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Orlando plans major redevelopment beneath I-4 in downtown
City leaders in Orlando plan to begin construction this summer on a major redevelopment project beneath Interstate 4 that officials say could reshape downtown.
ORLANDO, Fla. - City leaders in Orlando plan to begin construction this summer on a major redevelopment project beneath Interstate 4 that officials say could reshape downtown.
The project, known as The Canopy, will transform about 10 acres beneath the I-4 corridor between Washington and Church streets.
The backstory:
Construction is expected to last 18 to 20 months, with completion projected in 2027 or 2028.
City officials said the reimagined space is designed to serve as a gathering place rather than a pass-through area.
Credit: The City of Orlando
Plans include festival and event space, public art, pedestrian and bicycle paths, digital projection features and more than 300 public parking spaces.
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The Canopy is the latest version of what was previously called the "Under-I" project. City planners said the concept was shaped by community feedback calling for more green space, improved mobility and places that encourage social connection.
Credit: The City of Orlando
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The Canopy is funded through a $30 million Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) investment and is part of the city’s updated Downtown Orlando Community Redevelopment Area plan, now known as the DTO Action Plan.
What they're saying:
David Barilla, Executive Director of the Downtown Development Board and Community Redevelopment Agency, said the project will help reshape Downtown Orlando’s urban core.
"We are integrating both a digital projection which will allow it to be a different space every day," Barilla said. "We are checking off all of those boxes and being able to introduce that area back to downtown in a way that it can really be a part of future growth."
What's next:
Construction on The Canopy is expected to begin this summer, with an expected completion of 2027/2028.
Another project tied to the DTO Action Plan is the conversion of Magnolia Avenue from a one-way to a two-way street. City officials are set to break ground on the first phase of that project Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the City of Orlando.