McKey merchants plan big event

OCOEE  A sizable group of McKey Street merchants presented a plan at the Feb. 2 Ocoee City Commission meeting for a St. Patrick’s Day shindig to kick off a monthly Ocoee Night Out event.

These representatives of 30 businesses in downtown Ocoee laid out a detailed plan for their March 17 event, which they said was the culmination of more than a year of meetings aimed at driving business and adding life to the McKey Street corridor.

Gosselin Realty’s Pam Bozkurt spoke on behalf of the merchants, asking the commission for its support with some event logistics and advertising the cleaner look of the street.

“We thought about a … farmers market,” Bozkurt said. “We thought about neighboring towns; we like how that brings some vibrancy.”

She said Florida Film Academy has offered its support of this event, which would include special promotions from vendors, arts and crafts, a fun zone and music.

“If it grew — if it was successful — we could grow to a … weekly event,” Bozkurt said. “But we want to start monthly.”

The longterm plan would be holding this family event the second Thursday of each month. Attendees applauded the vendors, and commissioners commended the merchants for that idea.

“This is what is needed — this is what we want to do,” District 1 Commissioner John Grogan said. “We want everyone to come together, and it’s really important. I think this can be huge and … can work right into what we’re going to be doing down there, to already have it moving in the right direction.”

PARKING FOR MAGUIRE CROSSINGS

City Planner Mike Rumer presented a plan to add parking at Maguire Crossings, which the commission unanimously approved. The applicant therefore has a waiver to reduce 10-foot landscape buffers to four feet or one foot at certain areas of the plot, which will allow parking to better accommodate businesses.

STATE OF THE CITY

The city produced a short State of the City video with footage of various areas of Ocoee via drone and some interviews with locals about what makes Ocoee “The Center of Good Living.”

The video highlighted many new businesses among more than a thousand existing businesses in Ocoee, several new subdivisions, community events, public safety initiatives, Utilities’ water and power conservation initiatives, the coming Inspired Living senior care facility, Public Works’ hundreds of new signs and miles of paved roads, the Bluford Avenue wellness park and master plans for State Road 429 and Downtown Ocoee.

Residents in the video said they love Ocoee for its small-town charm and quick connectivity around the area. Commissioners unanimously expressed excitement to see the future coming fast for their city.

Commissioners thanked volunteer and 28-year resident Gary Comstock for supplying drone footage. To see the video, visit youtube.com/watch?v=nJ7z4peMPBg.

Contact Zak Kerr at [email protected].