New owner Villages lifestyle dreams
 

New owners and potential new owners need to pay attention to what is happening in The Villages now. If you want to get an idea of what your lifestyle is going to be in several years take a look at the Spanish Springs and Sumter Landing area this month.

The developer has petitioned both Lake and Sumter County to change the existing zoning restrictions to allow multi-family housing (apartments) in Spanish Springs town square, Sumter Landing town square, Brownwood town square, and in the former location of Hacienda Hills Country Club (HHCC). The current residents are vehemently opposed to this – especially the HHCC – and have let the developer know. The developer, so far, has basically said so what, we will do what we can get away with. County Commissioner meetings are being held on 21 SEP (Monday) and in mid October. This does not affect residents in Brownwood and south but IT COULD IN several YEARS. If they choose to do it here they can choose to do it elsewhere.

You can quit reading here if you like but the remainder gets into the details you need to be well informed.

FACT: The developer plans to build a multi-story apartment complex in area that was Hacienda Hill Country Club. This complex will completely change the character of the neighborhood. It puts up to 280 apartments and about 500 new residents into plat that was a single story country club surrounded by single family homes. It will add about 500 new people to the already stressed amenities. The Amenity Authority Committee (AAC) was pressured by the developer to give about 280 amenities to the developer to make this possible. There was a hearing and the residents were firmly opposed. The AAC ignored the residents and voted to give the amenities to the developer.

OPINION: The AAC was played, rolled over like a puppy dog, and gave TV what it wanted. The affected residents are furious. You can read much more on TOTV and in the Property Owners Association (POA) newspaper.

FACT: There will be a meeting with the Sumter County special master for planning and zoning on 21 September. There are 2 meetings scheduled with the Sumter County commission in October. They will consider rezoning HHCC and 4 Sumter Landing Square locations to allow multifamily housing.

OPINION: The meeting venue with the zoning master is Everglades Recreation Center. Far from Sumter Landing and HHCC and not golf cart accessible to most. You can guess why. The developer has paired apartments in Sumter Landing and Brownwood and apartments at HHCC as an issue. This is because apartments in Sumter Landing is less egregious (although still with significant issues). They hope to muddy the water on the HHCC issue by considering them together.
The County Commissioner meeting is scheduled in October because the current commissioners change soon after that. The current commissioners are widely believed to be the developers’ lapdogs. Three incumbents were soundly voted out for that reason but will not change until after this decision.

OPINION: The developer is taking steps to change the character of the lifestyle in The Villages. They are doing this to generate additional income streams in a long developed area. The residents are firmly opposed and feel betrayed by “the family”. We love it here in our village inspired lifestyle. We want to see it stay that way. We do NOT want high density/city style life. We want the developer to recognize our concerns and forego a few bucks now to continue the long term quality lifestyle they advertise. These could well be your concerns in a few years. It is something you need to consider before you buy here.

NOTE: There will be several here that will call me a complainer – say I don’t speak for most- say some hotshot does this every few years- say the new apartment are going to be beautiful (as long as they aren’t in my neighborhood), etc. I can almost name them ahead of time. Just goes with the territory on this blog. You have to have thick skin to post here. I say go to the meetings and listen to the people speak. I have yet hear one dissenting voice other than the developers’ men.

Excellent post. For more FACTS read here
Villages Promises Preservation Watch (V2PW) (The ENTIRE Villages – North, South, East & West) | V2PW

Usual gang of villages cheerleaders hoping to lull potential buyers. If there only a few complainers how did the developers puppet commissioners get booted out of office overwhelming.
And by the way I am tired of kiss up to the developer posts. I believe the term is syncophant.

The minority report is duly noted.
The other 98.98437587% of us will continue enjoying the life style!!

New owners and potential buyers...a very few people seem to be unhappy with life in The Villages and with change in The Villages...and for some reason harbor negative feelings toward 'the developer'. The Developer owes us nothing, but a few seem to think that the developer does.

Some will say "I didn't know 'xyz' was going to happen...they never said that when I bought".....well times change, buildings get knocked down everywhere, undeveloped land gets developed everywhere.

