Portable shower-restroom trailer combination rentals in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

Altamonte Springs unveils a pilot to turn sewage sludge into fuel

Altamonte Springs unveiled a demonstration-scale hydrothermal-liquefaction project in June 2026 at its water reclamation facility. The process uses heat, pressure and water to turn treated sewage sludge, or biosolids, into oil and gas. Project engineers said the process can also break down PFAS in the biosolids.

At the June briefing, officials said early results showed promise but the final report to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection had not yet been submitted. A Genifuel engineer said tests showed about a 96% reduction in PFAS. City Manager Frank Martz described building the process at a larger scale for broader regional impact as the next step.

A fire damaged 12 apartments at the Goldelm complex

Firefighters reached Goldelm at Charter Pointe around 1:20 a.m. on April 3, 2024, and found flames coming through an apartment building's roof. The Ballard Street complex had 12 affected units, and more than 70 firefighters battled the blaze. After the fire was brought under control, crews found an elementary-school-aged child dead in a second-floor apartment.

A resident said he heard screams and a loud bang before leaving with his daughter. American Red Cross staff arrived around 4 a.m. to assist people who had lost their homes, though the report did not know how many residents were displaced. The school district confirmed the child attended Lake Orienta Elementary. Officials had not released a cause in the report, which focused on the response and the support available to residents.

Amanda Street Park opened beside the East Altamonte SunRail station

Altamonte Springs opened the Park at East Altamonte with a ribbon cutting in June 2023. The project joined a neighborhood park and plaza with a new half-mile stretch of Amanda Street, creating a pedestrian connection to the nearby SunRail station.

The design included native and Florida-friendly plants, drainage work in the floodplain and pedestrian-safety features. The plaza was set up for food trucks and community events, giving the neighborhood a gathering point alongside the new street connection.

VHB, the project designer, described the park and street as linked pieces of the same investment. The opening marked the point when residents could begin using the public space and walking route.

A stairwell fire displaced 20 residents at The Edge at Lake Lotus

A fire broke out early on November 19, 2025, in a wall beside a rear stairwell at The Edge at Lake Lotus apartments in Altamonte Springs. Firefighters contained it to the stairwell area between floors. No injuries were reported, and officials had not determined the cause in ClickOrlando’s report.

The disruption continued after the flames were out: 20 residents were displaced, 16 apartments had smoke or water damage and power to the building was shut off. The report did not say when residents could return or how long repairs would take.

Altamonte awarded a $124,200 contract for Cranes Roost railing repairs

Altamonte Springs moved ahead with repairs to the limestone railings at Cranes Roost Park, first approving Haddonstone as the sole supplier of replacement stone in January. Haddonstone made the original system, installed in 2006, and the city approved a $120,639.90 purchase after no other vendor responded to its notice.

On April 7, commissioners awarded a $124,200 installation contract to Town of Floors after four responsive bids. The job covers 15 railing sections along the lakefront walkway and Cranes Roost Boulevard, plus 20 benches. A portable restroom trailer could sit beyond the main pedestrian route while crews replace the limestone beside the lakefront path. The April agenda records the award, not a completion notice.

SR 436 and SR 434 intersection work neared completion

Construction at the State Road 436 and State Road 434 intersection had been underway since fall 2024 when ClickOrlando checked in on March 11, 2026. Residents described nighttime lane closures and cones as difficult to navigate, while overnight crews were working on signal upgrades.

The design removed free-flow right turns and put those movements under signal control, with upgraded crosswalks and wider turn lanes. FDOT funded the $2.7 million project and expected it to finish in spring 2026.

Structural damage kept residents from returning to Altamonte Terrace

Residents of Buildings 3 and 6 at Altamonte Terrace were ordered out in September 2025 after the city cited code violations. A notice posted Sept. 10 labeled the buildings unsafe because of substantial structural damage. The apartment complex was about 50 years old, and engineers had been assessing problems with the roof and other areas.

Management told tenants it would terminate leases, waive September and October rent, and offer hotel accommodations through October 17. By mid-October, repairs were taking longer than expected.

The Majesty tower still stood unfinished beside I-4

Construction on the 18-story Majesty tower beside I-4 dates to 2001. WACX said the exterior and 1,000-car garage were about 99% complete in 2025; inside, walls, plumbing and tenant fit-out remained.

City Manager Frank Martz said the city had received a call from someone interested in the first floor, but officials had not met the prospective tenant. WACX, the religious broadcaster behind the project, has been building it gradually with donations, and its website said interior work had begun. The inquiry remained a lead, not a confirmed tenancy.