H2O Church Moves Forward as Building Gifted Them is Renovated

ORLANDO – After nearly two decades of leasing worship space downtown, the non-denominational H2O Church in downtown Orlando soon will have a home of its own.

Built in the mid-1950s, the former First United Methodist Church at 2113 E. South St. sat empty the past three years. But it is currently undergoing a $250,000 transformation and will become the new home of the H2O Church, as well as a community gathering place for residents and others in Orlando’s Milk District.

“We love downtown and we’re very excited to be able to stay here,” said the Jim Poorman, one of the Pastors of H2O Church. “We’re just really fortunate to be gifted this church with a new neighborhood being built around it.”

The congregation’s good fortune came earlier this year in the form of a “gift” from a group of church members headed by Marisol Santiago Soderstrom, John Kurtz and Roger Soderstrom, Jr. after their real estate firm coordinated the purchase of nearly five acres that included the property the former Methodist church was built upon.

Since its inception 19 years ago, H2O Church has held services at the former EDGE/ 8 Seconds country western bar before moving to their current venue, in The Abbey below the Sanctuary condominiums, six years ago.

Many of H2O’s parishioners, some between 20 and 40 years of age, have little or no church background and, according to Poorman, would never have set foot in a traditional church. He refers to them as being “spiritually curious.” And, that fits perfect with Poorman and his Co-Pastors John Hever and Steve Reed.

“John, Steve and I didn’t grow up in Christian homes. We don’t have church backgrounds. So, we know what it’s like to be on the outside looking in,” he said. “We think people appreciate a place where they can explore what they believe.”

Poorman said he has shared plans and drawings with some of the neighbors, who said they were dismayed to have looked at the deteriorating Spanish/Mediterranean-style structure with overgrown shrubs for the last few years.

“They’re very excited too,” he said. “We want them to be able to look out their windows and see something attractive.”

“We’ve had between 40-50 people – church family and their friends – helping us the last couple of weekends cleaning and removing items that were left behind. We’ve hauled unusable items out and cleaned and finished the prep work for the renovation which will be completed by CDI Construction Development,” Poorman said, adding that beautiful stained-glass windows which were removed by the former owner now have been reinstalled.

Improvements to the church – which may be completed in early 2021 – will include a new roof, painting, stucco repairs to the exterior, new floors, new lighting, sound system and building a lobby with a coffee bar that can double as a meeting and work space for the neighborhood, Poorman said.

“We want the lobby to be a place where the community can just come and hang out and study, have business meetings or if they want to get a group together to watch a movie, an Orlando City Soccer game, hold a wedding, reception, concert or whatever, they can rent it out. We just want the facility to serve the residents of our downtown community.” 

* * *

Dream Finders Homes Opens St. Augustine Community with Two New Model Villas

Villages of Valencia

ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH – Two professionally-decorated model villas are open and ready for viewing at Dream Finders Homes’ newest community, the Villages of Valencia on Modesto Drive, between U.S. Highway 1 and Shores Boulevard.

Siesta Kitchen

The new models – the two-bedroom, two-bath Largo and the two- or three-bedroom Siesta – feature 1,326 and 1,784 square feet, respectively, and offer lower-level owner’s suites and two-car garages, according to Brad Muston, Dream Finders’ Division President.

Only 70 Dream Finders Homes’ homesites will be available there with prices for the one- and two-story units starting in the low $200,000s.

 “We’re very excited to open our brand new community with three maintenance-free villa floor plans,” he said. “Overall, Valencia is a highly sought after, well-established community in the St. Augustine Beach area.”

Largo Living Room

Residents of the Villages of Valencia can make use of amenities there such as a pool, playground, volleyball and bocce ball areas and a covered pavilion, Muston said, adding that the low $118 monthly HOA fee covers landscaping, lawn care, exterior paint and roof maintenance. 

