City Council will vote Monday, June 22, on a 36-month moratorium that would bypass the Historic Preservation Board for downtown development projects. The measure passed first reading on June 8 with only one dissenting vote, but faces opposition from both the Historic Preservation Board and at least one commissioner.
Only three of Orlando’s commissioners responded to OrlandoShine’s request for comment before the final vote. Tony Ortiz (who is running for mayor), Roger Chapin, and Bakari Burns never responded, but all supported the moratorium during its first reading on June 8.
District 1 Commissioner Tom Keen supports the moratorium, saying downtown has lacked major investment for 15 years and pointed to redevelopment projects like Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center as examples of successful downtown transformation.
“On Monday, June 8, the City Council voted to approve a temporary moratorium on the Downtown Historic Preservation District. This moratorium will likely return to the Council for second reading and a vote on June 22. It is also important to clarify what this moratorium does—and does not—do. This is not a tool to remove historic buildings or dismantle Orlando’s commitment to historic preservation. Rather, it creates a temporary opportunity to evaluate whether current regulations within the Downtown Historic Preservation District are unintentionally limiting business development and investment in our downtown core. The review is narrowly focused on this specific district, and all other historic districts throughout Orlando will remain unchanged. Our goal is to understand better how we can preserve our historic character while ensuring downtown remains economically competitive.
Orlando’s Downtown Historic District has lacked any major investments over the past 15 years. This targeted moratorium evaluates existing regulations that may be hindering projects within the Business District, given the numerous projects over $5 million in the surrounding area. I value Orlando’s history and historic resources. On the other hand, our Business District must remain economically vibrant. Preservation is most successful when buildings are occupied, maintained, and economically viable. This temporary measure is not about eliminating history; it’s about creating a limited opportunity to encourage investment and revitalization in the heart of Orlando, while giving the city time to see whether current restrictions are unintentionally affecting growth.
While I appreciate the concerns raised about the proposed moratorium, it is important to recognize Orlando’s success through redevelopment and strategic investment. Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center, Creative Village, and Boxi Park in District 1 stand as examples of how development can transform into vibrant destinations. These projects generate jobs, strengthen our local economy, and, when mixed-use is incorporated, add much-needed housing and walkable retail destinations for the community.”
District 5 Commissioner Shan Rose also backs the measure, saying it’s a temporary way to assess whether current preservation policies are discouraging investment.
“My support is rooted in a broader goal: accelerating downtown revitalization and removing barriers that may be preventing investment, redevelopment, and housing opportunities in our urban core.
Downtown Orlando continues to face significant challenges, including vacant properties, underutilized buildings, declining foot traffic, and a need for additional residential and commercial activity. The proposed 36-month moratorium is intended to provide a temporary window to evaluate whether our current review processes are unintentionally discouraging developments that could help bring people, businesses, and economic activity back to downtown.
This is not about eliminating historic preservation. Orlando remains committed to preserving its history and cultural assets. Rather, this is a temporary measure designed to create flexibility while we assess how preservation policies intersect with the city’s economic development, housing, and redevelopment goals.
I believe the moratorium will help us better understand whether regulatory changes can encourage investment in areas that have struggled to attract redevelopment while also allowing the city time to review and modernize its long-term approach to preservation and growth.
Ultimately, my focus is on creating a vibrant, economically healthy downtown that serves residents, businesses, and visitors alike. I believe this temporary pause provides an opportunity to better balance preserving our history and ensuring downtown Orlando can successfully adapt to current and future needs.
I welcome continued public discussion on the issue and look forward to the June 22 vote.”
District 4 Commissioner Patty Sheehan, who cast the only dissenting vote at the June 8 Council Meeting said she strongly opposes the moratorium.
“I am horrified by the moratorium. It is actually a green light to begin demolition of any historic building in downtown Orlando. When I visit cities when I travel, I don’t ask where economic development benefit buildings are. I ask where the historic landmarks are. This council would turn the Eiffel Tower into scrap metal and Big Ben into a pile of rubble. This ordinance does not even follow our Historic Preservation rules. It is short-sighted and political malpractice. Once these buildings are gone, they are gone forever. The last time there was a similar exercise in futility, we had the Plaza, one of the ugliest and worst-designed buildings in downtown. I am a passionate and resounding NO!”
The Historic Preservation Board voted unanimously against the moratorium despite a city attorney’s opposition to the motion. HPB member Jeff Thompson said the board has not denied a single applicant within the district over the past five years and argued preservation should be seen as an economic asset, not a barrier. Fellow board member David Martens named specific properties now at risk, asking council: “Do you want to be responsible for seeing the Metcalf building torn down, the Kress building torn down, Church Street Station torn down?”
Critics raised concerns about the speed of the process. The ordinance was made public June 3 and went before council five days later, with the HPB notified less than a week in advance. One HPB member said the timeline “creates a sense of being sneaky.”
The Florida Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources also raised procedural concerns in a June 11 letter, reminding Orlando it must notify the state of historic preservation ordinance changes at least 30 days prior to adoption or risk losing grant funding eligibility. You can read that letter below.
When we asked the Mayor’s office if that letter could result in the vote being delayed, they said, “We are currently reviewing it and plan to respond. We anticipate the proposed temporary moratorium, which is not a code amendment, will go before city council at Monday’s meeting.”
