Terry ("don't shoot the messenger") Upton spoke at the Marion County Democrats meeting last evening. He appeared to be uncomfortable in delivering his speech about the Wellness Center move. The audience asked all the right questions:
Located on the SECOND & THIRD floors at La Reina? How do people get upstairs (I was thinking of not so much the handicapped as the fact that a lot of us don't move as well as we used to, & that we are happy with our homes that do not contain stairs).
Two elevators are included in the plans. Imagine elevators containing wheelchairs & walkers, along with other members of the center.
PARKING? That should be very awkward, what with all the activities going on at the Square. I can imagine the "discussions" when members park at the hotel, Church on the Square, etc.
The AQUATIC CENTER? Check this out for some responses about the need of Villagers (some of whom were attracted here or "prescribed" indoor pool exercise:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...,2237495.story
Mr. Upton dangled the carrot of the possibility that the Aquatic Center would be retained as a Membership plan. However, the facility is privately-owned & expensive to maintain, so...
The relocation is a ridiculous plan, & the points that Mr. Upton made about extra exercise & massage rooms don't warrant this move. The taking over of the Wellness Center site is the developer's idea, probably for his own benefit.