Orlando council adopts blight finding and moves ahead on Downtown CRA expansion near Camping World Stadium

The Orlando City Council on April 6 adopted a finding of necessity that identifies blight conditions in an approximately 47‑acre area adjacent to Camping World Stadium and approved a related amendment to the Downtown Orlando Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) plan.

The council voted to adopt the blight resolution after staff presented a study by consulting firm GAI Consultants Inc. that documented deterioration and other factors the city said justify expanding the CRA. Kristin Holmes, the assistant director handling CRA matters, told the council the expansion would help leverage renovations at Camping World Stadium and spur area‑wide improvements.

Mayor Dyer and staff said the resolution’s effectiveness is contingent on approval by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners. The council also approved on first reading Ordinance 2026‑7 to update the CRA trust fund language to accept increment revenues from the expansion area; staff noted the city currently anticipates no increment revenues because the expansion parcels are publicly owned.

The plan amendment (DTO Outlook part 3, 2026) updates project priorities and maps for the redevelopment area and was described by staff as unchanged from materials presented at a February workshop. Council members moved and adopted the plan and related ordinances by voice vote; there were no public comments during the hearings.

What happens next: Orange County must review the expansion for the city resolution to take effect. The council scheduled second reading for trust‑fund ordinance 2026‑7 at the next regular meeting to put the trust language into the municipal code.

Officials and context: City staff said the expansion is intended to support economic development tied to Camping World Stadium renovations and to allow the CRA to implement public improvements and redevelopment strategies identified in the DTO amendment.