Neighbors seek commitments from Universal
Appeal to Orange leaders to tie $125M investment to jobs
About 100 future neighbors of the planned Epic Universe theme park urged Orange County leaders Tuesday to tie $125 million to assist the Universal Studios’ project to an agreement for good jobs, affordable housing and “real community involvement.”
“If Universal is getting so much from us, we should be getting something back,” said Elias Rivera, 21, who grew up in Oak Ridge, works at Disney and formerly worked at Universal. “I really would like to support this new park. I think it would be great for their reputation as a company if they worked with the community but we need an agreement.”
Most urged commissioners to demand binding language in funding agreements with Universal to address their concerns about the theme park, which will be built on land between Sand Lake Road and Universal Boulevard near International Drive.
“We need guarantees, not empty promises,” said Susan Valentine, political director for Unite Here locals 362 and 737, which have members who work at Disney properties and live in the communities that will border Universal’s first new theme park in Orlando in 20 years.
“To offset the immense impact of a project like this, we need a jobs agreement, real funding for housing and a transparent process that engages residents’ input and knowledge,” she said outside commission chambers. “We don’t want this fast-tracked while our communities will be left dealing with all the fallout.”
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, who began his term in December by creating a task force to study the affordable housing crisis, said he was sympathetic to housing and living wage concerns raised by the union-led appeal. But he also said he didn’t believe it was appropriate for the board to get involved in those kinds of discussions with the theme park and its employees.
“I allowed them to plead their cases and we did a lot of listening today,” Demings said after the meeting.
He also said he hoped Universal executives were listening, too, and believed they had empathy for their workers.
The mayor described the theme park as “a good community partner for a long time.”
“It certainly would be plausible that Universal may respond in some way creatively with some type of public-private partnership to increase workforce housing, but I cannot speak for
Universal,” Demings said.
No one from Universal spoke at the meeting. The company spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Demings said the board could have discussions about housing issues when Universal’s detailed development proposal comes to the commission for approval.
However, he also said he doubted the board would want to impose wage and housing mandates on businesses.
“I don’t think that’s good overall for the business economy here in our community.”
The new theme park was announced Aug. 1 by Brian Roberts, CEO of Comcast Corp., to a crowd of guests that included Gov. Ron DeSantis.
In December, commissioners approved a memo of understanding for a $125 million package of cash and tax breaks for road work to provide improved access to the new park as well as Lockheed Martin and the Orange County Convention Center.
Universal has pledged $160 million toward the estimated $300 million road project.
But residents of Oak Ridge, Tangelo Park and Williamsburg — many clad in red Unite Here union Tshirts — attended the meeting to show their concerns the new theme park will spawn heavier traffic, higher rents and other problems for them. Some worry they’ll be forced from their homes because the park will drive up property values and thus property taxes.
The future Universal complex would sit within a two-mile radius of Tangelo Park, Williamsburg and Oak Ridge.
Some residents of the multi-cultural neighborhoods addressed the board in their native tongues, Spanish and Creole. Some took time off from Disney jobs as housekeepers, cooks and custodians to remind the board not to forget them as they consider Universal’s requests.
Some noted their union fought Disney for a wage increase to $15 an hour, a figure Universal plans to match at its new park.
Universal employees at the other two Orlando theme parks are currently paid a base of $12 an hour.
Owned by Comcast, Universal wants the county to co-fund the extension of Kirkman Road to the 750-acre site.
Universal has withheld specifics of its project, citing “competitive pressure.”
Fans and media have speculated the park’s themes could include Jurassic World, Harry Potter or Nintendo.
The company also hasn’t disclosed an opening date or construction timetable.
Despite the lack of specifics, future neighbors are quickly mobilizing to protect their interests.
Universal should have a moral obligation to take care of the neighboring communities that will be impacted by the multi-billion-dollar tourist attraction it plans to build, said Aura Inman, 40, who has lived in Williamsburg for 15 years and bought a home there two years ago.
“I don’t want it to turn into a transient neighborhood of Airbnbs,” she said, fearing homes will become vacation rentals.
James Morris, presiding elder of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Orlando, said he wants the commission to sign a binding agreement that requires Universal to provide “a living wage, affordable housing and that they be a good community neighbor from here on.”
Asked how Universal could be a better neighbor, he said, “Listen to the community.”