SYLVIA LANE: WHERE ORLANDO THINKS THE HOMELESS SHOULD EAT

When the City of Orlando enacted its "large group feedings" ordinance in July it designated a site that groups that had been sharing in downtown parks could use. This site, which previously was a parking area for Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) vehicles, seems to be in about as remote a location as the city possibly could find. From Orange Ave. you get onto N. Lucerne Cir. W. (going left, past the on-ramp for the 408, which is on the right) and then turn right onto W. America St. Sylvia Lane is the first street on your right, and the "feeding" area is at the corner of Sylvia and America. This site is not permanent by the way; the city can take it away anytime it pleases, leaving groups–at least those that wish to obey the ordinance–with no place to share food downtown. Below are some photos with commentary.

Update: In December, the City changed the rules Sylvia Lane. The hours are now 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and the gates are locked. Groups that wish to share food there must register their sharings with the City Clerk's Office in order to have the gates unlocked. So much for the City's promises that Sylvia Lane would be open 24-7 without any sort of permission required for its use.

The fence, topped with barbed wire, gives this site such a pleasant and welcoming feel ... or is the barbed wire just meant to protect those dining inside? In the Sylvia Lane and Lake Lucerne neighborhood eight homeless men have been beaten by teen-agers in the last several months, including one, August Felix, who died from his injuries.

This is an inside shot of Sylvia Lane. It looks exactly like what it was, a nicely landscaped PARKING LOT.

These gates are unlocked and slide back. There is no sign to inform anyone that this is the City's "large group feedings" site, nor are there any lights, which precludes any nighttime food sharing. The Sylvia Lane site is located across from parking for an adjacent condominium complex and an OUC parking lot. Reportedly, the Orlando police (at least some of them) are unaware that this is the city's official "large group feedings" site.

The city "generously" provided four toilets at the Sylvia Lane site, but no way to wash one's hands after using them. Perhaps the city is hoping for an outbreak of foodborne illness as a way of solving its homeless problem.

Some genius put one of the picnic tables next to one of the portable toilets. How appetizing.

The city outfitted Sylvia Lane with four other picnic tables that look like they were purchased at the Department of Corrections surplus sale.

The Sylvia Lane site is located right next to an OUC sub-station which is why a couple of these signs are posted on the inside of the fence.

Here's the substation (also below).

Another fenced OUC parking lot is next to the Sylvia Lane site, under the I-4 overpass.

Another shot of the I-4 overpass and the other OUC parking lot.

Slyvia Lane is partially closed because of the 408 expansion (before that construction started some groups used to share food under the 408 bridge; homeless people also camped there until several months ago when the Orlando police evicted them and destroyed their camps); normally you can take Sylvia to S. Garland St. On the extreme left is a parking garage, followed by Orlando City Hall (the domed structure), a bank building, and on the right the OUC building.

The Lucerne Oaks Condominiums are located across from the Sylvia Lane site. Reportedly, neither the Lucerne Oaks residents nor the residents of the Westminster Oaks retirement community (located north of the condos on W. Lucerne Cir.) are exactly pleased that the city chose their neighborhood for its designated "large group feedings" site.