Eatonville seeks to work with planned Hungerford buyer after school board decision

Eatonville's town council, unable to stop the Orange County School Board's planned sale of the 117-acre Hungerford property, plans to meet the would-be buyer, Dr. Phillips Charities, on Jan. 20 after the board signaled a vote on the deal for Jan. 13.

The Eatonville Town Council met Tuesday evening after the Orange County School Board signaled plans to sell the 117-acre Hungerford property to Dr. Phillips Charities. Council members said they could not stop the imminent sale and hope to meet the planned buyer to influence what is developed on the land. The Hungerford site sits along Interstate 4 and is seen as a gateway to Eatonville, which bills itself as the oldest Black-run municipality in the nation. The property has been at the center of longstanding debate about how best to support the town's limited tax base. Known details: - The Orange County School Board signaled plans to sell the 117-acre Hungerford property to Dr. Phillips Charities and is scheduled to vote on the deal on Jan. 13. - Eatonville's council plans to meet with Dr. Phillips Charities on Jan. 20, a week after the school board's planned vote. - Council members asked the school board to delay its vote by 90 days so the town could pursue its own bid, but the board did not agree to the delay. - Town Attorney Cliff Shepard advised the council to collaborate with Dr. Phillips Charities to learn and possibly influence their development intentions. - The charity's proposal includes housing, retail (including a grocery store), a conference hotel center, educational and medical facilities, parks, and a donation of some land back to the town. - The site once housed the Robert F. Hungerford Normal and Industrial School; the public school there closed in 2009 and the buildings were demolished in 2020. Summary: Council members expressed frustration and divided views about whether the planned development would sufficiently strengthen Eatonville's tax base and support revitalization. The school board plans to vote on the sale on Jan. 13, and the town has a meeting with Dr. Phillips Charities set for Jan. 20 to review the charity's intentions. The council has not reached agreement on specific changes it wants to propose, leaving internal next steps undetermined at this time.