Construction Began at Orlando RoseArts District

Developers have broken ground on a 65-acre mixed-use project at the former Lake Orlando Golf Course.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Construction

A yellow construction excavator parked on a cleared plot of dirt with mounds of earth, surrounded by Florida trees under a clear sky. — Construction crews have broken ground at the new 65-acre RoseArts District in Orlando, a mixed-use project intended to address the local housing supply gap. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Construction has officially commenced at the RoseArts District, a major redevelopment project on the site of the former Lake Orlando Golf Course. The initiative is designed to revitalize the vacant land with a combination of retail and residential space.

Why it matters

The project is explicitly intended to address the persistent housing gap facing Orlando residents. By converting underutilized land into dense living areas, the development aims to increase the local housing supply.

The initial development phase includes 150,000 square feet of retail space and 1,600 residential units, 160 of which are designated as affordable housing. The full project is expected to generate nearly $2.6 billion in total economic output.

The details

The development transforms the 65-acre former Lake Orlando Golf Course into a mixed-use district across multiple phases. The first phase consists of four distinct buildings situated on four separate parcels of land.

Construction began on the first phase on September 30, 2026.

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Market Landscape

The RoseArts District follows the established pattern of converting obsolete golf courses into high-density housing developments seen in growing metropolitan markets. This project represents a shift in urban land use as cities prioritize infill development over suburban sprawl.

Local residents can expect more than 11,000 temporary jobs to be created throughout the multi-phase construction process. The addition of 160 affordable housing units in the initial phase offers new options for those struggling with the city's current housing affordability constraints.

The takeaway

Large-scale redevelopment projects like the RoseArts District serve as a primary strategy for cities aiming to mitigate housing shortages. These efforts prioritize transforming underused urban land into vital community and commercial hubs.