Orlando City Council Ends Ban on New Downtown Nightclubs, Opening Doors for Fresh Entertainment Spots
ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando City Council lifted a ban on new bars in downtown Orlando that had been in place for a year. In its place, the council put in place a rule that new clubs must be 300 feet apart.
The head of the Downtown Development Board, David Barilla, said, “You want to make sure that as Downtown moves forward and becomes the Central Neighborhood of that area, that you have all the different kinds of things that you want in a neighborhood.” “That is to sometimes be able to go out and have a drink with family and friends… you also need essentials… things that would be in retail stores or restaurants… to be able to have a bite to eat.”
At Monday’s council meeting, the decision was made. Commissioners agreed that the new rule would help keep the balance between nightlife and other important businesses in the area.
“We want to ensure that anyone who is here today can remain here but as things evolve we are creating parameters for things to move into a more diverse future,” said Barilla.
After several deadly killings in downtown Orlando about a year ago, the ban was put in place, which caused a lot of controversy.
The new rule is meant to make downtown more fair and diverse by making sure that nightlife doesn’t take over other types of businesses.
The 300-foot distance rule, which is about the size of a city block, is meant to keep nightclubs from clustering in one area and encourage a mix of stores, restaurants, and other important services.
The council’s choice shows a change in strategy, with a focus on long-term growth and making downtown livelier with a variety of uses.
The new rule should make the area more appealing to a wider range of businesses, which will help make the town livelier and more open to everyone.
People who live and work in the area have had different responses to the change.
Some people are glad that new businesses can open, but others are still worried about how it might affect the evening scene that is already there.
The council will keep a close eye on things and make changes as needed to make sure the new rule does what it’s supposed to do.
The city’s plan to manage downtown growth has changed a lot since the ban was lifted. The goal is to make the city’s environment more balanced and diverse.