Disney has a lot of plans for things happening outside the parks.
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The company’s projects stretch beyond its theme parks, merchandise development, and film production. You might already know that Disney also operates a cruise line, hosts guided tours around the world, and is even developing exclusive, master-planned communities. But did you know about Disney’s affordable housing project?
Back in 2022, Disney announced that they were going to earmark about 80 acres of land for a new affordable housing development near the Disney World theme parks. The company said the purpose of this project is to make “positive, lasting change to the communities it calls home.” We learned more details in late 2022 about the location and developer for the development.
Back in April of this year, we heard about a groundbreaking timeline for Disney’s huge affordable housing project in Orlando, and now Disney’s just filed a rezoning request, indicating that this project is getting ready to ramp up.
©Disney
According to the Orlando Business Journal, Walt Disney Imagineering is “the applicant for a June 13 request to rezone 114 acres to planned development to make way for the apartment community.” (It sounds like the scale of the project must have increased — Disney initially earmarked 80 acres but is now requesting a rezone for 114.) The request allows Disney to have a maximum of 1,450 units. The apartment complex is being developed by The Michaels Organization.
©Disney
While no Disney or Michaels Organization spokespeople gave comments on the rezoning request, it does give us a clue that Disney is looking for a “maximum building height of five stories.” It also revealed that all of the apartments “will target incomes in the 50-100% AMI (area median income) range.”
©Disney
This project has a projected opening timeline of 2026, and while that is three years away, it’ll be here before we know it. As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news.
Disney confirmed the opening timelines for multiple projects recently — check them all out here!
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It’s good to see a company investing in the community. Especially on such a large scale. I hope they keep focused on the goal of providing affordable housing.