ORLANDO, Fla. — 9 Investigates uncovered a new plan that could shut out residents who are fighting to keep a homeless shelter out of their neighborhood.
The proposed site for the Orlando Union Rescue Mission is on Old Winter Garden Road, west of John Young Parkway.
The mission is moving from its downtown location to make way for the Orlando Magic's $200 million entertainment complex.
The new location is in Orange County, not Orlando, but the city could annex and take control of the land without county approval.
When the Orlando Union Rescue Mission sold its land to the Magic, the nonprofit never predicted the battle ahead. Officials said they were told it would be easy to get a special exception from the county to build on the land.
"It's a great addition, we believe, to the community," said OURM CEO Alen Harden. "It looks better than anything there now or close to us. What higher calling is there than to love your neighbor as yourself."
And while residents to the north and the south believe in caring for the homeless, they're worried the mission would be bad for their neighborhood.
"It's too much for our little area," said Hanna Sanders, who lives in the nearby Haralson Estates.
Neighbor John Weyrick is concerned that his neighborhood could lose its day before the county commission on August 4 if Orlando annexes their land.
He believes the city has a reputation for bypassing citizens'' wishes.
"I see the rubble at Tinker Field," he said.
Harden is hoping that he can win residents over before the place that houses the homeless is out of its home.
"We spend over $6 million a year to operate our facilities. We do all of that without one cent of government money from any source," he said.