Universal Theme Parks & Resorts Planning New Affordable Housing Community

Universal Theme Parks & Resorts Planning New Affordable Housing Community

Universal Theme Parks and Resorts announced they are looking for a developer to build and manage an affordable housing community on a 20-acre site. “Universal’s vision:  show strong support for the findings and recommendations of the Orange County Housing for All Task Force and play an active leadership role in creating innovative solutions for affordable housing.” The new community will feature approximately 1,000 high-quality apartments and be located just off International Drive.

“Universal will donate the land to a not-for-profit entity set up for the purpose and work with the developer to ensure the property is used for affordable housing in perpetuity.  Universal will manage the developer selection process and will also work to create the development agreement with Orange County.” They have a goal to break ground in this affordable housing in 2022.

Universal has created its own Housing for Tomorrow initiative with key Universal team members and community leaders to oversee the process.  The community leaders include Terry Prather, who co-chaired the county’s Housing for All task force and Maria Triscari, President of the International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce.  Universal members of the committee include Rhonda Rhodes, a vice president of Human Resources who served on the county task force, Russ Dagon, senior vice president of Resort Development and Rob Herrick, a senior planning manager.

Statements about the new affordable housing community:

“I am thrilled that Universal has stepped up to the plate to help solve the affordable housing challenge, an issue that affects us all.  This venture is a great example of a public-private partnership,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings.  “I am also very proud of the results produced by the Housing for All Task Force.  Their plan of action provides a clear blueprint for moving forward.”

“The need for affordable housing in Central Florida is strong and our vision is clear,” said John Sprouls, executive vice president for administration, Universal Parks & Resorts.  “We will make land available for affordable housing, we will bring the right partners to the project and we will set a high standard for the new community we create.”

“I’m excited to see Universal commit to helping us find a solution to one of our community’s biggest challenges,” said Terry Prather, who is a member of the Universal committee and served on the Orange County Housing for All Task Force.  “We are working together to set a new standard for how our corporate community can help to solve issues as important as housing.”

“Progress requires collective commitment and government cannot do this alone,” said Victoria Siplin, Orange County District 6 commissioner, whose district will include the new community.  “Universal has helped us to create a model public-private partnership.  And the benefits to our community will be real.”

Dozens of affordable housing developers are expected to respond to the RFQ by the submission deadline of November 2, 2020.

Universal Orlando Housing for All Committee Vision Statement

We believe access to affordable housing is a human right.  We strongly support the findings and recommendations of Orange County’s Housing for All Task Force.  We will play an active, leadership role in helping our community move solutions forward.

• We are creating a community where residents will be the priority
• We will create a neighborhood that inspires and enables personal growth and is a place where residents are proud to live
• We will value and prioritize diversity and inclusiveness – by all and for all
• We will create and embrace a new kind of public-private partnership dedicated to innovation on behalf of our residents
• We will search out national best practices that will help guide us – and we will create new national standards and best practices when we see opportunity

We are excited to see Universal take initiative and strive for the community. We look forward to learning even more about this amazing project that will help Central Florida and the people who live there. We expect more information when a builder is picked in November.

All Information was sent via email from Universal Orlando.

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