Winter Park Commission Taps Brakes On Progress

When Robert Langford sought to construct his famous hotel in 1955, many local leaders fought to impede the project. The hotel's bar, detractors alleged, served as a catalyst for corrupting the young minds enrolled at Rollins College. Mark Twain wrote that "the past does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes." And, indeed, a similar situation unfolded as the commission debated the merits of the Alfond Inn, where the Langford once stood, just a few short years ago. Now, like a poorly made B-movie reboot, the same tired drama unfolded as the city commission shot down the wildly popular Henderson Hotel project. Residents of all political stripes, ideologies and social backgrounds expressed dismay at the shuttering of the project.

Those in favor of side-lining the Henderson Hotel pointed to excess traffic as a primary concern. However, in a retort to naysayers on the commission, long-time Winter Park resident Bryan Thomas painted a different picture: "The 17-92 corridor already houses a natural ton of commercial enterprises. Business always seeks exposure to high traffic counts. Since nobody sees traffic going away any time soon, the objection that a hotel would add more cars doesn’t carry much weight with me. Hotels book their lodgers throughout the day, not just at rush hour... It is a fact of life that many folks oppose any change whatsoever. Before the Alfond became a reality to replace the exhausted Langford, I heard many express concerns over its impact on the immediate vicinity. There has been huge impact and, best of my knowledge, it has all been good.... The businesses on Orlando Avenue constitute of a commercial ecosystem that depend on customers. People don't travel because they're broke. The hotel will bring these businesses new customers and we need to support them so these shops and restaurants don't turn into brown paper windows."

Another resident put it this way: "For all the talk of historic preservation, why not embrace this venture as a way to restore what we've lost in the Seminole Hotel and Mount Vernon Inn?" The hotel recalls the early days of Winter Park and blends historic architecture and landscaping with modern comforts. The Henderson Hotel seeks to return to the dream of the founders of Winter Park, through the lake front view once manifested in the likes of the Seminole, Virginia and Alabama (now apartments) Hotels. Founded itself in a hotel (the Rogers Hotel), the city of Winter Park maintained a reputation for fine accommodations. The goal, developers say, of the Henderson Hotel at Lake Killarney encapsulates this tradition. Project managers explained that "the name Henderson Hotel at Lake Killarney was chosen to recognize the family that called this land home for so many years. The Henderson family owned and operated the property adjacent to the site known as the Lake Shore Motel. With a history in the lodging industry, the name Henderson Hotel seemed ideal to pay tribute to a family that has had a part in the lodging industry in Winter Park.". Though Henderson remains in limbo for now, proponents of the effort look to future elections in a long shot hope at the reviving the project. Adam Wonus, owner of Atrium Management and partner in the development, even attempted to downsize the project: "We dropped the building size by 41% to accommodate them. At some point that site will be something. Hotels are less detrimental to traffic than anything else. I would understand if we were proposing a giant shopping center. But a retail mall or a fast food restaurant, which will ultimately end up going there, is a different business model than a hotel. Their goal is to get as many cars in and out as possible. 17-92 is a commercial highway, so it will always have traffic. But a hotel will be the best way to mitigate that. Winter Park is a unique place and it deserves this kind of quality."

On the flip side of the coin, local resident Leon Huffman expressed to WESH concerns about run-away development: "We feel this is the beginning of commercialization of the entire lake. This is a cancer that won’t end here. It will devour this entire neighborhood." Other Killarney residents pointed out that "much of the lake is already commercialized: Look no further than Trader Joe’s, Spa 810, Shake Shack, Orange Theory, Guide Well Emergency Doctors, Hillstone, Fortis College, Valley Bank, law offices, Ameris Bank, First United Bank and the Skyline Commercial Center... these all generate massive amounts of traffic for our neighborhoods. A hotel does not." The inevitable march of progress can be delayed, but never stopped entirely. The blight and stagnation witnessed on the Henderson lot point to an imminent need for the property's rejuvenation and repurposement. To build or not to build is a false choice. The dilemma is not if, but when the land will be developed. By expunging the Henderson Hotel from the works, the city commission inadvertently opened the door to the next dying strip mall, gas station or McDonalds. Like the beleaguered lots of 17-92, Winter Park deserves better leadership as well. Perhaps 2022 will provide an avenue to alter both.