A vacant warehouse that once housed a men’s shelter in Parramore caught fire this morning and the Orlando Fire Department reported that one person was rescued from the second floor of the vacant building but that they weren’t necessarily linked to the cause of the fire.

Orlando Union Rescue Mission (Website) relocated its shelter from 400 W. Central Boulevard [GMap] to a new facility at 3300 W. Colonial Drive [GMap] in August 2019.

The move was precipitated by Orlando Magic’s planned entertainment complex development which you can read more about HERE and the old building was planned to be demolished.

PHOTO VIA ORLANDO UNION RESCUE MISSION FACEBOOK PAGE

The neon “Christ is Savior, God is Love” sign that used to crown the building was removed in September and was not harmed by the fire. The sign, which was first installed at the building in 1962 for a cost of $778, was declared a historic landmark in 2002 by the City of Orlando but when news was announced of the relocation of the men’s shelter, it was discovered to be in fragile shape and too tough to save by local institutions. The sign is currently in Orlando Rescue Mission storage and is expected to be put on display at the new men’s shelter in the near future, according to a Rescue Mission employee.

A new 27-foot replica of the historic sign was placed at the new building.

PHOTO VIA ORLANDO UNION RESCUE MISSION FACEBOOK PAGE

Brendan O'Connor

Editor in Chief of Bungalower.com

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