Ground breaks on Universal’s new affordable housing project in Orlando

The name Universal, often linked to movies, theme parks, and resorts, will now also be linked to another industry — housing.

Public and private partners broke ground Wednesday for a new housing complex on Destination Parkway in Orlando, that will offer 1,000 new living spaces, 75% of which will be kept as affordable.

The community, called Catchlight Crossings, will be developed on 20 acres of land near International Drive donated by Universal. As Central Florida grapples with an affordable housing crisis, where people who work in the area can’t afford to live locally, John Sprouls, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences, said the project was an organic move for the entertainment and hospitality giant.