Medical office approved on corner of Aloma and Lakemont
The project led by a group of physicians will bring development to the long vacant lot
July 2, 2024
By Beth Kassab
A new medical office building will stand at the empty corner at Lakemont and Aloma avenues after the City Commission unanimously approved the project with conditions late last month.
Residents objected to the height of the building and raised questions about traffic, particularly left-hand turns, but commissioners settled on conditions that they said would alleviate many of the concerns.
The nearly 18,000-square-foot proposal for the two-story building came after Verax Investments purchased the land from Fifth Third Bank earlier this year for about $2.7 million, according to property records. Verax is a real estate development group led by a group of local physicians including Dr. Ravi Gandhi, a well-known brain surgeon with Orlando Neurosurgery.
The development will herald a major change for the last wooded parcel of the intersection.
“We all know that SR 426 is broken,” said resident Beth Hall. “Please don’t let this be the commission that breaks Lakemont.”
The developers agreed to preserve two live oak trees on the property.
They also agreed to build a 6-foot high wall on the edge of the property that backs up to residential lawns and the wall must be constructed before the building is started.
Among other conditions, the developers will also post signs prohibiting left-hand turns out of the property and give over a strip of the land to the city to eventually widen Lakemont. .
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Ohh! So excited for the bigger traffic nightmare that was already Aloma and Lakemont.
It is inexcusable that this commission turned a blind eye to the traffic mayhem this high-volume medical office will bring to this place where Lakemont Ave, the new Verax driveway, Edwin Blvd, and the WP Shopping Center driveways will meet. Traffic here was already so chaotic that in 2015, the last applicant seeking to build at this site was tasked with extending the existing Lakemont median by 25 additional feet at their expense, along with restricting turn movements onto Lakemont to right in, right out only. The 2015 applicant (Fifth Third Bank) never moved forward, so the Lakemont median was never extended. When asked about these prior traffic safety measures to be paid for by the applicant at this same site, city planner Jeff Briggs experienced an uncharacteristic bout of total amnesia. And as for the “strip of land” which the developers promised for an added left turn lane onto Aloma? That turned out to be a “unicorn” when it came out that it would likely be a number of years- if ever- that any additional lane could be realized since the DOT would need to be involved. And the commission also granted a height variance as the ‘cherry on top.’
About time. Neighbors have been fighting for years with numerous attempts to build on that property. Property owner’s nightmare. Now they have a large 2-story going up instead of many very small 1-story plans that have been defeated. Story of real estate development. Locals fight and defeat shallow-pocketed developers. So deep-pocketed developers justify the added cost by putting up 2-3 times as much units or square footage and they have the pockets to get it done. Remember land owners have a right to use their property within the development codes.
Traffic is always a problem. Right turn only exiting on Aloma or Lakemont and no left turn onto Phelps should solve most of it. Take Aloma back from the state and 2-lane it or build a tunnel from west Fairbanks to the other side of City limit would solve everything. US government should fund that since they love handing out $Billions to create inflation.
No. Neighbors never fought to defeat anything with “units” here, You are confusing this with the several residential parcels to the west of this corner. Those interior parcels were where 18 townhomes were defeated. This corner has been hard to develop due to Lakemont ingress and egress issues. The previous requirement- a wise one to protect drivers- was that a 25 foot median extension was needed at developer’s expense. That cost was too much for Fifth Third so they never built. This commission put development over safety and abandoned the median requirement. Now WP residents will pay for that median. Could have been a win-win. Now it’s a developer win at massive cost to residents.
Oh great! Not looking forward to more traffic on this corner or anywhere nearby. The traffic in this area has become a nightmare for those of us living in the area. That corner in particular is already at capacity. I’ve been here for many years and this is another development we don’t need.
This is what happens when you have a Commission that sits on their butts talking “charm” and pretending to be design experts.
The code allows for this development and the only variance sought was a 3 foot height variance. A medical office building fits with the code allowed medical building going in on Fairbanks. Charming.
But at least the City’s new design Board can pontificate on the design.
Meanwhile, Rollins proposed faculty housing that was mixed use ie something for residents. But the same 4 commissioners that just added to the traffic woes did not want mixed use in the middle of a mixed use project.
We continue to be failed by poor and reactive leadership.
I was hoping for a naked yoga studio but it looks like we are stuck with a medical facility.
Thank you Beth for your outstanding advocacy. Other neighbors have also voiced opposition to this oversized project. What is more important, the integrity of a neighborhood and quality of life or a larger tax base that commercial projects may bring? Do we really need more large offices sprawling into nearby neighborhoods? I thank those commissioners who took time to consider the comments from local residents. I particularly thank Commissioner Sullivan who voted against the current design of the Verax project. I understand that an unkept empty lot is not an ideal gateway into the city. However, an industrial looking square white building is not an appropriate welcome to a city that prides itself as being a mecca of
art and culture. We can do better.
Terrible use of beautiful piece of property. What on earth is the city thinking? That is one of the worst intersections. Why could they have not found something less obtrusive to place there? A park would have been nice but a gigantic office building should have been avoided. A tiny shopping area with green space would have really given some life to the corner without having a giant building looming over homeowners. And can’t wait for traffic nightmare. Nothing gained for residents either.
This is tricky because the land is valuable being located at a highly visible commercial intersection. No one wants to live there, so commercial use is the only practical choice. The suggestion of a park is impractical because it is so small and not in a park-like location. Plus, I imagine the owner would like a return on their investment as the land is worth much more with commercial use.
As commercial uses go, a medical office isn’t bad. Medical offices don’t usually generate high traffic volumes, they operate only on weekdays and during daytime hours and are quiet.
I created the development concept for extended stay facility to serve the families of hospital patients, visiting medical professionals and to serve over-worked onsight medical professionals who are sometimes called upon to work long hours and insufficient time to travel home and back at late hours. The nearest hotel is Alfond Inn@+$400 per night + dining costs. Instantly shot down by city officials due to the left turn traffic issues and adjacent residential neighborhood. What changed for this project? Go figure.
Hey Paul,
That is probably the best idea I have heard in a long time. I know they have taken care of that at the Advent facility on Rollins. That would have been so beneficial to the Winter Park hospital, and I am sorry your idea didn’t get done. Hopefully you can do that nearby in the future.