Last month the city of Maitland approved a plan to re-develop its downtown area by adding retail, offices and apartments.

Monday night the city commission and the Community Redevelopment Agency considered two proposals to expand downtown.

An empty plot of city-owned land just to the north of Horatio Avenue in Maitland could be transformed into a parking garage with retail space and offices.

Two weeks ago, the city tabled plans to build a parking garage and retail on the location of the former city hall, right next to the current one which is south of Horatio.

Because that was shot down, a developer with Urban Redevelopment Concepts suggested buying the city-owned land just to the north of Horatio Avenue for $1.23 million or a trade – the city would get the free parking in exchange.

“We’re hoping to solve their parking objectives which is kind of a win-win or a mutual exchange,” said developer Scott Ryan of URC.

However, not all residents think it’s a good idea – safety being the major concern.

“It’s going to be 100 feet from the railroad tracks. I don’t know how it got this far in the process because it just doesn’t make sense,” said Kay Yeuell, who has lived in Maitland for 17 years.

Maitland Mayor Howard Schieferdecker thinks the plan is a great idea and safety is a top priority. 

“Instead of having to cross Horatio, they’re going to have a bridge over Horatio so that when you’re in the parking garage, you can walk across the bridge, you aren’t in the dangerous thing of crossing Horatio into dangerous rush-hour traffic,” Schieferdecker said.

The CRA also considered extending Independence Lane about 500 feet to the North – cutting a 40 foot right-of-way through an abandoned bank on the Smith property and connecting to George Ave – for a purchase price of $1.45 million. 

Mayor Schieferdecker said the residents want to keep the area as green as possible while still taking advantage of what the city could potentially offer. 

“They want their park to extend Horactio so what we are trying to do is compromise with everybody so everybody wins,” Schieferdecker said.

The Community Redevelopment Agency will continue to discuss the matter and we will let you know what they decide.