Quote:
Originally Posted by Laker14
Fair points, but I think you miss a couple of factors of importance: The Developer is pretty much out of "developing" in the Spanish Springs area. Not totally, I admit, as the new efforts at the old Hacienda CC demonstrate, however, they are no longer building and selling entire neighborhoods up there. As a consequence they are no longer economically driven to provide any kind of entertainment or services in the Square with the idea of helping to sell homes. So, whatever goes into the commercial fronts at the Square will have to sink or swim on their own merits. Other than collecting rents, the Developer is not highly motivated.
2nd point: unlike 30 years ago when SS was first opened, there is a lot to find outside of TV, and it's no longer the only game in town.
So, as things continue to evolve, the Developer will likely, if it hasn't already started to happen, be forced to reduce rents, and commercial interests will have to find niches that work for the existing population.
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Many people who visit the squares during the day aren't Villagers at all. The land that all those stores is on, the buildings - they're all owned by the Villages LLC. And they NEED to profit, if they want to stay in business. They might not be interested in developing anymore, but they still own those properties and still have to profit from them. They won't profit if no one wants to lease their vacancies. They'll still have to pay property tax though, whether they have revenue or not.
In addition, all those people who -work- in the area - need a place to be. Spanish Springs is in a very unique position, immediately off 441 - and the opportunity for it to be a destination location rather than a conclave of shops for residents - is enormous. It's absolutely a missed opportunity.
I dunno. Maybe I've just worked in retail and in offices as an "employee" and "consumer" rather than a boss or corporate geek for too long, but my perspective is one of someone who used to serve people in "destination locations" or used to be a customer in those destination locations.
I can see it very easily as being a miniature version of downtown Mt. Dora, minus the boating lake and hills. Antiques and vintage clothing shop, tiny ethnic restaurants, boutique shops, knick-knack stores, small-batch beauty and skin shop, a "make your own ceramics" shop, an old fashioned but small retro-50's Five and Dime with a soda fountain counter... a location that no matter who you are, how old you are, what your budget is, or how often you come, you'll find SOMETHING in at least one store that you'll want to buy and can afford.