News Reedy Creek Improvement District and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

[MisterPenguin]

Most of the land that we consider to be the parks and the surrounding green acres is owned by Disney. The RCID only owned strips of land along hiways and small plots, unless I'm missing something looking at the maps.

So, within WDW, there's no RCID land that can really by built on. And some of that may be under wetland conservation. And the "11th hour" contract keeps that from happening, too.

That only leaves RCID the option of buying property outside of WDW and building on that in the surrounding towns. You know, build a prison or two nearby or in Gold Oaks.

 

[LAKid53]

That’s still not the same as market value.

Bingo. While assessed values should take into consideration market values, by law, they don't always jive.

 

[LAKid53]

View attachment 751242

The affordable housing is being built in the highlighted land above just north of Flamingo Crossings near the Waterleigh developments off Hartzog Road. Most likely it will just be de-annexed after being built.

They have been having community meetings with Horizon West homeowners to discuss the future project.

Community Meeting Held For Disney’s Affordable Housing Project; Residents Disappointed In Lack Of Details – Horizon West News & Info

Horizon West news and information for Orange County, FL's fastest growing community. Horizon West's largest source for news and development.

www.horizonwestinfo.com

There's nothing being built there. At least there wasn't Thursday morning. Explains the elementary school under construction in Hickory Cove.

I need to snag the "Entering RCID" sign on Hertzog ASAP.

 

[LAKid53]

Most of the land that we consider to be the parks and the surrounding green acres is owned by Disney. The RCID only owned strips of land along hiways and small plots, unless I'm missing something looking at the maps.

So, within WDW, there's no RCID land that can really by built on. And some of that may be under wetland conservation. And the "11th hour" contract keeps that from happening, too.

That only leaves RCID the option of buying property outside of WDW and building on that in the surrounding towns. You know, build a prison or two nearby or in Gold Oaks.

Yeah, that will go over well. Build a prison next to multi-million dollar homes. See how fast that idea will die.

 

[Unbanshee]

View attachment 751242

The affordable housing is being built in the highlighted land above just north of Flamingo Crossings near the Waterleigh developments off Hartzog Road. Most likely it will just be de-annexed after being built.

They have been having community meetings with Horizon West homeowners to discuss the future project.

Community Meeting Held For Disney’s Affordable Housing Project; Residents Disappointed In Lack Of Details – Horizon West News & Info

Horizon West news and information for Orange County, FL's fastest growing community. Horizon West's largest source for news and development.

www.horizonwestinfo.com

And that's Disney's affordable housing venture, not CFTOD's

 

[Lilofan]

Yes, but I think it would be challenging for a district with nearly no residents to argue they need affordable housing; and that there is no where else it could be built.

Affordable housing has its pros and cons. Pros to give potential residents opportunity to live paying lower rents, the cons is current residents don’t care for it due to affordable housing may deteriorate property values, more traffic, crime , congestion.

 

[DisneyDreamerxyz]

There's nothing being built there. At least there wasn't Thursday morning. Explains the elementary school under construction in Hickory Cove.

I need to snag the "Entering RCID" sign on Hertzog ASAP.

Disney owns that entire area and I read an article that said they plan to fill in those water treatment pond things as they do not need them. The community meeting with Imagineering that was held in September did not go well - https://www.horizonwestinfo.com/com...ct-residents-disappointed-in-lack-of-details/

 

[LAKid53]

Affordable housing has its pros and cons. Pros to give potential residents opportunity to live paying lower rents, the cons is current residents don’t care for it due to affordable housing may deteriorate property values, more traffic, crime , congestion.

The existing housing in that area on Hertzog is apartments.

My concern would be traffic. Hertzog is a 2 lane road with a 40 mph speed limit. And idiots love to speed and pass on the curves.

 

[LAKid53]

Disney owns that entire area and I read an article that said they plan to fill in those water treatment pond things as they do not need them. The community meeting with Imagineering that was held in September did not go well - https://www.horizonwestinfo.com/com...ct-residents-disappointed-in-lack-of-details/

The residents in that area just beyond RCID on Hertzog live in apartments. The only housing in Flamingo Crossings is the College Program apartments. There is a new development west of Flamingo Crossings on Flamingo Crossings...but it's waaaay west.

I agree with the student about traffic. Lots of kids ride their bikes or scooters to the schools in the area. Hopefully if this development proceeds, a traffic light will be installed.

 

[Lilofan]

The existing housing in that area on Hertzog is apartments.

My concern would be traffic. Hertzog is a 2 lane road with a 40 mph speed limit. And idiots love to speed and pass on the curves.

