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Photo courtesy Winter Park Village/Facebook
Big changes are afoot for Winter Park Village in 2021, with slimmed-down ownership and a big-money renovation project on the way.
The
Orlando Business Journal reports that Casto, the company that owns the property, plans to undertake $20 million worth of upgrades to the shopping center. And the Ohio-based company will be going it alone, as JPMorgan Chase & Co. has divested its 50 percent ownership stake in the property, selling out to Casto.
Both parties are reportedly being tight-lipped on the terms of the deal.
Casto is not being as taciturn, however, about some of the upgrades planned for Winter Park Village. Construction will begin next year and take about 18 months to complete, with the end result being a more outdoors-friendly environment, with more patio space, event space, outdoor projections, a possible beer garden, lawn space and more. More residential units are also in the works.
One of the biggest changes, reports OBJ, will involve the street running in front of the Regal multiplex: "The road is expected to have the ability to be blocked off for events and that area may feature string lights, a beer garden, wine bar, bocce ball courts and more."
This would be a very timely facelift for Winter Park Village, a way for the shopping center to adjust to the realities of a pandemic (and lingering post-pandemic — whenever that may be — anxieties).
Speaking of outdoors, you don't have to wait 18 months to experience the fresh-air holiday offerings currently underway at Winter Park Village. On Tuesday, Dec. 15,
there's a free concert by the Sophisticates Quartet, and on Dec. 22 the Z Street Trio will be running through some holiday tunes. On Friday and Saturday nights in December, you might even run into roving "Dickens carolers."
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