Wednesday, June 23, 2010

The dream continues

From today's:

ORLANDO BUSINESS JOURNAL
By Anjali Fluker

Wednesday, June 23, 2010, 12:20pm EDT

Disney selling new dreams - homes

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts announced June 23 it will sell 30 single-family luxury home lots this year in a new residential community on Disney property near the Four Seasons Resort Orlando.

Homes at Golden Oak, a 450-home gated residential resort development, will be priced from $1.5 million to $8 million, said a news release. Three types of homes will be available: village homes on one-fourth-acre lots, estate homes on half-acre lots and grand estate homes on three-fourths-acre lots, the release said. The first homes are expected to be completed in 2011.

The resort community will include a private clubhouse, concierge services and Walt Disney World Resort benefits, the release said. It also features conservation areas taking up almost half of the development's 980-acre footprint.
"Golden Oak is something totally new: a residential resort community, right in the heart of the magic," said Matt Kelly, vice president of Disney Resort Real Estate Development, in a prepared statement.

Disney Resort Real Estate Development began site work nearly two years ago on the site and the main road and gatehouse have been completed, said Marilyn Waters, spokeswoman for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Business Development. Disney is finalizing its list of custom homebuilders for the community, which will be made up of seven experienced builders from Florida, Waters said.
Home construction could begin later this year, depending on how quickly buyers are able to work with builders and architects on designing their homes, Waters said.

Golden Oak also will include the previously-announced 445-room Four Seasons Hotel Resort at Walt Disney World Resort. Community residents will likely be offered access to select Four Seasons' future amenities, such as the spa, restaurants, golf course and event space, the release said.

The development isn't the first residential real estate development for Disney (NYSE: DIS) in Central Florida. The company developed Celebration in the mid-1990s, a town that is now home to more than 9,000 residents.
Those wanting to purchase homes must pay a $25,000 refundable deposit and sign a lot release priority agreement to secure a spot on the community's priority reservation list, the release said.