The new square Eastport

[2newyorkers]

thevillages.com has the video for the new square. It looks great and combines what we consider a square and recreation. It also updates what is being done at Sawgrass.

[Taltarzac725]

New town center to add lifestyle options | News | The Villages Daily Sun | thevillagesdailysun.com (https://www.thevillagesdailysun.com/news/villages/new-town-center-to-add-lifestyle-options/article_5200f67c-0a10-11ec-a5cd-d730d212fadf.html)

Do not see a movie theater mentioned as going in there though.

[Stu from NYC]

Wonder when it will open?

[Aces4]

thevillages.com has the video for the new square. It looks great and combines what we consider a square and recreation. It also updates what is being done at Sawgrass.

Hmmm, this is very interesting. Thanks for sharing and does it appear the new square will be private with all the amenities tucked in with it OR going more public with amenities. It will be fun to watch it developing and the long range plan.

[vintageogauge]

It seems as though Sawgrass and now this are replacing the traditional squares. These seem to be very well thought out and will be great additions to TV.

[Road-Runner]

It seems as though Sawgrass and now this are replacing the traditional squares. These seem to be very well thought out and will be great additions to TV.

How's the store opening going? Definitely looking forward to checking it out soon.

[John Mayes]

It seems as though Sawgrass and now this are replacing the traditional squares. These seem to be very well thought out and will be great additions to TV.

We moved to Hawkins in June and have been anxiously watching the progress on Sawgrass and Southern Oaks. Can’t wait till the grand opening!

[Aces4]

It seems as though Sawgrass and now this are replacing the traditional squares. These seem to be very well thought out and will be great additions to TV.

My question is, with the new design and amenities tied into the square, do you think this square with be private or will the public using the square be able to easily access the amenities?

[pacjag]

Looks like CR-470 is going to be a traffic mess. Currently it is a pretty straight line from the Turnpike to US-301 and there is quite a lot of traffic on it. The maps in the paper today show the road being rerouted and going through a number of roundabouts before continuing west toward US-301. Obviously the 55mph speed limit will also change to, most likely, 35mph. Auto traffic will be bad enough but the large trucks that currently use CR-470 will have issues with those roundabouts. I am not sure they thought this through sufficiently.

[Bogie Shooter]

Hmmm, this is very interesting. Thanks for sharing and does it appear the new square will be private with all the amenities tucked in with it OR going more public with amenities. It will be fun to watch it developing and the long range plan.

My question is, with the new design and amenities tied into the square, do you think this square with be private or will the public using the square be able to easily access the amenities?

Try again in a couple more hours.:duck:

[Aces4]

Try again in a couple more hours.:duck:

Why?

[Papa_lecki]

My question is, with the new design and amenities tied into the square, do you think this square with be private or will the public using the square be able to easily access the amenities?

More than likely will be public. The restaurant’s like Villager’s money as much as non villager’s.
It also sounds as if the lake is being set up for events, with outsiders.

[vintageogauge]

How's the store opening going? Definitely looking forward to checking it out soon.

Still aiming for the 15th, started unpacking the trains yesterday and placing them in the cabinets. I have to get tracks on my layout for testing before I can price everything. New stock is no problem but the vintage items all have to be tested.

[Davonu]

I don’t see an entertainment stage in the drawing. (Or am I missing it?) Will they still call it a town square if there is no nightly entertainment?

With or without the stage, it still looks really good!!

[EdFNJ]

All three restaurants will be operated by owner Phillipe Villain and general manager Roland Rutjens, who are also behind The Back Porch restaurant coming soon to Mulberry Grove Plaza.

That seems to be a trend around here. Multiple restaurants owned by the same group. I guess competing against yourself makes the competition and prices easier to control even if the eateries are all different "themes."

[asianthree]

Wonder when it will open?

On the video said one year to develop plan, so maybe (9/2022) and then 2 years to build (9/2024). This will be the 5th build, I would guess the time line that was stated would be about the same as the other squares, or now lifestyle area.
Would this be the first one to have a hotel built by developer? The man made lake will be very interesting.
We started coming in 07. SS was in full development, and LSL was in early stages of occupancy. Remember Brownwood being built, but really didn’t pay attention to how long it took from start to when the first tenant arrived.

Sawgrass seems to be going slow, but if build takes 2 years, that will be awhile before entertainment and first retail occupancy.

Goldwing May have a better timeline on how long it took to build other squares.

[JeanC]

Looks like CR-470 is going to be a traffic mess. Currently it is a pretty straight line from the Turnpike to US-301 and there is quite a lot of traffic on it. The maps in the paper today show the road being rerouted and going through a number of roundabouts before continuing west toward US-301. Obviously the 55mph speed limit will also change to, most likely, 35mph. Auto traffic will be bad enough but the large trucks that currently use CR-470 will have issues with those roundabouts. I am not sure they thought this through sufficiently.

