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Commission prioritizes Kmart redevelopment, field house and downtown hotel/convention goals
Summary
After reviewing a long list of projects, commissioners ranked the Kmart site redevelopment, a proposed field house, downtown retail/attraction strategy and the South Business Airpark among the top near‑term priorities; staff will bring firm deliverables and timelines back to the commission.
KISSIMMEE — The commission used a facilitated ranking process at its retreat to identify the city’s top priorities for the next 12–18 months.
Commissioners placed the Kmart site redevelopment among the top action items and discussed demolition and visible progress as early deliverables. Staff said demolition and asbestos abatement were planned this year to provide visible evidence of progress.
The proposed Lancaster field house — presented to the commission as a self‑funding sports tourism complex — also ranked among the highest priorities. Mayor Jeanette described the project as a long‑term investment designed to attract tournaments and hotel stays, and the facilitator and staff discussed P3 financing options. “The facility is modeled using conservative municipal finance assumptions,” the mayor said, adding that the plan assumes regular tournament weekends to support operations.
Downtown development remained a strong focus: commissioners prioritized a retail attraction strategy (including a grocery store), the SkyView hotel and condos project and a downtown hotel/convention center as linked goals for creating jobs and increasing hotel tax returns. Commissioners discussed walkability, downtown speed‑control and a revised street closure policy to support events and downtown operations.
At the retreat’s conclusion staff were assigned to refine master development agreements, prepare marketing plans for retail attraction and tourism, pursue funding for the field house and return with timelines and deliverables. The facilitator urged commissioners to hold to the established milestones to maintain investor confidence and preserve the city’s bond standing.
The commission’s recorded top priorities for immediate staff action are: Kmart redevelopment, retail attraction/marketing, field house development, expanded economic‑development capacity and the South Business Airpark master plan.