'The Developer' is running a private business....folks that live here are not shareholders in 'The Developers' company...this isn't an HOA or a Condo Association where people do have input. The Developer has the right to develop any property that they own and acquire with proper approval. And 'the Developer' is entitled to turn a profit on their business.

'the developer' has created an environment for 55+ people that is truly unique and is an energizing, active, and fun lifestyle
'the developer' does everything above board and goes through the proper channels...(naysayers will say he has officials in his pocket)
'the developer' has directly and indirectly created tens of thousands of jobs...wow!
"the developer' has thought of everything that we could possibly need or want and proved it either directly or helped it come about indirectly...and everything they do is done professionally and with a flair...they don't go cheap
'the developer' seeks out our input and listens to the folks in TV and really tries to make sure what they are looking and asking for happens
the common areas of The Villages are maintained extremely well...the place looks like a well kept park...the pools are well kept and clean, the tennis and pickleball courts are well kept as are the bocce courts and the softball fields...the Rec Centers are thoughtfully designed....

some folks just don't do well with change....a very small minority of folks might be a lot happier if they lived elsewhere (but I question if they'd be truly happy anywhere)

just my opinion and experience

Uh, you suppose there's a reason?

And yet those that complain remain living here. Why? Because there is nothing that comes close to what we have here. It's the best. Always will be the best. No amount of complaining will change the happiness of many thousands who are happy and thankful to be able to live here.

Potential buyers: Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

https://www.thevillagesdailysun.com/...4b4e13133.html

I am pretty sure this is going to be alright. When I first came here to look around I thought it was too good to be true. I kept looking around to find the catch. I haven't found any indication that the people running the place are greedy. I did think that the lots are smaller in the new area but then my husband said that land is more expensive and they try to offer at market prices.

I am not easily led. We have built eleven homes. I don't know the developers or his sisters or his cousins or his aunts. I am an old person loving this place.

My real name is Grace Helene Gantner.

I continue to be amazed that some obviously very unhappy folks continue to live here. If I felt as they do, I'd be looking for someplace else to live. But we are very happy here and cognizant that to stay relevant, some things will change and change can be good.

Quite the contrary, I think you have put a LOT of research and RATIONAL analysis into this based on what HAS happened, not the emotional "gut" feelings of what "might" happen ( though I do share your vision of what is coming, I am not naive. I know very well what you mean by " labeled a complainer". For that reason I am very discrete about my personal opinion on this whole subject the the gradual changes and downward trend (some disagree with that analysis of course) in the community. There are many reasons, some have similar "gut" feelings, but don't want to say or do anything that my de-value our property even more. Others, simply lack the financial ability to just "pick up and leave" as many will so flippantly suggest, perhaps for them its very easy, for others, not so much. Some just want to close out all bad news, I understand that emotion too, why be unhappy when we can simply continue to believe this is a true "Disneyland" for adults", I would love to continue like that too, but it's getting more difficult everyday. Maybe there are silent others like me, not selling, not contacting RE agents "just to get an idea", but silently keeping score of what is happening and what seems to be accelerating; the loss of that small town feeling and a definite march toward impersonal, high rise, diversification. Interesting that many of us built our homes here to escape from. Others will see this as a very good trend, I respect that, but for me personally, I am beginning to put together some contingency plans. Maybe things will take a turn for the better once, instead of the most financially lucrative moves. There CAN be a balance of quality of life intended for the residents of these types of communities, while also making a "reasonable" profit.

Notice that no one has disputed any of the facts. The opinions are mine alone and I stand behind them. The more astute and rational among the readers will take a look at what is happening and come to your own conclusion.

I encourage you to go to the meeting with the special master for planning and zoning on the 21st. Listen to the stories of the many folks that are having to cope with this change to the lifestyle they were living. Be farsighted enough to know it is "them" today but could be you tomorrow.

Good post, I agree with much of what is said. Although I am very strongly against the apartment complex at Hacienda Hills, I am not against the apartments in the town squares (except for the fact that they will put further strain on already overused amenities). I had the same thought about both the location and timing of the upcoming meeting next Monday. Hold it far away from the effected Spanish Springs/LSL area and be sure to get the meeting in while still holding the strings of their puppets.

