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If you want a "fun" story about an unfinished commercial building, just google "I-4 eyesore". Down in Orlando (actually Altamonte, but if you're not from Centr

If you want a "fun" story about an unfinished commercial building, just google "I-4 eyesore". Down in Orlando (actually Altamonte, but if you're not from Central Fla, it's Orlando), there's a building a local mega-church has been "constructing" since 2001. They wanted to build it with no financing, and kept putting construction on hold every time they ran out of funds. Pretty sure at this point they've spent more in property taxes for a building they can't use than they would have spent in interest if they'd just financed it from the start, but, shrug. It's a pretty ugly building design to begin with, too. All those mirrored windows are blinding when the sun hits them the right way.

escherplex 8y ago
That's one freaky building but organizers probably figured ...the Lord will provide which can be countered with Aesop's Hercules and the Wagoneer moral the gods help those who first provide the gods something to work with (ie labor and resources not just wishes). On observation, how lax have the lower-medium-income housing building codes become in the Orlando area? I live in a sprawling one-story house built like a concrete bunker in SW FL which survived the 140mph winds of hurricane Charlie and others (also helps it's 21 feet above sea level so somewhat immune to surges), with damage only to a pool cage. But in hurricane aftermaths you saw flimsy garden apartment frame-construction type structures demolished by broken trees and flying debris. Yet today you still see relatively dense pack housing being constructed the same way. Seems sad, knowing their inevitable fate.
- cowpewter 8y ago
  They swear it will be finished this year, which they've said before, but there is actually construction currently ongoing at the site, which is a good sign, I suppose. I live north of Orlando, so I have to drive by it anytime I head that way. As for building codes, I'm not sure. I just moved back down to central Fl after living in Gainesville the past 20 years. I do know that 30 years of living in Florida has taught me to never buy a mobile home. Hurricanes flatten those. I feel bad for the folks that don't have the ability to afford something more sturdy. There's a lot of new construction in the next neighborhood over from mine (old golf course turned housing development), but I'm not sure if they're stick-frame houses or concrete. It's also an upscale development, not lower-middle-class.
ggcdn 8y ago
Weird, I wonder if the decision to not finance was for religious reasons
- cowpewter 8y ago
  Possibly. All I know is that the head of the church swore they'd do it debt-free via donations and they're sticking to that.

escherplex 8y ago

That's one freaky building but organizers probably figured ...the Lord will provide which can be countered with Aesop's Hercules and the Wagoneer moral the gods help those who first provide the gods something to work with (ie labor and resources not just wishes). On observation, how lax have the lower-medium-income housing building codes become in the Orlando area? I live in a sprawling one-story house built like a concrete bunker in SW FL which survived the 140mph winds of hurricane Charlie and others (also helps it's 21 feet above sea level so somewhat immune to surges), with damage only to a pool cage. But in hurricane aftermaths you saw flimsy garden apartment frame-construction type structures demolished by broken trees and flying debris. Yet today you still see relatively dense pack housing being constructed the same way. Seems sad, knowing their inevitable fate.

cowpewter 8y ago
They swear it will be finished this year, which they've said before, but there is actually construction currently ongoing at the site, which is a good sign, I suppose. I live north of Orlando, so I have to drive by it anytime I head that way. As for building codes, I'm not sure. I just moved back down to central Fl after living in Gainesville the past 20 years. I do know that 30 years of living in Florida has taught me to never buy a mobile home. Hurricanes flatten those. I feel bad for the folks that don't have the ability to afford something more sturdy. There's a lot of new construction in the next neighborhood over from mine (old golf course turned housing development), but I'm not sure if they're stick-frame houses or concrete. It's also an upscale development, not lower-middle-class.

ggcdn 8y ago

Weird, I wonder if the decision to not finance was for religious reasons

cowpewter 8y ago
Possibly. All I know is that the head of the church swore they'd do it debt-free via donations and they're sticking to that.