Crews begin to demolish 7-Eleven near Lake Eola to build green space

ORLANDO, Fla. — The face of downtown Orlando is changing on Monday.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

Crews are demolishing the old 7-Eleven near Lake Eola and there are big plans on what to put in its place.

The demolition of the old 7Eleven building at the corner of Central & Rosalind is officially underway. The plot will become green space and offer a new gateway to Lake Eola. Watch @WFTV for more. pic.twitter.com/gUZuAFrzwv
— Q McCray (@QMcCrayWFTV) May 2, 2022

The building is at the corner of Rosalind Avenue and Central Boulevard, near the southwest corner of Lake Eola Park.

READ: Former 7-Eleven near Lake Eola to be demolished

Leaders are going to expand Lake Eola Park.

There are already demolition preps in place.

The plan started in 2015, when Lynn Long and Eugenia Sefcik had a vision to turn the 7-Eleven into a green space.

A developer had plans to build a 28-story condo complex, but pulled out of the deal.

Watch: 12-foot alligator chomps down on Florida photographer’s camera

The best friends stepped in.

“This plot will be donated to the city as soon as we achieve our goal with a deed restriction that it can never be used for anything but park space,” Long said.

Long and Sefcik’s nonprofit, Orlando Land Trust, had to raise $3,250,000. The pandemic slowed their fundraising down.

READ: Orlando to vote on tearing down former 7-Eleven location for new green space at Lake Eola

The city of Orlando came through with $1.25 million to give their trust the fundraising boost it needed, and their trust was able to acquire the 5,000 square-foot property.

A special ceremony was held to kick off the demolition.

Photos: Crews begin to demolish 7-Eleven near Lake Eola to build green space

0 of 9

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.