From converting one-way streets to designing great “third places,” Tim and Dan dig into how policy, placemaking, and smart growth can elevate downtown Orlando and surrounding main streets across Central Florida.
What does it take to design a city that people love—not just to live in, but to experience?
That’s the question at the heart of the latest episode of The City Playbook, where I sat down with Dan Kirby, architect, urban planner, and senior Vice President leader at Jacobs, to talk about the future of Orlando’s growth and how we can create spaces that put people first.
Dan brings a unique blend of global experience and local perspective. A longtime Orlando resident, he’s lived in cities from Newark to Ann Arbor—and he sees in Orlando the same potential for vibrancy and connection that defines great urban centers around the world.
We can’t compete as a region if our urban areas aren’t strong. That’s our ticket to competing on a global stage.
Our conversation explores what it means to move from simply managing growth to designing it—creating an authentic sense of place, building for people instead of cars, and designing streets that invite community rather than congestion.
“If you design a place for cars and traffic, you’ll get cars and traffic,” he said. “But if you design a place for people, you’ll get people in spaces.”
We discussed how downtown Orlando is evolving—transforming one-way streets into people-friendly corridors with wider sidewalks, trees for shade, and opportunities to gather. It’s about creating destinations, not drive-throughs.
Safety, Dan reminded me, comes from presence and connection: the more people walk, dine, and engage downtown, the safer and more vibrant it becomes. He calls it a “Jane Jacobs-like concept”—more eyes on the street, more life in the city.
We also explored how Orlando’s “15-minute city” potential—where daily needs are within a short walk or bike ride—can help every neighborhood feel connected and complete.
Ultimately, Dan’s message is clear: Orlando’s growth isn’t about adding buildings. It’s about creating places that bring people together, reflect our identity, and stand the test of time.
Listen to this episode of The City Playbook featuring Dan Kirby of Jacobs—now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Orlando.org under The City Playbook.