Orange County schools approve sale of historic Hungerford site in Eatonville
Orange County schools approve sale of historic Hungerford site
Orange County Public Schools has approved the sale of the historic Hungerford property in Eatonville to Doctor Phillips Charities, bringing an end to years of debate over the land's future.
EATONVILLE, Fla. - Orange County Public Schools has approved the sale of the historic Hungerford property in Eatonville to Doctor Phillips Charities, ending years of debate over the future of the land.
The school board unanimously approved the $14 million deal Tuesday night.
The backstory:
Under the agreement, the nonprofit will pay $1 million upfront at closing, while the remaining $13 million could be forgiven if specific development milestones are met, district officials said.
Those conditions include building and donating a community park and pavilion to the town, along with an early learning center, a community hub and health care facility, affordable housing, a new town hall and a history museum. The project is being developed in partnership with the town of Eatonville, according to the school district.
Board members said rejecting the deal could have led to losing the nonprofit partner and potentially allowing the state to control the surplus land.
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The property has been vacant since the pandemic, after the district demolished the historic Hungerford School, which closed in 2009. The school, built in the late 1800s, was the first school for Black children in Central Florida.
The agreement requires some conditions to be met within four years of closing for the debt to be forgiven, with a compliance period extending up to 10 years. A previous deal for the site fell through several years ago, and earlier proposals had faced opposition from some Eatonville officials.
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District leaders said the approved plan provides a long-term redevelopment path while preserving the site’s historical significance.
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by Orange County Public Schools and previous reporting by FOX 35 News.