I have traveled when in the area - Poinciana Blvd in Kissimmee and Reams Rd behind MK. Those are death trap roads when one speeds and loses control. Don't know about Hertzog.

 

[LAKid53]

I have traveled when in the area - Poinciana Blvd in Kissimmee and Reams Rd behind MK. Those are death trap roads when one speeds and loses control. Don't know about Hertzog.

It changes from a 4 lane road by the hotels and shopping area to a 2 lane road right after.

 

[culturenthrills]

Looks like a lot of employees are leaving the district because of the new board

Report: Dozens of Employees with More Than 350 Years of Experience Resign from "Toxic" Central Florida Tourism Oversight District After DeSantis Takeover

Morale is down and the new leadership doesn't care. That's the message that was sent by former employees of the CFTOD through exit interviews

blogmickey.com

 

[LAKid53]

Looks like a lot of employees are leaving the district because of the new board

Report: Dozens of Employees with More Than 350 Years of Experience Resign from "Toxic" Central Florida Tourism Oversight District After DeSantis Takeover

Morale is down and the new leadership doesn't care. That's the message that was sent by former employees of the CFTOD through exit interviews

blogmickey.com

The loss of institutional knowledge is going to hurt the operations of the District. And as we've seen, several Board members aren't the sharpest pencils in the box.

 

[castlecake2.0]

Looks like a lot of employees are leaving the district because of the new board

Report: Dozens of Employees with More Than 350 Years of Experience Resign from "Toxic" Central Florida Tourism Oversight District After DeSantis Takeover

Morale is down and the new leadership doesn't care. That's the message that was sent by former employees of the CFTOD through exit interviews

blogmickey.com

After attending several of these meetings I can back up this article. The actual district employees were very proud of the previous system in place and the work they did, and now just feel like political pawns.

 

[mkt]

Ron DeSantis seized control of Disney's district. Employees are now quitting en masse.

Former employees at the district that oversees Walt Disney World say Ron DeSantis has installed leaders who are inept, dishonest and toxic.

jasongarcia.substack.com

 

[JKick95]

Any predictions on what the end result of all this will be?

 

[Surferboy567]

Any predictions on what the end result of all this will be?

Spitballing but I foresee two scenarios. Once this is all said and done. Keep in mind this will probably take lots more time to be “finished”.

A.) DeSantis’s board wins the lawsuit. They try and make Disney’s life a living hell in the state of Florida. Raise taxes, inact policies whatever they can do in order to slow them down. All under the guise of not having one company have a “competitive advantage”. Most employees of the district will leave as they are not fans of the new board. Once a new governor comes into the state of Florida it is possible that the hostile tone will stop. Park investment is hampered and dramatically slows down as it has to go though the board.

B.) Disney wins and the board is reverted back to the way it was. So much has changed I don’t know how this could be done. Perhaps an injunction is ordered so the state can not pull any more funny business.

EDIT: Whatever happens this will be a landmark case in free speech.

 

[Figgy1]

Looks like a lot of employees are leaving the district because of the new board

Report: Dozens of Employees with More Than 350 Years of Experience Resign from "Toxic" Central Florida Tourism Oversight District After DeSantis Takeover

Morale is down and the new leadership doesn't care. That's the message that was sent by former employees of the CFTOD through exit interviews

blogmickey.com

The loss of institutional knowledge is going to hurt the operations of the District. And as we've seen, several Board members aren't the sharpest pencils in the box.

Should Disney win the federal suit will this be part of the damages they're seeking? Fixing the damage the board has done to district operations isn't going to be cheap

 

[mkt]

Spitballing but I foresee two scenarios. Once this is all said and done. Keep in mind this will probably take lots more time to be “finished”.

A.) DeSantis’s board wins the lawsuit. They try and make Disney’s life a living hell in the state of Florida. Raise taxes, inact policies whatever they can do in order to slow them down. All under the guise of not having one company have a “competitive advantage”. Most employees of the district will leave as they are not fans of the new board. Once a new governor comes into the state of Florida it is possible that the hostile tone will stop. Park investment is hampered and dramatically slows down as it has to go though the board.

B.) Disney wins and the board is reverted back to the way it was. So much has changed I don’t know how this could be done. Perhaps an injunction is ordered so the state can not pull any more funny business.

EDIT: Whatever happens this will be a landmark case in free speech.

With two separate lawsuits going on, what happens if the victories are opposite of each other?

 

[Surferboy567]

With two separate lawsuits going on, what happens if the victories are opposite of each other?

I have no idea just spitballing.

I assume that the most likely situation is that DeSantis wins the state case and Disney wins in federal court. I’m not sure how that shakes out though in the situation you described.