New Performing Arts Center Rendering Just Another Façade of “Green Space”

Once again our community witnessed local leaders put up a façade to cover the real plans for development downtown — this time related to the financially struggling Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center (DPAC). Today, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and City Commissioners, CNL Executive Chairman Jim Seneff and DPAC representatives unveiled the design of the “CNL Arts Plaza,” located in front of the center. But in Orlando, “green space” in renderings is code for “more development.”

While the artist’s rendering looks nice surrounded by open green space, it’s far from the reality according to the official DPAC siteplan. In fact, many may not even realize the City’s plan to develop those “green spaces” into future commercial development. Wonder what that will do to the view of DPAC?

Here’s the rendering Dyer showed off today (look how open and green it appears):

And here’s the real siteplan, according to the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts website:

Not quite the green space you imagined?

It is important to note that DPAC continues to struggle financially as construction is still going on downtown. And those troubles have spilled over to impact the outdoor plaza, which will now be split into two phases. That means the fountain pictured in the rendering will not even be added until a later phase.

It’s very likely that the planned commercial development is necessary in the long-term funding scheme for the new performing arts center. But including those commercial buildings in the renderings wouldn’t look as nice to the public, would it?

Update: Performing Arts Center Model