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traffic and determined it was intersection<br />
density, and the need for alternative<br />
connector roads and a grid system to<br />
move people away from the two major<br />
north-south roads: I-Drive and Universal<br />
Boulevard. Currently, the district has<br />
17 intersections per square mile, compared<br />
to an ideal of 140 intersections<br />
per square mile. Transit also will be<br />
considered.<br />
“More lanes is not going to allow you<br />
to address the traffic issue,” Vargas said.<br />
“It’s more options for interconnectivity<br />
that is going to solve the problem.”<br />
Artegon Closes<br />
Artegon Marketplace opened in<br />
November 2014 at the former Festival<br />
Bay Mall and steadily gained tenants<br />
and shoppers. In November 2016, the<br />
owner, Lightstone Group of New<br />
York, put the property up for sale and<br />
told tenants “to hold tight.” CBRE of<br />
Orlando listed the property as 1-4 acres<br />
of improved mixed-use land. An interchange<br />
with Interstate 4 is scheduled to<br />
open this year near the mall.<br />
However, in January 2017, the owners<br />
gave tenants two weeks to get out.<br />
Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World<br />
Orlando and the Cinemark movie<br />
theater remain operational and are independently<br />
owned. Lightstone posted<br />
a notice on the Artegon website that<br />
it was taking the mall in a new direction<br />
and discontinuing operations. The<br />
452,192-square-foot shopping center<br />
closed Jan. 26.<br />
“What Artegon did to us is devastating,”<br />
said Wilmary Moy, owner of<br />
Otown Ink Tattoo. “The company<br />
came and got us into investing all of our<br />
life savings in the store and then did this.<br />
We have to stay strong and keep serving<br />
the community.”<br />
At this point, Moy is considering her<br />
options.<br />
The owners of other stores in the mall<br />
are persevering.<br />
Anthony Venturini reopened the<br />
R’ n R’ Record Shop at Orlando<br />
Crossings, inside the atrium at 5419<br />
International Drive, Suite A. The store has<br />
had a presence on I-Drive for 10 years.<br />
CONTINUED ON PAGE 82<br />
www.SouthwestOrlandoBulletin.com x April 6 - 19, 2017 x 81<br />
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