New 7-11, Storage, and possible Wendy's coming RIGHT behind WDW Cast parking

[PhotoDave219]

For exactly that reason I'm not sure why they wouldn't go with concrete. Plus what it does for sound between floors and units as well. Only once was a party too loud under me but they were evicted shortly thereafter. Darn Disney PI's.

Is so you don't hear all those kids ducking

 

[Next Big Thing]

I posted about this about 6 months ago, has there been any progress?

Trees removed and ground dug up. Changes to the site have been noticeable over the past month or so.

 

[Dead2009]

Can I get a fast pass so I don't have to wait in line to get a frosty?

 

[PhotoDave219]

I also think it's hillarious that Disney is trying to improve traffic safety and traffic flow for CMs exiting north of the kingdom and now it's just gonna get screwed up....

 

[halltd]

I've never seen a standard apartment complex in the area built with all concrete construction. I'm curios which ones if any are?

I'm curious too, because there aren't many...I've looked for years. Downtown there are only three that I know of...NORA, the Sevens, and 420 East. The high rises are concrete, but not necessarily block walls between apartments. Some are, some aren't. Steelhouse is wood. I'm pretty sure Camden is wood, too. Gallery at Mills Park...also wood. Out in the "suburbs", I've also only ever seen wood. Nothing in Celebration is concrete. I'd love to know what this luxury apartment complex is that's concrete.

 

[Baloo62]

In other news, Epcot still sucks.

 

[EthanMagicBands]

I've looked at your area and wondered how the neighborhoods are? Safe?

Yes, very. It's very quiet back here because it's on the edge of rural. Our mailman recently told me that the US Mail considers this area as "rural" still officially and over by Seidel Rd the homes are eligible for a USDA Rural loans, even though they are normal new communities of houses. I'm sure it won't be that way for long.

Around the corner from my house (down at the end of Overstreet) there is still an orange orchard and a farm with cows. Near the Overstreet/535 intersection there is a large blueberry farm with some oranges as well still. And most of the homes are pretty upscale with a lot of working families with kids around here, and the schools are decent. Lots of Disney employees who have office jobs or who are Imagineers live here. I feel safe (but we still have a house alarm, etc, because you just never know). There are no shootings or carjackings or home intrusions... things like that.

Most of the communities are pre-planned with HOA and strict guidelines on building designs, landscaping, architecture (even for the commercial areas), etc. The Horizon West area (which is the area behind Magic Kingdom and heading west of that) has won numerous state and regional awards for planning. I live in Lakeside Village (the area directly behind MK), and there are other planned areas for expansion. This all went into planning well over a decade ago:

http://www.orangecountyfl.net/Portals/0/resource library/Open Government/Horizon West Map.pdf

The area isn't for everyone.... if you don't like the cookie-cutter design of new communities and want lots of land and hate HOA fees, then this area isn't for you. It's very planned. Also, it's pricey for Central Florida, with probably some of the highest end homes in the entire central part of the state, and some may feel the attitude around here (like in downtown Windermere and in Dr. Phillips) may feel a bit snobby.

A lot of celebrities and rich executives live in Isleworth (Tiger Woods lived here, and Shaq and Ken Griffey Jr own homes here), Lake Butler Sound, and Keene's Pointe, which are gated with actual security guards 24/7. So there is definitely a rich man / poor man feeling at times (the same feeling that Las Vegas casinos can give people at times). That can be a turn-off.

But if you can get past those minor things, it's great back here. Even when it's all done and filled with homes back here, it will still be a hell of a lot better than what Anaheim is to Disneyland and how close all of those homes push up to the Disneyland boundaries. A new high school opens next year and a new middle school is planned for 2017-2019 timeframe. My kids will be going to both, each of which are within walking/biking distance (as well as their current elementary school).

As a bonus, I can see the MK fireworks from my front porch nightly.

Ethan

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Yes, very. It's very quiet back here because it's on the edge of rural. Our mailman recently told me that the US Mail considers this area as "rural" still officially and over by Seidel Rd the homes are eligible for a USDA Rural loans, even though they are normal new communities of houses. I'm sure it won't be that way for long.

Around the corner from my house (down at the end of Overstreet) there is still an orange orchard and a farm with cows. Near the Overstreet/535 intersection there is a large blueberry farm with some oranges as well still. And most of the homes are pretty upscale with a lot of working families with kids around here, and the schools are decent. Lots of Disney employees who have office jobs or who are Imagineers live here. I feel safe (but we still have a house alarm, etc, because you just never know). There are no shootings or carjackings or home intrusions... things like that.

