While Osceola County’s NeoCity district is raking in millions in public funds to grow production of much-needed semiconductors, the long-promised city center has been stalled while the county decides how to move ahead with plans for a performing arts complex now estimated to cost nearly $150 million.

The joint venture led by New York-based Sciame Construction and Edward J. Minskoff Equities was supposed to file its first set of development plans in July, but County Manager Don Fisher granted a 90-day extension until Sept. 22, according to a report in GrowthSpotter. This is the developers’ fifth contract extension since taking over the project in early 2022. Sciame is working with New York-based SHoP Architects to implement the vision in the NeoCity master plan, which revolves around a new performing arts center as the anchor of the city center.

“As indicated before, the County has been working on the Performing Arts Center,” Fisher told GrowthSpotter. “This facility will be integral to Sciame’s plans for the City Center. Regarding the Performing Arts Center (OPAC), the County has been visiting other venues for best designs and operations. We have also been trying to right-size the cost of the facility.”

The 500-acre NeoCity tech district on U.S. 192 has received more than a half billion dollars in federal contracts and grants over the last two years to build its new semiconductor manufacturing hub. But the master plan also calls for a live-work-play district with over a thousand residential units, high-tech jobs and a vibrant city center focused on the arts with shops and restaurants lining the lakefront — and that portion is still being designed.

The county engaged Webb Management to complete a two-phased feasibility study for the performing arts center that was completed in the spring and recommended a facility with a seating capacity of 1,250 in the main theater plus an outdoor venue that can accommodate even larger crowds for a wide range of events, including live music concerts, films, festivals and community celebrations. The Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University is an example of the indoor-outdoor concept.

The consultant estimates the total construction cost of the 90,000-square-foot building and plaza at $110.8 million. When soft costs, such as professional fees, fundraising, permitting and contingency, are factored in, that figure increases to  $148.4 million. The project could be financed through a variety of sources, but most likely would include a combination of general fund dollars, tourist development taxes, park impact fees and grants.

The Webb report projects that the facility would operate at a loss for the first four years before making a small profit in year five. Operating costs would be covered by ticket sales, rental fees, food & beverage sales and individual/corporate grants. The sale of naming rights could also generate income.

The study evaluates two sites along the lakefront for the center, each with advantages and drawbacks. The first site, dubbed Central Plaza, is considered the most visible and prominent location. It also allows the plaza to be directly connected to the main building, but the size of the plaza would have to be smaller.

The second option more closely aligns with the original master plan vision from SHoP Architects. It shifts the building east to a different corner of the lakefront, placing it next to a planned hotel and expanding the size of the outdoor plaza. The back-of-house and loading docks would be less visible than the first option, but the pedestrian drop-off area is more limited. The biggest drawback to this location could be the timing, as the hotel and office buildings might not be constructed in the first phase of the project.

Deputy County Manager Amanda Clavijo said the county has not scheduled a workshop with commissioners to discuss the next steps on the project. She speaks with the development team every other week and says they’re committed to the city center project and are making progress.

“We just had a really good call with them,” she said. “We brought in just a little bit bigger of a team to really get us moving forward as far as where we’re at right now and talking about how the site would make sense to move forward, what product would be best to bring forward first. So I’m hopeful that over the next few months, we’ll get some really good progress that would be a meaningful update.”

Have a tip about Central Florida development? Contact me at lkinsler@GrowthSpotter.com or (407) 420-6261. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook and LinkedIn.