DTD Parking Garage Sparks Controversy

[Rumors Rocks]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/General...pay_85_million_for_Disney_parking_garages.htm

With the news of the Downtown Disney remodel, we heard that a parking garage may be coming to the area. Official word is now that there will be two parking garages with a total of 6,000 spaces and that the Reedy Creek Improvement District will be paying for them. Reedy Creek is the governing body Disney created when building Walt Disney World. The garages will cost Reedy Creek an estimated $85 million, but should save Disney millions. Because of its government status, Reedy Creek can use tax-free bonds for the property, as well as avoiding sales tax payments on the materials.

There are some that are criticizing the move, saying that Disney is taking advantage of having their own government. Rick Foglesong, a political-science professor at Rollins College, said, "Reedy Creek's ability to issue tax-free bonds and avoid paying sales taxes on construction materials gives the Disney Co. a competitive advantage over other theme parks and resorts in Florida."

Click link for more details...

 

[lockedoutlogic]

So there are those that are accusing Disney of using their influence to get special treatment?

Not a student of history, are they? That was specifically required by Roy O Disney before they agreed to spend one cent in the swamp. The incorporated town of Lake Buena Vista and the Reedy Creek Special Improvement District were given Carte Blanche by the State and County Governments to be allowed to do what they want in the most advantageous fashion...

It's like the Vatican and will not change.

and in return for being bound by their own laws...Disney has pumped trillions of dollars into the economies of Orange and Osceola Counties, The City of Orlando, The State of Florida, and the United States for that matter.

So basically SHUT UP!!!!!

(i'm as critical of disney as you can find...but these are just the facts of this story...if universal wanted this deal...they could have asked for it. But they never would have gotten it because orlando wasn't desperate for them..because, well...they had Disney for 25 years at that point. No leverage...It's good to be the king)

 

[swebb0310]

So there are those that are accusing Disney of using their influence to get special treatment?

Not a student of history, are they? That was specifically required by Roy O Disney before they agreed to spend one cent in the swamp. The incorporated town of Lake Buena Vista and the Reedy Creek Special Improvement District were given Carte Blanche by the State and County Governments to be allowed to do what they want in the most advantageous fashion...

It's like the Vatican and will not change.

and in return for being bound by their own laws...Disney has pumped trillions of dollars into the economies of Orange and Osceola Counties, The City of Orlando, The State of Florida, and the United States for that matter.

So basically SHUT UP!!!!!

(i'm as critical of disney as you can find...but these are just the facts of this story...if universal wanted this deal...they could have asked for it. But they never would have gotten it because orlando wasn't desperate for them..because, well...they had Disney for 25 years at that point. No leverage...It's good to be the king)

I love the way you said that! "It's like the Vatican" and "it's good to be the king"!!

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

~Almost 100 Million for two parking garages? Sounds reasonable.

 

[Dznefreek]

Disney has pumped trillions of dollars into the economies of Orange and Osceola Counties

a bit exagerated don't you think . . . . . .

The incorporated town of Lake Buena Vista and the Reedy Creek Special Improvement District were given Carte Blanche by the State and County Governments to be allowed to do what they want in the most advantageous fashion...

and the state of Florida has said in hind sight they would never make such a deal again . . . .

 

[lockedoutlogic]

a bit exagerated don't you think . . . . . .
and the state of Florida has said in hind sight they would never make such a deal again . . . .

Perhaps...but just a bit. There's no way to effectively quantify exactly how much they've brought...but it is a huge number. Orlando was a one horse swamp before they arrived...now look at it. They brought almost all the people and other business into town behind them.
So trillions? Since 1965? Not exactly a stretch.

And Florida is a pack of liars.

Of course they would do the deal again...with bells on.
They pander like dogs to anyone who has a dollar in their wallet.
Just as they don't charge income tax - letting retirees not contribute to the infrastructure that serves them. Just to have them around...concessions.

All governments do it and are for sale...Florida is near the head of that charge.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Perhaps...but just a bit. There's no way to effectively quantify exactly how much they've brought...but it is a huge number. Orlando was a one horse swamp before they arrived...now look at it. They brought almost all the people and other business into town behind them.
So trillions? Since 1965? Not exactly a stretch.