And don't worry about being falsely labeled as a complainer. You are simply stating relevant facts along with some of your opinions. You are not complaining! The real complainers are the predictable few that will COMPLAIN like clockwork about Villagers who take the time and effort to share both facts and opinions with fellow Villagers.

P.S. Stay tuned, we still have not heard from the CHIEF COMPLAINER in the history of TOV, but we will : (

Yes, you are right, when we post it is perfectly logical to expect others will have differing or opposite opinions. For me personally, I am "undecided", not sad or unhappy person at all, but I do think I am more attacked to Florida than specifically The Villages. I do think there are many answers to your question of why people who are unhappy, or let's say "somewhat" unhappy, don't just pick up and leave. My personal experience with people I actually KNOW is; one case where it's just age and medical issues that make facing listing, open houses, moving arrangements, closings, etc. etc. (that they have faced many times during their career) now pose a major (if only mental) barrier. Others have sunk everything they have into this and simply can not afford to move. They "thought" they were moving to a rather laid back, somewhat "rural", and certainly not an apartment/high rise type community, and yes, things change. Some, like myself, don't like the trend they are seeing, but are just gathering contingencies, not so dissatisfied they want to just "pack up and leave", but uneasy about what is so obviously pretty drastic changes. Probably you can understand what I am saying ? As an example, it would be like someone being tired of their.... cabinets, counter tops, appliances, but.... they have to weight things. Perhaps they just can't tolerate the inevitable upsets, messes, delays of remodeling, perhaps the health of others is not up to the inevitable dust and dirt, and maybe others the just don't have the MONEY ? There are many legitimate reasons a person is uneasy with trends they see around them that do not increase a community's quality of life, environment, general satisfaction, and yet that does not mean they want to turn and run so to speak. Just saying.... many reasons and "get out if you don't like it" does not always fit. Folks here are 50 to 100 and more years of age, and all have very different circumstances. You are very happy, I am fairly happy, the writer of the original post is probably relatively happy, but NOT brain dead. He, or she is probably trying to keep people alive and thinking and actively involved... that does not mean he/she (?) should "pack up and leave", it's really not as much a mystery as you might think.

The commissioners raised our taxes 25% and would not listen to residents and their meetings. They are gone the residents are still here. Very few complaints about the apartments, they are needed here, these are very upscale and compliment the lifestyle of TV and many of the new tenants are current home owners within TV that are ready to give up caring for a yard or large home. I don't see a problem with them.

Another great post. No smiling ICONs or shouting capital letters and gigantic sprawled out spacing required.

I agree...............Ladyg's was another nice post.


(glad i got your attention as well)


:ho:

If my home once had a view of the clubhouse that was torn down, And now get to look at a multi story apartments. I would not be happy, and would hope the voices of the residents that is affected at least can be heard. We backed out a sale of a home due to the change of view on this golf course.

I also understand those who aren’t being affected, don’t have a problem with the new build, after all it’s not their back yard.
But 5 years from now The golf course failed, You live on, and commercial or apartments were built in your back yard. You might feel different.

Those who bought on undeveloped property knew the risk of anything could be built there, and that has happened more than once. Warnings have always been don’t buy the house that backs up to the cow pasture, tomorrow it could be a target.

But no one ever warned you hey the back of Glenview is absolutely beautiful, but years from now it could be apartments

Their circus; their monkeys. Their doing what makes their future generations money; do not tell us you wouldn’t do the same thing for yourself and your future generations.

when the high rollers don't give a crap for anyone but themselves.
these are the cards dealt.

