Construction works on the long-awaited complex near Orlando Airport, dubbed Lee Vista Promenade, restarted just a few days ago, after the project has been abandoned for about six years. Beachwood, Ohio-based DDR corp. broke ground on December 5 and it was confirmed by a spokesman of the company. The development plan for the $51 million retail center was approved by the authorities of the city of Orlando in September.
The 259,461-square-foot complex is situated just north of the airport in the La Vista neighborhood, at 5918 Lee Vista Blvd. The complex is set to feature a 51,116-square-foot, 1,425-seat Epic Theaters cinema, along with seven restaurants and a 28,000-square-foot grocery store. The project will no longer include a Super Target store, as Minneapolis-based Target corp. sold the site back to the developer.
Target corp. bought the 14.5-acre vacant site on Hazeltine National Drive and South Semoran Boulevard in 2007 with plans to build a Super Target store. After they had started construction works on their project, they were forced to halt work in 2008 and later in 2011 the lot was sold to DDR corp. for $4.1 million.
The revamped Lee Vista Promenade, formerly known as The Current, is estimated to create more than 500 temporary construction jobs and 300 permanent jobs, according to the documents submitted to the city. As the complex is situated in the area near the airport, it will inevitably impact on the local economy and boost the area’s $50 billion tourism industry, as it would bring more retail and restaurants.