ORLANDO, Fla.,None — A fight over a fence at the Amway Center could cost Orlando big bucks. Some nearby businesses have given the city a deadline before they decide to sue.
WFTV has reported how the NBA is demanding a security fence around the Amway Center for the All-Star weekend in two weeks.
The 8-foot tall fence would run along Church Street and Division Avenue. Business owners were offered spots inside the fence, but they turned it down.
WFTV's Daralene Jones found out the city is now offering cash to avoid a lawsuit.
City officials said these businesses have until Wednesday at noon to accept up to $3,000, which is far more than most of them make in a week.
This comes after city officials said some owners demanded $3.5 million, plus two tickets to All-Star events for the inconvenience that fence will cause.
When WFTV stopped by on Tuesday, only a few of the shops across from the Amway Center were open, and none of the owners who were around would talk.
But their south Florida attorney confirmed that he will sue if the city doesn't cancel plans to put up a fence around part of the Amway Center during All-Star Weekend by Wednesday.
The 8-foot steel fence would go up on Thursday and stay up 24-7 through Sunday after the big game.
City officials said the fence would go from Hughey to Division and stop at the curb, which means customers could still walk along the sidewalk and patronize the businesses if they want.
"We continue to be supportive. But we have to be good stewards of the public trust," City of Orlando spokesman Thomas Chatmon said.
The 11 business owners lease space from the city, and records show only one is current on rent and utilities. Five others haven't paid rent in six months.
Since 2008, the city and the Magic have given the businesses more than $100,000 to make it through the down economy and construction of the Amway Center.
And WFTV learned that the fence will have openings, so that VIP clientele leaving the All-Star events will be forced onto the sidewalk and forced to walk by the businesses.
WFTV
