Civic Issues

Can we lower taxes on non-homestead properties?

(📸: @giphy) We’ve been digging into reader questions for our series on Central Florida’s affordable housing crisis, and the region’s quest to provide equal and attainable housing for all. So far, we’ve learned a lot about accessory dwelling units from Ashley Z’s question and the integral part they play in addressing our housing crisis. Next up, we’re […]

/ September 5, 2019


Neighborhood Spotlight on Parramore

Parramore is one of Orlando’s oldest, historically black neighborhoods. It’s got history, good food, community and culture. Parramore is also home to our biggest sporting venues, both Amway Arena and Orlando City Soccer Stadium and will soon house the new Creative Village and the UCF Downtown and Valencia campuses. To say it’s changing rapidly is […]

/ May 7, 2019


Here’s what you wanted to know about Parramore and the Central Florida Regional Housing Trust

📸: pulptown So far this month, we’ve introduced you to Page 15, a non-profit focused on literacy amongst neighborhood children, recommended the cornbread and collards at Nikki’s Place, and shared a 72-year Parramore staple, Palmer Feed where locals can purchase live animals, gardening and other farming necessities. We then asked you what you wanted to […]

/ May 7, 2019


Ever gotten around Orlando without a car? We learned from some folks who do it every day

We spent a few weeks in March diving into all things related to transit in Orlando. And we worked hard to show you how to do it, too.

/ April 4, 2019


This Orlandoan is both a bus driver and bus passenger

Belinda Gwyn is both a Lynx bus driver around Orlando, and a bus passenger who uses the Lynx system to get around town.

/ April 3, 2019


This developer is upping Orlando’s street cred, one street at a time

MEET THIS CHANGEMAKER: Craig Ustler, president of the Ustler Development Group, is best known for transforming Thornton Park into a desirable and walkable neighborhood throughout the 90’s and early 2000’s. He’s been heavily involved in developing The City Beautiful since graduating from the University of Florida in 1991. His development philosophy has been to focus […]

/ April 2, 2019


This Orlandoan gave up her car and has been walking a new path ever since

LeeAnn Huntoon is a digital marketing director who lives in downtown Orlando, doesn’t own a car, and, for the past few years, almost exclusively walks to work and to run errands.

/ March 20, 2019


This Orlando cyclist switched his commute from four wheels to two and hasn’t looked back

Beau Weaver said that he prefers two wheels to four and has even been able to convert a few people to cycling over driving around Orlando. We talked with him about what prompted his change.

/ March 12, 2019


Orlando’s transit lady is digging into our commuting issues

Figuring out how best to commute to work is Courtney Reynold’s life’s work. As a program manager for reThink Your Commute, Reynolds helps connect employers and employees with transit options other than driving alone. “The way to change things is to start somewhere,” she said. Reynolds began her relationship with public transportation in the fifth […]

/ January 24, 2019


The rent is too dang high in Orlando

📸: pulptown Nothing makes a term like “affordable housing” go from wonky to real world quite like getting a rent-increase notice in the mail. That’s what happened to reader Alison Rivera, who wrote this in response to our recent call-out asking for your questions about housing in Orlando: “How will they fix this? I just […]

/ January 22, 2019