Online EXCLUSIVE: UpClose with Buddy Dyer

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has taken an active interest in revitalizing the city’s central business district since taking office in 2003. The former lawyer outlined jobs, entertainment and cultural opportunities for Downtown Orlando as one of his key initiatives, and has orchestrated nearly $3 billion worth of development either planned or under way.

While Orlando is still largely known around the globe for its theme parks, Dyer points out that it is also gaining recognition as a center for medical research and the creative arts. Downtown is quickly becoming a place to live as well as work, and is attracting shopping and other amenities.

Dyer, now in his second full term as mayor, discussed current and future changes to Orlando with GlobeSt.com:

GlobeSt.com: How is Orlando’s image changing from theme-park central?

Dyer: If you look at a lot of the national and even international magazines and studies, we show remarkably well in terms of entrepreneurship, small businesses and high tech. Fast Company rated us one of the best cities for innovation, taking note of our interactive gaming activities and our new medical complex at Lake Nona.

GlobeSt.com: A few new office and condo towers have been added to the city’s skyline over the years. Is Downtown Orlando changing that much?

Dyer: Downtown remains the economic hub of Central Florida. Certainly entertainment is more spread out than it once was, with all the theme parks and activities we have, but in terms of our residents, Downtown remains the place they want to bring their families. Lake Eola is our crown jewel that we have worked on improving.

Now we have all facets of activity in our Downtown area. We have some really cool stuff including the House of Moves, which is the most sophisticated motion capture studio east of the Mississippi River. The University of Central Florida has a couple of different campuses Downtown, the Interactive Entertainment Activity and the Executive Development Center, where you can take graduate-level business courses.

We spurred some of this with incentives four or five years ago aimed primarily at the residential markets. We like to talk about partnerships. Just about everything we’ve done has not been simply guided by the city but has been in partnership with the county, UCF and our business partners.

GlobeSt.com: How much of a boost is the Burnham Institute for Medical Research to the city?

Dyer: It’s huge. We believe we have something nowhere else in America has. Not only do we have the Burnham Institute, but UCF has a new medical school that has already broken ground and a life sciences campus. We think we will be one of those medical destinations, like Houston, Rochester or Birmingham.

GlobeSt.com: How important is Downtown revitalization compared with other parts of Orlando?

Dyer: We focus on our neighborhoods in a different way in providing services such as public safety, garbage collection and the normal things a city provides. But in terms of building infrastructure it’s been more Downtown. We have a CRA that covers Downtown and gives us access to funding in terms of catalytic projects.

We’re very pleased with the redevelopment of our city. I get comments virtually every day from somebody saying how proud they are of our Downtown. It is a source of pride for our community to be able to come into Downtown and see the growth and prosperity.