Apartments Spanish Spring
 

There has been much criticism about The Villages converting space above the Spanish Springs town square into apartments. However, if they are leaving that space (currently used as their offices) for the new building in Brownwood, what exactly do you expect them to do with the space? Leave it vacant? Or, do you have alternative ideas for them to develop the space to generate revenue? Something has to be up there.

Agreed, second floor apartments in a commercially zoned area are appropriate. On the other hand, the complex planned for Hacienda Hills is a very bad idea.

It also strikes me that their greatest demand is for housing (& maintenance-free properties) not office space, which is the most likely alternative. I think it’s a smart use of a second floor.

I heard these apartments come with 2 way noise cancelling headphones so you could communicate with your spouse/sig other when the nightly music on the square was playing.

How many apartments are there going to be? It doesn't sound like very many. I would imagine that people who are having homes built would love to have the option to rent an apartment while their house is being completed.

I'd prefer long-term rentals ONLY in apartments. People who are having homes built, already have homes they're living in somewhere else. If a person gets a 1-year lease on an apartment and their new home is ready in only 8 months, what will happen to the rest of their lease? Definitely would NOT want to see ANY subletting allowed, at all, under any circumstances at all. Not even to your own kids or parents. If the leased tenant isn't occupying the apartment, then that apartment should be vacant and available to be leased by someone who will occupy it.

This is theoretically intended for people who would prefer apartment living INSTEAD of property ownership.

you can't hear the music inside the restaurants in SS....they'll be fine

8 apartments over a retail store, that you cant hear outside noise, While shopping in the store now. Will be like living in any metro area with convenient downtown area. Guessing they will be high end, with private elevator and special parking. Given the rental prices for the lofts, these few apartments will bring high end rent.

I agree. If you go to any major city, there are always apartments/condos above ground floor retail space. Nothing new. It's a great idea.

I heard only 10 or 11 not many...much a due about nothing..

Wonder what they are going to do with the movie theater in Spanish Springs? It’s been under construction a long time?

The change they are requesting includes all their property in Lady Lake

I heard they were going to be low income housing so the villages meet there quotas per federal guidelines.

The number reported is ten.

It is the Hacienda apartments that is disturbing, it is in the middle of single family housing and will drive down pricing in that neighbor.

How about a new five star restaurant like Katie Bells originally was? Apartments will lead to no more music on the square. Mark my words.

Why all these pot stirring posts from new folks? They. They. They. I think we missed the meeting to slam..."THEY".

On the subject of movie theaters, world wide attendance has dropped. People are watching their movies at home more. Television screens are bigger and cheaper than they were and people can pause and pee and have a lovely Dewars on ice if they wish.

The Pandemic is going to kill a lot of businesses that were heading down.

On that very note, the economy is going to have a rocky ride for the next few years.

5 Stars??......wow. Didn't think KB's draw was ever the food.

What about MVP?

Apartments over retail space are commonly known as TAXPAYERS.
If you think about it there probably is no bond left to pay so it’s a great way to get somebody else to pay the taxes on the whole building. If there were a chance to add the commercial space taxes to you homes taxes you can bet it would have been done already.

Did anyone consider there might not be music at the Spanish Spring square anymore? I hope that's not the case.

They’ll be fine if there are no windows and you invite a group of friends in every night of the week during the hours of music. 🥴

Inside renovation

If this apartment trend continues there won’t be any entertainment on the square.

I agree!!

I sense a bit of noise resentment from people enjoying life in your attempt at comedy... people who don't like noise usually are intelligent enough NOT to buy/rent in these type of places.

So if you don't like the noise, don't go / rent / buy

Nothing needs to be up there esp apts. They built it that way just for show which is the basis of their concepts. Which I am ok with because that is partially why we live in the bubble

To bad, your "assumption" is a complete fantasy.... :ohdear:

The Developer does not live is "bubble" nor do they build buildings "just for show", they will use that empty space as they see fit in order to create income streams, aka Apartments.

In today’s paper, Sunday , Local News,
C-4, “Villages Seeking Approval To Offer Apartment -Style Living” Interesting reading... looks like many more apartments coming.

Is there any way that article can be posted for those who don’t have access to the paper?

how about the traffic that people who live in that area will now be faced with?

KBs was never a 5*. The developer use the restaurant to bring in first time lifestyle people. In 07 Food was good, when we did our 2nd lifestyle. We went again in 2010, food reminded me of buffet Food.
Last time we were there in 14, with friends, watched many just having a drink taking up space to listen to music. Even with drink minimum and food purchase, they could not survive. As many have said they are retired, need inexpensive food not a restaurant that has high price snooty menus.
I agree, if we want to have a restaurant experience we travel out of the bubble. But then again we have not hit our 70s or 80s, so we still drive anywhere we want.

shirleyjerez@aol.com
 

I can tell you are fairly new to TV. That restaurant was history to TV.since Mr. S who started TV has past things have changed by his children. Anything to make $ is there moto. What is so sad is that they took the bottom out of Katie Bell. For stores. They make more & . They now are taking the top out for apartments, more. $. Hacienda down more apartments, more $ . Must say their dad did what was best for us. He wanted to have a . beautiful place for blue color workers to be able to retire and enjoy. He would never had done anything like rip out history for more $. What was important to MS has Ben taken away. He loved Katie Bell, Hacienda was a favorite. He lived with us from the start. He was part of us. Unlike his Children.

I think it would be fun to live there for a year!

You heard?
 

it’s getting pretty deep in here. Better get my boots!

You mean MORE traffic than Katie Belle's would (should) have had?

I don't think so.

What traffic in The Villages? You mean we have traffic, I thought it was a bunch of EMS vehicles without lights and sirens. Boy was I mistaken. Drive down Rio Grande Ave. lately? Buckle up for your life's sake not because it's the law, since enforcement does not exist here.

That’s a joke right ? Or pure gossip

The developer is a business and their job is to make money. Apartments on the second floor sound a lot better than an apartment building on Hacienda. The square preexists the apartments, so they will not be calling the shots when it comes to the music. Things will get back to normal again, if people let it. And things change, all the time, and there is nothing you can do to stop it!

Last I heard the purpose of a business is to make money. To my knowledge this is not a non profit. Like it or not apartment are a good business decision. The Villages will have to continue to attract new retirees that want different things. Not everyone wants the upkeep of a house, some want to stay after death of spouse/partner with less upkeep, this is an alternative to independent/assisted living. It may sound callous but Spanish Springs is the oldest square so it makes sense to be the first reimagined. To continue to be desirable The Villages must evolve to continue the appeal.

Right on !!!