When construction crews begin demolition of Amway Arena later this year, "they'll do it in a fairly deliberate fashion and take as long as six months," according to Mark Schlueb of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. Much of the building, home to the Magic from '89-'10, "will be recycled or reused." Already, "furniture, fixtures and even some palm trees have been removed and either sold or moved to other city buildings as part of the arena's decommissioning." When the "actual demolition starts, aluminum and miles of copper will be salvaged and sold, with the proceeds donated to the Nap Ford charter school" across the street from the arena. In addition, "drywall and steel will go to recyclers." Schlueb notes the "biggest part of the building -- concrete -- will be reused" as part of the Creative Village, the proposed development that is Orlando's "new high-tech dream." Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer's administration and private developers will "turn the arena and the 68 acres around it into a mix of educational institutions, homes, commercial and retail space, offices and parks, all with a focus on digital media and high-tech employers" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 8/25).