And Florida is a pack of liars.

Of course they would do the deal again...with bells on.
They pander like dogs to anyone who has a dollar in their wallet.
Just as they don't charge income tax - letting retirees not contribute to the infrastructure that serves them. Just to have them around...concessions.

All governments do it and are for sale...Florida is near the head of that charge.

LOL! Amen brother!

 

[donsullivan]

a bit exagerated don't you think . . . . . .
and the state of Florida has said in hind sight they would never make such a deal again . . . .

The state hasn't exactly said they would not do it again. In fact there was a project for a research organization in south Florida a decade or so ago where the state was considering offering similar powers to draw it there.

However, it has become a staple in central Florida for some politician running for office every couple of years to bring this topic up and say they would have the law repealed and remove Disney's special privilege within RCID. It's a great grand-standing technique for a new candidate trying to get some media attention. It never comes to anything beyond the campaign but assures they'll get into the paper and on the news getting the publicity they want.

RCID has always been able to issue municipal bonds for infrastructure projects from roads to water and sewer facilities. They did trigger a whole lot of controversy some years ago when they issued some bonds for a water treatment facility. Unfortunately that year there was an issue in the state which limited total value of bonds issued and since Disney got theirs in first, a project in central Florida for affordable housing could not be funded. That caused a huge uproar in the community and branded Disney as the "Mouse that stole affordable housing". Everything was completely legal and proper but obviously the headline caused an uproar.

The practical reality is RCID and Disney have been pretty good neighbors and quite beneficial to the community. They provide a massive number of jobs and bring a whole lot of tax revenue to the area every year. The actual dollar value of the economic impact will always be debated but the fact that they have had a major impact cannot be disputed. While there will always be the occasional dispute about one thing or another (show me a community that doesn't happen in) in general they participate well with their neighbors.

 

[darkwing818]

Perhaps...but just a bit. There's no way to effectively quantify exactly how much they've brought...but it is a huge number. Orlando was a one horse swamp before they arrived...now look at it. They brought almost all the people and other business into town behind them.
So trillions? Since 1965? Not exactly a stretch.

Of course they would do the deal again...with bells on.
They pander like dogs to anyone who has a dollar in their wallet.
Just as they don't charge income tax - letting retirees not contribute to the infrastructure that serves them. Just to have them around...concessions.

All governments do it and are for sale...Florida is near the head of that charge.

Having driven through Orlando back in the late 60's, calling Orlando a 1 horse swamp maybe to generous.

 

[CtinaDitty]

I was about to say, considering how much Disney has brought to Orlando they can cool it.

 

[KYMickey]

Why is this any different than when a city government builds a parking garage? They do it to attract businesses and stores to build there and to attract people to those places. Why do they do that? So they can make more money. So like the same thing being done here by the Disney community.

 

[seashoreCM]

RCID has always been able to issue municipal bonds for infrastructure projects from roads to water and sewer facilities. They did trigger a whole lot of controversy some years ago when they issued some bonds for a water treatment facility. Unfortunately that year there was an issue in the state which limited total value of bonds issued and since Disney got theirs in first, a project in central Florida for affordable housing could not be funded. That caused a huge uproar in the community and branded Disney as the "Mouse that stole affordable housing". Everything was completely legal and proper but obviously the headline caused an uproar.

A water treatment plant and a parking garage are revenue positive. They increase the taxable property base much more than the additional city services needed after they are built. Meanwhile a housing development is usually revenue negative. The cost of added city services, notably for schools, is greater than the additional tax generated.

Too many cities and towns across the land have wooed developers bringing revenue neutral and revenue negative projects and are then surprised that property taxes keep rising. A few cities have smartened up, requiring concessions or impact fees from developers as opposed to giving the developers tax breaks. Impact fees require specific legislation so that the dollar amount can be sensibly (and hopefully fairly) computed in advance while some concessions such as road widening can be negotiated at the last minute for each case.

 

[wiigirl]

Why is this any different than when a city government builds a parking garage? They do it to attract businesses and stores to build there and to attract people to those places. Why do they do that? So they can make more money. So like the same thing being done here by the Disney community.

Good point....

