The heart of the City Beautiful is making a comeback.
Empty offices still line the streets, but local residents, business leaders and city officials say change is happening downtown.
The new Amway Center is nearly finished and construction on a new performing arts center is about to begin.
"We have just, there is such an energy not only in the city, but in the region to begin this project and get it done," said Kathy Ramsberger from the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
The excitement over new venues is leading to business development.
According to city records, nearly 30 commercial and retail businesses have already opened or will open up in the next two months.
Many of them, such as the live entertainment venue Baby Grands Dueling Pianos, are on Church Street near the new arena.
"We’re not banking on the arena as an anchor,” said Davis Donohoo from Dueling Pianos. “However, it is going to be huge for this entire street. It’s going to bring life back to Church Street."
Downtown is just the beginning though.
With each of the new businesses hiring anywhere from few to thousands, project leaders say venues like the performing arts center can have wide ranging effects.
"Four thousand jobs, $250 million of direct economic impact,” Ramsberger said. “This is the largest economic development initiative that's going to be happening in this community in the next few months and it will last for three years.”
The Amway Center is scheduled to open up in October. Most of the businesses on Church Street say they are racing to get open before then.