That was my major concern as well. I use 470 to get to my moms in south Leesburg. It’s like a mini I-75. Those trucks fly down that road. Should be interesting.

[Robnlaura]

Makes waiting for property really easy

[Villages Kahuna]

I wish they were more specific as to the location.

[golfing eagles]

I wish they were more specific as to the location.

Look at the insert in yesterday's DS

[John Mayes]

I wish they were more specific as to the location.

The Villages website shows the location on the Continuing The Dream section.

[Goldwingnut]

On the video said one year to develop plan, so maybe (9/2022) and then 2 years to build (9/2024). This will be the 5th build, I would guess the time line that was stated would be about the same as the other squares, or now lifestyle area.
Would this be the first one to have a hotel built by developer? The man made lake will be very interesting.
We started coming in 07. SS was in full development, and LSL was in early stages of occupancy. Remember Brownwood being built, but really didn’t pay attention to how long it took from start to when the first tenant arrived.

Sawgrass seems to be going slow, but if build takes 2 years, that will be awhile before entertainment and first retail occupancy.

Goldwing May have a better timeline on how long it took to build other squares.

I’m still doing my homework and research on what’s coming. Video 98 will have the information I find between now and then. This latest CTD issue seems a little disjointed and was a week later than usual in coming out, almost as if someone stole their thunder and they had to do some reworking at the last minute. This latest CTD also released a lot of bang in information, what will they say next month to keep the interest going in their advertisement?

[NotGolfer]

To those who asked, "will there be entertainment AND will it be public"? If one reads the article it talks about entertainment AND one can know that the public will be welcomed as well. NONE of the squares are limited to JUST the residents here. I think The Villages is different from other Over-55 communities as the commerce is interspersed to make it feel more like a community (town/city). If you go to live in others those folks have to rely on near-by communities for the dr's, shopping etc. We have friends in Nocatee where to get any of those "amenities" they have to drive (and not by golf-cart) up to half an hour for any of it. The Villages have a business plan that goes out for many years. SOME of what we're experiencing here was thought about and talked about at meetings 20-25 (maybe more) years ago. To build roads and infastructure plans need to be made and shown at a state/local level, then permits all have to be filed for those. People complain about how "slow" they seem to be but truly they aren't. It will be interesting to observe the progress of these new areas!

[Road-Runner]

Still aiming for the 15th, started unpacking the trains yesterday and placing them in the cabinets. I have to get tracks on my layout for testing before I can price everything. New stock is no problem but the vintage items all have to be tested.

Looking good!:coolsmiley:

[rrb48310]

It seems as though Sawgrass and now this are replacing the traditional squares. These seem to be very well thought out and will be great additions to TV.

Just thinking out loud. The developer has a history of improving when moving forward ie traffic gates not on busy roads and moving golf cart paths off of busy roads etc... So just my opinion, if I were a businessman and built a Brownwood then sat of store fronts vacant for years without any revenue, I would change my plan.

Town Square lite, an updated plan that puts in play what “most” use, entertainment, restaurants/bars and adds commercial zoned property nearby for development of retail business when population warrants “Build it and they will come”. The recent plan adds activities = more will come.
:popcorn:

[Fassinof]

With the consolidation of those items in one location seems great, however I hope they have taken the additional traffic and parking necessary to thave the large number of attendees to a single location.

[LuLinn]

When Meggison connects with 470, there will be another turnpike on ramp which will change traffic somewhat. Historically, things are pretty well planned.

[BostonRich]

I don’t see an entertainment stage in the drawing. (Or am I missing it?) Will they still call it a town square if there is no nightly entertainment?

With or without the stage, it still looks really good!!

If you watch the video you will see a railroad boxcar. That is going to be the "stage" when it is moved to Sawgrass.

One good thing is that if you are attending a concert and it starts raining you will have a place to duck into for a while.

[Altavia]

Spectator area at Sawgrass will be covered.

[Chi-Town]

Very interesting video for sure:

The Villages FL News & Construction Update Vol 10: Our Newest Town - YouTube (https://youtu.be/X4DujjpVQgY)

[pacjag]

When Meggison connects with 470, there will be another turnpike on ramp which will change traffic somewhat. Historically, things are pretty well planned.

Not sure where you got that impression. To my knowledge, there is no plan for another Turnpike access other than the existing ones at US301 and CR470.

[Altavia]

I wish they were more specific as to the location.

Along a relocated 470 between a relocated 501 and the turnpike.

(East of Coleman Federal Correctional Complex)

[Lottoguy]

No bowling alley either?

[Altavia]

No bowling alley either?

Indoor Pickleball

[HIgolfers]

Eastport will have indoor pickleball? Yes!!!

