ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando's planning board recommended approval for a proposal to build Orlando's tallest skyscraper in the downtown area on Tuesday.
The 41-story tower, called Zoi House, would go at the corner of Livingston Street and Orange Avenue.
The project would include 300 multifamily units as well as retail and office space all within steps of the Orange County Courthouse and the Lynx SunRail transit center.
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“I think the more places that have higher-end things going on the better downtown will be,” said downtown resident Mark Arnott.
Santa Labellman, owner of La Belle Furs, said they’ve been in the same building since the 1950s and have seen little growth in the area.
“I'm looking forward to seeing more traffic, more walk-by traffic. I believe that all the apartments coming in and all the retail businesses coming up I think we are going to see nice downtown growth in the Orlando area,” Labellman said.
But not everyone's happy. Business owners who operate within the footprint of the proposed building are worried about being forced out.
But the landowner said the tenants have always known this was a possibility.
In a statement he said, "To commence construction we will have to have those spaces vacated."
The planning board's recommendation will now go before the Orlando City Council at an upcoming meeting for final approval.