RoseArts District Breaks Ground on $2.6 Billion Orlando Development

A major piece of Northwest Orlando is about to take shape. The RoseArts District, a planned 128-acre mixed-use development in the Rosemont area, officially broke ground on September 30th, marking a significant step forward for one of the city's largest residential and retail projects.

Formerly home to the shuttered Lake Orlando Golf Club, the property is planned to become a new neighborhood combining multifamily housing, retail, restaurants, green space, trails and transportation connections. At full build-out, RoseArts is planned to include 5,650 multifamily residential units and up to 350,000 square feet of commercial space.

For anyone watching Orlando real estate development, this is a project worth following. Its size, location and mix of housing and commercial uses could have a noticeable impact on the surrounding Rosemont area and the broader Northwest Orlando market.

What Is the RoseArts District?

RoseArts is being developed as a large-scale mixed-use community on approximately 128 acres near Lake Orlando. Rather than functioning as a single traditional apartment or retail project, the development is planned as a collection of individual buildings and parcels connected by shared streets, common areas and public-facing amenities.

The development team describes RoseArts as a lakeside neighborhood designed to bring housing, shopping, dining, recreation and other services together in one location. The current master plan includes three phases and incorporates residential buildings, commercial space, trails, green areas and transportation options.

The project has been in planning for several years. According to the RoseArts development timeline, the property was assembled beginning in 2019, zoning was received in 2021, and site plan approvals and value engineering followed in 2023. The groundbreaking in September 2026 now moves the project into a new stage of development.

How Large Will RoseArts Be?

The scale of RoseArts is one of the reasons it stands out among Orlando real estate developments.

• 128 acres of total development area
• 5,650 multifamily residential units planned across three phases
• Up to 350,000 square feet of retail and commercial space
• 65 acres planned for green space and parks
• Walking and biking trails throughout the district
• Transportation connections designed to improve access to nearby destinations

The commercial component is expected to include a mix of uses rather than a traditional shopping-center format. Plans call for potential restaurants, breweries, grocers, healthcare providers, studios, recreational uses and other businesses that can serve both residents and visitors.

That combination could make RoseArts less about simply adding apartment buildings and more about creating a new neighborhood within Northwest Orlando.

What Is Planned for the First Phase?

The first phase will cover roughly 40 acres at the northern portion of the property, south of Rosamund Drive, east of North Lake Orlando Parkway and north of Lake Breeze Drive.

Plans for Phase One currently call for four eight-story residential buildings supported by parking garages. Together, those buildings are expected to provide approximately 1,600 residential units.

The first phase is also planned to include:

• Approximately 160 affordable housing units
• Up to 150,000 square feet of retail space
• A charter school
• Community amenities and shared outdoor areas
• Connections to the district's transportation and trail network

According to the developer, the first phase is expected to be delivered in approximately 30 months. As with any large-scale development, schedules and individual components can change as construction progresses.

Why Housing Is a Major Part of the Project

RoseArts is moving forward at a time when Orlando continues to experience significant demand for housing.

According to the City of Orlando, the city's population grew approximately 14% between 2020 and 2024, while its housing stock increased by about 11%. The city estimates that this difference created a shortage of approximately 9,400 housing units. Orlando also projects that more than 90,000 additional residents could be added over the next decade, creating a need for approximately 46,000 new housing units by 2035.

That broader growth helps explain why large residential developments are playing such an important role in Orlando's future land-use plans.

RoseArts alone is planned to add thousands of multifamily units, including affordable housing in the first phase. The development therefore represents not only a change to one former golf course property, but also another major addition to the city's housing pipeline.

Transportation and Connectivity Are Part of the Plan

One of the more notable elements of RoseArts is the emphasis on connectivity.

The development plan includes an extensive network of walking and biking paths, with the district's main road, RoseArts Row, designed to connect different portions of the community. The master plan also includes bike infrastructure, electric vehicle charging, scooter stations and autonomous transportation concepts.

