March 26th was an important day in the ongoing argument for Disney’s affordable housing project.

©Disney

Disney has had their sights set on donating a sizeable amount of land in the Central Florida area. The land will be dedicated to new affordable housing communities. The project is still in the early phases of development, and the land Disney intends to use for this community needs to be rezoned before it can be handed over to the builders. Disney leaders met with local Florida county leadership recently, and after an intense, hours-long debate, we have an important update.

On Tuesday, March 26th, 2024, leaders of Orange County in Central Florida met to hear an important ongoing argument. Affordable housing has been a hot topic in Orange County for some time, and Disney World believes they have come up with a solution.

©Disney

During this hearing, Tajiana Ancora-Brown, a representative from Disney World, delivered a presentation to the council outlining Disney’s plan to donate land near Disney World to a hand-picked developer named Michael’s Organization, who would go on to build and manage its community. Disney was clear while giving the presentation that they do not intend to profit from any of the 1,400 total housing units, of which 1,000 would be affordable housing units.

OC Council Meeting

In terms of the affordable housing structure, Disney and the Michael’s Organization have worked closely while building out the proposed mixed-income community. The community would be priced across average and medium-income levels, established by HUD in Orlando and Kissimmee, and would be updated and adjusted accordingly on an annual basis.

In addition to new housing, this project would build six different communities and include social and recreational spaces like fitness centers, pools, and dog parks.

©The Michael’s Organization

For their part, The Michael’s Organization is calling this an “impactful project” and represents the largest privately held owner of affordable housing in the nation. It also just celebrated its 50th year in operation and boasts a total of over 639 affordable housing communities nationwide, along with 80,000 apartment homes under its management. TMO’s mission is to bring “comprehensive solutions to communities that jumpstart housing, education, civic engagement, and neighborhood prosperity” and believes this community would serve as a “catalyst for upward mobility propelling individuals and families towards greater opportunities.”

©The Michael’s Organization

The Michael’s Organization outlined a set of goals along with Disney to establish this community. First, they intend to elevate the resident experience through personalized approaches to leasing, management, and operations. Next, they intend to inspire community ambassadors and get people engaged in local community programs and events. Finally, they plan to ensure health and wellness are equitable experiences for all rent-burdened, hard-working individuals.

©The Michael’s Organization

The proposed community would occupy the land between Hartzog Rd and 429, which would include space for housing, amenities, and 3 points of entry (with one on Avalon Rd) and would work closely with engineering to optimize traffic flow, intricate sidewalks, and walkways. Additionally, a multi-modal transportation hub is planned for the south end of the property which would allow for the community residents to access rideshare, vehicles on demand, and charging stations. It will also be built to allow for larger multimodal vehicles for passengers should a need arise in the future.

Proposed community

The architectural styles would be “distinctly Florida” while also aligning with the aesthetic of existing Horizon West communities. Apartment home units would be sequenced over several years, with the first to be delivered in 2026. The types of rental homes would vary from junior one suites to four-bedroom apartments in a mixture of townhouse and flat house style layouts.

Proposed building styles

After Disney World and The Michael’s Organization presented to Orange County’s council, Mayor Demmings heard public comments about the proposed affordable housing plans and Disney’s request to rezone the land for this intended use.

When Demmings asked how many speakers from the public were lined up to voice their opinions on this issue, it seemed the room was almost evenly split between those in favor and those opposed to the project. Officials were met with several varying opinions from locals, resulting in an extended public comments hearing. The affordable housing project was then put to a vote, and ultimately, the decision was made to move forward with the project by a vote of  4-3.

©Disney

Since this is where the vote falls, the next step in the process will be for the county commissioners to review and make a final decision on whether to recommend Disney’s proposal. If this proposal passes through them, the next step forward would be for the state authorities to review and vote to move the project forward.

We’re always keeping up with the latest news, changes, and updates with anything Disney so be sure to stay tuned with us at Disney Food Blog for all the happenings!

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