 

[doconeill]

The controversy is from those who see Disney as a giant company that makes billions of dollars, not having to pay taxes.

But it isn't the Disney Corporation building it, it's Reedy Creek Improvement District, a duly incorporated municipality or whatever they want to call it, that just happens to have a corporate entity at it's helm, granted to them by the Florida legislature of 1967, and created explicitly for this purpose, really.

For those that say they would have never agreed to the deal now, how many of them were members of the FL legislature in 1967? How many were staring at swampland, and wondering what to do with it all, when Disney came to them and said, "You know, we can do something with this land, something magical...but can you cut us a break"?

Don't forget - the original plan was to actually build a city: Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow/Progress City.

Universal probably couldn't get a deal like that since they weren't building something the size of a city anyways.

As for the $85 million cost - yes, it sounds like a lot but it appears that it is actually in line with new garage construction costs.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

a bit exagerated don't you think . . . . . .
and the state of Florida has said in hind sight they would never make such a deal again . . . .

1. Over 40 years..easily trillions, many time over!

2. The government standing for WDW was the best move Florida could make then and now.

One of the biggest problem was the massive project even at the start (WDW was for 2 years the worlds biggest employer at 1 site) and the fact building codes in place by the local governments could in no way be used for the many new designs that WDW was building.

3. Any government involvement would have meant we would still be awaiting for the opening of the MK.


4. WDW plans and designs paved the way for all the other parks in the Orlando area.


AKK

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Having driven through Orlando back in the late 60's, calling Orlando a 1 horse swamp maybe to generous.

You're right...I was being generous

By 1965 the horse was gone - it wandered into the swamp near where they built Dixie Landings one in night in 1963 and the gators ate it

 

[lockedoutlogic]

The controversy is from those who see Disney as a giant company that makes billions of dollars, not having to pay taxes.

But it isn't the Disney Corporation building it, it's Reedy Creek Improvement District, a duly incorporated municipality or whatever they want to call it, that just happens to have a corporate entity at it's helm, granted to them by the Florida legislature of 1967, and created explicitly for this purpose, really.

For those that say they would have never agreed to the deal now, how many of them were members of the FL legislature in 1967? How many were staring at swampland, and wondering what to do with it all, when Disney came to them and said, "You know, we can do something with this land, something magical...but can you cut us a break"?

Don't forget - the original plan was to actually build a city: Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow/Progress City.

Universal probably couldn't get a deal like that since they weren't building something the size of a city anyways.

As for the $85 million cost - yes, it sounds like a lot but it appears that it is actually in line with new garage construction costs.

I agree...

Except the "together we can do something magical"

Booooo! That's a cast member tool sentence

Total foul.

 

[N365PA]

I don't have a problem with this. This garage will facilitate ease of access to locals and tourists alike. It will cut down on the current traffic issues in and around DTD. We tourists will come in and spend money, the locals will use it while they enjoy a night out dining and shopping. Win Win.

 

[Dznefreek]

Over 40 years..easily trillions, many time over!

No, no and no . . . . . . . . .Total Disney (not just (WDW)revenue was 2012 - 42, 2011 - 40, 2010 - 38, 2009 - 36 billion with 1995 only being 12 billion
So given the slide backwards; no.
Over 40 years the average would have to be 25B to hit 1 trillion.

 

[SuperDan523]

No, no and no . . . . . . . . .Total Disney (not just (WDW)revenue was 2012 - 42, 2011 - 40, 2010 - 38, 2009 - 36 billion with 1995 only being 12 billion
So given the slide backwards; no.
Over 40 years the average would have to be 25B to hit 1 trillion.

I believe Tonka's Skipper isn't just referring to money immediately passing through WDW's hands, but everything that probably would never have come to the Orlando area had Disney not come first. This includes the other Orlando theme parks, hundreds of hotels and restaurants, countless other businesses opened to serve both tourists and Disney employees, convention and sports business... There is a reason Walt got the land so cheap. Nobody else else would have interest in building on gator-infested swamp with no civilization for miles. I'd say WDW either directly or indirectly accounts for at least a third of Florida's economy since Walt started buying all that land nobody wanted. Trillions of dollars easily.