Intrawest/Orlando Development Corp., a Canadian investmentgroup, paid $19.6 million, or $15.21 per sf, for a 29.5-acre tractin the city's main tourist corridor at International Drive andUniversal Boulevard. Intrawest officials couldn't be reached atGlobeSt.com's publication deadline to learn what it plans to dowith the dirt. The deed was recorded March 8.

Meanwhile, Orange Circuit Court Judge Jay P. Cohen is expectedto rule this month on a suit filed by Orange County propertyappraiser Bill Donegan. The trial ended May 28. The suit allegesUniversal has been deceiving the county for years by wrongfullyclaiming an agriculture zoning classification on its total 1,240acres. The suit maintains the land is being prepared for commercialsale. Universal argues the land is a pine tree farm and qualifiesas an agricultural zoning under state law.

At stake are big tax dollars. Universal now pays $390,000 a yearin county property taxes under the agricultural zoning. If it losesthe suit, Universal's annual tax bill will jump to $1.8 million,staffers in Donegan's office confirm to GlobeSt.com.