The City of Orlando is looking to place a conservation easement over a historic property at 11 N. Rosalind Avenue [GMap] in downtown Orlando, one of the last remaining buildings that impedes into Lake Eola Park.
The 0.34-acre property is home to a 6,373 SF building that was built in 1915 to house the Ladies Social Club of Orlando, who later became the Rosalind Club; a nod to Orlando’s sweetheart in Shakespeare’s “As You Like It.” It’s Orlando’s oldest private social club for women and offered a Yin to the University Club’s Yang, which was located kitty-corner from their building on Central Avenue up until September 2023.
The City has taken an active role in curating which buildings in the park are destined to stay and which are fit for the wrecking ball in recent years, with the demolition of the homes that used to surround the Eola House on the eastern edge of the park to the more recent hazing of the 7-Eleven building at Central and Rosalind to make way for a new pocket park.
The properties have been of significant interest to City Hall as most of them are independently owned, and vulnerable to sales to private developers. The placing of a conservation easement over the Rosalind Club property, according to city documents, would help to preserve the building as-is and make it almost impossible for someone to knock it down and build something denser, ie apartments, in its place.
If the easement is approved by City Council, it would only last for 10 years. After that, it could be extended for an additional 10 years as well, if so voted by city council at that time.
The Rosalind Club is still operational as a private event and club space.
Please save this building. Part of Orlando history.
Like the consevation status we had with Split Oak? In 10 yrs they can decided it’s not of value anymore and revoke the protection.
end exploitation of historical landmarks
Good move City – it’s an important piece of history and an active meaningful private club.