pAmen ! And, have you noticed the national trend that if you observe, think, analyze, and question (the things that used to be taught as BASIC skills to prevent emotional reactions), you are now automatically labeled a "complainer", not intelligent, or prudent, or a rational man, but a "complainer" who must be vanquished, erased, for pointing out the way the emperor is beginning to parade around naked is not a good sign. Erased, out of here, is NOT the answer. Since I am not a daily visitor to TOTV, I don't know exactly who is referenced as the predictable one(s), but with the weather we've experienced this summer, I have logged on much more often, and yes, I am beginning to pick up that it is the same people/person (among what, 120K or so ?) who seems to read everything on here, yet, does not seem to do it for information to broaden the perspective and keep the mind expanded. Some (one or a few ?) seem to resent anyone who points out the emperor is wearing less and less these day, not properly at all. My opinion is, there are many who simply do not want to face reality in their declining years, I can understand that ! Others, I believe, simply do not want anything "out there" that might get impact property values; I can understand that ! Some just settled here recently, they lack a historical perspective, I can understand that, it's certainly not their "fault" or lack of understanding. I just don't agree that peace will come into your life by closing your eyes and ears to what is happening around you, be it TV, papers, or TOTV's is the answer. Those who turn off the TV because they simply do not want to hear one more warning about a hurricane that may never materialize, do not actually prevent that hurricane from occurring. When people go to the trouble to carefully research an issue, like the person above on here has, and and then publishes it on here with absolutely NO emotionally laden words, it is a breath of fresh air, not "complaining". If a mayor of a community was using city employees on city time, to make improvements to his or her personal residence, would the citizen who pointed this out in a letter to the editor be labeled a "complainer" and be told "you should just move" ? Apartments in Spanish Springs ? Sure, definitely would appeal to some. Older folks who don't want to, or can't, drive at all could benefit, for sure ! The flip side ? Amenities dwindling, yet access to what does exist are expanded more and more ? It's worth thinking about at least.

I don’t understand the attitude that The Villages is some kind of Utopia where everything is always supposed to be perfect and the developer is only supposed to do things that make people happy. The Villages is a business and their primary goal is to remain profitable. There are no guarantees wherever you go. Remember that this was all farmland at one time and some must have been upset to see that change. It’s called progress.

Great posts today. Refreshing to hear personal opinion supported by a facts. I guess what I'm trying to say is "a prediction" that has a factual base. Some posters like to revert to "site me your source" when it doesn't fit their point of view rather than constructive debate. Of what value is that tactic ? Ego ? Thankfully not all of us are so shallow minded as to have chapter and verse proof of an "opinion" or the world would still be flat.

I try to think back when we had our home built Buena Vista only went to the circle where Arnold Palmers CC is (which was not there yet). 466 was just completed to 4 lanes.
No Lake Sumter Landing and town square.
There was NOTHING South of Arnold Palmer circle.
Population was 35,000.
Some how TV doubled and doubled again during the last 16 years.
Yes some things are different.....most for the better.
And there were complaints/opinions/forecasts/wild a$$ guesses what the "developer" was doing/did/planned.
A profitable venture to our benefit.
For most of us the life style we bought into 16 years ago is better today. Most of the national chains as well as many other businesses would not be here if TV was not of a certain size population. And for the same reason (growth) there is more to come.

Some of the recent future resident warnings are a bit over the top.....in my humble opinion.

To each his own.

Where and what time is the meeting on the 21st?

Everglades Recreation Center in Fenney at 6 PM. Not sure why a public Sumter County Planning/Zoning meeting is being held at a Villages Recreation Center, but it is?

High density living brings more traffic. More traffic can't be good. Sorry to disagree.

You obviously have not been attending meetings related to these issues. This is not a few complainers. There are thousands of people attending these meetings in opposition. They had to put loud speakers outside the building to handle the Overflow this week when the “developers” approached lake county to put in apartments in Spanish Springs. This was not Harold Schwartz and Gary Morse’s dream. This is fueled by the greed of the grandchildren who are The only ones that stand to benefit from this move. ARC was forced by the developers to give rights to amenities by threatening them. They were told if they didn’t give them the rights they would build a parking garage there! The people spoke out and they didn’t listen and are now trying to push the apartments through in La Hacienda, Lake Sumter and Brownwood. There are multiple reasons for not doing this , one of which is the parking situation. They will have to put in parking garages in each area in order to handle the overflow crowd these apartments bring in. This will change the whole flavor of the squares. However, knowing what the family has been doing this may not happen and who is going to lose out- The people who have bought their homes Hoping for the lifestyle the was promised to them by Harold Schwartz and Gary Morse. In addition , your taxes will need to go up because there is going to be many more problems - more police will need to be hired due to the number of problems this will bring in. Things like burglaries will increase since you will no longer know who is going in and out of buildings, complaints from the noise to the Smells from the restaurant . There will be an increase in visible trash From the apartments. More equipment will be needed for the fire departments because different equipment is used for residential on the second floor than was needed for just offices. There is a host of difficulties from this and the benefit will not be to the people living here!

