Local

Osceola County looking into more affordable housing after Magic Castle displaces residents

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Channel 9 is learning more about what’s happening to residents recently displaced from Magic Castle Inn in Kissimmee.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

Dozens of people in the area who didn’t have enough to pay for an apartment were living in the hotel. But last month, residents were asked to leave after a change in ownership.

County Commissioner Peggy Choudry has been working with local nonprofits to get people connected with a temporary place to live while they try to figure out what’s next.

READ: Residents in Central Florida luxury apartment dealing with mold, bugs

The displaced residents have been put up in rooms at the Stayable Inn, down the street from Magic Castle.

Choudry said the county is working to add more affordable housing units so people living paycheck to paycheck won’t go through something like this again.

READ: Dozens of residents given 24 hours to leave Osceola County motel

More than 1,000 unites are planned to open next year.

Magic Castle was famously used as the backdrop for the 2017 film “The Florida Project” starring Willem Dafoe.

READ: A Central Florida county to see delay in recyclables collected

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.