The Villages Moving Forward

[hdandydon]

:BigApplause:It is with a geniune concern that I am writing this letter. I have been a resident of "The Villages" for almost four years now and have seen many changes here is this community. it would appear that the developer intends to keep expanding "America's Friendliest Hometown". As many of you know during the month's that our "snowbird" friends are vacationing here the traffic and the pedestrian traffic in the Town Squares and the shopping areas has become short of unbearable and unsafe. With the now construction of the new "Village of Fruitland Park " and 2,ooo homes , the shopping at Colony Plaza will become even more of a hardship , you can not shop there now as the Plaza is crowded and does not have the necessary commercial space available to accommodate this proposed surge of 2,ooo shopper's from this new Village. Now the developer with the addition of the new Village at Fruitland Park will create a bigger nightmare than already exsists . In looking over the proposed new village plans the only entrance and exit to Colony Plaza is through the Morse Boulevard tunnel , look forward to the access path to and from from that area south of Colony Boulevard that is already overloaded with golf cart traffic to become a long wait to cross. The improvements that are planned for that crossing will once again become in-adequate from the tunnel at Morse Boulevard south of 466a and leading to the two way golf cart traffic to Colony Boulevard. Imagine another two thousand golf carts entering Colony Boulevard from that small golf cart path. This proposed situation needs to be addressed now and not wait for a serious accident to happen.

[rubicon]

:BigApplause:It is with a geniune concern that I am writing this letter. I have been a resident of "The Villages" for almost four years now and have seen many changes here is this community. it would appear that the developer intends to keep expanding "America's Friendliest Hometown". As many of you know during the month's that our "snowbird" friends are vacationing here the traffic and the pedestrian traffic in the Town Squares and the shopping areas has become short of unbearable and unsafe. With the now construction of the new "Village of Fruitland Park " and 2,ooo homes , the shopping at Colony Plaza will become even more of a hardship , you can not shop there now as the Plaza is crowded and does not have the necessary commercial space available to accommodate this proposed surge of 2,ooo shopper's from this new Village. Now the developer with the addition of the new Village at Fruitland Park will create a bigger nightmare than already exsists . In looking over the proposed new village plans the only entrance and exit to Colony Plaza is through the Morse Boulevard tunnel , look forward to the access path to and from from that area south of Colony Boulevard that is already overloaded with golf cart traffic to become a long wait to cross. The improvements that are planned for that crossing will once again become in-adequate from the tunnel at Morse Boulevard south of 466a and leading to the two way golf cart traffic to Colony Boulevard. Imagine another two thousand golf carts entering Colony Boulevard from that small golf cart path. This proposed situation needs to be addressed now and not wait for a serious accident to happen.

I share your concerns and more

[DianeM]

Not all will have golf carts. Just something to accept.

[Shimpy]

Not all will have golf carts. Just something to accept.

You're right, only about 95% will.

[njbchbum]

Not all 2,000 residents will be in the villages at the same time; nor will they all be year-round residents.

[ilovetv]

"With the now construction of the new "Village of Fruitland Park " and 2,ooo homes , the shopping at Colony Plaza will become even more of a hardship , you can not shop there now...."

"Hardship"?????????????? Hardship living in The Villages???????

You've got to be kidding.

There are "only" 5 Publix stores in TV, and "only" 3 Winn Dixies, 2 Super Walmarts, Aldi's, Sam's Club, Target, Fresh Market, and more places to buy groceries here.

And then there are the gigantic Farmers' Markets two days per week at Spanish Springs town square and Brownwood Paddock Square.

Colony Plaza Publix is closest to our home, but I shop more often at the one on 466, and at Winn Dixie (formerly Sweet Bay) at Lake Sumter Landing and Spanish Springs.

There is no such thing as "hardship" here when it comes to grocery shopping.

And the "traffic" people complain about....maybe staying up north in the city and suburbs and adding snow, blizzard winds, ice, salt/sand trucks, snowplows, cars spun out in the ditch or blocking all traffic movement would be less of a "hardship".......

[Bogie Shooter]

:BigApplause:It is with a geniune concern that I am writing this letter. The improvements that are planned for that crossing will once again become in-adequate from the tunnel at Morse Boulevard south of 466a and leading to the two way golf cart traffic to Colony Boulevard. Imagine another two thousand golf carts entering Colony Boulevard from that small golf cart path. This proposed situation needs to be addressed now and not wait for a serious accident to happen.

How do you think your proposed situation should be addressed?
Where might this serious accident happen?

[Medtrans]

What a great post ilovetv. We just purchased our home there and couldn't be more excited. Sometimes I will read a post that makes me question our decision but then someone always comes back with something that makes me feel better. I will not look at being retired in TV a hardship -ever.

[Villageshooter]

man we are retired,,,, i dont worry bout this stuff,,, we will not live long enuff to see the improvements ,, 4 yrs,,, is a major amount of time for us old folks ,,, to the problem solvers it is just enuff time to realize there is a problem,,, i now just smile and make sure i have enuff beer and fudge in the house! now beer and fudge is something to worry about! let these young morris kids worry bout it , if there is money to be made they will jump on it! i respect u right to worry,, just advice from an old guy that has stopped taking my meds and i feel like a million bucks!

