The Eyesore on I-4

The Eyesore on I-4 is the popular nickname for the Majesty Building, an 18-story high-rise located along Interstate 4 in Altamonte Springs, Florida. Owned by WACX, an independent religious television broadcaster also known as SuperChannel, the building was intended to serve as the station's headquarters while providing office and commercial space for other tenants.

Construction began in 2001, but repeated delays, funding difficulties, and years of limited progress left the tower unfinished for decades. Its prominent location beside one of Central Florida's busiest highways made it a familiar sight to commuters and earned it the nickname "The Eyesore on I-4." Over time, the building became both a source of frustration and a widely recognized local curiosity.

History

Origins and early plans

The project originated in the late 1990s under Claud Bowers, the head of WACX. The station acquired the property near Interstate 4 in Altamonte Springs with plans to develop a major facility that would expand its broadcasting operations and generate additional revenue.

The original concepts changed several times. Early proposals included a hotel and conference center connected to television studios, along with plans for a much larger tower. As the project evolved, the design was scaled back to an 18-story building intended to accommodate broadcasting facilities, offices, retail businesses, and other commercial tenants.

The building was designed to become the permanent home of WACX and a source of leasable space that could help support the station's operations. Its height and distinctive design made it an unusual feature of the surrounding suburban landscape.

Construction begins

Construction officially began in 2001. The project was financed largely through contributions and fundraising rather than conventional borrowing. Bowers promoted the goal of completing the building without taking on construction debt, with work progressing as funding became available.

This approach helped launch the project but also created a significant challenge: the pace of construction depended on the availability of donations and other funds. Although ambitious completion dates were announced during the early years, they repeatedly passed without the building opening.

The concrete structure gradually rose above the surrounding area. Windows began appearing in 2004, but substantial portions of the building remained unfinished. For motorists traveling along I-4, the exposed structure became an increasingly familiar sight.

Years of delays

During the following years, construction proceeded intermittently. The project faced financial difficulties, and the effects of the September 11 attacks, the Great Recession, and later economic disruptions contributed to its prolonged development.

The debt-free financing strategy meant that work could slow considerably when donations fell short of what was needed. Fundraising continued, and the project's anticipated completion date was revised repeatedly.

The tower's long period of incomplete construction attracted growing attention from local residents, commuters, and the news media. Its unfinished appearance and highly visible location eventually overshadowed the original plans for a commercial and broadcasting complex.

In 2017, Bowers said the building would be completed by Thanksgiving of that year, but the deadline passed without an opening. In 2018, the building's lights came on, suggesting that progress was being made. However, the tower did not open to tenants, and further delays followed.

Renewed interest in 2025

In June 2025, news reports raised hopes that the building might finally be put to use. Altamonte Springs officials said they had received a call from a prospective tenant interested in occupying space on the first floor.

At the time, the exterior, landscaping, and parking garage were reported to be substantially complete, but considerable interior work remained. City officials cautioned that the potential tenant's interest did not mean that an opening was imminent.

By January 2026, follow-up reporting indicated that discussions had not produced a confirmed move-in. The building's owner said progress was continuing, but no firm opening date was announced. A May 2026 report marking 25 years since construction began stated that the building remained unoccupied and that a certificate of occupancy was still not in sight.

Public reaction

The Majesty Building's prolonged construction has made it one of Central Florida's most recognizable unfinished development projects. Because it stands prominently beside Interstate 4, generations of commuters have watched it remain incomplete, making it a recurring subject of local conversation.

Frustration and criticism

Many residents and commuters have expressed frustration with the building's slow progress. What was initially promoted as an ambitious commercial and broadcasting development became a highly visible reminder of a project that repeatedly missed its promised completion dates.

The nickname "The Eyesore on I-4" reflects criticism of both the building's unfinished appearance and the length of time it has remained that way. Its exposed structure and long stretches of limited visible activity helped establish its reputation.

For some residents, the building has become almost a permanent part of the landscape. People who have lived in the area for years have described seeing it throughout much of their lives, while others have questioned why the large structure has not yet been put to practical use.

Humor, memes, and local identity

The building has also become a source of humor. Its unusual appearance and seemingly endless construction have inspired jokes, internet memes, social media posts, and novelty merchandise. The tower has acquired a level of local recognition far beyond what might ordinarily be expected of an unfinished office building.

For some Central Floridians, the building is now a familiar landmark whose continued existence is part of the region's popular culture. Its reputation has grown through repeated news coverage and years of jokes about when—or whether—it will finally open.

This humorous response does not necessarily mean residents approve of the delays. Rather, the building's long history has turned it into a shared local reference point.

Hope that the building will be used

Despite the criticism, some residents have expressed hope that the building will eventually be completed and occupied. Interviews published by local news outlets in 2025 and early 2026 included residents who wanted to see the property put to productive use.

However, repeated announcements and missed deadlines have also created skepticism. Some residents have said they will believe the building is finally opening when they see tenants actually move in.

The prospect of eventual occupancy has generated renewed interest whenever signs of progress emerge. At the same time, the building's notoriety has become part of its identity, leading some observers to joke that completing it would bring an end to one of Central Florida's longest-running local punchlines.

Current status

As of May 2026, published reports continued to describe the Majesty Building as unfinished and unoccupied, despite substantial progress on its exterior and parking facilities. Interior work and the steps necessary to bring the building into operation remained outstanding, and no confirmed opening date had been announced.

Whether the tower will ultimately become a functioning broadcasting, office, and commercial complex remains uncertain. Its future will determine whether it becomes a successful redevelopment story or continues to be remembered primarily as the Eyesore on I-4.

See also

• Altamonte Springs, Florida
• Interstate 4
• Central Florida

References

1. ClickOrlando — Will Florida's "Eyesore on I-4" Ever Be Finished? Here's What We Know (April 5, 2024).
2. Florida History Blog — Eyesore on I-4: Origin of the Majesty Building (February 2, 2024; updated October 16, 2024).
3. ClickOrlando — Here's What's Next for the "Eyesore on I-4" in Altamonte Springs (August 14, 2024).
4. WESH — The "Eyesore on I-4": After 25 Years There Are Possible Plans for the Majesty Building (June 25, 2025).
5. Orlando Business Journal — Why Occupied "I-4 Eyesore" Could Lead to More Tenants (July 7, 2025).
6. Atlas Obscura — Majesty Building.