Walt Disney World has earmarked 80 acres of land for a new affordable housing development in Central Florida. View concept art, watch a video about the new development, and read what Disney has to say about it below.
For more than 50 years, our Central Florida family has played an important role in the story of Walt Disney World. As Disney cast members, it is our home, it’s where we work, it’s where we play and it’s where we grow. And at Disney, we’re always looking for innovative ways to make our community stronger.
Today, we’re taking a big step forward in these efforts: Walt Disney World is earmarking nearly 80 acres of our land for a new affordable housing development – right here in Central Florida. This initiative has been in the works for a while as we’ve been focused on finding solutions to this challenge for quite some time. I am thrilled that we can finally share this news with our cast members and neighbors.
“We are invested in working together with our community to solve complex issues,” said Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “The lack of affordable housing is affecting many people across our country, including right here in Central Florida. With this initiative, we’re lending a hand to make a real and meaningful impact in our community by tapping into the best of our company’s strengths. This is the right opportunity and the right time to take action.”
The development, which is expected to include more than 1,300 units, will be constructed by a third-party affordable housing developer and will be located on Disney’s land in southwest Orange County, Florida. It will offer Central Florida residents a variety of home choices that are affordable and attainable, in a great part of town near schools and the new and expanding Flamingo Crossings Town Center retail and dining complex. The development will be available for qualifying applicants in our region, including Disney cast members.
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It’s nice to know that Disney is indeed trying to help people by giving them better housing and more. Also forty-one who complain read the message again.
Yes but all this “goodness” comes at an expense, usually the tax payer. I am from NJ where one learns over time that affordable housing as touted by politicians and corporations typically puts more tax burden on the middle class in terms of schools, facilities, utilities, etc. Not a great model.
Those low income housing units will likely find their way onto an Airbnb listing, leaving the “qualified” residents using the rent proceeds as supplemental income to stay elsewhere.