The battle between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Disney has residents in the idyllic town of Celebration feeling stuck in the middle and forced to take sides
Amid broad confusion about whether the new DeSantis-backed panel will follow through on threats to enact new regulations and raise taxes, potentially hurting tourism, several Central Florida business owners spoke up this week to urge both sides to settle the spat.
Potential buyers arrived, often had a meal, and then visited model homes. They then could climb a tower to see exactly where their new home would be built on the marsh. In 2004, Disney handed over control of downtown Celebration to an independent developer. But a board appointed by Disney still has final say about what sorts of aesthetic and cosmetic changes can be made to the community — including the color of properties and whether a business can hang a sign over its front door.
But a few yards away, Bonnie O’Connell and Dale Lack, both of whom moved to Celebration about seven years ago, said they are thrilled that Disney is challenging DeSantis in court. As they sipped coffee in front of Le Macaron French Pastries, both women said they lean politically toward the Democrats and hope the controversy scuttles DeSantis’s presidential ambitions.
But for now, Celebration continues to boom. Mirroring trends in other parts of the state, home values here soared during the pandemic.Fine Living, said two-bedroom condominiums sell for an average of about $350,000 in Celebration. Single family homes can top out at about $2.5 million. “I don’t think it was Disney’s business to try to assert what elected officials in Florida decide for their constituents,” Stronge said. “It’s not Disney’s business to try to tell Floridians what to do.”
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