After a lengthy discussion about developer Mid America Apartment Communities' (MAA) ability to meet the density and retail requirements for Downtown Orlando, the Orlando Municipal Planning Board reluctantly voted to approve a zoning change for a 10-story apartment building with less than 4,000 square feet of retail space to be built south of the Bank of America building.

Becky Wilson of Lowndes said that half of the space would be used for amenities and leasing offices, and that MAA would build out the amenity space so it could be converted for retail use in the future.

"If and when the retail market in downtown dictates that my client can make more money on retail in that space as opposed to having amenities in that space, we will find a way to get the retail there," she said.

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