Quote:
Originally Posted by Craig Vernon
TV's are continuing to struggle internally as residents age and the footprint gets larger. The oldest areas seem to be losing businesses as the shiny new areas develop. It seems to me that it would be very difficult to maintain a business with so many part time residents and an aging population that has less need, desire or ability to leave their homes to support them. Spanish Springs and Sumter landing are losing staple businesses, and there do not seem to be people knocking the doors down to fill any of them. Outside and nearby things are booming with construction and development. Perhaps the apartments, family areas and cheaper housing around TV will save the day. Perhaps the bubble will turn into a landlocked beach town where certain businesses close during off season periods. Your thoughts and opinions welcome. See you as a full-time neighbor coming early next year. Have a Great day!
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I think you make some cogent observations, and you've been doing a lot of research as you approach a possible relocation.
My thoughts (since you asked): What you describe as a "struggle" I would characterize as an "evolving process". Consider that in its infancy, TV was a small "bubble", and the large retailers like Publix, Winn-Dixie, and larger retailers like Walmart, Sam's Club etc. didn't see enough of a market here to warrant investing in the area. Hence, in order to provide some level of service and entertainment, to attract the potential buyers for the homes, the developer chose to develop real estate space and did so by creating Spanish Springs, and eventually LSL. As those areas became developed and populated, it started to make sense for more development along 466 and 441, hence, Publix, Walmart, and chain restaurants like Olive Garden, etc.
Then, as more and more people came, more commercial development ensued, and the demand for the small commercial sites at the squares changed and evolve and continue to do so.
Fast Forward 20 years and TV is no longer "The Bubble", it is the driving economic force of the area. What was needed in the squares, and what worked in the squares when there was nothing outside of TV, is no longer needed and viable now.
Consider also, that since there is so much available near , but outside of TV, the developer no longer needs to create as much entertainment and services inside TV as was needed when the Spanish Springs and LSL squares were developed. So they build less of that into the system.
Whatever you see now, as you prepare to move here, will be different in 20 years. And your desires, abilities, and needs will change as well. It's only a "struggle" in the sense that all change requires adaptive response, which I guess could be viewed as a "struggle".