Regarding the topic itself - apartments replacing Katie Belle's.
I see the cottages within the "corner" of Lake Sumter Landing town square to be a similar concept. I think it'd be awesome to be able to have these with long-term rentals with no sub-letting allowed, as a Villages corporate-owned property, and the tenants' rental including amenity fees built into the rent, which is then paid into the amenities fund.
The tenants would have to abide by the same rules as renters of homes all over the Villages - no more than 2 ID cards. Their property maintenance would be the corporation's responsibility, AND they wouldn't be allowed to alter the interior or exterior of the property other than removable furnishings, roll-up rugs, etc. The corporation could even put paintings up on the walls, and if the tenant wants their own, they can use them as long as they don't add new holes to the walls - they can use the existing frame hangers.
I personally would get a kick out of living in an apartment over a shop. I've done that in the past, and it felt comfy and safe. In my case there was no elevator, and it was a two-floor walkup, but I was younger then.
I could imagine the entrance to the apartments being retrofitted with a series of ramps zigzagging upward to the second floor in addition to a small elevator. And on that second floor would be perhaps just 4 or 5 apartments total - 2 of which would have a ramp leading to a bedroom loft, and the rest modest 1-bedroom flats.
The entire project could be made wheelchair accessible, which is something you don't really see much of in Villages homes. Low kitchen counters and cabinet spaces, no stairs to climb, wide hallways, and those funky bathtubs with doors on them or even wheel-in showers with low removable showerheads.
100% independent living flats and lofts for folks who need to be fairly close to the hospital, are still able to walk or wheel around with no human assistance needed, and don't want to be isolated from necessary shopping and "human contact."
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