Over 300+ vacant and blighted properties exist within the Communities of West Lakes. Without access to capital to purchase or improve homes, household units gradually fell into disrepair, and many become abandoned. In West Lakes, the Board of West Lakes Partnership decided to act to address this issue as it affects single family homes in the neighborhood.  

West Lakes Council History
By Raymer Kelly

Vision To serve as the internal catalyst for the building and improvement of the quality of life for the residents of the West Lakes Communities.

Mission To create an interconnected set of “economic engines” that generate sustainable economic opportunities for the residents of the Communities of West Lakes through partnerships, collaboration, and modernization.

Goals This council’s efforts was centered on a set of key priorities.  Other efforts were undertaken from time to time as the community desires, however, the main purposes for this organization will be based on the following goals:

The demolition contractors tasked with the removal of the Orange Center Blvd. Apartment Complexes along the south side of Orange Center Blvd. has recently had their permits for the physical demolition to remove the buildings approved for the first phase and anticipate to begin within the next week.

The contractors will begin with the building closest to S. Tampa Ave. (800 S. Tampa Avenue) skipping the next building known as the Savoy (Phase II), and continuing with the next four (4) buildings until reaching the last building located at 2126 Orange Center Blvd. A map is attached for your convenience. Once the buildings of Phase I are completed, the contractor will begin work on the Savoy as part of Phase II of the demolition project. The targeted finish date for Phase I is December 31, 2018 and Phase II by January 2019.

The City will be periodically sending notifications prior to the contractor beginning demolition of the next building. Please feel free to share this information with your community members, and if you or any of your community members have questions or concerns during this process, please contact me, my information is provided below.

Today was a great day to be in City Hall. The residents of West Lakes and Florida Citrus Sports received official approval to move forward with the new $8 million Lake Lorna Doone Park renovation project and LIFT Orlando received $1.2 million for Pendana at West Lakes Phase 2, our new Senior Residences with Columbia Residential. The ground breaking on the latter project will be on October 17th. Thank you to our Mayor and Commissioners for believing in The Communities of West Lakes. @liftorlando @thecitybeautiful @westlakespartnership @pendanaorlando @citrussports

West Lakes Partnership knows that there are 300 vacant single and multi-family units in West Lakes alone. We Have work to do in rehabbing those units and making them work for new families to move into the neighborhood … #PardonOurDust

West Lakes Partnership appreciate our community partner – Wayne Densch Charities – for their $1 Million grant toward health and wellness in our neighborhood. Thanks LIFT Orlando for coordinating this grant effort.

"This week’s $1 million pledge is the first major gift solely for the programs and facilities that will promote healthy living in the community, including fitness and nutritional programs." - Eddy Moratin

“Every child deserves the right to a good, quality education,” said West Lakes and Lake Sunset resident Charlene Caines, a mother of four boys. “Education is the key.” This resident was responding to the effort to revitalize Orlando’s West Lakes neighborhood near Camping World Stadium.  The effort got a major boost on June 7, 2018 with the announcement of a $12.75 million donation for a new early learning center.

Thanks to State Rep. Bruce Antone, #FarmShare, West Lakes Partnership and the countless volunteers for helping neighbors in the West Lakes community. We fed 257 households (which included 395 children).

It is always a privilege to be a part of the West Lakes Dinner and Conversation that took place on May 22nd at the Rock Lake Community Center about the upcoming developments addressing health and wellness, early childhood education, and wrap-around programming.

Since this article, 21 more families are calling the neighborhoods of West Lakes home. Four beautiful lakes and the historic Camping World Stadium, we are strengthening the neighborhood for the current and next generations.

On days like this, as I sit in my office and listen to the laughter of the students at Orange Center Elementary, I’m reminded of the research of Justin Wolfers which shows that “growing up in a good neighborhood has immensely positive effects on future success.”