Tuesday, February 25, 2014

PI Update: Things Are Moving Fast!

It was just a week ago that we gave you a thorough update of all the action on Pleasure Island but that's no longer good enough.  Things are moving rapidly and it's the Blog's goal to keep you fully abreast of developments.
So we're taking to the air for photos via the official Save Pleasure Island Blog SkyCam!  While we were previously told that demolition on the Island had ended someone today said that BET and AC (pictured) were coming down.  But this same person also said the Waterfront area near Planet Hollywood and behind 8TRAX and Mannequins was going to be drained and filled.  Since that goes against the concept of Disney Springs as well as the Disney Springs concept art, I'm very skeptical!
This is West End Plaza / Celebration Plaza, scraped of it's brick cover.  Rumor had it that this was going to be torn out and the hill eliminated but its looking increasingly that such is not the case. The castmember cafe was under that along with PI offices and it also connected to the lower levels of both BET and AC.  The public of course entered BET and AC via the plaza level which was the top floor of those buildings.  They just haven't done anything yet that indicates they're going to tear that out.  So maybe the No. 4 Bridge which connects to here may live to see future use too.
Construction outside of 8TRAX on the former Lombard Street hill.  The source mentioned earlier did say the 8TRAX and Mannequins buildings were remaining.  I liked that part!
The 8-track cartridge is still inserted into the 8-track player at 8TRAX lower entrance!
Beside Mannequins, more mysterious construction taking place.  This is where the Changing Attitudes > Orlando Harley-Davidson > Apricot Lane building used to stand along with PI Live Bar.  Notice in the upper right those doors still go into Mannequins.
You'll recall the concept art for the new Boat House restaurant located roughly where Rock'n'Roll Beach Club and Motion once stood.
Much of the complex will actually extend out over the waters of Village Lake.
Lots of construction taking place in this walled-off area too!
An overview shot of this entire area.
Zooming in a bit more here.
This is the existing service court located between Portobello's (rear) and Raglan Road.  The main pedestrian pathway is to pass through here and original plans for Hyperion Wharf showed 1-2 retail stores along one side of the pathway.
This is the door that will face that pathway that leads to the new service court.
You can see here how that pathway will emerge from right and pedestrians will make the turn here to head towards the western part of the Island.  The Boat House entrance would be located near here too.
How many Carrier representatives does it take......., lol.  Tune in tomorrow for a look at more action on the West Side and in the Marketplace!

2 comments:

Paul Chandler, Saint Louis, MO said...

It appears the guest restrooms to the right of Motion have been boarded up, yes?

KingBob said...

No. They are under renovation. The block wall of a new building obscures the view of the restroom entrances but there will still be a pathway along the edge of Raglan Road to get to them.