Only minutes away from Canopy Shores Park, the Matanzas River and State Road A1A, the location also offers quick access to shopping and dining in historic St. Augustine, as well as a day of rest and relaxation at Anastasia Island, St. Augustine Beach or Vilano Beach.

For more information, please visit www.dreamfindershomes.com or call 888-214-1164. 

/   /   /

Hold Thyssen Fills Longtime Vacant Retail Space in Rosemont Village Shopping Center With Quality Tenant

Vik Mahadeo

ORLANDO --- Hold Thyssen, Inc., a full service commercial property firm based in Winter Park, recently negotiated a new multi-year lease agreement for 4,480 rentable square feet at Rosemont Village Shopping Center, 4459 N. Pine Hills Rd. in Orlando.

Hold Thyssen leasing associate Vik Mahadeo brokered the transaction on behalf of the landlord and the tenant in the transaction.  Mahadeo negotiated relocation of the well-established church – Center for Israel United in Christ -- placing the quality tenant into the space that was vacant for more than three years.

Hold Thyssen, Inc. provides commercial property brokerage and leasing and management services to institutional and private investor clients nationwide.  The 40-year old firm’s current portfolio includes more that 100 commercial properties throughout the United States.

*  *  *

Orlando Business Journal Guest Column

Dream Finders Homes Opens New Six-Bedroom Model at Ardmore Reserve in Minneola

MINNEOLA – Dream Finders Homes has opened its new ­­­­­3,892-square-foot Avalon model at 1300 Blarney St. at Ardmore Reserve in the rolling hills of Minneola in Lake County.

Features in the spacious six-bedroom, four-bath home include an enormous second-story bonus room with a wet bar, according to Gerry Boeneman, president of Dream Finders Homes’ Central Florida division.

“This beautifully-decorated model also features a huge kitchen island and breakfast nook, as well oversized sliding doors in the family room that open to a sizable covered lanai,” he said.

Nestled between city life and nature Ardmore Reserve, opening with 30 homesites in the first phase, offers homebuyers the best of both in Lake County, Boeneman said, explaining that the community is convenient to dining and shopping in downtown Orlando and a short drive to theme parks, while being close to numerous outdoor activities like Waterfront Park, Lake Apopka and the scenic seven-mile South Lake Trail.

The community boasts a sprawling, zero-entry swimming pool, a covered playground and an expansive clubhouse.

Four- to seven-bedroom homes are available at Ardmore Reserve with prices starting from the low $300,000s. This community offers floor plans that range from 2,510 to more than 5,000 square feet on oversized 70-foot homesites.

We have six move-in ready homes for those needing to move now, he said.

~   ~   ~

Dream Finders Homes Nearing Completion of Site Development For Luxury Townhome Community in Winter Springs

Winter Springs, Fla. – Dream Finders Homes is nearing completion of site development for Seminole Crossing, its newest community of 112 two- and three-story luxury townhomes coming soon in Winter Springs off of SR 434 and Michael Blake Blvd. near Lake Jesup.

The maintenance-free townhomes will highlight unique exterior designs and luxury interior features including upgraded fixtures and appliances, 9' 4" ceilings on lower levels and 9' ceilings on upper levels, according to Gerry Boeneman, Dream Finders’ Orlando Division President.

Five three-bedroom floor plans will range from 1,757 to 2,707 square feet of living area with two-and-a-half and three-and-a-half baths and two car garages. 

“With land preparation well underway, we expect to be able to start construction in the fall and models should be ready for viewing by the end of the year,” Boeneman said, adding that prices are expected to start in the low $300,000s.

Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the Seminole Crossing’s connection to the 23-mile Cross Seminole Trail.   Designed for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians, the trail runs from Winter Springs to the nearby historic town of Oviedo, which is also a short drive for the residents who enjoy museums, farmer’s markets and other popular attractions.

The community will have its own amenity center with resort-style swimming pool and is within walking distance to the Winter Springs Town Center with a variety of retail and restaurant options.  Located within the highly rated Seminole School District, close proximity to SR 417 also provides residents of Seminole Crossing quick access to the University of Central Florida and international airports.

