04- Vacant Land Rehabilitation
Opportunity Cost of Urbanized Vacant Lots Without Development
The prolonged existence of vacant lots in urbanized areas — such as the one located in Winter Garden (Orange County, coordinates 28.357637, -81.651019) — represents a high opportunity cost for the city.
For over 30 years, these lands have remained undeveloped despite having favorable zoning and access to consolidated urban infrastructure, generating negative economic, social, and environmental impacts.
Impacts on the City and the County:
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Underutilization of public investment:
The city has invested in transportation networks, potable water, sanitation, and electricity surrounding this lot, without obtaining social or fiscal returns. -
Housing shortage:
The persistence of these unbuilt areas reduces the housing supply, exacerbating access to housing in a context of population and tourism growth. -
Pressure on rural areas:
By not utilizing these intra-urban spaces, urban expansion has shifted toward rural and natural areas, increasing ecosystem fragmentation and service expansion costs. -
Fiscal inactivity:
Undeveloped lots generate very little fiscal revenue compared to their potential if built and inhabited.
Implications in the Context of Harmony Life:
This land is located in a highly strategic area due to its proximity to Disney theme parks, within the Harmony Life tourist district and at the convergence node known as Four Corners.
The demand for functional spaces — both residential and touristic — is growing, yet the lot in question has not been adequately utilized.
The Harmony Life Project Reverses This Situation:
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Revitalizes an underutilized lot to transform it into a green, mixed-use, and sustainable development hub.
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Reduces the need for disorderly urban expansion in other areas of the county.
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Provides housing solutions aligned with the region’s demographic and tourism growth.
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Generates immediate and sustainable fiscal, environmental, and social benefits.
Reedy Creek is, therefore, not only an urban solution but also a strategic response to decades of territorial inefficiency, restoring value to the community, leveraging existing public investments, and strengthening the sustainable urban model of Winter Garden and Orange County.
