Local

Disney World to build 1,300 affordable housing units to help address housing crisis

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Walt Disney World has announced it will donate 80 acres of land for affordable housing to more than a thousand people in Central Florida.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

The development will be located in the heart of Flamingo Crossings.

The park, county and employees said it’s something desperately needed right now.

READ: Disney looks to expand solar power production with two new solar arrays

“We’re excited to share we’re earmarking 80 acres of our land to create a new affordable housing development right here in Central Florida,” Walt Disney World Resort President Jeff Vahle said.

The theme park will work with a third party to build 1,300 units for families and people who work in the area.

The affordable housing crisis is something a lot of people in Orange County are fighting against.

READ: State lawmakers target Disney as tensions mount

Clerk of Courts data shows eviction filings have gone up since the moratorium expired last August, and overall rent prices in Florida have spiked 27% since June 2016.

While Disney’s development plans are still in early planning stages in terms of income caps and construction dates, it’s something Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said can only benefit the area.

READ: Walt Disney World announces opening date for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

“We want to move the needle,” Demings said. “We want to see additional workforce housing closer to where people work and live so we know that this is going to be a critical part.”

Universal and the county are also working on separate affordable housing projects of their own.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.

0