Orange County leaders approve $125 million road deal with Universal Orlando

Originally published Dec. 17, 2019

By Jason Garcia and Chabeli Carrazana

In a late-night decision following hours of testimony, Orange County commissioners voted 4-3 to approve a controversial plan to give $125 million to Universal Orlando to build a new road.

The razor-thin approval means Universal will get as much as $125 million from Orange County plus another $16 million from the state to help fund the extension of Kirkman Road through the 750-acre property upon which it plans to build Epic Universe, which will be Universal’s third Central Florida theme park when it opens in 2023.

Universal estimates the 1.7-mile road will cost $305 million overall.

“I feel we are not being as wise as we could with these funds,” said Commissioner Mayra Uribe, who voted against paying the $125 million to Universal. Commissioners Emily Bonilla and Maribel Gomez Cordero also voted no.

But Mayor Jerry Demings called it a good deal for the county.

“In some regards, it looks like the county is paying Universal,” Demings said. “But I would argue the converse: Universal is helping to pay for a county road.”

Commissioners Betsy VanderLey, Christine Moore and Victoria Siplin joined the mayor in supporting the deal.

The narrow vote came after a marathon hearing that included comments from roughly 40 people -- including a speaker dressed as the Grinch, who voiced his objections in the form of a poem. Many of them blasted the road deal as a corporate giveaway and urged county leaders to spend the money on other needs, including affordable housing.

“What does this park provide? They can’t even tell us how many employees are going to be full time and $15 an hour,” said Diego Henry, a Disney World worker who says he has been unable to afford to buy a home for his family. “I say today they don’t need $125 million.”

The final speaker of the night, Gabby Alcantara-Anderson, a low-level manager who works at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, warned the commissioners, " ... I want you to remember who votes."

Read the rest of the story here.