TV duplicated in other areas?

[CharlieK]

Just curious- has TV’s developers ever tried to duplicate the Villages’ success in other states? Seems like the concept would work in Texas, Arizona etc - why limit to Florida?

[dewilson58]

nope

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Just curious- has TV’s developers ever tried to duplicate the Villages’ success in other states? Seems like the concept would work in Texas, Arizona etc - why limit to Florida?

TV is a family-owned operation. They're based in Florida, where they can maintain full control over every aspect of the community and the towns the properties are built in.

[tophcfa]

TV is a family-owned operation. They're based in Florida, where they can maintain full control over every aspect of the community and the towns the properties are built in.

Bingo, plus they have been able to buy lots of undeveloped land in central Florida at very affordable prices.

[BrianL99]

Just curious- has TV’s developers ever tried to duplicate the Villages’ success in other states? Seems like the concept would work in Texas, Arizona etc - why limit to Florida?


Florida is the "warm weather destination" for the vast majority of the United States (east of the Mississippi). The population centers of the Northeast have an easy, economical commute to Florida. Thank you, Disney.

The model would probably work in other places, just not on the same scale as here in FL.

Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

[Papa_lecki]

Just curious- has TV’s developers ever tried to duplicate the Villages’ success in other states? Seems like the concept would work in Texas, Arizona etc - why limit to Florida?

Theres also something to within 60 minutes when kids/grandkids come down, they won’t visit OFTEN in AZ or TX.

[tophcfa]

They can maintain full control over every aspect of the community and the towns the properties are built in.

Don’t underestimate the importance of the above quote, it hits the nail on the head regarding what separates the Villages from every other retirement community. It’s both good and not so good, but for the most part the good wins, until someday when it might not anymore?

[SIRE1]

There was a story about Gary Morse and Harrold Schwartz a few years ago which said that when they began to think about expanding across 441 from the Historic side, they visited Sun City in AZ to see what works and what didn't. They came back and incorporated those observations to make The Villages. So I guess you could say that The Villages was started FROM somewhere else.

[manaboutown]

"Youngtown, Arizona, opened in 1954 and was the first development community to have a minimum age requirement (then 65) and to ban underage children as permanent residents. Developer Del Webb unveiled Sun City six years later. Adjacent to Youngtown, it offered modest homes abutting a golf course. In the ensuing decades, active adult communities have proliferated, including Harold Schwartz’s "The Villages" in central Florida, today the nation’s single largest retirement community.

For nearly sixty years, the success of these and similar communities have changed the image of retirees from frail, impoverished old people to energetic, well-off adults enjoying a resort-like lifestyle. While some experts predicted these communities would fail or undermine the obligations between generations, they are now firmly embedded as one possible extension of the American dream.

Judith Ann Trolander has written the first book-length history of the "active adult" lifestyle. Examining the origins, development, failures, and challenges facing these communities as the baby boomer population continues to age, she offers a truly original defense of a sometimes controversial aspect of American life."

From: From Sun Cities to The Villages: A History of Active Adult, Age-Restricted Communities (Sunbelt Studies) Paperback – Illustrated, December 15, 2012
by Judith Ann Trolander (Author)

[NatureBoy]

There are many other 55+ communities, including Del Webbs. Someone must be smart enough to duplicate The Villages.

I think what TV currently has is scale. They are big enough that they can keep offering a high level of amenities for a low cost. Starting from zero would be very difficult for a competitor. If someone wants what TV has, they could just move here.

[chuck90199]

Yes, there is another Villages. It's the Villages at Coverley on the island of Barbados. It was started roughly ten years ago by Gary Morse. Due to high housing prices on the island, it consists of mostly villas and/or small homes built around one town square, with stores, shops and restaurants. Their website is vilagesatcoverley-dot-net. Very similar to what we have here but on a much smaller scale.

[Laker14]

Yes, there is another Villages. It's the Villages at Coverley on the island of Barbados. It was started roughly ten years ago by Gary Morse. Due to high housing prices on the island, it consists of mostly villas and/or small homes built around one town square, with stores, shops and restaurants. Their website is vilagesatcoverley-dot-net. Very similar to what we have here but on a much smaller scale.

Interesting. I never knew that. Thanks for sharing.
A place for all of the complainers who think TV is getting too big.

[Bilyclub]

Yes, there is another Villages. It's the Villages at Coverley on the island of Barbados. It was started roughly ten years ago by Gary Morse. Due to high housing prices on the island, it consists of mostly villas and/or small homes built around one town square, with stores, shops and restaurants. Their website is vilagesatcoverley-dot-net. Very similar to what we have here but on a much smaller scale.

Interesting that they have their own sort of TOTV full of complaints.