[John_W]

Isn't that the normal reaction. People move in, and then they want all construction to stop and then no one else to move in after them.

My parents moved to Florida in 1959. When I got my first driver's license in 1966 they didn't even have interstate highways in Florida. When I was in college in 1969 Disney employees came to our school looking to hire new graduates for the soon to open amusement park in Orlando.

I use to have to drive to Savannah, Ga few times a year. In Georgia I would have to get off Hwy 301 and onto Hwy 17 near Brunswick. That was a single 2 lane road that you had to share with every tractor trailer, bus and every other car headed north and south along the coast. Can you imagine I-95 didn't even open in Georgia until 1973. I'm sure someone probably said, let's not build anymore in Florida, the roads are just too congested.

[Edjkoz]

I think the concern is that the services keep up with the growth

[Indydealmaker]

One factor that needs to be considered. The homes for rent during the snowbird season are generally owned by "pre-retirees". At some point, the percentage of homes for rent will reduce as the owners retire and take over.

I realize that at first, nothing will change because you have simply swapped interim occupants for full-time. However, familiarity breeds contempt. Sort of. Instead of a vacation mindset, the full timers generally back off on their use of the town squares since "we can just go tomorrow".

Full timers do not seem to exhibit the same frenzied, mad hatter "we gotta do everything right away before our vacation is over" attitude as the interim occupants.

Also, there is much more retail on the way. Patience is a virtue. You will be rewarded.

[Carl in Tampa]

Isn't that the normal reaction. People move in, and then they want all construction to stop and then no one else to move in after them.

My parents moved to Florida in 1959. When I got my first driver's license in 1966 they didn't even have interstate highways in Florida. When I was in college in 1969 Disney employees came to our school looking to hire new graduates for the soon to open amusement park in Orlando.

I use to have to drive to Savannah, Ga few times a year. In Georgia I would have to get off Hwy 301 and onto Hwy 17 near Brunswick. That was a single 2 lane road that you had to share with every tractor trailer, bus and every other car headed north and south along the coast. Can you imagine I-95 didn't even open in Georgia until 1973. I'm sure someone probably said, let's not build anymore in Florida, the roads are just too congested.

I identify with your post. My family moved here in 1953. My travel from Tampa to DeLand, where I went to Stetson U., was on 301 and then back roads through towns like Groveland, Howie-in-the-Hills and Eustis.

Orlando was "The City Beautiful" and Walt Disney World wasn't even a gleam in Walt's eye.

Over on U.S. 1 north of Daytona Beach there was a big water tank with trained dolphins in it called "Marineland" and Ocala's Silver Springs was Ross Allen's Reptile Institute where they milked rattlesnakes and let you touch small alligators. (Marineland Dolphin Adventure still exists in St. Augustine.)

The other big attractions were Cypress Gardens, where you could see "Water Ski Shows Daily" and Weeki Wachee Springs, the "Home of Live Mermaids."

And they actually had a major automobile race, The Daytona 500, right on the beach.

Yep, we were pretty well built out when it came to attractions and amusements. At least we thought so. Look at it today. We would never have believed it.

-------------------

Congestion here in The Villages? Yes, it builds up a little in the Summer. But I put it out of my mind by recalling my 20 mile drive from my home in Northern Virginia to The White House that sometimes took an hour, particularly on a snowy day.

When we moved back to Florida from Virginia, my wife and I agreed when we crossed the Florida State line that it was time to shut the door and not let anyone else in.

Didn't work that way.

[VT2TV]

:BigApplause:It is with a geniune concern that I am writing this letter. I have been a resident of "The Villages" for almost four years now and have seen many changes here is this community. it would appear that the developer intends to keep expanding "America's Friendliest Hometown". As many of you know during the month's that our "snowbird" friends are vacationing here the traffic and the pedestrian traffic in the Town Squares and the shopping areas has become short of unbearable and unsafe. With the now construction of the new "Village of Fruitland Park " and 2,ooo homes , the shopping at Colony Plaza will become even more of a hardship , you can not shop there now as the Plaza is crowded and does not have the necessary commercial space available to accommodate this proposed surge of 2,ooo shopper's from this new Village. Now the developer with the addition of the new Village at Fruitland Park will create a bigger nightmare than already exsists . In looking over the proposed new village plans the only entrance and exit to Colony Plaza is through the Morse Boulevard tunnel , look forward to the access path to and from from that area south of Colony Boulevard that is already overloaded with golf cart traffic to become a long wait to cross. The improvements that are planned for that crossing will once again become in-adequate from the tunnel at Morse Boulevard south of 466a and leading to the two way golf cart traffic to Colony Boulevard. Imagine another two thousand golf carts entering Colony Boulevard from that small golf cart path. This proposed situation needs to be addressed now and not wait for a serious accident to happen.

