ORLANDO-The Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, headed by Bill Peeper, is projecting total visitors of $40.9 million, down from $45.1 million the bureau predicted in August.

ORLANDO-Fearful that a projected $700,000 tourism tax revenue will actually come in at $550,000, the Seminole County city, 25 miles north of Downtown Orlando, is considering shrinking a 63,000-sf project to 45,000-sf, but the construction cost per-sf could be more expensive on the smaller job, industry estimators tell GlobeSt.com.

ORLANDO-Salthouse Group bought the 39-year-old, 26,509-sf vacant twin theater property at auction for $1.7 million. For the building alone, the price equates to $64.13 per sf, half of its estimated replacement cost.

ORLANDO-The former president of the Florida Senate, suspended Escambia County commission chairman and longtime real estate investor has pleaded no contest to a second Sunshine Law violation involving pre-public meeting talks with other commissioners.

ORLANDO-The county is investing $2.1 million in the purchase and renovation of an estimated 30,000-sf, 50-year-old structure at 122 E. Main St. in Downtown Tavares, FL, the county seat.

ORLANDO-After a year of negotiations, Orange County has officially acquired a 1,334-acre portion of rancher Steve Holland's 5,254-acre property for $3.75 million or $2,811 per acre (six cents per sf). Holland had asked for $4 million or $3,048 per acre (seven cents per sf).

ORLANDO-After abandoning Florida in 1996, the Houston-based subsidiary of the Coca-Cola Co. plans to open the Auburndale, FL venture in March 2003 and compete can-to-can with Tropicana Products Inc. of Bradenton, FL, the nation's No. 1 frozen juice packager owned by Coke rival PepsiCo.

ORLANDO-The New York-based corporate property financier bought three of the St. Petersburg, FL-based photocopy supplier's buildings totaling 337,000 sf for about $93.18 per sf.