WINTER PARK -- With demand comes growth, and Full Sail Real World Education, an Orange County art and film school, said it is merely keeping up with its demand, but some community residents said the school's continued expansion was not welcome in their neighborhood.
Silver City Properties, which negotiated the deal with Full Sail, said the purchase would help improve what they said was a shopping center in disrepair.
Some residents said more traffic and more students could mean lower property values.
"The idea is to have school during the day and continued use of the theater at night, as well as renovating the buildings," said Silver City Partners Vice President Geoffrey Rogers.
"They need to consider the impact on the community, especially an area that was never designed or intended to support a sprawling campus," said Anna Telleria, a resident who was against the school's expansion.
Orange County has granted Full Sail an exception to current zoning rules, allowing the school to hold classes in Carmike's Cinemas. However, the ruling has been appealed, and a hearing was expected to take place a week from Tuesday.
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