Comedian Dave Chappelle Buys Ohio Land To Stop Housing Development

Dave Chappelle, who rose to prominence on Comedy Central and stand-up comedy, has bought a large plot of land in Ohio to keep a housing development from being built.

According to Yellow Spring News, Chappelle purchased a portion of a 52-acre property that belonged to Oberer Land Developers, Ltd. and was planned to become to subdivision of houses.

The comedian reportedly bought

around 19 acres of the land, extending the borders of his home.

The small Ohio town is home to a little over 3,000 people, and Chappelle has invested millions into the area. He is even in the middle of his business venture there, a restaurant and comedy club called the Firehouse Eatery.

In December, Chappelle opposed the plan to build a housing development saying, “I have invested millions of dollars in town. If you push this thing through, what I’m investing in is no longer applicable.”

In February, he reiterated at a town meeting, saying, “I am not bluffing.”

Although the town council approved the development, Chappelle seems to have halted the plan for now by purchasing some of Oberer’s property.

Related Story: Dave Chappelle Responds To Being Uninvited To Former High School’s Fundraiser

The veteran comedian has been facing heat this year for his transphobic jokes on his Netflix special, The Closer. He even joked about the transgender community the night of his attack on stage. He said the attacker was a transgender man.

Amid the transphobic controversy, his alma mater, Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C., offered

to rename their school theater in his honor.

During the dedication ceremony on June 20, Chappelle told attendees he didn’t want his name on the school theater to become a distraction for students due to his current controversy.

Instead, he said the building would be called the Theater for Artistic Freedom and Expression.