blocks north of the station. The $18 million project will be financed by the Florida Housing Finance Corp., said von Weller, who expects to have both projects completed by the time SunRail begins service.
Seeking investors
Others cities along the rail line have similar ideas but don't have anyone on board yet to build them.
In DeBary, city officials envision a mix of residential and commercial offices within walking distance of the station. The city set new land-use rules and design standards for 261 acres within a half-mile of the station at U.S. Highway 17-92 and Fort Florida Road. They're hoping for small single-family homes or condos in the area, but no developer has committed.
"Nobody wants to invest money in this economy," Mayor Bob Garcia said.
That will change, said state Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, who has been bringing together cities, counties and other agencies to promote development around the stations. Some developers put projects on the back burner after Gov. Rick Scott placed SunRail on hold last January, Simmons said.
"They believed it would not happen. … There is some catch-up to do."
To help, he's studying the possibility of legislation that would create incentives for public-private partnerships and make it easier for cities to assess special property taxes for improving nearby neighborhoods.
Station shuttles
SunRail will use existing freight tracks, and that means some stations will be away from downtown areas. Those cities face another problem: How to get SunRail passengers to and from existing business districts.
Maitland is one of those cities. Its station, proposed for north of City Hall, will be away from its business hubs, including Maitland Center, where 17,000 people work.
"If we can't get the transportation, SunRail is not going to be successful," Maitland Mayor Howard Schieferdecker said.
Altamonte Springs, whose station will be east of the Altamonte Mall, is trying to address a similar transportation challenge. It has teamed with Maitland, Longwood and Casselberry to offer an on-demand "Flexbus" with Lynx. Through a one-year grant, the Flexbus will pick up residents at home and shuttle them to rail stations. However, the cities will have to find a way to pay for the service when the grant runs out.
Sanford is looking for ways to get people from its future station, off State Road 46 and Airport Boulevard, to its downtown, where many of Seminole County's employees work. City officials also want to find a way to get passengers to visit the existing shops and restaurants in downtown and at the Seminole Towne Center. The station site is about a mile from downtown and about three miles from the mall. It's exploring the use of trolleys and shuttles.
"If we can't get the transportation, SunRail is not going to be successful," Maitland Mayor Howard Schieferdecker said.
Altamonte Springs, whose station will be east of the Altamonte Mall, is trying to address a similar transportation challenge. It has teamed with Maitland, Longwood and Casselberry to offer an on-demand "Flexbus" with Lynx. Through a one-year grant, the Flexbus will pick up residents at home and shuttle them to rail stations. However, the cities will have to find a way to pay for the service when the grant runs out.
Sanford is looking for ways to get people from its future station, off State Road 46 and Airport Boulevard, to its downtown, where many of Seminole County's employees work. City officials also want to find a way to get passengers to visit the existing shops and restaurants in downtown and at the Seminole Towne Center. The station site is about a mile from downtown and about three miles from the mall. It's exploring the use of trolleys and shuttles.
Getting on board
At least one city doesn't have to worry about how to capitalize on the influx of SunRail passengers.
SunRail will stop in the heart of Winter Park, which has an abundance of restaurants and shops on Park Avenue and at Hannibal Square.
Even so, the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce is looking at placing maps of the city at the stop to encourage people to explore the area. Volunteer "ambassadors" could welcome visitors at peak hours and provide a brief orientation on what the city has to offer, said Patrick Chapin, who heads the chamber.
Other cities need to get on board with amenities, Simmons said. Like Winter Park, he said, they need to have coffee shops and restaurants within walking distance for passengers waiting for trains.
"The trains aren't going to have facilities for even a cup of coffee," he said. "Something is going to have to be done to encourage individuals to use this system."
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9:34 p.m. EST, November 26, 2011
Copyright © 2011, Orlando Sentinel
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