I share your concerns and more

I think the concern is that the services keep up with the growth




I agree with all of you.........

[jrandall]

"Hardship"?????????????? Hardship living in The Villages???????

You've got to be kidding.

There are "only" 5 Publix stores in TV, and "only" 3 Winn Dixies, 2 Super Walmarts, Aldi's, Sam's Club, Target, Fresh Market, and more places to buy groceries here.

And then there are the gigantic Farmers' Markets two days per week at Spanish Springs town square and Brownwood Paddock Square.

Colony Plaza Publix is closest to our home, but I shop more often at the one on 466, and at Winn Dixie (formerly Sweet Bay) at Lake Sumter Landing and Spanish Springs.

There is no such thing as "hardship" here when it comes to grocery shopping.

And the "traffic" people complain about....maybe staying up north in the city and suburbs and adding snow, blizzard winds, ice, salt/sand trucks, snowplows, cars spun out in the ditch or blocking all traffic movement would be less of a "hardship".......


I concur and well said. :BigApplause:

[handyman]

I hope you are right,Indy

[justjim]

All the growth taking place right now is between 466A and 44. It's fairly "quite" in the north end of TV. A person moving here might want to consider that area of TV if you want to stay away from all the development. Just a thought.

[2BNTV]

Every newly developed area has to have patienence, so the supporting businesses, can be brought to the area. Brownwood has not finished all established businesses, to support that area.

It seems to me that most people want the businesses to go in first, so when the houses are built and sold, they will have all the conveniences they need immediately. Colony has been overtaxed with residents shopping at Publix, for quite some time.

I don't agree this is a hardship, but an inconvenience, that requires patience.
Don't forget the dust will be kicking up, when new construction begins, so we have to wait until the dust settles.

[uprivergirl]

I can only laugh about the traffic in TV. Come to Ca. if you want to see real traffic, but than again you better wait until the fires are out. Please don't shut out the people that want to be frogs when they are retired, We deserve the happiness and lifestyle of the Villages. You are all so lucky to be living the lifestyle now that the Villages has to offer.

[bfdretired]

I can only laugh about the traffic in TV. Come to Ca. if you want to see real traffic, but than again you better wait until the fires are out. Please don't shut out the people that want to be frogs when they are retired, We deserve the happiness and lifestyle of the Villages. You are all so lucky to be living the lifestyle now that the Villages has to offer.

coming from chicago land and traffic and cold I agree and cant wait!

[Christine G]

Well said! We are new residents and this place is heaven!

[Shimpy]

I identify with your post. My family moved here in 1953. My travel from Tampa to DeLand, where I went to Stetson U., was on 301 and then back roads through towns like Groveland, Howie-in-the-Hills and Eustis.

Orlando was "The City Beautiful" and Walt Disney World wasn't even a gleam in Walt's eye.

Over on U.S. 1 north of Daytona Beach there was a big water tank with trained dolphins in it called "Marineland" and Ocala's Silver Springs was Ross Allen's Reptile Institute where they milked rattlesnakes and let you touch small alligators. (Marineland Dolphin Adventure still exists in St. Augustine.)

The other big attractions were Cypress Gardens, where you could see "Water Ski Shows Daily" and Weeki Wachee Springs, the "Home of Live Mermaids."

And they actually had a major automobile race, The Daytona 500, right on the beach.

Yep, we were pretty well built out when it came to attractions and amusements. At least we thought so. Look at it today. We would never have believed it.

-------------------



I also moved to Florida in 1953 (May) to Miami. I started 6th grade there. Everyone spoke english then. I remember all the attractions you spoke of and remember visiting the Disney Preview Center where they showed you a model of where and what Disney World would be. We didn't have interstates and the Florida Turnpike hadn't opened yet.

[Gat0r]

Well said! We are new residents and this place is heaven!You haven't played with Jane and i yet.

[l2ridehd]

There will always be change and growth. However the OP made one very valid point and concern. The golf cart crossing coming off Morse into Colony Plaza and the tunnel under 466a is going to get someone killed. It is one of the most dangerous golf cart intersections in The Villages. Maybe there needs to be a tunnel, of a traffic light, or vehicle traffic only allowed to enter off 466a, but something has to change. And adding another 2000 or some number of carts around that (some households have two) will just increase the problem.

Someone will be killed at that intersection if changes are not made. I think the OP made a very valid concern on that issue.

[hdandydon]

At the Colony Boulevard crossing it is already and accident waiting to happen.
Address the situation by stopping the overloading of areas already congested.

[villagerjack]

"As many of you know during the month's that our "snowbird" friends are vacationing here the traffic and the pedestrian traffic in the Town Squares and the shopping areas has become short of unbearable and unsafe." ....I am a seasonal resident....I do not VACATION here, I move temporarily to my second home....I do not find anything about The Villages to be unbearable.....if I did I would sell my home, an option available to all in this Great Country. What ever happened to "Count your blessings"?