[Lottoguy]

I can see sometime in the future you will see some kind of special entrance into the music area for Villagers who live here. Much like for what they did for Covid. This way the restaurants are not going to be hurt. There are only so many chairs in the squares and if people who don't live take many of them then your going to hear lots of complaints.

[LuLinn]

I guess I meant traffic can split at the end of the ramp. You will be able to drive from 470 turnpike exit up Meggison rather than hopping over to 501.

[champion6]

<snip> Would this be the first one to have a hotel built by developer? <snip>Every town square has a hotel build by TV:
Spanish Springs - TownePlace Suites by Marriott
Lake Sumter Landing - The Waterfront Inn
Brownwood - The Bownwood Hotel & Spa

[Kelevision]

All three restaurants will be operated by owner Phillipe Villain and general manager Roland Rutjens, who are also behind The Back Porch restaurant coming soon to Mulberry Grove Plaza.

That seems to be a trend around here. Multiple restaurants owned by the same group. I guess competing against yourself makes the competition and prices easier to control even if the eateries are all different "themes."

It’s my least favorite thing about The Villages.

[Altavia]

All three restaurants will be operated by owner Phillipe Villain and general manager Roland Rutjens, who are also behind The Back Porch restaurant coming soon to Mulberry Grove Plaza.

That seems to be a trend around here. Multiple restaurants owned by the same group. I guess competing against yourself makes the competition and prices easier to control even if the eateries are all different "themes."

Also can be more cost effective by sharing resources and people between restaurants.

[Altavia]

Looks like CR-470 is going to be a traffic mess. Currently it is a pretty straight line from the Turnpike to US-301 and there is quite a lot of traffic on it. The maps in the paper today show the road being rerouted and going through a number of roundabouts before continuing west toward US-301. Obviously the 55mph speed limit will also change to, most likely, 35mph. Auto traffic will be bad enough but the large trucks that currently use CR-470 will have issues with those roundabouts. I am not sure they thought this through sufficiently.

This has been in the plans for five years so there has been a lot of thought.

Will be no different than Morse.

And there are multiple new alternate routes.

470 is a race track and needs some traffic calming.

[waterlily]

I don’t see an entertainment stage in the drawing. (Or am I missing it?) Will they still call it a town square if there is no nightly entertainment?

With or without the stage, it still looks really good!!


In the video they said that the stage would have a waterview. If you zoom in to the water front area nearest the Rec Center, their seems to be a structure close to the edge of the lake.

Maybe a "Jones Beach" amphitheater feel?

[golfing eagles]

In the video they said that the stage would have a waterview. If you zoom in to the water front area nearest the Rec Center, their seems to be a structure close to the edge of the lake.

Maybe a "Jones Beach" amphitheater feel?

I doubt anyone who isn't from Long Island, and possible Queens, knows what Jones Beach is.

[waterlily]

I doubt anyone who isn't from Long Island, and possible Queens, knows what Jones Beach is.
I'm from Michigan.

[DaleDivine]

Waiting and watching.. I like viewing Goldwingnuts videos better. More up to date...
:ho::bigbow::popcorn::popcorn:

[fcgiii]

[QUOTE=Taltarzac725;1997265]New town center to add lifestyle options | News | The Villages Daily Sun | thevillagesdailysun.com (https://www.thevillagesdailysun.com/news/villages/new-town-center-to-add-lifestyle-options/article_5200f67c-0a10-11ec-a5cd-d730d212fadf.html)

Yesterday's Sun has a whole Section on Eastport. Nice map of the whole area south of 44 too.

[coffeebean]

In the video they said that the stage would have a waterview. If you zoom in to the water front area nearest the Rec Center, their seems to be a structure close to the edge of the lake.

Maybe a "Jones Beach" amphitheater feel?

Are you from Long Island? I saw South Pacific at the Jones Beach Theater in 1968. The moat around the stage was a perfect setting for that show.

[Goldwingnut]

Waiting and watching.. I like viewing Goldwingnuts videos better. More up to date...
:ho::bigbow::popcorn::popcorn:

Thanks, I don’t do commercials about what’s coming, I just do a lot of research and digging to find the facts and information and share them with a little drone footage for everyone to enjoy.

[Altavia]

Continuing The Dream: Volume 10 (https://www.nxtbook.com/thevillages/TheVillages/ContinuingTheDream_Vol10/index.php#/p/7)

[Mrprez]

Thanks, I don’t do commercials about what’s coming, I just do a lot of research and digging to find the facts and information and share them with a little drone footage for everyone to enjoy.

From a former Goldwing rider (owned 3), I appreciate what you do and look forward to each new episode.

[Calisport]

They said is going to be a waters edge stage on east lake they are constructing

[Djean1981]

I agree. I'm navigationally challenged. I wish they could go there, drop a pin or make a saved location in the maps app and then share the link.

[Altavia]

Dropped pin
Google Maps (https://goo.gl/maps/jW2Ytyq4rFyHKEYq6)