Project Details
Project Title: Creative Village Planned DevelopmentCompany: City of OrlandoProgram: Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)Location: Orlando, Florida (68-acre former Amway Arena site)
Lead Planner: TeNeika Neasman, MPA, MSURP
Timeframe: 2013–2022
Challenge
The City of Orlando aimed to transform the 68-acre former site of the Amway Arena into a high-tech "urban innovation district". The primary challenge was balancing the profit motives of private developers with the city’s public policy goals, specifically the need for equitable development that preserved the cultural heritage of the historic Parramore community. The project required a regulatory framework that could accommodate a massive $1.5 billion mix of transit-oriented housing, office space, and the UCF/Valencia Downtown Campus while ensuring long-term community benefits.Advisory
The advisory phase was centered on "Inclusive Community Engagement" to bridge the gap between institutional growth and local residents.The Insight: Strategic stakeholder collaboration revealed that the project's success depended on residents feeling like participants in the transformation, not victims of it.
The Big Idea: Aligning with over 2,500 stakeholder groups, the team developed a "Native Fluency" approach to Orlando’s municipal code and Sunshine Laws to ensure the redevelopment was legally bulletproof yet commercially viable.
Strategy
The strategy utilized a Public-Private Partnership (P3) Ecosystem model where private stakeholders were co-authors of the drafting process.Framework: The team applied a Mixed-Use Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) framework centered on education and innovation.
Execution: The team organized targeted stakeholder meetings and inclusive outreach campaigns that directly engaged local businesses and long-time Parramore residents.
Management
As the Lead Planner and Project Manager, Mrs. Neasman served as the critical link between the City and the private development team.Proposal Oversight: She reviewed, presented, and provided essential staff recommendations for all parcel development proposals within the 68-acre site, ensuring each project adhered to the master vision.
Regulatory Innovation: Mrs. Neasman authored and implemented amendments to the Planned Development (PD) Ordinance, creating flexible zoning standards that allowed for innovative, high-density development while protecting the district’s aesthetic and social goals.
Project Governance: She managed the complex administrative workflows of the City of Orlando, serving as the "Regulatory Firewall" to ensure 100% adherence to statutory timelines and local government standards.
IMPACT
Quantitative Results:Economic Impact: Secured the foundation for a $1.5 billion project that successfully attracted the UCF/Valencia Downtown Campus and major private sector investment.
Development Scale: Managed the entitlements for thousands of residential units and over 1 million square feet of commercial and office space.
Qualitative IMPACT:
Identity: Transformed a vacant arena site into a nationally recognized "urban innovation district" that serves as an anchor for Orlando’s tech economy.
Mission & Purpose: Balanced rapid modernization with the preservation of cultural heritage, building lasting public trust within the historic community.
Trust: Successfully aligned the profit-driven interests of private capital with the social goals of the City, establishing a blueprint for future P3 projects in Central Florida.