The Sandspur

Issue date: 4/14/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Tom Trasente DEMOLITION: The parking garage in Downtown Orlando was demolished to make room for the expansion of I-4.

In local Orlando news, the Orlando Utilities Commission's garage was demolished last Saturday at 7am, attracted camera crews from around the nation as well as local tourists who came from as far as Geneva and Apopka to watch the spectacle. Although not as famous as the 1991 demolition of City Hall, where Mel Gibson and Danny Glover were on site as part of a scene in Lethal Weapon 3, the blast still made national headlines. The explosion, which lasted only about one minute, brought in more than 100 spectators who lined up on the south bank of Lake Lucerne to enjoy the bog blast. The building, which cost $200,000 to demolish, was destroyed at exactly 7:11 am, a number that was chosen by the contractor Ted Chapmen, who considers the numbers lucky, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The four story garage collapsed quickly with the 580 sticks of dynamite spread throughout the building. Upon demolition, four million pounds of rubble were left over. The parking lot, which has been a part of downtown Orlando for 35 years, was destroyed in order for the $120 million renovation of I-4 and the East West Expressway. The renovation, which is expected to take three years in order to complete, is designed to reduce blockage along the two main highways in downtown Orlando.

In Winter Park, city officials are beginning to tackle the problem of side walk seating down the main street, which has lately begun to encroach as far as the curb. The tables, which are part of the al fresco dining that is so characteristic of Winter Park, are preventing wheelchairs and pedestrians from walking down the street. If the ordinance passes for Winter Park, the restaurants would have to maintain a path at the minimum of five feet wide between the tables, in order to create a passenger lane. Other parts of the bill include mandates stating that only two seat tables be placed parallel next to the curb, in order prevent diners from shoving their chairs directly into the paths of the pedestrians. If the ordinance passes, those who refuse to follow the ordinance have up to three chances a year, with the consequence being a loss of their permit to operate their restaurants.

In other Winter Park news, Central Park will be enjoying its 100 year anniversary, with festivities planned for the entire month of April. The six acre park was donated in 1906 by Charles Hosmer Morse, with the stipulation that it must remain a public park. Activities so far have included a Central Park Family Picnic, which took place on Sunday, April 2, and Popcorn Flicks in the Park, which was Thursday, April 13. On April 22, Winter Park residents can enjoy up to three trees in a giveaway, in promotion of the Keep Winter Park Beautiful foundation. They will also be having classes teaching the community how to care for their new trees and other tree related classes. The final event will be the Orlando Philharmonic Spring Concert, "Sea to Shining Sea", on April 30th at 7 pm in the park.

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