DELTONA, Fla. – It’s a problem people in Deltona say has never been solved – adding businesses to create a downtown.
“Unfortunately, when we want to see something like that or experience anything like that, we have to go outside Deltona and spend money outside Deltona,” said Deltona resident Millie Santiago-Quiles.
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It’s one of the main reasons why Mayor Santiago Avila Jr. posted a video on social media hoping to attract businesses to plant their roots in Deltona.
“I will tell you the second I put up the video about the restaurants, I had two restaurants reach out and they’re scheduling meetings. I will tell you I’m meeting also with a school,” Avila said.
Avila said their city has around 3% of commerce and the rest of their economy comes mainly from residential developments.
Avila, as well as several living in Deltona, hopes this social media push can be the first step to finding the answer.
“Over by a Howland Boulevard and I-4 by the theater and the hospital, there’s a lot of open land there. Some restaurants would be nice, stores,” Santiago-Quiles said.
“Something for the kids. Like amusement park or something like that. I’d like to see something for all ages,” Deltona resident William Wright said.
Avila said they’re in the early stages of making a plan. He said the city manager is working on some incentives to lure businesses to the area.
Deltona Boulevard and Enterprise Drive is also another location people believe could be a downtown.
The mayor also said he’d like to see a children’s hospital come to the area.
Avila said he hopes he can help the city create a downtown plan within the next two years.
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