ORANGE COUNTY, Fla -- The Orange County School Board plans to sell 100 acres of land on the former site of the Hungerford Prep School. While nothing is set in stone, the plan is to have a developer build hundreds of homes on the property.

“This property was an educational hub in the time during segregation when blacks couldn’t be educated in a white setting. People and kids came from the south to be educated here at a boarding school,” says John W Beacham, Advocate for the Hungerford property.

It was the first school for black children in Central Florida. Many Eatonville residents, including Beacham, have protested the $14.6 million sale, saying they want to preserve history. Beacham’s family has lived in Eatonville for generations—and this school is where many of them attended. Last month, the town council voted four to one against changing the property’s zoning in order to facilitate the school districts’ plans.

“The type of product that they are going to build is going to push the black people out of township,” Beacham said.

The Southern Poverty Law Center recently wrote a letter to the Orange County Public Schools saying that if the school board continues with the sale, it could be a violation of civil rights for the residents of Eatonville, and next steps include a Title VI complaint to the federal government or a lawsuit.

“We want to create a destination for everyone,” Beacham said.

Some residents like Beacham, want to see a hotel, museum, amphitheater and more, all to put Eatonville back on the map and bring tourists to the area.

“We are a living museum. Eatonville is a living museum. It’s the oldest black town, municipality in America. So we want people to not change the population of Eatonville but create a destination so people can enjoy and come visit this city,” he said.

 We did reach out to the Orange County school Board for comment but have not heard back yet.