Daily Sun Newspaper Lofts and Apartments
 

Has anyone else noticed the large articles in yesterday's and today's Daily Sun on the Brownwood Lofts and new apartments? Looks like The Villages is using the newspaper as a marketing tool to promote these projects. Like most media articles they only show their side of the story. I always find great comments and perspectives on this site. Especially since it is not controlled by The Villages but is by the people of The Villages. Look forward to seeing what you have to say about the media and loft/apartment situation!!!

The Daily Sun is a real estate marketing tool for the Developer. Did you expect them to down play their decision?

The Daily Sun IS NOT a "news" paper. It is owned by the Developer, run by the developer and used as a marketing tool for the developer. The stories in paper are just fill in where there isn't ads for new homes.

Lofts
 

The caption on the photo said "the Lofts are a success". If 30% of the Phase I apartments are leased after leasing started 7 months ago a success? I don't know the industry to say if 30% is good or bad after 7 months.

I saw nothing inappropriate with the coverage.

Actually it's nice to read about something other than politics, rioting, wild fires, wars and covid-19 for a change.

Op is right it’s just like a hometown paper with a little more news . I read newspapers from all over world , but there is nothing like opening a newspaper with your morning coffee it gives me a sense of normalcy , that my iPhone can’t. I’m not very good with coupons but there are more then enough to pay for the paper for the year .FYI I looked very hard in that article and no place did I see 30% of apartments leased, perhaps someone’s barber told him

June was the first time you could view the lofts, so less than 3 months. Friends just moved in first of September

I signed my lease in February - 7 months ago.

Totally expected when the same enterprise owns both the apartments and the newspaper. The timing of the article is no coincidence either given Monday’s meeting on zoning changes for more apartments. However, the article fails to make any mention of Monday’s meeting. Gee, I wonder why, not!

For the last several years there have been housing in The Villages to suit the “pocket book” and desires of most everybody who calls The Villages their choice for active adult lifestyle living. Apartments are just an addition to the offerings. I would not be surprised to see other living arrangements crop up in the near future as the next generation of Americans reach retirement age. Perhaps we will see expanded condo living and attached housing next on the Developers marketing strategy. Sort of fun to watch don’t you think?

This stat isn't in the article. Where did you get this factoid?

The schedule of future meetings is clearly shown in a sidebar titled, WHAT"S NEXT on page C4.

You will also never see an article in the Boston Globe that is critical of the Red Sox. Guess why, you got it. John Henry owns both the team and the newspaper. Same deal here.

So, write a letter to the editor and vent. There enough threads already about the apartments.

Lofts
 

The 30% came from a salesman who is in the Leasing Office. If the figure was 80% it probably would have been in the newspaper.

Daily Sun and Brownwood Lofts
 

The Daily Sun sure made the Lofts sound like an ideal place to live. But how will it be when the music starts? As an apartment dweller for 29 years all I can say is you better love your neighbor especially if you have a common wall. As tempting as the Lofts sound I could never go back to that way of living and worry who my neighbor is above, below and next door. Maybe some day I’ll change my mind but right now I like my peace and quiet.

Oh. Someone told someone who told someone. In Ohio that is called a rumor.

Guess who the editor works for?

Condos have already been announced for a future area south of 44.

Agree. I lived in an apartment for 1 year before I got married and most nights sleep was interrupted by noise from above or next door. I swore never to live in one again and have not, that was in 1966.

Not sure if your stating fact or complaining or stirring the pot..

They could build all the condos and apartments they want, and I wouldn't bat an eyelash if they followed that up with more amenities--including pools, pickleball and tennis courts (not just cornhole and bocce), and golf courses--in the same area as the apartments to take care of the extra population. Because people want to go to those things that are nearby. But they can't in the north, because these amentity areas are already full and there is no space left to build more. So when they get closed out of their painting/ceramic/zumba/line dancing classes, can't find a seat at the squares and there are lines out the pickleball court doors, that's when The Villages is going to seem less than it is purported to be.

I like the idea of apartments for those who enjoy living here and participating in the amenities and activities but don't want to have to deal with lawn and landscaping, repairs to their house, re-roofing costs, etc. At this point in my life, it is not for my wife and I, but who knows in the future. Great choice to have. A negative is my house is paid for and an apartment requires rent payments

The Developers own the Daily Sun newspaper. That is why.

You could say the same thing about the rec news cause it’s the only option for printing? No bid competition?

IMO that fine developers can do what they want with there building’s in commercial area with zoning change they know they will get approved. The problem I have when they tear down commercial building in built out Old district, re zone and build in already over crowded area with there yes men that approving.

A few years back, the Developer sold the Daily Sun. However, the sale wasn't a total sale - the Developer sold the business but not the printing presses; those are leased. He/They still have considerable leverage over what gets printed.

To me, the article about The Lofts was nothing more than unpaid advertising.

Well if you’re not sure???

Traffic on 44 will probably be where the most noise will come from. At least the music stops at 9PM . The traffic won’t.

That is what people said about where we live. Bridgeport at Laurel Valley. Right on 466.

I say;

Pshaw.

I had better look up what that means, I haven't ever used that word before.

Always enjoy The Dailey Sun. Refreshing compared to most news out there.

I read the Boston globe everyday
 

the Red Sox get hammered pretty regularly

In regards to noise the apartments and condos of today are built much different then the apartments we grew up with, very little noise seepage ,I have not been in these but my niece is in a high end rental in Miami . Not reading a newspaper because of its politics is part of the reason we have the politics of anger now. I read newspapers from the liberal to the conservative side I am very blue but I get different perspective on things when I can see both sides. I also try to read one European paper each day and I always read the South China Post most people in USA have lost site of or don’t care what goes on everywhere else , all through history , the USA when living as an island has had it come back to haunt us. The beauty of newspapers is you can get many different slants on issues, I do not ever turn the tv on during the day except during football season , I just read for a few hours in morning , TV stays off till around 7pm when I’ll watch taped network news and PBS , watching those so called news shows all day is bad for your health

Harvesting
 

When there is an issue with an action the Developer/Owner is taking he can and does Harvest the support groups he can call on. They are the Newspaper, the HOA(which was founded in an attempt to kill the POA and replace it with a Group controlled by the Developer/Owner after he lost the large Law Suit $40,000,000). In addition the local radio and until the last election the Commissioner's. He also has his employees and their friends, and the fanatical ones who abide by any action he elects to take. A large group he can count on are the ones who live in the Villages, love their locations and amenity fees and support him/her regardless what is going on in areas outside of their protected locations. This is a very large contingency of his harvest. Given these it is not easy to turn the Developer/Owner ship around once it sets a course. The only way to challenge an action is to impact the pocket book and that takes Organization, Funding and Commitment. :ho:

The crowded conditions on the Square are already a fact.
will Hacienda apartment be 4 stories high? What a view for their neighbors.

If you think they don’t monitor or have some influence here ...please
Between Facebook quora nect door and here they watch and see who says what and is monitored and reported to TV by loyal villagers
There is very little free discourse without being jumped on by others on all these forums and it’s not the virus either

Don't forget, the zoning meeting on 9/21 is to consider advising for amendments. Looks to me like they want to eliminate local review of any changes the Developer would choose to make, eliminate what they've set for acreage for residence vs open space, commercial or "industrial" space (again with no review or approval process) and multi-family residence which could include fewer single-family homes replaced by apartment complexes. Think about the ramifications of these amendments. Loss of local control and surprise announcements with no reviews.