Very well said.

Well written and well said

It’s a little like people who say “America, Love It or Leave It,” then hate half the people in it, or say millions should leave it, or say that if the vote does t go their way, they are going to take their ball and go home. (Laughing, and meant in a good way.) Imagine what would happen here if we didn’t have all these government regulations, such as rules giving us an opportunity it’s to complain if we don’t like something.

“... the common areas of The Villages are maintained extremely well...the place looks like a well kept park...the pools are well kept and clean, the tennis and pickleball courts are well kept as are the bocce courts and the softball fields...”
I am new here, but I thought all of these functions are done by the CDD’s and are paid for by our amenities fees, not the developer. Am I misinformed?

This post is so full of incorrect information.

This person is very upset.

Not thousands, not ARC, not really but there will be someone who reads it and believes it.

I think what anyone reading this kind of thing should do TODAY is to get in your car and drive up (or down) Morse and pull into the parking lot where the Hacienda Hills restaurant/country club was torn down and see the area. There is golf course behind the spot. On the left hand side behind the postal drop you can see four homes. Across Morse is golf course and the Sharon Morse Nature preserve.

Here is a map and you can enlarge this area and see for yourself.


The Villages(R) Community Map - Explore & Find Your Way Around

Someone once said... "The only constant is change"

tecarch
 

Bring on the NIMBYs!:boxing2:

There are many beautiful places in Fl. If youre unhappy here then start thinking about a move. No area stays the same and no one should expect it will. You take your chances whereever you go

To the affected
 

Unless there are actions which would have negative impacts on the profits from building the Apartments I doubt there is a chance in hell to stop the projects. As long as there are profits to the Developer/Owner the Apartments will be built as he/she have absolute power in the Villages. In the Law Suit filed by the POA in 2000 they demonstrated outside of his/her sales office to impact the sales of homes. Even with this the suit went on and he lost, and the Developer/Owner was fined $40,000,000.00. Thus allegedly, the Developer/Owner formed the HOA to offset the POA that caused the suit. Since I don't have a dog in this fight it would be outrages for me to take a position on either side. :popcorn:

Here is a map of the area.

Across from the torn down Hacienda Hills Country Club is the Sharon Morse Nature Preserve and nine holes of golf course. Behind the area where the building was torn down is nine holes of golf course. On either side are four homes. Please drive to this site up or down Morse and see for yourself the area where these apartments will be built.

The Villages(R) Community Map - Explore & Find Your Way Around

If you are not familiar find Spanish Springs, follow Morse South (Hacienda Hills site is VERY close) You will have to enlarge the area several times to see it well. One picture is worth a thousand words.

Ya; the one and only gripe I have, and always will have, is losing Katie Belle's. It was The Villages' signature building; it was the go-to place for every visitor we had; it was the most unique building in T.V.; it was always occupied to capacity with great shows and dancing, and there will never be another that can match it.

If there are eventually going to be apartments here (one way or another) it is better done by the developer of TV than another with zero invested interest in the existing resident structure.

:welcome:Thank u for the well organized information. There is a % of potential village residents that don't want or need a single family home, that group will now have access to the village life style. Welcome to the bubble! :welcome:

I see both sides of the fence, literally. We are new here and plan on being here a long time. I would be upset if I bought an expensive home on a golf course, that is now facing the back of an apartment building. And I also understand the need for change. We are buying here because of the lifestyle as well as the amenities. We were turned off by Fenny because of the long distance to everything, but the turn around time on building up areas here is phenomenal. So Fenny is becoming a bit more appealing. As far as the apartments go, as long as they don’t build low income housing, I understand the need for them. Some people want to maintain the lifestyle but not the upkeep of a home. We are currently renting a home, but will be buying very soon. We are aware of the risks and will be diligent in our search. I’ve still yet to find a place that offers as much as they do here in the villages.