Adaptive Reuse: Orlando's Church Street Station
What happens when city after city makes the same expensive mistake in their quest to revitalize downtown? Here's a look at how another failed 1980s urban retail marketplace was converted into a new use: Orlando's Church Street Station.
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The exterior of the Church Street Exchange Building. The Exchange was originally constructed during the 1980s as a three-story, 87,000 square foot festival marketplace.
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The north mall entrance to the former Church Street Exchange festival marketplace.
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In 2014, Church Street Exchange’s former mall became a popular location for start-up technology companies such as Opendoor.
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The interior of the Church Street Exchange building.
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StarterStudio is a popular co-working community operating in former retail spaces inside of the Church Street Exchange building.
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The interior of the Church Street Exchange building.
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Dallas-based Lincoln Property Company is in the process of building an $81 million, 26-story mixed-use tower called Tremont Plaza adjacent to Church Street Station.
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In 2018, the historic Church Street Train Depot was acquired by developers Rob and Joe Nunziata. The property could be converted into a food hall.
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In 2018, developers Robert Yeager and Digvijay Gaekwad purchased the northern piece of Church Street Station for $14.2 million. This acquisition includes a retail building occupied by Lion’s Pride Soccer Pub & Grille and Cevíche Tapas Bar & Restaurant.
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In 2014, the Florida Department of Transportation began operating the SunRail commuter rail system in the Orlando metropolitan area. Church Street Station is home to one of two Downtown Orlando rail stations, creating a transit oriented development atmosphere for the property.
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In 2017, Dallas-based Lincoln Property Company purchased the southern piece of Church Street Station for $5.5 million. Lincoln plans to incorporate the property into their Tremont Plaza mixed-use tower project.
Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com