Universal’s affordable housing project near I-Drive to bring 1,000 homes

An affordable housing project, smack in the middle of the International Drive tourist corridor, less than two miles from Universal Orlando’s next theme park, Epic Universe, moved forward Wednesday with ceremonial turns of dirt.

“We’re not just here breaking ground on a housing community,” said Jonathan Wolf, founder and CEO of Wendover Housing Partners, the company in charge of developing the 1,000-unit Catchlight Crossings multi-use project. “We’re building a model … of how leadership, teamwork and a vision can confront the challenge of building dignified workforce housing.”

A crowd of local leaders joined with Universal executives to celebrate the $350 million project, which was made possible with funding from a diverse team of lenders: $7 million from the county’s Housing For All Trust Fund and Universal’s donation of 20 acres along Destination Parkway near the Orange County Convention Center.

Wolf called the patch of land “a pretty expensive piece of dirt,” which could have been turned into a hotel.

He extolled Catchlight Crossings’ roster of amenities — including a resort-style pool, a fitness center, an on-site, tuition-free Bezos Academy preschool, an urgent care facility and a community garden, expected to open in phases beginning in 2026. He expects the residents to have access to 100,000 jobs within seven miles of the complex.

Catchlight Crossings would be a few minutes walk from a proposed SunRail stop and a bus transfer station.

“It’s not just about a roof … it’s being feet away from what you need in your daily life,” Wolf said, noting many of the future tenants are people now living on limited budgets who commute two hours or longer to jobs every workday.

The collaborative project was announced about four years ago while county commissioners were debating whether to provide $125 million to extend and improve Kirkman Road, a main entrance to Epic Universe, expected to open in 2025.

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Wolf credited John Sprouls, executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Universal Destinations & Experiences, for persuading Universal’s parent corporation, Philadelphia-based Comcast, to provide the 20 acres.

Sprouls said Universal has been a part of the Central Florida business community for 30 years.

“We do a great job of attracting guests and folks who come here to enjoy everything we have. That creates an obligation for us,” he said, referring to problems created by tourism’s success. “Housing is probably number one.”

After the ceremony, Sprouls said he thinks Catchlight Crossings can be a template for similar housing projects.

“I hope this isn’t a one-off,” he said. “I hope this is sort of the first step to getting other companies to realize they can be part of the solution.”

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said all county taxpayers contributed to the project, too, as its Housing For All Trust is funded with property tax proceeds.

Catchlight Crossings shapes up differently than most affordable-housing projects, not only because of its size but also amenities included in the plan, said Mitchell Glasser, manager of the Housing and Community Development Divisions.

He said rents likely will be set according to household incomes.

In Orange County, terms like “very-low income” or “low income” are determined by household size and the corresponding percentage of the median family income for Orange County. For instance, a family of three earning between $23,030 and $37,350 would be considered “very-low income” while the same size family earning between $37,350 and $59,700 would qualify as “low income.”

 

shudak@orlandosentinel.com