UCF Downtown Orlando campus welcomes new students

ORLANDO, Fla. — The University of Central Florida welcomed students Wednesday morning to its brand new campus in downtown Orlando.

It's part of a larger development in the heart of the City Beautiful known as the Creative Village.  It's a partnership between the city UCF and Valencia College.

News 96.5 WDBO's Darrell Moody was there seven years ago to witness the project's first milestone, the implosion of the Amway Arena.

After the Amway Center site was cleared construction on the Creative Village got underway.  The city of Orlando began immediately developing the infrastructure necessary to support a college campus.

Fast forward seven years and the sprawling campus is now ready for students.  On Wednesday, they started moving into the Union West apartments on Terry Avenue.  Union West is now home to 640 students.

When classes start Monday, close to 8,000 students from UCF and Valencia will use the campus.