The project is also planned to provide a shuttle connection to the nearby LYNX SuperStop, giving future residents another option for accessing the broader Orlando area without relying entirely on a personal vehicle.

For a development of this size, those connections could be particularly important. Adding thousands of homes to an established part of Orlando means transportation infrastructure becomes just as important as the buildings themselves.

RoseArts Will Also Add Significant Commercial Space

Housing is only one part of the long-term plan. RoseArts is planned to include as much as 350,000 square feet of commercial space across the completed district.

The planned mix includes dining, retail, healthcare, recreation, creative spaces and other neighborhood-oriented businesses. The goal is to give residents access to more everyday services and experiences within the development itself.

That could also create a new destination for people who live outside Rosemont, particularly as additional phases are completed.

What Could RoseArts Mean for Northwest Orlando?

Large developments can change more than the property where they are built. They can influence surrounding roads, businesses, housing options and the way nearby neighborhoods connect to the rest of the city.

RoseArts is positioned near established communities and is relatively close to Downtown Orlando. The combination of new housing, commercial space, trails and transportation connections could introduce a different development pattern to an area that has historically been more residential in character.

It is also worth watching from a real estate perspective. New construction can introduce additional housing options for Orlando residents, while new retail and infrastructure can change the appeal and functionality of surrounding areas over time.

That does not mean the impact on individual neighborhoods or property values can be predicted with certainty. The eventual effect will depend on factors including the pace of construction, the final tenant mix, transportation improvements, broader Orlando growth and overall market conditions.

The Economic Impact Could Extend Beyond the Development

According to estimates provided by Westside Capital Group, the project could generate substantial economic activity during both construction and full build-out.

The developer estimates approximately 11,233 temporary jobs and $922.9 million in wages and salaries during construction, expressed in 2035 dollars. At full build-out, the developer projects approximately $320.6 million in annual gross economic output, along with approximately 1,790 direct, indirect and induced jobs.

Westside Capital Group also estimates that the completed development could generate approximately $19.2 million annually for the City of Orlando based on the city's current millage rate, with approximately $33.1 million in potential annual ad valorem tax receipts when other applicable taxing authorities are included.

These figures are developer projections rather than guaranteed outcomes, but they illustrate the scale of the economic activity associated with a project of this size.

What Happens Next for RoseArts?

With groundbreaking now underway, attention will turn toward construction of the first phase and the eventual arrival of new residents, businesses and amenities.

The project is expected to take years to fully develop, and the final community may evolve as individual phases move forward. The RoseArts master plan currently anticipates three phases, allowing the development to grow over time rather than delivering all of its planned housing and commercial space at once.

For Orlando residents, homebuyers and real estate investors, the project is another example of how quickly Central Florida continues to evolve.

What RoseArts Could Mean for Orlando Homebuyers and Sellers

If you are buying or selling a home in Northwest Orlando, development projects like RoseArts are worth keeping on your radar. New housing, retail, transportation improvements and amenities can change how an area functions and how buyers evaluate nearby neighborhoods.

At the same time, every property has its own location, condition, price point and market factors. A major development nearby is only one piece of the larger real estate picture.

If you are considering a move in Orlando, it can be helpful to look beyond today's listings and understand what is planned for the neighborhoods you are considering. The Aponte Group at Real Broker can help you evaluate current homes, new construction and neighborhood-level market conditions throughout the Orlando area.

Frequently Asked Questions About the RoseArts District

Thinking About Buying or Selling in Orlando?

Orlando continues to change, and understanding what is happening around a neighborhood can be just as important as understanding the home itself. From new construction and major developments to neighborhood trends and local market conditions, having the right information can help you make a more informed real estate decision.

Looking to buy, sell or invest in the Orlando area? Connect with Aponte Group at Real Broker for local guidance and a closer look at the communities and opportunities that fit your goals.