After a lengthy discussion about developer Mid America Apartment
Communities' (MAA) ability to meet the density and retail
requirements for Downtown Orlando, the Orlando Municipal Planning
Board reluctantly voted to approve a zoning change for a 10-story
apartment building with less than 4,000 square feet of retail space
to be built south of the Bank of America building.
Becky Wilson of Lowndes said that half of the space would be
used for amenities and leasing offices, and that MAA would build
out the amenity space so it could be converted for retail use in
the future.
"If and when the retail market in downtown dictates that my
client can make more money on retail in that space as opposed to
having amenities in that space, we will find a way to get the
retail there," she said.
