Pizza, Plaintiffs, & Kelly Park

June 20, 2024

Happy Thursday, Orlando. Expect partly sunny skies today with a slight chance of a rain shower. The high will be around 88, with lows around 74. Here’s what’s on deck:

  • Wyld Oaks to Transform Apopka's Kelly Park Corridor

  • Disney Employees Sue Over Canceled Lake Nona Campus

Let’s dive in.

REAL ESTATE

Wyld Oaks to Transform Apopka's Kelly Park Corridor

Wyld Oaks Founder, Joseph Beninati. Image: Wyld Oaks

Breaking ground: The sprawling 215-acre Wyld Oaks development is set to shake up Apopka’s Kelly Park area with a mix of housing, shopping, dining, entertainment, and hotels. The vision is to create a community where residents can easily walk to shops, gyms, and other amenities, reducing the need for daily car use.

Current Status:

  • Wyld Oaks Developer Joseph Beninati shared that the $1.2 billion project is not only ahead of schedule but also under budget.

  • The first residential and industrial buildings are expected to break ground by Thanksgiving, which will kick off a series of continuous developments over the next five to six years.

Future vision: Upon completion, Wyld Oaks is anticipated to offer:

  • 3,000 to 4,000 living units, including apartments, condos, and townhomes

  • 70,000 square feet of restaurant space

  • 200,000 square feet of office space

  • 280,000 square feet of retail space

  • Two hotels

  • Extensive walking trails and green spaces

Looking ahead: With Apopka’s population predicted to surge by 6.1% in the next five years, largely due to nearly 13,000 new homes in the Kelly Park corridor, Wyld Oaks is poised to meet the growing demand for retail, dining, and entertainment. This development looks to be a cornerstone of Apopka’s vibrant future.

LAWSUITS

Disney Employees Sue Over Canceled Lake Nona Campus

Lake Nona Town Center. Image: Lake Nona

What's happening: Two Disney employees are suing The Walt Disney Company for alleged misrepresentation after the company canceled its planned $1 billion Lake Nona campus in Central Florida.

Context: The employees claim they were misled by Disney, prompting them to sell their homes in California and move to Florida. The move was based on Disney's 2021 announcement to relocate 2,000 employees to the new campus.

Backdrop: The Lake Nona campus was scrapped last May amid Disney's legal battle with Gov. Ron DeSantis and cost-cutting efforts, including 7,000 job cuts. Disney cited changing leadership and evolving economic conditions for the decision.

The plaintiffs:

  • Maria De La Cruz: Sold her Southern California home in 2022 and bought a house in Central Florida. She plans to return to California after selling her Florida home.

  • George Fong: Sold his childhood home in California and purchased a house in Orlando. He has since moved back to California, buying a smaller home in South Pasadena.

The big picture: The lawsuit emphasizes the disruption and financial strain on employees who relocated, compounded by rising home prices and mortgage rates in California.

What's next: Disney representatives have yet to respond. The plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount in damages, calling on Disney to address the situation.

QUICK HITS

In Other News…

Pizza Bruno Owner, Bruno Zacchini. Image: Rob Bartlett / Orlando Weekly

  1. US News released Florida’s top 10 companies to work for, and a couple of Orlando-based cos made the list.

  2. Pizza Bruno is opening its third location in Orlando, this time at the new Maitland Social.

  3. Blink 182 is in town tonight for their 'One More Time' tour, kicking things off at 7 PM at the Kia Center.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s edition of the newsletter. See you back here tomorrow.

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