I hope this doesn't happen and some other arrangement can be made. There are a lot of good businesses in that area, that can be quite helpful during a vacation.
The article didn't mention anything about the hotels that are very close by to this shopping district, so I have no idea, but I imagine the business pay a lot to be so close to WDW.
As for the idea it would help Disney Springs, yes and no. It would actually display a glaring weakness Disney Springs has, and probably will always have. It doesn't have the sheer number of restaurants, and the sheer number of affordable restaurants. People can drive further, if need be. Some people like fast food options, and Disney Springs does have a lot of very nice restaurants, but few and far between on the fast food side of things. There isn't a single grocery store in Disney Springs to my knowledge, it's actually got more competition from the Premium Outlet Malls then it does this strip mall. Though I'm not doubting the strip mall brings in a ton of money, it ultimately is delivering a service Disney doesn't want, or else there would be major fast food places in Disney Springs, and there aren't with the exception of Starbucks, which is mostly a coffee place.With the redesign of the Downtown Disney area into the Springs, it looks a lot more like those Premium Oulet Malls, and has very similar vendors. Disney's are likely higher end, but that, may actually be as big a problem as the other. Disney Springs also to my knowledge has no pharmacy. No bookstore. It's mostly clothes, with some restaurants and entertainment venues peppered throughout. The marketplace is the most unique area.
Also, with the Perkins being in that area; WDW, Universal, and Sea World all have a pretty good relationship with Perkins, as they all raise funds for Give Kids the World. Both Walt Disney World and Perkins Restaurants are platinum members, with only 3 other organizations reaching that level. I always figured the Perkins was located that close because of that relationship. Flippers, which is also at Crossroads, would likely not be affected by this, assuming people are still allowed to get their pizzas delivered to the resorts. As long as Disney allows that, I'd see no reason as to them being worried about a small pizzaria, a good block away from a Hotel plaza, which is a good block away from the shopping district. Crossroads serves a purpose, a purpose Walt Disney World has never really wanted to take on. Whether it's affecting their business or not, they are offering a service Disney doesn't. Though Crossroads is obviously close to Disney, if you leave Disney World in almost any direction, there are hotels, gas stations, and restaurants as far as the eye can see. If one goes away, there are 15 others that could cause problems.
Speaking of the Orlando Premium Outlet, there is a Disney Character Warehouse store at the premium outlets. These stores sell discounted clearance sale prices on official Disney merchandise, and are run by Disney. In fact, if you make a donation to the Disney Wildlife Conservation fund there, they even have a specific button for it, just like they do for Animal Kingdom or the Seas at Epcot. My question is, why would Disney not have one of these stores at Disney Springs. They literally are encouraging people to go off site specifically for Disney merchandise. There also is a store at the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores, a mile away from Disney. Yes, World of Disney and others then couldn't sell the same merchandise for the higher prices, but Disney has a wide enough variety of merchandise to easily be able to handle it. The older stuff you want gone can be on clearance, and the newer or routinely popular stuff can go to World of Disney and those sorts. It strikes me as being counter to the whole "We want people staying on site for everything" argument. By having those stores though at other Orlando based Outlet malls, you are encouraging people to go visit them, as apposed to the higher end one you have on property. It wouldn't shock me if a few of the stores at Disney Springs were found in those outlets as well, or the Florida Mall, or Mall at Milennia
Ultimately, Crossroads physically isn't all that big when you subtract the restaurants and the grocery store, which Disney doesn't offer. The restaurants though aren't the type Disney has gravitated towards, even though they have a McDonalds on property, they closed the one at Downtown Disney, even though it was popular, citing that McDonald's food was unhealthy. The alcohol they are adding more and more of into the parks is also unhealthy, but it doesn't seem to stop them from adding more of that. McDonald's isn't the only fast food joint either, as Subway or any number of other options could be explored.
I am hopeful though for the people who work in these businesses that something can be arranged so that Crossroads stays. Hopefully.
