It’s Wednesday, Orlando. Looks like we’ll have another hot and humid one today, with morning sun leading into scattered afternoon showers. Highs will reach 93 degrees. Here’s what’s on deck:

• Orlando’s Autonomous Shuttle Completes Trial Period

• New Edition Coming Soon to Winter Garden Shopping Center

Quick note: We’ll be off tomorrow, but the newsletter will return on Friday. Happy Fourth!

Let’s dive in.

TRANSPORTATION

Orlando’s Autonomous Shuttle Completes Trial Period

What's happening: Orlando has concluded its six-month test of the SWAN, an autonomous bus in Creative Village, garnering positive rider feedback despite two minor collisions with Lynx buses.

Why it matters: The city aimed to introduce a reliable, popular transit option downtown and possibly expand it to other neighborhoods. The pilot's success could shape future transit plans.

By the numbers:

• 4,800+ riders: Mostly aged 18-34, rode the pill-shaped vehicle.

• Speed complaints: Riders noted the bus's slow speed, between 13-15 mph.

• Safety perception: Most riders felt safe and willing to ride again, said Tanya Wilder, Orlando’s transportation director.

Challenges:

• Two incidents: SWAN clipped Lynx buses twice, leading to a four-month halt. The second incident was attributed to human error by an onboard attendant.

• Improvements: Beep, the company behind SWAN, retrained attendants and added a second attendant per bus to enhance safety and passenger interaction.

Future plans: No decisions yet on SWAN's downtown return. Joe Moye, Beep’s CEO, is discussing other routes in Orlando and surrounding areas, with faster, advanced models expected in two years.

The bottom line: Orlando's autonomous bus test showed promise with rider approval but highlighted areas for improvement in speed and operational safety. City officials will decide the next steps based on detailed survey results and further evaluations.

Read more here (Orlando Sentinel)

REAL ESTATE

New Edition Coming Soon to Winter Garden Shopping Center

What's happening: A new addition may soon come to the Winter Garden Regional Shopping Center, with plans filed for an 8,000-square-foot retail or restaurant building.

Where: The center is located at the northwest corner of West Colonial Drive/State Road 50 and Park Avenue, currently anchored by Aldi, Harbor Freight, and D-Bat Winter Garden.

Details:

• The new building will be a for-lease outparcel situated between Captain D's and Regions Bank properties.

• The project would replace existing parking space and is being developed by Jason Glaser of EG 3 Development LLC, associated with TCII Capital.

• The shopping center is owned by 127 AMM LLC, a Miami Beach-based entity linked to investor Andrew Mirmelli, who acquired it for $24.5 million in June 2022.

Market Context: The area has seen a surge in retail demand due to its growing population and income levels, attracting more upscale retail developments.

What’s next: The project will be reviewed at the July 3rd development meeting in Winter Garden, although no immediate action will be taken. The exact nature of the new building's use remains unspecified, but its size suggests a larger operation than a bank or a typical fast-food joint.

Why it matters: This development could further enhance Winter Garden's appeal as a retail destination, aligning with the preferences of its residents and continuing the trend of revitalizing older shopping centers.

Read more here (Orlando Business Journal)

QUICK HITS

In Other News…

1. A new Chick-fil-A location is potentially coming to Kissimmee as the brand continues to expand in Central Florida.

2. Adoption fees will be covered at Orange County Animal Services through July 7th, thanks to a sponsorship from Webb Engineering.

3. Orlando City takes on Toronto FC tonight at 7:30 in Toronto. The game will stream for free on Apple TV.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s edition of the newsletter. See you back here on Friday.

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