I spent a good portion of yesterday afternoon and this morning trying to decipher the plans in a way I could understand them ... and then translate the news to all of you!  I've actually stumbled upon two separate roadway projects - underway simultaneously - to make driving around the South-West side of Orlando a little more bearable.  With a concept of "Safety First" it's evident when you look at the plans that Orange County is trying to straighten out some of the curves and realign intersections.

The Horizon West Village Project was approved in April of 2003.  Apparently it takes many years to open up an Engineering Study, get the results, plan the project, and then implement everything smoothly!  This project encompasses a three phase roadway widening that includes CR 535 from Marleon Drive to State Road 429 and a portion of Ficquette Road. Other streets scheduled for improvement include the intersection of Overstreet Road and Ficquette, the intersection of Ficquette and Reams/Lake Hancock Road, several portions of Porter Road and finally a new road called Summerlake Blvd.

You can see specifics of this project, including maps highlighting the changes, at the OrangeCountyFL.net web site

According to the July 2008 Construction Report this Horizon Village project is still in the planning stages, and no further construction is currently scheduled. Though having driven these roads often, I do see that construction at the Ficquette-Porter Roads intersection has begun.

Construction taking place right now on Ficquette Road is the installation of underground storm drainage, and is actually a portion of the second project that is underway.  The CR 535 project is going to be implemented in several phases - with Segment B already complete.  You'll find this area just outside the Summerport neighborhood - a nice four lane divided highway -  just imagine the rest of CR 535 this way!  The busiest of these Segments falls in D & D1 - CR 535 and Ficquette Road intersection - where construction is currently underway.  According to the schedule - this phase of the project will be complete by early next year.  Some considerations for this project are the various Wetland areas and the environmental impact of road construction.  Orange County has to wait for approval from various organizations before moving forward with their plans.

The bottom line is that construction is moving along - slowly but surely.  There's a great plan in place to make our roads safer, and that takes in to consideration the tremendous growth of the area.  The bad news is that we won't see a complete project until 2012 and will have to deal with construction dust and inconvenience for AT LEAST four more years.

Keep checking OrangeCountyFl.net for updates on the roadway projects.

Not being a coffee drinker myself - the loss of these stores wouldn't affect me personally.  Yet, I do realize that the loss of retailers like Starbucks are just a sign of things to come in our future.  The discretionary spending of Americans is on the decline according to experts - and I can't help but wonder what stores might we lose next?   As the West side of Orlando expands, the need for commercial outlets increases - HOWEVER - if companies like Starbucks are losing money on a national level - will they think twice about building in developing areas like Windermere? 

Do our city and county planners need to take a look at the rate of growth and perhaps slow things down to match the lack of growth in the economy?  The last thing we need are some of the newer neighborhoods to become ghosts towns - some of which I saw when out house hunting earlier this year. 

It will be interesting to see which retailers follow Starbucks in their closings - it will be an indicator of how concerned consumers are on a nationwide level.  As I look around my own neighborhood I see houses being built - I see the stores crowded and people spending.  But could we be outside the norm?  I guess only time will tell!

What luxuries are you cutting from your own budget to make it through the slump in the economy?  Are you concerned that things will get worse - or are you like me and hopeful that things will make a turn for the better after the elections in November?  I'd love to hear what you have to say!

I am kicking around a few ideas for blog posts ... and I think what I'll do is start off by writing weekly.  I'm still not familiar with the WIndermere area ... only my little corner near Overstreet Road.  I'm going to have to learn what the big difference is between WINDERMERE the city ... and Windermere the town.  Apparently there are some small town issues that I must look in to!  My #1 question is ... since we're all paying the same property taxes .. why is there only ONE public access to the Lake Butler chain?  Aren't the Lakes owned by the County?  Ahhhh ... but do I really want to dive head first into local politics?

Look later this week for some details ... and mostly my thoughts ... on the road construction taking place by the Summerport Publix ... and at Reams Road/Lake Hanncock Road.  I'm curious to see what the plans are ... and have to do some digging around for information.

Thanks to all who have commented!  It was a wonerful welcome!

So my question to you Windermere ... where would one find some really outstanding pizza in our neck of the woods?  How about telling me about some of your favorite restaurants too!  Are there any locally owned haunts that you frequent with food that is out of this world?

I wasn't 100% convinced I wanted to live on this side of town.  My initial search had me shopping for homes over in the Lake Nona area, and I fell in love with Fells Cove - a small lake attached to East Lake Toho.  My biggest criteria in my house hunt was I wanted something on the water, and I needed a larger room with it's own bathroom for my son.  It turns out that the majority of homes that fit that criteria were much larger than I had originally intended to buy ... which meant anything on the water at Lake Nona was going to be out of my price range.

I had never driven into the Windermere area prior to my house hunt - there was really no need - so my Realtor Levi gave me the grand tour of the Islesworth area along Chase Road.  He pointed out the castle like home of one of the Back Street Boys, rattled off the names of a ton of athletes I had never heard of, mentioned Tiger Woods was building across the lake, showed me the Beautiful Cobalt Blue tiles of Shaquille O'Neil's home, and drove me past the ornate home that Michael Jackson almost bought.  I was impressed!

We reached the West side of Windermere-  the newer areas - and I liked what I saw.  Sure the area was still developing, but the homes were all brand new.  I didn't have to worry about damage from the '04 Hurricanes, and I knew that I wouldn't have to worry about major repairs for about 10 years time.  I really lucked out when Levi found my house ... it had only been lived in for a few weeks before the family was transfered out of state, and while not on a large Lake I am on a natural pond and the house has that big bedroom for my son.

The best part of waking up every morning now is having breakfast on my back porch, watching the water birds and keeping my eyes open for "Ali the Gator".  I've been told we have a 6-10 foot gator in our ponds - but I haven't seen nor heard her yet.   Half of me really doesn't want to meet her ... but the nature lover in me loves the fact our habitat is conducive for wildlife to thrive.

And I think THAT is what I like most about the Windermere area.  Though our side of the city it relatively young .. we're still developing and we certainly have the construction dust too prove it ... we have a better appreciation of the environment that surrounds us.  The congestion may come in another 5 years time, but for now I relish the fact I have an Orange Farm as a neighbor .. and I only have to drive a few minutes down the road to see calves running around their field.  It's close enough to Orlando for all the conveniences ... but far enough away to feel removed from City life.