Quote:
Originally Posted by BrianL99
In my 3 years in TV, my exposure to the "South" has been limited to 1 trip to look at some furniture & 1 trip in my golf cart, to play Southern Oaks.
Today, giving my back a rest from daily golf, I took the opportunity to cruise the entire southern area.
The next person who tells me "the South is going to be the "Center of The Villages", I'm going to ask what they're smokin', 'cause I want to buy some.
What the Developer created in the Orange Blossom, Sumter Landing and Brownwood areas, is the envy of residential real estate developers, around the world. What Mr. Morse's heirs have done with the South, is appalling. It is "The Villages" in name only.
I also took the opportunity to visit Sawgrass Grove. It makes OTOTW's "center" look like a thriving place. The "Market" had less than 30 people in the entire building (3 pm). The only restaurant (McGrady's), was about 1/3 full and mostly just drinkers at the bar.
I've heard a lot about "Edna's on the Green". Stupid me, I thought it was a restaurant. It's a ugly food trailer ... and no one was there.
If folks were required to look at Lakewood Ranch, prior to buying in the Villages South, home sales would grind to a screeching halt.
It was like being in a foreign country.
FLAK jacket on.
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Dam, we live north of 466 and absolutely love that area and have no desire to relocate, but in my opinion your view of the newer areas of the Villages is extremely harsh. Every time I have ventured down to the southern parts of the Villages it has been an enjoyable experience. Are things down there different, yes. That doesn’t make it bad or undesirable, and certainly not appalling. The newer areas are clearly being designed differently, which gives new homebuyers more options depending on the retirement lifestyle they are seeking. If I could wave a magic wand, I wish the southern areas had more golf, so the northern courses wouldn’t be as crowded. Next, I would wish the northern areas had some of the features of the new areas such as the network of golf cart free walking and bike trails as well as the wider MMP’s with bigger tunnels and less back jarring drainage culverts at road crossings. At the end of the day, all the areas are beautiful and the envy of many, many, many returning baby boomers. Having a variety of lifestyle choices only enhances the place. Let’s not try to start a Village’s north/south civil war and all just enjoy the place.