Winter Park’s new Lakeside Crossing plaza offers solution to parking woes

The Best Western Mt. Vernon Inn is no longer standing in Winter Park, and Unicorp National Developments Inc. is finalizing plans for the $25 million boutique retail complex set to take its place — and relieve the parking headache that many are anticipating may follow.

Unicorp on June 22 is expected to go before the Winter Park Commission for approval to grow its parking structure by 77 spaces to a total of 274 spaces, which would take the complex from two-and-a-half to three levels, city documents showed. The additional parking spaces could help in relieving what’s expected to be a busy future retail complex on the busy intersection of U.S. Highway 17-92 and Morse Boulevard, documents showed.

The changes wouldn’t shift the footprint, location, setback or dimensions of the parking structure, but would raise the total height to 25 feet with the third level being roof parking, documents showed.

Meanwhile, razing of the former 66-year-old, 147-room Mt. Vernon Inn also began earlier today and it’s expected to be redeveloped into a a 37,473-square-foot boutique retail complex.

The center’s retail space is about 77 percent accounted for, and Chuy’s Mexican restaurant signed a lease to move into Lakeside Crossing, as did Sage Dental.

The previously announced Coopers Hawk Winery and Ra Sushi will not be coming to the center, but Unicorp is in talks with Kona Grill and a third restaurant concept, the company confirmed.

Other tenants who have committed include Fitlife Foods, an unnamed South Florida full-service salon and spa and Spavia massage center.