Is RoseArts Really a $2.6 Billion Project? What Orlando’s Largest Infill Plan Includes (2026)
Quick answer
As of October 2026, the $2.6 billion attached to Orlando’s RoseArts District is an estimated gross economic output from a developer-commissioned study, not a construction cost. The 128-acre plan allows up to 5,650 homes at full buildout; Phase 1 covers about 1,594 units.
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| Site | 128 acres, the former Lake Orlando Golf Course & Country Club (closed 2014) |
| The $2.6 billion figure | Estimated gross economic output from a developer-commissioned study, not a construction cost |
| Homes at full buildout | Up to 5,650 multifamily units |
| Phase 1 homes | About 1,594 units, including 160 affordable |
| Commercial at buildout | Up to 350,000 sq ft |
| Phasing | 3 main phases, 9 sub-phases |
| 2021 approval | City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2021-74 in December 2021 |
| Groundbreaking | September 30, 2026 |
Sources: City of Orlando, Lake Orlando RoseArts District project page (updated Sept 22, 2026); GrowthSpotter (Laura Kinsler), Sept 30, 2026; News 6 WKMG, Sept 30, 2026; Realty Today, Oct 5, 2026.
Is RoseArts really a $2.6 billion project?
Not in the way the headline suggests. The $2.6 billion figure is an estimated gross economic output from an impact study commissioned for the project, not a construction cost or a stated development price.
The study, which reflects the developer’s projections, estimates more than 11,000 temporary construction jobs, roughly 1,790 permanent jobs, and about $320.6 million in annual economic activity once the district is running. Reporting on the study notes the output figures are expressed in future dollars, so they describe activity spread over many years rather than a single budget. For context, the project was described as a roughly $1 billion development in its 2020 application. Treat the $2.6 billion as an economic-impact estimate, not the price to build.
What is approved versus still planned at RoseArts?
Phase 1 is approved and broke ground on September 30, 2026, while Phases 2 and 3 remain planned but not yet cleared to proceed.
The City of Orlando describes three main phases and nine sub-phases, with up to 5,650 multifamily units and up to 350,000 square feet of commercial space across the full 128 acres. Approval of Phases 2 and 3 is contingent on completing Phase 1 items, including a school capacity analysis, a utilities analysis, a parks and open space analysis, and a transportation monitoring and modeling study. In other words, full buildout is the ceiling the plan allows, not a commitment that every unit will be built.
How did RoseArts get approved, and when?
The approvals ran from 2021 through 2022, and construction permitting now extends into 2028. The developer acquired the 128-acre former Lake Orlando Golf Course and Country Club site in 2019 for about $1.85 million; the course had ceased operation in 2014, and Rosemont was designated a federal Opportunity Zone in 2017.
Per the City of Orlando, the Municipal Planning Board approved annexation, growth management plan amendments, and planned development zoning in July 2021, and City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2021-74 that December. The board and council approved the Phase 1 specific parcel master plan in 2022, with an original permit deadline of October 2024. After hurricanes Ian, Idalia and Debby and Tropical Storm Nicole, the City granted a 48-month extension to October 2028. A Phase 1 plat application followed in May 2025, and the groundbreaking came on September 30, 2026.
What is actually in Phase 1?
Phase 1 covers about 38.5 acres south of Rosamond Drive and west of North Orange Blossom Trail, with about 1,594 units planned, 160 of them affordable, and up to 150,000 square feet of non-residential space, per the City of Orlando.
Early reporting describes four apartment buildings in this phase and a charter school on the site, and the project chairman has said the first building will take about 30 months. For a fuller walkthrough of what this phase includes, see our earlier guide on the RoseArts District groundbreaking in Rosemont. Across the whole district the plan promises up to 65 acres of parks and green space, with each phase meeting the 20 percent minimum open space of the Wekiva Overlay, plus trails, EV charging, scooter stations and transit access.
What should buyers and residents watch next?
Watch whether Phases 2 and 3 clear the studies that their approval depends on, because that determines how much of the 5,650-unit ceiling actually gets built.
Mayor Buddy Dyer has called RoseArts the largest infill development in Orlando history, and at the scale now permitted it will reshape this stretch of Orange Blossom Trail. At the 2021 approval the plan drew opposition from some Rosemont residents, and at the groundbreaking residents questioned whether the site suits a development of this size, with traffic among the concerns raised. The timeline has already moved: 2020 filings projected first homes by 2023, and the first building is now expected to take about 30 months from groundbreaking. If you are weighing a purchase near this corridor, call or text the Jared Jones Team at 407-706-5000 for the latest on timing and nearby inventory.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RoseArts District really a $2.6 billion project?
The $2.6 billion figure is an estimated gross economic output from a developer-commissioned impact study, not a construction cost or stated development price. The same study projects more than 11,000 temporary construction jobs and nearly $2.6 billion in economic output over time. In its 2020 application, the project was described as a roughly $1 billion development.
How many homes will the RoseArts District have?
At full buildout, the plan allows up to 5,650 multifamily units across 128 acres, along with up to 350,000 square feet of commercial space, according to the City of Orlando. Phase 1 covers about 1,594 units, including 160 affordable units, plus up to 150,000 square feet of non-residential space. The later phases would add the rest over time.
What is approved at RoseArts versus still planned?
Phase 1 is approved and broke ground on September 30, 2026. Phases 2 and 3 are part of the master plan but their approval is contingent on Phase 1 items, including a school capacity analysis, a utilities analysis, a parks and open space analysis, and a transportation monitoring and modeling study, according to the City of Orlando.
When was the RoseArts District approved?
The City of Orlando says the Municipal Planning Board approved annexation, growth management plan amendments, and planned development zoning in July 2021, and City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2021-74 in December 2021. The council approved the Phase 1 specific parcel master plan in October 2022. A later extension pushed the Phase 1 permit deadline to October 2028.
What is in Phase 1 of RoseArts?
Phase 1 sits on about 38.5 acres south of Rosamond Drive and west of North Orange Blossom Trail, according to the City of Orlando. It includes about 1,594 units, 160 of them affordable, and up to 150,000 square feet of non-residential space. It has also been reported to include a charter school. The project chairman has said the first building will take about 30 months.
What concerns have residents raised about RoseArts?
At the 2021 approval, the plan drew opposition from some Rosemont residents, and at the groundbreaking residents questioned whether the site suits a development of this size. Traffic is among the concerns raised. The City has tied approval of the later phases to further studies, including a transportation monitoring and modeling study and a school capacity analysis.
Sources
- City of Orlando: Lake Orlando RoseArts District Development Project (acreage, phasing, unit counts, timeline and Phase 1 contingencies; last updated Sept 22, 2026)
- GrowthSpotter: RoseArts developer breaks ground on $2.6 billion mixed-use district (by Laura Kinsler) (Sept 30, 2026)
- News 6 WKMG (ClickOrlando): RoseArts District construction begins at former Lake Orlando golf course (Sept 30, 2026)
- Realty Today: RoseArts Broke Ground on a Former Golf Course. The $2.6 Billion Headline Isn’t a Construction Cost. (Oct 5, 2026)
- Jared Jones – Orlando Living (YouTube): $2.6 BILLION Orlando Project, $10K Home Price Drop (published Oct 6, 2026)