Eatonville, FL – The Orange County School Board voted Tuesday to transfer the property of the former Hungerford School to Dr. phillips Charities, ending a years-long dispute over the historic site and paving the way for a community progress project. The agreement marks a turning point after previous development attempts failed in 2023 and a subsequent legal battle in 2024.
The Hungerford School, once a vital private and trade school for Black students dating back to the 1800s, closed in 2009 and was demolished during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ownership shifted from the town of Eatonville, to whom the land was originally donated by the Hungerford family, to the school district by the 1950s. A protracted conflict between Orange County Schools and the town of Eatonville began in 2023 regarding the property’s future.
Under the terms of a memorandum of understanding, Dr.Phillips Charities will spearhead the development, with a phased timeline: meaningful infrastructure improvements, including green space and a pavilion, are expected within two years.An Eatonville Early Learning Center, prioritizing enrollment for town residents and Hungerford Elementary School staff children, is slated for completion by year three. A Community Hub/Healthcare facility will follow by year four. Land will also be designated for a Town Center and History Center/Museum, to be donated to Eatonville upon securing construction funding, with free admission granted to Orange County students. Any affordable, deed-restricted single-family housing developed will prioritize instructional staff, Eatonville residents, and town first responders.
The full memorandum of understanding can be found here: [link to MOU].
