North American Properties vice president of leasing Tonya Creekmore tells GlobeSt.com that SoDo will include five buildings that are seven stories on Grant and two stories on West Crystal Lake. Approximately 330,000 sf of retail space, including nearly 70,000 sf of restaurant and boutique space, will be constructed on the ground level of the buildings. The retail space will be anchored by SuperTarget.

The project will also include 60,000 sf of office space constructed on the second floors of the buildings and 300 residential units developed by Wood Partners on the upper floors. It has not yet been determined whether the residential units will be for sale or for rent.

"This project is in the area south of Downtown--SoDo," Creekmore says. "It's an extension of the growth that Downtown has already experienced."

The 20-acre block where SoDo will be built currently contains a small retail center, three closed restaurants and several industrial and class B office buildings. In August, the city approved a zoning application submitted by developers to rezone the area to planned development. Demolition of the existing structures has started with the demolition of a former Kentucky Fried Chicken building. Vertical construction is expected to begin in late spring. The project is expected to be completed in October 2008.

"SoDo will push Orlando's Southside renaissance a giant leap forward by providing the development catalyst for future growth," Creekmore says.