Orlando’s $2B futuristic city puts flying taxis, EVs and smart hubs in one district

Orlando is moving ahead with plans for a roughly $2 billion smart city that will combine electric ground transportation, EV charging and eVTOL aircraft infrastructure in a single district. The Green District Smart City master plan has been filed with the City of Orlando, marking the first formal step toward developing the technology-focused project in the historic Parramore neighborhood. The development is planned as a connected transportation and mixed-use district, with smart mobility infrastructure linking residents and visitors to downtown Orlando and other regional destinations. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2027. At the core of the project will be two Smart Hub parking structures at 17 N. Westmoreland Drive and 320 W. Clear Lake Street. The structures are designed to combine parking with retail, multimodal transportation and EV charging, turning them into mobility hubs rather than conventional parking facilities. A third facility will focus on health, wellness and emergency response while also supporting advanced air mobility operations. The project is also planning rooftop vertiport infrastructure for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Building an electric mobility network Green District Smart City has selected Eve Air Mobility as its preferred advanced air mobility partner and eVTOL aircraft provider. i-charging USA has been selected as the preferred AAM and EV charging technology partner. The partners are expected to help plan the infrastructure required for electric aircraft and charging systems. That could eventually allow the district to connect conventional road-based mobility with short-distance electric air travel. The development is designed around several layers of transportation technology. EV charging will support electric vehicles on the ground, while multimodal hubs will connect different forms of transport. Above them, vertiport infrastructure could provide landing and takeoff points for eVTOL aircraft as advanced air mobility networks develop. The technology infrastructure will be built alongside more conventional city systems. Future phases are planned to include a grocery store, four hotels, housing, conference facilities, retail, restaurants, entertainment and a museum. Housing is also a major component, with the project calling for attainable and workforce housing as well as opportunities for homeownership. Three planned hotels will draw from Parramore’s history, including The Green Book Hotel, The Wells Hotel and The Sadler Hotel. Smart infrastructure meets city life The project is being designed by Atlanta-based Cooper Carry, which is responsible for integrating the transportation and mixed-use elements into the wider district. “This is a major step that has been years in the making,” said Tim Green, developer and founder of the Green District Smart City. “By bringing together transformative transportation technology, much-needed housing, economic development, education and workforce training, we are connecting innovation directly to the needs of the Parramore community. This master plan is about more than development—it is about uplifting Parramore through opportunity, inclusion and meaningful investment in its future.” Green, who grew up in Parramore, said the project is intended to use new infrastructure to create economic and community opportunities while retaining the neighborhood’s history. The development is expected to be funded through a combination of local and national investors, community groups and local incentives. If completed as planned, the Green District would put EV infrastructure, multimodal mobility and eVTOL operations into the same urban development rather than treating them as separate transportation systems.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.