Orlando is embracing the boom times as one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. Nation-leading job growth, transformative developments and record-breaking tourism are conspiring to chart a new course in commercial real estate. Below you will find 10 things we are tracking to help you take the helm

1. 10things toknow
Beyond the
theme parks
The force is
with you
Hiring
is hot
Bang for
the buck
Building
community
Lake Nona’s
a magnet
Got the Magic
and more
Traffic relief
is coming
Growing our
‘Little Big City’
Fast-tracked
for success

2. 1. Beyond the theme parks
True, you can’t talk about Orlando without mentioning
tourism: the city saw 126.1 million visitors last year, with Walt
Disney World itself having welcomed more than 20 million
people. But the entertainment complex isn’t Disney’s only
in-market residence. Disney also occupies a swath of office
space, accompanied by the significant presence of hospitality
related companies such as Marriot, Wyndam and Hilton.
Our record-breaking visitor figures are fueling investment
activity in the hotel sector. At 77.5 percent occupancy,
compared to the national average of 66.2 percent, the market
saw $1.2 billion in hotel capital markets activity last year, or
29.1 percent of all activity in Florida.
Orlando |Ten Things to Know 2

3. 2. The force is with you
The federal government recently announced the creation
of a space force, and while the endeavor is in its early
stages, Orlando may be a big winner.
Given its proximity to Cape Canaveral and that it hosts a
sizeable presence of defense contractors such as Lockheed
Martin and Northrop Grumman, as well as a flourishing
modeling, simulation and training industry, the metro area
seems like a natural beneficiary.
Orlando |Ten Things to Know 3

4. 3. Hiring is hot
Among metro areas with over 1 million people, Orlando
continues to lead the nation in job growth, increasing 4
percent year-over-year.
Growth has been diverse, with construction (15.1 percent),
professional, scientific and technical services (12 percent),
and goods-producing (11.8 percent) leading the way.
Orlando |Ten Things to Know 4

5. 4. Bang for the buck
Last year, Lincoln Property Company broke ground on
Church Street Plaza, a 28-story mixed-use building—the
first new significant development in nearly a decade. The
development will include about 200,000 square feet of
office space, 180 hotel rooms and 7,500 square feet of
retail.
Having lured SunTrust from its namesake tower into
90,000 square feet, with other preleasing taking place such
as Austin Commercial, the project has been met with a
strong appetite for new construction.
Orlando |Ten Things to Know 5

6. 5. Building community
Creative Village is set to transform downtown. After years
of planning, momentum has been brewing at the 68-acre
development. University of Central Florida has broken
ground on its nearly 15-acre downtown campus to include
600 student-housing beds and a parking a garage with just
as many spaces. Also underway is a five-story, 256-unit
mixed-income apartment building and a 14-story, 409-unit
market-rate apartment complex. This development has
also spurred a $40 million update to the existing Marriot
hotel that will include 20,000 square feet of meeting space.
Orlando |Ten Things to Know 6

7. 6. Lake Nona’s a magnet
Lake Nona’s staggering residential development growth
has been echoed by an influx of office space and corporate
headquarter relocation. KPMG’s new $450 million training
facility is a prime example of this, along with ClosetMaid’s
13,000-square-foot headquarter relocation, Signature
Flight Support’s 65,000-square-foot relocation and Brazil-
based Invel’s headquarter swap into Medical City.
Orlando |Ten Things to Know 7

8. 7. Got the Magic and more
Orlando City SC, our MLS team, will kick off a new season
this month, the third at its $155 million stadium just west
of downtown, near Orlando Magic’s Amway Center. These
two venues create an anchor for future development.
And while the NFL may have ended, the Alliance of
American Football has just begun, with the Orlando
Apollos off to a 4-0 start. Coached by Florida Gator legend
Steve Spurrier, the Apollos welcomed over 20,000 fans to
their home opener.
Orlando |Ten Things to Know 8

9. 8. Traffic relief is coming
The major highway through the center of the state, I-4, is
under significant reconfiguration as part of the I-4 Ultimate
Project. Commuters will ultimately experience more lanes
in both directions, more streamlined junctions, namely the
408 interchange, as well as new tolled express lanes.
Orlando |Ten Things to Know 9

10. 9. Growing our ‘Little Big City’
SoDo District continues to see development, welcoming
a 59,800-square-foot Lucky’s Market grocery store, a 300-
unit apartment complex, an outparceled 2,500-square-
foot Starbucks and several other ancillary retail centers.
The Kimco Realty development is also home to the
70,000-square-foot Orlando Orthopedic Center as well as
an additional 40,000 square feet of medical office space.
Orlando |Ten Things to Know 10

11. 10. Fast-tracked for success
As passenger rail investment encourages real estate
development, here’s to the Sun Rail system having
extended its run into Osceola County. Ridership has
doubled as a result. What’s more, Brightline (now
Virgin Trains USA), which connects South Florida’s
three downtowns, has plans to connect to Orlando and
eventually Tampa, too. All aboard!
Orlando |Ten Things to Know 11

12. Want to learn more about these trends and others? Contact us to be in the know.
Marc L. Miller
Research Manager
MarcL.Miller@am.jll.com