Orange County commissioners OK new shopping center

With unanimous approval by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, The Mark at Horizon West is officially on its way to becoming Horizon West’s newest shopping center.

During the May 5 Orange County Commission meeting, county leaders approved the project’s final development plan. The 21-acre property is owned by Unicorp National Developments Inc., which bought the property from the Walt Disney World Company. Unicorp also is the developer of Westside Shoppes in Horizon West’s Lakeside Village.

The Mark will be constructed south of Seton Creek Boulevard and west of Seidel Road in Horizon West’s Village F. According to county documents, plans call for 95,568 square feet of retail development and 4,700 square feet of outdoor seating in the Village F village center district.

“There’s existing multifamily with direct connectivity to the commercial area, and there’s actually a shared stormwater pond that’s already existing on the site which serves the multifamily and will also serve this commercial development,” said Eric Raasch, of the Orange County Planning Division. “There were some waivers that were previously approved by the board to internalize the main street — so the buildings aren’t immediately adjacent to Seidel — to create kind of a pedestrian environment which can be enjoyed by the residential to the north.”

Unicorp describes The Mark as a retail neighborhood center that includes thousands of square feet of both inline and outparcel opportunities. It’s also just a mile from the intersection of Seidel Road and State Road 429, near the upcoming relief high school.

The development plan calls for 10 total buildings ranging in size from the smallest at 2,525 square feet to the largest — a multi-story restaurant building with 14,200 square feet on the first floor, 6,200 square feet on the second floor and a 5,000-square-foot enclosed rooftop.

Originally, The Mark was to be a grocery-anchored retail center and had a signed letter of intent from organic grocer Earth Fare. However,  the specialty grocer announced Feb. 3 it is closing all of its stores in the United States. 

According to Unicorp leasing information, the newest signed tenant — who will take over that restaurant building — is New York Beer Project, which operates two locations in Lockport and Victor, New York.

New York Beer Project is a destination brewery. The Lockport location includes a brewery, gastropub, taproom and rooftop terrace. The Victor location’s brewery is designed to recreate The Atlantic Garden, a famous beer hall in New York City circa 1870.

Other confirmed tenants thus far include 7-Eleven, Papa John’s, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, AT&T, Heartland Dental, AdventHealth Centra Care, Walgreens, KidStrong, Johnny Rockets and Encore Nails & Spa. Among the available spaces is an outparcel designated for a coffee shop with a drive-thru, documents show.

Also among inked tenants is a 10,000-square-foot Learning Experience early childhood education center that offers programs for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old.