I-Drive LIVE Project Update (July 2012): Issues Arise
The Orlando Sentinel recently reported some new information regarding the slow-moving project known as "I-Drive LIVE." It looks like the people behind this project are demanding some things that would require approval from the county, and that is not making everybody happy... Here's an excerpt from the article:
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I-Drive Live Visuals Draw Fire from Neighboring Businesses
The developer planning to erect a giant observation wheel on International Drive as part of an attraction-and-dining complex has run into opposition from neighboring businesses over the visuals proposed to promote the location. [...] On its wish list is permission to place a corporate logo on its 450-foot-high observation wheel, a sponsorship device derided by opponents Thursday as a billboard. Unicorp and its partners in the project also want the OK to paint murals on the development's Madame Tussauds wax museum and Sea Life Aquarium. To do either, Unicorp would need county permission to bypass the rules that dictate the type of signs and advertising allowed along that stretch of International Drive. While many of the business owners at Thursday's meeting said they like the plans for the project, to be built on the site of the former Mercado dining-and-shopping complex, they do not like the developer's proposed signs, including the murals and an electronic sign proposed for use at street level. All would require county variances.
Unicorp President Chuck Whittall [said]..."It's a reality. We need the sponsorship to move forward. ... If we don't get the variances, the project doesn't go."
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We certainly hope that these issues will be solved, otherwise the project may never turn into reality, and that would definitely affect the International Drive area, which is definitely in need of some major new attractions. We will always continue to keep you up-to-date.
ARTICLE CITED: Copyright © 2012, Orlando Sentinel. All rights reserved.
I don't think I want to see huge ads along I4 either. It sounds like the advertisements aren't even for the wax museum and aquarium, but random sponsors? Why?
ReplyDeleteAren't the wax museum and aquarium owned by the same company that owns Legoland? Why wouldn't they build this in Winter Haven? One would think an aquarium would work a lot better there than down the street from SeaWorld.
The sea life centres i've visited are a different experience to seaworld, although i still doubt that it could survive so close to seaworld, because of the perception that it is just a "poor mans seaworld".
ReplyDeleteIts only natural that Unicorp / Merlin would want to build new attractions in what is still a prime florida location.
Merlin has always looked for sponsorship of its new attractions: almost every new ride at alton towers or thorpe park in the uk has a sponsor, many rides in the usa are no different (power trip coaster?)
Its a tough one to call. while i agree with the need to work within regulations that everyone else has had to for years, do we really want to see a derelict lot on i-drive for the next few years? maybe for the sake of i-drive's long term future, regulations need to be waived. i can also see the valid argument from other businesses wanting similar waivers
A compromise needs to be reached that allows the i-drive live project to go ahead, but without turning i-driver into a tacky neon advertisement zone