Most of the communities are pre-planned with HOA and strict guidelines on building designs, landscaping, architecture (even for the commercial areas), etc. The Horizon West area (which is the area behind Magic Kingdom and heading west of that) has won numerous state and regional awards for planning. I live in Lakeside Village (the area directly behind MK), and there are other planned areas for expansion. This all went into planning well over a decade ago:

http://www.orangecountyfl.net/Portals/0/resource library/Open Government/Horizon West Map.pdf

The area isn't for everyone.... if you don't like the cookie-cutter design of new communities and want lots of land and hate HOA fees, then this area isn't for you. It's very planned. Also, it's pricey for Central Florida, with probably some of the highest end homes in the entire central part of the state, and some may feel the attitude around here (like in downtown Windermere and in Dr. Phillips) may feel a bit snobby.

A lot of celebrities and rich executives live in Isleworth (Tiger Woods lived here, and Shaq and Ken Griffey Jr own homes here), Lake Butler Sound, and Keene's Pointe, which are gated with actual security guards 24/7. So there is definitely a rich man / poor man feeling at times (the same feeling that Las Vegas casinos can give people at times). That can be a turn-off.

But if you can get past those minor things, it's great back here. Even when it's all done and filled with homes back here, it will still be a hell of a lot better than what Anaheim is to Disneyland and how close all of those homes push up to the Disneyland boundaries. A new high school opens next year and a new middle school is planned for 2017-2019 timeframe. My kids will be going to both, each of which are within walking/biking distance (as well as their current elementary school).

As a bonus, I can see the MK fireworks from my front porch nightly.

Ethan

Thank you very much for the detailed response about your neighborhoods. Nightly fireworks? Not too shabby

 

[raven]

I've never seen a standard apartment complex in the area built with all concrete construction. I'm curios which ones if any are?

Mine are. Just up the road from those in question near MK.

I also think it's hillarious that Disney is trying to improve traffic safety and traffic flow for CMs exiting north of the kingdom and now it's just gonna get screwed up....

Actually it won't be as bad once the new road to the old property control opens (IF it opens). That corner is a nightmare now but most of that traffic will be rerouted soon.

 

[halltd]

Mine are. Just up the road from those in question near MK.

Complex name?

 

[raven]

Complex name?

Falcon Square

 

[maxairmike]

Falcon Square

That was built by Lennar, right? The Lennar townhomes I'm watching get built are also all concrete block, even on the second floor. The one I live in is also all block, but I think that has more to do with the floor plans being divided by floor instead of using a more typical two floor layout. Seems Lennar is the only "average" builder anymore that will build entirely block structures.

 

[raven]

That was built by Lennar, right? The Lennar townhomes I'm watching get built are also all concrete block, even on the second floor. The one I live in is also all block, but I think that has more to do with the floor plans being divided by floor instead of using a more typical two floor layout. Seems Lennar is the only "average" builder anymore that will build entirely block structures.

No idea who built them but they are rock solid.

 

[articos]

I've never seen a standard apartment complex in the area built with all concrete construction. I'm curios which ones if any are?

Higher end, condo quality are usually all concrete, but they aren't as common. Anything on the coasts might be concrete as well, for hurricanes. Most standard apartments have (in the past) been concrete block base, wood frame above, like most of MetroWest and the Universal/Sea World/LBV construction in the 80s/90s. Most garden style (2-4 story sprawling multi-building) and some mid-rise apartment communities being built currently in LBV/Sea World/Universal/suburbs are now all wood frame, no concrete block first floor - block is only being used for firebreak life-safety stair areas due to the use of engineered wood framing that has a much higher strength. The downside to these is the sound transfer can be awful without proper insulation. Most of the downtown high-rise apartment construction is still all concrete block, however.

 

[Scrungo]

They better add a traffic light while their at it, that intersection where the 7/11 is going to be placed already has issues with being backed up.

 

[mikeh]

They better add a traffic light while their at it, that intersection where the 7/11 is going to be placed already has issues with being backed up.

They will be. From my understanding, Center Dr will no longer dump onto reams rd where it is currently, but rather the new intersection they're creating where property control trailers used to sit