A Brawl in Mickey's Backyard

A BRAWL IN MICKEY'S BACKYARD MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011 SunCal planned to buy 26 acre of land in the resort community that is directly across from Disneyland. They want to build 1500 condominiums in the area, while reserving 15% of those for below-market rental apartments. The problem is that most of Disney's 20,000 employees cannot afford to live in Anaheim community--the median price for a home in the resort area is around $600,000, while a one-bedroom apartment runs around $1,400 a month. With many of the employees like custodians who average about $23,000 and restaurant attendants averaging about $14,000, many cannot afford to live in the resort community. Many employees find themselve living elsewhere and commuting to work by car or by bus. Disney strongly opposes SunCal's plan by arguing that the land should be used for tourism-related businesses like hotels and restaurants. Disney goes on to argue that if one developer is allowed to build rental properties, other developers will soon follow. They say that Anaheim and Orange County should protect the resort district, so the chamber of commerce, in support of Disney's position, have launched a campaign, "Save Our Resorts," to help protect the resort community. The five- member council is split on the issue, saying that if these people can't afford to live here, then maybe they should live somewhere else where rents are cheaper." Those in favor of SunCal's position say that affordable housing in the resort community would reduce the long commutes that require Disney employees to be able to get to work. The relevant market stakeholders in this case are those for Disney and SunCal, and non-relevant stakeholders are those in support of SunCal and the Chamber of Commerce who is in support of Disney. SunCal and its stakeholders should be able to develop affordable property in Anaheim's resort community because by allowing them to do so, would greatly allow employees of Disney and other employers in Orange County affordable housing as well as free them from having to make the long commute to work each day. Resources Case Study: A Brawl in Mickey's Backyard highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/dl/free/0078137152/812998/Chapter1.pdf