[Tblue]

The concept of The Villages is somewhat being duplicated at Babcock Ranch, a gated community north of the Ft. Myers area. I have been there several times, so much like living here, a town square on a lake with entertainment, a few restaurants, food trucks, new school on site, Publix shopping center, golf and everything is golf cart accessible. So much like The Villages with construction everywhere. The big difference is they is no age restricted, it is more of a family community and my guess a tenth the size of here, but growing rapidly as here.

[JGibson]

To many people to pay off in Arizona and Texas.

[Babubhat]

Disney is exploring in the Orlando area. Check Ken Pozek YouTube videos for weekly updates

[pauld315]

There are many other 55+ communities, including Del Webbs. Someone must be smart enough to duplicate The Villages.

I think what TV currently has is scale. They are big enough that they can keep offering a high level of amenities for a low cost. Starting from zero would be very difficult for a competitor. If someone wants what TV has, they could just move here.

On Top of The World in Ocala is a smaller version of The Villages. I think they have around 10,000 homes. They do have real security though and you will not get into the residential areas without belonging there.

[badkarma318]

On Top of The World in Ocala is a smaller version of The Villages. I think they have around 10,000 homes. They do have real security though and you will not get into the residential areas without belonging there.

Sadly, "real security" and being a "true gated community" didn't stop that couple in Waterman at Mount Dora from being brutally murdered. The perp was able to get on property that evening at least 2-3 separate times prior to committing the crimes.

I've seen the security at OTOTW and at Waterman - far from impressive. Scared people put far too much faith in an old, out-of-shape codger in an official-looking uniform.

[dewilson58]

Yes, there is another Villages. It's the Villages at Coverley on the island of Barbados. It was started roughly ten years ago by Gary Morse.

Any facts to support???

The rumor was Texas...........but again, no facts to support.

[Papa_lecki]

Any facts to support???

The rumor was Texas...........but again, no facts to support.

There is a village of coverly in Barbados -
https://villagesatcoverley.net/

Can’t find anything about their history or ownership
BUT- it has a town square, it has centralized mail boxes

[dewilson58]

There is a village of coverly in Barbados -
https://villagesatcoverley.net/

Can’t find anything about their history or ownership
BUT- it has a town square, it has centralized mail boxes

THanks
Saw all that, but no facts about "TV" owning it.
10 years ago, there was the same rumor about land in TX.

[Altavia]

Was there ever any link other than being based on a CCD between The Villages and Celebration FL?

[tophcfa]

Yes, there is another Villages. It's the Villages at Coverley on the island of Barbados. It was started roughly ten years ago by Gary Morse. Due to high housing prices on the island, it consists of mostly villas and/or small homes built around one town square, with stores, shops and restaurants. Their website is vilagesatcoverley-dot-net. Very similar to what we have here but on a much smaller scale.

Does not appear similar at all, small scale and not a 55 plus retirement community. The literature says “Great place to raise a family”, and most of the pictures are of young people.

[Bilyclub]

THanks
Saw all that, but no facts about "TV" owning it.
10 years ago, there was the same rumor about land in TX.



There was a post about Gary Morse putting up the money to build Coverley, but it appears to be run by locals down there.
Ahh, found something:

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/gary-morses-new-venture-62175/

Ties to Barbados. Nothing solid about Coverley.

[dewilson58]

There was a post about Gary Morse putting up the money to build Coverley, but it appears to be run by locals down there.
Ahh, found something:

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/gary-morses-new-venture-62175/

Ties to Barbados. Nothing solid about Coverley.

Yep

[coffeebean]

Yes, there is another Villages. It's the Villages at Coverley on the island of Barbados. It was started roughly ten years ago by Gary Morse. Due to high housing prices on the island, it consists of mostly villas and/or small homes built around one town square, with stores, shops and restaurants. Their website is vilagesatcoverley-dot-net. Very similar to what we have here but on a much smaller scale.

I looked at the gallery. No golf carts in any of the photos.

[Smalley]

This is the first mention of a Barbados "villages" that I've seen. How did you find out about it? Have you been there or do you know anyone who has been there?

[keepsake]

Barbados place seems to be all ages, not 50+

[Pairadocs]

Interesting. I never knew that. Thanks for sharing.
A place for all of the complainers who think TV is getting too big.

It could help them perhaps...my thought was it would never be an option as I don't think they could use Medicare in Barbados...I'm no expert on that. I guess a lot of people do retire in Mexico, so not sure how all that works with Medicare.

[champion6]

This is the first mention of a Barbados "villages" that I've seen. How did you find out about it? Have you been there or do you know anyone who has been there?Click the link in post #24 for an article that was published in 2012.

[justjim]

Florida passed legislation to help a Developer by allowing creation of Community Development Districts (CDD’S). I’m not aware if Texas, Arizona or other States developed similar programs for economic Development. The huge cost of infrastructure is supported by issuing tax-free bonds. Residents are then required to pay off the bonds if you choose to buy a home within the CDD.