08/17/2025
This is awesome! Go Downtown Lockhart!
You may have seen Christine Moore Orange County District 2 Commissioner’s recent post mentioning Lockhart’s selection as one of the first three communities to participate in Orange County,’s new Main Street Program. Main Street is a nationwide initiative that seeks to revitalize neglected downtown or commercial areas into recognizable, walkable destinations through an emphasis on community history, art, commerce and culture.
Over the years leading up to this approval, Commissioner Moore conducted extensive research on Main Street projects across the state, and she and the People of Lockhart have frequently promoted the concept of a "Downtown Lockhart". Although decisions about how Lockhart’s project will look will only be made after collecting community/business/resident input, we have often referred to Downtown Lockhart as encompassing the historically significant stretch of Edgewater Drive between Rose Ave and the railroad tracks (just past the mural).
As a first step, Orange County will hire a first-ever Main Street Administrator who will assist Lockhart (and the other 2 communities) with efforts to bring together stakeholders and develop initial plans. Orange County has also set aside $50,000 in initial seed funding for Lockhart to begin implementation in 2026.
This is all especially exciting because, although there are many Main Street initiatives underway throughout Florida, they almost all rely on support from special taxing districts or city-generated revenue. Doing this work in an unincorporated area like Lockhart will be a unique accomplishment resulting from determination to preserve and build on our first 150 years.