Visit https://www.dreamfindershomes.com/  or call 888-214-1164 for more information. 

*   *   *

Hold-Thyssen Completes Sale of Former Alarm Company Property on Maitland Avenue

Martin Forster

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS --- Hold-Thyssen, Inc., a full-service commercial property firm in Winter Park, recently closed on the sale of an office property at 702 and 720 Maitland Ave. in Altamonte Springs.     Two adjoining former homes built in 1967 totaling over 2,915 useable square feet on .43-acres was formerly the long-time site of an alarm installation and monitoring company, housing their offices and storage.   Seller Hercules Management Corp. had the property on the market for several years before accepting a $340,000 purchase price from the investor-buyer who plans to operate the administrative offices of its business at the property.     Hold-Thyssen’s Martin Forster CCIM listed the property and represented both the buyer and the seller as a transactional broker.    The new business is expected to be in operation in approximately 60 days once roof replacement and renovations are completed.

Hold-Thyssen, Inc. provides commercial property brokerage, leasing, management and receivership services to institutional and private investor clients nationwide.  The 40-year old firm’s current management portfolio includes more than 100 commercial properties throughout the United States.

*  *  *

Buyers of Milk District Area Site Planned for Residential Infill Will Gift Existing Church Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall

ORLANDO --- 2113 E. South Street, LLC purchased a 4.82-acre church and education site near downtown Orlando for $2.65 million as the City reviews their Planned Development application.  The owners will gift a portion of the infill project to a small downtown non-denominational church.  

Stirling International Real Estate Brokers John Kurtz, CCIM and Roger Soderstrom, Jr.  representing the Milk District area property, said the firm recently entered into a contract to sell 3.87 acres of the site to Surrey Homes USA who plans to construct nine single-family Craftsman-style homes and 31 townhomes with rear-entry garages served by alleyways. 

Christian Swann, President and Founder of Surrey Homes described the project as an excellent example of adaptive reuse and infill development for the locally owned and operated builder.  “It’s important to us to build homes that Surrey Homes and the residents of downtown Orlando will be proud of for years to come.  We’re thrilled to bring our unique, innovative home design to downtown Orlando and the Milk District,” said Swann.

The development plan submitted by the engineering team of CPH headed by Javier Omana calls for the school buildings on the property to be razed, but for the existing church sanctuary and fellowship hall to remain, which will create greater harmony with the residences.  A proposed internal roadway network and landscape design that preserves stately trees is also part of the overall plan that merges nicely with surrounding neighborhoods, Kurtz explained.

“Our strategy includes investing more than $250,000 in the existing Spanish/Mediterranean-style church sanctuary and fellowship hall on the remaining acre and gifting them to our H20 church family,” said Kurtz.  The growing congregation has been holding services in the Abbey on the ground floor of The Sanctuary condominium at 100 S. Eola Drive for over six years. 

Kurtz said the new residential infill project, which is consistent with the City’s Growth Management Plan, should move quickly. “It fosters a wise use of downtown land where housing is in demand and public services are already in place,” he said.

The new development at 2113 E. South St. is bound on the south by East South Street, existing single family homes to the east and west, and by Forest Circle and existing residences to the north. 

"As a long-time member of the Orlando Downtown Community, H2O Church is thrilled to be part of this new developing community in the Historic Milk District. We are looking forward to serving and blessing the surrounding community," said Pastor Jim Poorman of H20 Church.

Julie Matura, member of The Milk District’s Board of Directors, says they’re looking forward to welcoming new neighbors in the area.  “We’re happy to support thoughtful development by those who have demonstrated a commitment to revitalizing and building a stronger community.  Stirling's restoration and donation of the church to a local parish and their willingness to listen to resident input in the planning process, exemplifies their role as a true community partner,” she said.

Committee and Planning Board reviews should be completed by late summer and construction of new homes is estimated to get underway by the end of this year. 

*  *  *