Construction Update Video 1-15-2020

[Goldwingnut]

Here's the latest update on the construction happenings here in The Villages. It's been about three months since my last posting due to a very busy personal schedule that needed something to be cut from it and these videos were the easiest thing to eliminate to provide the time to do everything else.

In this video I take a look at the bridges under construction, some non-Villages working going on, many of the commercial properties coming up, and of course the current and new residential work that is happening.

The Villages Construction 01-12-2020 - YouTube (https://youtu.be/tU5Zp9n5E6c)

This video footage was shot mainly on Sunday 12 January 2020. Sunday's are usually best for this work due to less people and traffic around to have to avoid. I spent about 10 hours in the field finding the right locations and shot over 3 hours of aerial footage that took another 12 hours to distill down to what you see here. Some of the challenges involved include keeping the aircraft within line of sight and finding area to shoot/fly from that do not trespass on private property and allow views that do not violate Florida privacy law related to drone flying. On the plus side, I've been learning a lot of the back and secondary roads around Sumter County.

If you are interested in learning about and possibly getting into drones as a hobby I now tech two different classes at The Enrichment Academy on drone flying. The first is an entry level course that goes over the basics and the second delves deep into the flying software for DJI brand drones. This is one of the things that has kept me busy the three months, but it also allows me to combine two of my passions, flying and teaching, so to me it's well worth the effort.

I hope you enjoy the video.

One final note, for those considering purchasing a home near the high voltage power lines I would encourage you to watch the movie "The Distinguished Gentleman" staring Eddie Murphy, while a comedy and fiction, there is an underlying message that is touched on in the movie that is based on solid research and empirical data concerning the hazards that is worth listening to.

[Bay Kid]

Very cool, as usual. Thank you.

[gomsiepop]

Thank you for all your hard work.

[VillageIdiots]

I saw (heard) what you did there with the crickets at Magnolia Plaza. Very appropriate and also funny.

[Altavia]

Awesome Work Don, love the sound of crickets for Magnolia Plaza :1rotfl:

Thank you!

[Chuck Simmons]

Thank you for all your work and great photography! I truly enjoy the videos.

[Packer Fan]

We missed you! So glad you are back! Thanks so much, a great job as usual. Wow has it grown in 3 months.

[courtyard]

You have no idea of the unhappiness of the residents in Village of Collier are experiencing with the construction noise on Powell Ave. How would you like to wear noise cancelling ear phones from 8 in the morning until 5 at night, six days a week? The City of Wildwood told us Villagers that since we don't pay taxes there, we don't count.

[Ashley from UK]

I reiterate all that's said above. Your news reels are invaluable source of information of the future which allow us to gauge progress and in so doing to make predictions of the future streams. For those planning to move to TV carefull study will ensure that we are knowledgabel. THANK YOU. (oh and great to see my future neirghbours have turfed their lot so no pool and lanai (yet). Possibly another young couple with plans to add a pool when the move to TV later in life? Good to see you are doing course to share your experiences. You may well have a taker in the future. :-)

[Mmarr]

Thank you.. always a joy to watch your videos.. we tune in on utube on the TV.. ������

[PugMom]

yes, thank you. the video is entertaining as well as informative. you answered a lot of questions i had about the new developments.

[Zaharoff@aol.com]

Thank you so much for the video and all the time and effort you have put into this to share!

[stings]

Another informative and entertaining video. Your presentation and production skills are more impressive with each release. Thank you again. We very much look forward to these releases.

[Jnukey]

Thank you Don for your tireless effort in keeping us updated with all the new construction and enhancements here in and around The Villages.

[rrb48310]

You and your videos are a great public service. Thank you

[KLBNJ]

Love you Don for your educational video of history in the making in The Villages from high above. Appreciate your time and effort and your background music and clear speaking voice too. Fantastic! Have a great semester at the Enrichment Academy. Thank you again. You’re the BEST!

[Tealady]

Thank you, Don. I have been enjoying your videos since we purchased last year. Our home is a rental currently. It has been nice to see how things are progressing while we're up north. We missed you this past month. Glad you are well but busy.

Tealady

[Goldwingnut]

You have no idea of the unhappiness of the residents in Village of Collier are experiencing with the construction noise on Powell Ave. How would you like to wear noise cancelling ear phones from 8 in the morning until 5 at night, six days a week? The City of Wildwood told us Villagers that since we don't pay taxes there, we don't count.

Having been in the construction business and on construction sites for 20 years I do understand the noise you are hearing and having to deal with, very very unpleasant.

The city of Wildwood's response should not have been unexpected, TV of Collier is not in Wildwood, as you said does not pay taxes there, they have no obligation or requirement to spend city time and funds on non-city issues/residents. Imagine how you would complain if you found out that the CDD was spending time and money on property that wasn't a part of the CDD. You could complain to the county but the response you will receive is that the work is going on during normal business hours and the the beepers are safety devices and won't be disabled.

This is just a pitfall of buying next to undeveloped land, you have zero control over what goes in there and when. Consider yourself lucky in that what is going in will be a nice quiet banking office building and not a gas station or fast food restaurant, or worse yet a questionable development like Beaumont that the residents of Tamarind Grove will be dealing with. At least with The Villages building there you are pretty much assured it won't be a ugly rat trap of a building going in.

If your realtor promised you that "nothing would ever be built there" and it's not written into your home purchase contract (and it's not), then your issue is with the realtor who lied to you and made commitments they were not authorized to make. Blaming the city, county, or developer is misplaced anger.

It is an unfortunate situation and the residents are the big losers in the deal. You have everyone's sympathy for what you are going through.

[johnpah]

Great video.......Does anyone know why some of the buildings with the garage doors at The Lofts are one story and some are two story?

[Fenney5776]

Another great video, Don! Thanks for all of your efforts. We missed your videos!

[champion6]

THANK YOU, Don!

[JoMar]

You have no idea of the unhappiness of the residents in Village of Collier are experiencing with the construction noise on Powell Ave. How would you like to wear noise cancelling ear phones from 8 in the morning until 5 at night, six days a week? The City of Wildwood told us Villagers that since we don't pay taxes there, we don't count.

It will end....when we bought in Hillsborough the construction noise was all over, but it came to an end. Expansion will usually annoy people at some point but we will all benefit at some point also.