How Crowded?
 

If in the heart of Snowbird Season The Villages population is approximately 110,000 people, I was wondering what percentage of that most populated season is here during the following times:
1) November/December
2) September/October
3) Summer

Just taking a guess:
1. About 75,000.
2. about 75,000.
3, About 70,000, (some people don't want to stay in the hotter summer months).

Overcrowded most of the year with the exception of July and August and even that beginning to rise

I respectfully disagree. You will see the traffic drop off a lot first of April.

Remember that during the high season, year rounders have a lot of company too.

We will get the ordinary crowd at Publix on 466 then too.

I think you have been here longer than us, Rubicon. We have been Villagers for eight years, now Frogs for three.

I have lived here for 3 years now. The overcrowding question is the same everywhere in florida where people want to be in the winter. I have spent time in Ft. Lauderdale, tampa, the keys, panhandle, and ft. Myers area. All are very crowded in the winter. The situation here is actully better than south florida. I have also noticed that after april, till about October I have no trouble going anywhere to dine out, swim or go off campus to shop.All in all this place is the best all times of the year, for my wife and i anyway.

I agree. The Villages is at capacity between January and March. April you see a change and traffic is slightly less. Definitely you will see a dramatic change in traffic and crowds after May.

I have to agree with you. Even in season we are lucky to be here in TV. And after April 1 it is just a dream here.

SHHHH!!! DBUSSONE. Don't let out that information, they will just stay longer!! :) Just kidding!!!

Ok. I didn't say it. My evil twin must have.

Overcrowding is prevalent here in Florida especially close to the coast. From Tampa south there are developments that extend as far 20 miles inland. One thing we like here is the distance between homes. The closest allowed is 20'. Also this is the only golf development we've seen with a 24 hour guard. Very quiet here. But lots to do! Today we are taking the historic boat ride around Sarasota Bay..

Yeah, DB, button up!

Holy smokes. I'm sorry already! ::jester::

According to the Villages they plan to peak at 110K. not there yet. Last article indicated it is now at about 80K with snowbirds

I believe that number was promulgated prior to the Fruitland Park expansion, and the recently announced northern expansion.

How Crowded?
 

Crowded - late fall, winter, early spring.

Less than crowded - the remainder.

Overcrowded - ehh, only if that's your mindset.

"Overcrowded"?? This always puzzles me. This is a LOW-density housing with every home being single-family and single-story, on its own lot with its own single-owner garage and driveway.

With no condos and no multi-story housing buildings, AND with no more than two residents per home in most cases, I think everyone here is as spread out as could be possible while making single-family home ownership possible for so many people who can't afford a home on a 1-acre lot.

Try going out for dinner and parking your car and then getting into a restaurant in Sarasota downtown, or at St. Armand's Circle. We love it there, but living there is a whole other story!

What's the new projection? I heard 110 when I was shopping 2 years ago. [i think]

I heard the same thing 2 years ago. I would think at least 115K.

Most snowbirds leave just before the love bugs arrive in May and don't come back until the love bugs have departed the end of September.

Toooo crowded. They are still telling new people that the villages will be built out at 125,000 I just sold my house and was told by a village realtor that it will never be built out. As land becomes available at their price they will continue to buy and build,so why are they still lying to people? The units they're building are high end therefore more people year round. I think the. Bubble has burst,time to sell people.......

Aptly named SCAREcrow. What's the deal????

Sounds like you already have sold. I think you are way off the mark, but I wish you well wherever you land.

Although everyone has their own sense of being over crowded, your suggestion is a little over the top don't you think? We should all consider moving now because someone finds it too crowded? Reminds me of many years ago when my mother would insist I wore a sweater because she was cold.

When I was shopping 2 years ago, the sales rep told me the least expensive designer in the new section was going to be twice as much as i paid for the alamanda.

i realize the village sales team has to say what they are told.

it was the only thing he said that seemed fishy to me.

I don't sense any sort of conspiracy here. I think the Sales Agents deliver the most recent and accurate information they are provided with. Things can and will change dictated by opportunities and circumstance.

There ya go.

