Walt Disney World is earmarking nearly 80 acres of land for a new affordable housing development

Posted: Wednesday April 6, 2022 2:09pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney World Resort will earmark nearly 80 acres of land to bring a new affordable housing development to life in southwest Orange County, Florida.

According to Disney, this initiative has been in the works for quite some time and will be located by the new and expanding Flamingo Crossings Town Center retail and dining complex.

80 Acres for Affordable Housing at Walt Disney World

This new development, which is still in the early planning stages and subject to appropriate approvals, is expected to include more than 1,300 units and will be constructed by a third-party affordable housing developer on Disney’s land near its Central Florida theme parks. The development will offer residents a variety of home choices that are affordable and attainable, located in close proximity to schools and the new and expanding Flamingo Crossings Town Center retail and dining complex. It will offer a variety of amenities to foster a strong community.

Known for building industry-leading theme parks and resort hotels around the world, Disney will engage the developer to bring that same innovation, expertise and attention to detail to this initiative.The development will be available for qualifying applicants from the general public, including Disney cast members.

“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.”

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More details about this initiative will be released at a later date as the company continues due diligence work with a prominent affordable housing developer. Disney’s initiative will play an important role as leaders in the community – including Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings – continue to prioritize finding lasting solutions to affordable housing in Central Florida.

This new initiative in Central Florida will join additional investments Disney is making in affordable housing. Several years ago, Disneyland Resort led an effort to revitalize the Orange County Housing Trust that provides “last mile” funding for affordable housing projects in Anaheim. This made the Buena Esperanza project — a converted studio apartment community for veterans and homeless individuals with mental illness — a reality. In addition to providing them a place to live, the community offers job placement and mental health and wellness support to residents. As a result of Disney’s investment a second project, Finamore Place, in Anaheim is under construction with an expected completion date of early summer 2022. It will provide over 100 additional housing units. Disneyland Resort will continue to show support for these and other such worthy endeavors.

These initiatives are among the many ways Disney is strengthening its communities, including hundreds of millions of dollars provided in philanthropic donations to local nonprofits, the Disney VoluntEARS program, contributions to local foodbanks and more. Walt Disney World Resort also recently donated $3 million to important causes in the community, including organizations on the front lines of the affordable housing issue.

For additional details about Disney’s community initiatives in Central Florida, please visit DisneyWorldGivesBack.com.

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MisterPenguinOct 09, 2024

Wasn't this just a pro-forma confirmation of their first vote, which is required by law? That would mean they already went through the process of hearing from the community. Made their decision. And reconfirmed it this week. And this meeting was scheduled without any knowledge of an incoming hurricane. There was no last minute gathering while people were distracted.

Andrew25Oct 09, 2024

Kind of insane the counties have neglected to do anything significant to improve traffic flow through Western Way/US-192.

LAKid53Oct 09, 2024

Imagine what paving over those ponds will do with regards to flooding from runoff when another Milton comes through.

sWANNISAXOct 09, 2024

They took advantage of the storm to avoid hearing the community. There were many requests to postpone this last hearing that were ignored. This is such a mistake in the area selected. The infrastructure is not prepared for it. Really sucks for those of us who live locally.

MisterPenguinOct 09, 2024

SirwalterraleighJun 28, 2024

Let me translate: his buddy is a mobster who controls half of New Jersey and got indicted (after about 70 years of deserving it) last week

UnbansheeJun 28, 2024

Hell of a spin from OBJ. Has nothing to do with Disney, the affordable housing development, or even The Michaels Organization

DCBakerJun 28, 2024

Via Orlando Business Journal: "The CEO for the company that is building Disney's affordable housing community in Horizon West has been indicted in New Jersey on racketeering and other charges. John O'Donnell, 61, stepped down from his position as CEO of Camden, N.J.-based The Michaels Organization after a 13-count indictment in June alleged that he and five others "used their political influence to tailor New Jersey economic development legislation to their preferences." The alleged scheme involved revitalization efforts in Camden. According to a company release, Mark Morgan, Michaels' COO, has moved into the CEO role for the developer, which specializes in employee, student and affordable housing. "Our organization’s focus remains, as always, on our mission of crafting housing solutions that jumpstart education, civic engagement, and neighborhood prosperity, and on creating communities that lift lives," The Michaels Organization spokeswoman Laura Zaner wrote in response to an inquiry from OBJ. Disney tapped The Michaels Organization in 2022 to handle construction and management of the proposed 1,410-unit village that will feature 1,000 apartments for people making 80% or less of the area median income. The project is to rise on 114 acres it owns just off State Road 429, near the toll road's interchange with Seidel Road. "We are aware of the situation and are carefully looking into it," a Disney spokesperson told OBJ in regard to the indictment. "Our goal remains to bring affordable housing to Central Florida, and we will provide further updates as appropriate.” The affordable housing project is currently being reviewed by state agencies before a final vote by Orange County commissioners." https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2024/06/27/disney-affordable-housing-developer-ceo-indicted.html

LilofanApr 02, 2024

That's Orlando in a nutshell. A number of apt complexes and a really poor bus transportation for residents that need it. Nothing new here.

flynnibusApr 02, 2024

No - it wasn’t park of the master plan because it was in the district before. Which is ehy i said it was part of the staff report… yet you were going back and forth on what the road can support. The county transportation plan for the roads are outlined.

Disney AnalystApr 02, 2024

The NIMBY’s always have so much time on their hands to attend meetings in droves and be loud grumps.

lazyboy97oApr 02, 2024

You say this isn’t NIMBYism but this is like the most classic example of NIMBYism. A master plan isn’t supposed to be an absolute edict. They’re a big picture, something that should be flexible to accommodate changes in development patterns. Unless of course it is a NIMBY tool intended to only allow certain types of development and provide an excuse to disallow others.

maxairmikeApr 02, 2024

I was there, a group of about 3 to my back and a little further forward in the middle section with one being noticeably louder than the others kept constantly interrupting whoever was speaking. They managed to get them to answer if there was a plan for buses, and they said no. Those people and several others had the “good, we don’t want them” response with plenty of others voicing their agreement. I heard literally no one at the 18th meeting actually suggesting that buses for this development would be a good thing. This is where I will also slam the developers, as I couldn’t believe the flippant and disinterested response I got from the guy at the transportation table when I asked if they had planned for and considered bus transit for the residents. Both parties (the opposed residents and the developers) provided 180 changes at the BCC meeting from what I witnessed and experienced on the 18th. ETA: In fact, I had the pleasure of speaking with I believe the head of county transportation planning at the 18th meeting after Commissioner Wilson directed a question/discussion along those lines to him as he had just walked towards the group around her. I was glad to let him know there was at least one person there who understood that “just one more lane” will never be the real solution, and enjoyed the quick conversation I had.

LAKid53Apr 02, 2024

According to the notes I read from the meeting on the 18th, it was clear there were no plans for any type of bus system. And that lack of buses was in the package presented to the Mayor and commissioners that I read. Not in the "we don't want buses because buses = poor, but that "you've got no mass transit plan for residents of this development? You're asking residents in affordable housing without vehicles to depend on ride sharing, taxis and Lynx?" And it been that in every letter and package to Demings and others that I've read.