EATONVILLE, Fla. – The Eatonville Town Council on Tuesday will vote on a $200 million project dubbed the "World Transportation Exchange," an entertainment complex featuring high-end cars, yachts and helicopters.
[PHOTOS: Luxury complex proposed for Eatonville]
The proposed complex would be built on 99 acres of land for sale in Eatonville, known as the first incorporated black community in the country. The space is off Interstate 4 near Wymore Road and Kennedy Boulevard, where Hungerford Prep High School sits. The school closed in 2009.
The project would house an eight-floor showroom, featuring luxury vehicles such as Maserati, Ferrari and Lamborghini, plus high-end RVs, motor coaches and private jets.
The mayor of Eatonville, Bruce Mount, said he's all for the complex.
"I think it'll add a great economic impact to the community," Mount said.
The plans also include a 200-room hotel, retail and office space and homes, according to the WTE website.
The developer also said he will give some of the land back to the town to build a park that would have an amphitheater, a farmers market and a jazz hall of fame.
"I like this project because it creates jobs for the community and also education. This town was built on education and if we don't keep an education component within the component, we lose," Mount said.
A representative for the developer said the historic Hungerford school building would be preserved and left to the town to decide what to do with it, but he didn't know if it would reopen as a school.
Many Eatonville residents, however, do not agree with the idea.
"All they need here is maybe a gas station or, you know, a store. They don't need something that big. They're going to take away the integrity of the town," said Gary Lowery, who has lived in Eatonville for 20 years.
A town hall meeting about the plan is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Hungerford school cafeteria. The Town Council meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Town Hall.