City of Orlando

With all the headlines and talk about housing affordability, it can be tempting to get lost in the financial side of buying a home. That’s only natural as you think about the dollars and cents of it all. And while you ultimately need to be able to afford a home you buy, don’t lose sight of why homeownership was so important to you in the first place. That’s because buying a home is so much...

ORLANDO, Fla. Channel 9 has shared the issue of Orlando's housing crisis for months. Last summer, the city announced a plan to turn an old hotel into affordable housing units, which is becoming a reality. A developer said they are working to solve the affordable housing crisis by restoring old hotels and other dilapidated buildings. Shantel Garcia said it had been a month since she moved into her new...

With the rapid shift that's happened in the housing market this year, some people are raising concerns that we're destined for a repeat of the crash we saw in 2008. But in truth, there are many key differences between what's happening today and the bubble in the early 2000s. One of the reasons this isn't like the last time is the number of foreclosures in the market is much lower now. Here's a look at why...

Apply for unique and rewarding volunteer opportunities in your community. What does volunteering in our youth programs look like? Here are some examples: Mentor a student: Invest your experiences and knowledge in our city's youth. Youth football coach: Grab the whistle and guide a group of kids on and off the field. Support a community center event: Help our centers during holidays, senior nights...

From the City of Orlando's website: Welcome to Energy-Saving Trees, a unique program designed to help you better understand where to plant trees on your property for maximum energy savings. This program is made possible by the City of Orlando, Arbor Day Foundation, Orlando Utilities Commission and the Florida Forest Service. Did you know that if every resident planted a tree in the City of Orlando, our...

A six-story building that will include a hotel, apartments, restaurant, and retail space soon may rise at a busy corner near downtown Orlando and its neighboring Creative Village district. The development team behind the project, titled Westmoreland Square, is seeking approval from the city of Orlando for a master plan for the project, as well as a conditional-use permit for its proposed building height...

The folks behind the Orlando Land Trust are working on adding a butterfly garden to Lake Eola Park.At the Aug. 15 City Council meeting, the City approved the installation of metal wire butterfly sculptures at the park where the butterfly garden will be. The sculptures will be constructed by local artist Barbara Sorensen and are jointly funded by the Orlando Land Trust, which is contributing $15,000, and...