In designing Baldwin Park, planners were inspired by late 19th and early 20th-century planning philosophies focused on social cohesion, aesthetics and environmental integration.
Baldwin Park, Orlando/ Orange County
Niche.com A+ Grade 8 // Median HomeValue $743,316
Formerly the Orlando Naval Training Center (ONTC), which was closed in 1993, Baldwin Park is now a dynamic, mixed-use community. The urban design objectives for Baldwin Park are grounded in principles focusing on the environment, transportation and development patterns, aligning with goals previously established by the City of Orlando during their Vision Plan process.
Town Planning Principles
In 1999, the City of Orlando acquired the land that was formerly ONTC. What followed was a development session that focused on protecting that land’s natural sites; an emphasis on open spaces and lakefronts; the integration of residential, civic, retail and office spaces to promote social interaction and reduce dependence on cars; and to combine dense village centers with private residential zones to support varied lifestyles. Key physical planning elements:
- 10-minute walk to Village Center design strategy.
- Connected lakes and Great Park as central organizing features.
- 200 acres of park land and 250 acres of publicly accessible lakes.
- Integrated bike and pedestrian trails throughout the neighborhood.
As of January 2024, Baldwin Park had 12,269 residents and 5,139 total residential units (1,134 single-family, 4,005 multi-family), with a number of approved projects yet to be built, which is true in the office and retail space sectors as well.
Economic Impact
From 2019 to 2023, Baldwin Park’s market value increased 46.7%, reaching $2.7 billion. Also, city tax revenues have increased by 27.8% to $12.75 million, showing strong return on public and private investment.
A fountain in the Village Center.
The Village Center Core
The guidelines for Baldwin Park’s Village Center Core encouraged the development of a pedestrian-oriented district that would support a variety of residential, retail, commercial and entertainment uses. Planners used small block sizes to create a more intimate feel in the Village Center.
Baldwin Park statue pays homage to a hero.
The City Beautiful Movement
With its emphasis on civic beauty, tree-lined streets and accessible green spaces, Baldwin Park reflects Orlando’s broader commitment to The City Beautiful movement ideals.
“Baldwin Park is considered to be one of the best reuses of a BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure, or a base that has been recommissioned) facility in the entire country,” says Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer. “It’s been a standard and has won all types of awards.”
Planners were inspired by late 19th and early 20th-century planning philosophies focused on social cohesion, aesthetics and environmental integration. In 2005, Baldwin Park received a National EPA Award for Smart Growth and has also won national and state planning and urban design awards from the Urban Land Institute, the American Planning Association, the National Arbor Day Foundation, the National Association of Home Builders and the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art.
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