I think "overcrowded" is a matter of perspective. I am originally from central long Island, which has turned into one giant megapolis. Restaurant lines--hours, movies--you might not get in, golf---excluding private clubs which cost a fortune, there are 9 18 hole courses and 4 9 hole courses, with residency restrictions for a population of 2.7 million.
I now live in a town of 35,00 with 2 18 hole courses in a 7 mile radius and 2 grocery stores
So, from my point of view, 12 championship and 35 executive courses, 10 or so grocery stores, 3 movie theaters, dozens of restaurants, boutiques, and the like (as well as enough Walgreen's, nail salons, and First Citizen's Banks to service the state of TEXAS lol) for 80-110K residents is like a ghost town.
I was down there in Feb, as well as last Oct--the difference was noticeable but nothing draconian. I don't really see the difference between a town of 10K with 1 grocery store and 100K with 10 stores as far as crowding is concerned, and with size restaurants and stores are readily available. Try finding any of the big box or department stores in a town of 10K. And everything can be a golf cart ride away!
Maybe I'll think differently when I'm full time this fall, but for now, just sayin'

Overcrowded??? Try the Long Island Expressway (aka 495) on a Snowy Friday afternoon. The worlds longest parking lot.

The L.I.E.-----been there, done that. In fact, 12/27/2010---Tappan Zee Bridge to central Nassau county (about 35 miles), normally takes 45-50 min took 6 hrs and 45 min 2 days after a snowstorm

I do agree that one's overcrowding prospective is influenced by where you are from and what they have experienced. I was reared in a small city in Central New York and have lived in cities ranging from 35,000 to approx 2 million.

I moved here in 2006 and for most of the year for the first 3 years never noticed much in increases but suddenly, to me, with the exception of July and August the feel of TV felt overcrowded on the roads, multi-modal pathways, restaurants, stores, etc.

As TV expands so do the surrounding towns exacerbating the crowding in public places. TV itself has compacted a lot of single homes in a relatively small space. Roadways take time but right now both roads and multi-modal paths have peak times when traffic backs up.

A friend of mine from Northern Minnesota moved 20 times. I asked her how many states that included. she laughed and said I never left the area. What triggered her to move was when she looked out her kitchen window and noticed a neighbor, time to move again. This place would send her insane

Oh my my !!!

I'm from rather northern Minnesota, just east of Fargo. IMHO the houses of lower cost in TV are too close together.

Yes, they are close together. However, further apart means a larger lot which means more work to maintain or more money to pay someone else to maintain. We, like most residents have owned homes elsewhere with large lots or even acreage. But we've been there/done that with all of the hard work maintaining a large lot and personally, I am relieved to know that I can physically and/or financially take care of my little piece of ground as I continue to age.

He told me that Designer homes in the newest section of Fruitland Park will start at 500k. I didn't believe it then and I don't believe it now. What can possibly happen that will raise the starting price of Designers to 500k?
I'm not suggesting it's a conspiracy---it just doesn't make sense.

For one thing, lake county does not allow bonds. I can't explain the rest of the difference unless it is as simple as price increases on more expensive homes.

The equivalent cost of the bonds will be added to the base cost of the home, so although there will be no bond, the cost of the homes will include it. My understanding is the homes will be either designer or premier with expensive villas added in. Your sources are as good as mine!

In my opinion, it's never over crowded at all. It's a bit busy in the winter months but never what I'd call over crowded.

I really don't know what some people are talking about. By the sound of some of these posts you would think that it's like Manhattan Island down here.

In the winter you might wait a minute or two tops to make a left hand turn out of a side street. You probably won't get seated immediately in a lot of restaurants. So what, I knew a lot of restaurants where that was the case in suburban Boston. Supermarkets are a bit busy and I hate waiting in line, but I don't think that I've ever seen more than four or five people in a check out line.

I really don't get what all the whining is about. If this is too crowded for you, you probably want to live way out in the middle of the country side.

It once took me an hour and a half to go one mile on Roxas Boulevard in Manila and there was no snow storm. Just rush hour traffic.

Got to where I could make aU-Turn and went home.