At a glance
| Location | Around Mills Avenue and Colonial Drive (SR 50), just north of downtown Orlando |
|---|---|
| City | City of Orlando, Orange County |
| What it is | An Orlando Main Streets commercial district run by a nonprofit board |
| Nearby residential areas | Colonialtown South and Colonialtown North |
| Historic district | Colonialtown South has been a local historic district since 2000 |
| Typical value nearby | $474,277 in Colonialtown South and $463,312 in Colonialtown North (Zillow, August 2026) |
Mills 50 is a business district, not a subdivision
Mills 50 is one of the City of Orlando's Main Street districts, a program the city created in 2008 to support neighborhood commercial corridors. Each district is run by a nonprofit board with its own work plan and executive director. The name comes from the Mills Avenue and Colonial Drive intersection.
The city describes a mix of locally owned salons, shops, bakeries, restaurants and bars, plus a brewery and a meadery, and says Mills 50 has more Michelin-recognized restaurants than any other Orlando neighborhood. The district is known for its Vietnamese and other Asian restaurants and shops.
Because Mills 50 is a business district, when you search for a home you are really choosing among the residential streets around it. Colonialtown South and Colonialtown North are the closest.
Home prices in the neighborhoods around Mills 50
| Area | Typical home value (Aug 2026) | 1-year change |
|---|---|---|
| Colonialtown South | $474,277 | +1.7% |
| Colonialtown North | $463,312 | -0.2% |
| Lake Eola Heights | $471,078 | +1.5% |
| City of Orlando | $371,120 | -1.4% |
Figures are Zillow's typical home values. Zillow doesn't publish a separate Mills 50 figure, so use the neighborhood the home is actually in. Small neighborhoods have few sales, so ask for closed sales of the same home type. For another older district close by, see Lake Eola Heights.
Check whether the home is in the Colonialtown South Historic District
The City of Orlando designated Colonialtown South a local historic district in 2000. It is generally south of Hillcrest Street, north of East Robinson Street, east of Shine Avenue and west of Hampton Street. Most homes were built during the 1920s Florida land boom, with a second wave of smaller houses between the Depression and World War II. Bungalow, Minimal Traditional, Colonial Revival, Mediterranean Revival, Mission, Prairie and Tudor Revival styles all appear, along with brick streets.
- Minor review: re-roofing, fences, paving and repair with matching materials can go through the Historic Preservation Board's Minor Review Committee in about 2 to 10 days.
- Major review: alterations, additions, new construction, relocation and demolition need a board hearing. The city says to expect about seven weeks.
- Exceptions: landscaping, changes not visible from a public street or park, paint color, roof color and emergency repairs that don't change the design.
Contributing buildings may qualify for a 10-year city property tax exemption on the added value from substantial rehabilitation. Enter the address in the city's Information Locator to confirm the status.
Traffic, transit and the Mills Avenue crossing
Mills Avenue is a state road, and the city notes the corridor has heavy pedestrian activity but few protected crossings. A new crosswalk at Canton Street, with a center refuge island and flashing beacons, was due to finish design in September 2026, with construction planned for winter 2026/2027. It will limit some left turns across Mills.
Several LYNX bus routes run along Colonial Drive and Mills Avenue. Check current routes and fares with LYNX, since service changes.
What to check before you buy near Mills 50
- Ask for the age of the roof, electrical panel, plumbing and HVAC on any pre-war house. Our Florida home inspection checklist covers what to ask for.
- Pull permit history and ask whether past exterior work had historic review.
- Visit at night and on weekends if the home is close to the restaurant strip.
- Look up the FEMA flood zone for the parcel.
- Estimate taxes on your purchase price with the Orange County property tax guide.
Compare more areas in our Orlando neighborhoods guide.
Common questions
Where is Mills 50 in Orlando?+
Mills 50 is just north of downtown Orlando, centered on the intersection of Mills Avenue and State Road 50, which is Colonial Drive. It is one of the City of Orlando's Main Street districts, a commercial corridor rather than a residential subdivision. The nearest residential neighborhoods are Colonialtown South and Colonialtown North.
How much do homes cost near Mills 50?+
Zillow doesn't publish a Mills 50 figure. In August 2026, Zillow's typical home value was $474,277 in Colonialtown South, up 1.7% on a year earlier, and $463,312 in Colonialtown North, down 0.2%. Both are above the City of Orlando's typical value of $371,120. Ask for closed sales that match the home type you want.
Is Mills 50 a historic district?+
The commercial district itself is not one of the city's six historic preservation districts, but the adjoining Colonialtown South neighborhood is. It was designated in 2000, and many exterior changes there need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Board. Minor items take about 2 to 10 days; major changes need a hearing and about seven weeks.
Sources
- City of Orlando: Orlando Main Streets
- City of Orlando: Mills 50 District Main Street
- City of Orlando: Historic Preservation Districts
- City of Orlando: Mills 50 Crosswalk Improvements at Canton Street
- City of Orlando: Information Locator
- Wikipedia: Mills 50 (Orlando)
- LYNX: Fares and Passes
- FEMA: Flood Map Service Center
- Zillow: Home Value Index by neighborhood, August 2026