The least desirable areas in The Villages
 

Greetings-
The other day I asked about which areas here in The Villages where considered the most exclusive / desirable areas in The Villages and I received many positive responses.

I'm also interested in learning about the least desirable areas in The Villages.

I "personally" was not impressed with the dog park near Spanish Springs. It appeared neglected and most of the grass in the dog-park playing area is gone and only dirt remains which makes it a terrible area especially when the dirt turns to mud after a heavy rain. Not sure why The Villages cant spent a few bucks and re-sod and clean the area.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Oh wonderful idea , let’s just all thrash other people’s neighborhoods

each area, including the 'less desireable' ones have a charm of their own. if the home isn't 'perfect' there may still be some lovely areas surrounding it. it's all how you look @ it, and quite possibly, a matter of taste. our area is beautiful to us, but some think it's impossible to live here & still be part of the villages.

great response


This is either a very bold or a very stupid question by the OP

given that we don't seem to know what his values are beyond elite exclusivity and money is the yardstick for success it's hard to tell

Every Village has it's positives and it's drawbacks...just depends upon what you're looking for.

Least desirable is very personal, I guess to me it would be where your neighbors are the least considerate. Just think for example, how much that would count during Covid or any other disaster when we need to rely on each other. I know some neighbors will move, but not all. Before buying I was very careful to check out the neighborhood, the local pool, anything I would regularly use. I am glad I did. My neighbors are the best!

Almost everyone has a dog, for example. And somehow, none of the dogs visit my lawn. There was a puppy that used to wake me up -maybe three days in a row. When I walked around the block I saw the owner, a recent widow, and the little guy. She had a bit of difficulty controlling his barking, but after 3 days I never heard the puppy again. There are many more examples of my wonderful neighbors. In my opinion that is what makes up a desirable neighborhood.

Based on OP’s previous posts, my impression is they are:
A) either going about trying to find a place to live in the wrong way, or
B) trying to stir the pot and cause bad feelings.

That’s only my perception, but the OP should take notice This is the impression they are making.

Anywhere near a country club where apartments will be built. So far anywhere within view of The Tenements of Hacienda Hills.
Also within earshot of the trains or turnpike.
Also near a border road of The Villages where criminals can hop over the fence and escape quickly.
Legit question don’t know why the snarky responses

Because your responses while excellent didn't seem to be the intent of his question OR it was just poorly expressed. He mentioned "exclusive areas" then asked "which areas aren't so great." Hopefully the latter.

So, most any area that backs up to Morse or Buena Vista?

Seems like a balance question to offset the prior best places to live thread.

The question in practicality is not very answerable.....more the beauty is in the eye of the beholder aspect.

For example, we can talk all day long about why not to live near the turnpike......yet there are thousands of people who live along our nation's interstates.....now including TV....probably most who have opinions about why not do not live there.

To each his own....including opinions.

To me the least desirable would be anywhere near a wastewater treatment plant or a pickle ball court. There than that all of the villages have something great to offer. You can pick your home and your villages but you can't pick your neighbors, that is luck of the draw.

Once again, I'm not trying to upset anyone and I sincerely apologize if anyone takes my question in a negative manner, but even in the most exclusive areas here in The Villages, there are areas which need attention. It appears to "ME" that a lot of resources are being placed in the southern end and "SOME" parts of the northern end would benefit from some TLC such as the dog park near Spanish Springs. Thanks

Noise
 

Excellent post. You might add “excessive noise” to that from heavy traveled roads and shopping areas. Some houses on golf courses close to cart paths and subject to being hit by golf balls could be annoying too.

You can check out your future neighbors. Some may move but not all and the tone of the neighborhood is largely set by most neighbors. I know it is easier to find where the turnpike is or the waste plant but if you really want to find a desirable place you put in the effort. Up north I had to sell a house because of a very aggressive neighbor. The new owner can’t sell that house now because the aggressive person makes it very difficult. Because we have more cohesion in TV I’d get all my neighbors together to run such an aggressive person out.

I believe your answer is fair and information al. So many people take offense where it was not intended. Maybe the question could have been worded differently.

I was thinking more along border roads like those in the Village of Caroline where there were a rash of burglaries a few years ago. I should have said perimeter roads to be more clear.

Personally, I'd avoid the Village of Polo Field. Security people come knocking on your tent day and night. And the worst part is all the guys on horseback who don't even stop to clean up after their pet.

Places to live
 

Personally I think the taxes are higher in Marion County and the Villages has little control over what happens in Marion county.The flip side homes tend to sell for a little less in Marion County.All the streets in Marion County are private except for Buena Vista Blvd.That means the residents are on the hook for the maintenance.On the plus side they have beautiful big trees. We have lived up in the northern section, central section and now live in the eastern section and we have found them all to be great..
Bob

Very good point. People we know bought sight unseen a lot on the villages perimeter only to find destructive neighbors with kids on the other side of the wall ( outside the villages) who would throw things into their yard. They were seasonal villagers and found all kinds of junk in their yard when they returned.

I have friends who are extremely sorry they bought near the high school. They knew all schools have traffic, and it was not a major thing for them, but NEVER did they even think about the sporting events of each of the seasons, with the BRIGHT lights on, the LOUD SPEAKERS announcing the plays of the game, etc. There are others who don't care, they simply stay off their lanai on game days and nights, they pull down the shades when the very bright lights shine into their bedroom, etc. Have some friends who had no idea how near their home was to busy railroad tracks, they are now used to waking up when the trains go through and don't even become fully awake, it's just a part of 3 a/m and they immediately go back to sleep. Others in the neighborhood have never gotten used to it, same for some whose homes back to the tennis or pickle ball courts. It drives some people nearly insane to hear the "plunk" of the balls beginning early in the morning, others are so used to it they can go back to sleep. Those are some places some (not all) people do not want to live by. Fire houses here are pretty much set apart (visually), but some neighbors are never able to adjust to the sirens that can of course go off at any hours. Some people do not mind at all living in the houses very close to the squares, others just can't bare that it is nearly every night of the year (before the virus of course, quiet now) and finally just move. Some are fine living on the golf courses, for others it is a constant irritation and sometimes there is an accident to a window, screen, roof, etc. It happens ! Some don't mind a location some distance from restaurants and stores, hardware, salons, etc. others want to be within a few blocks at most (in other words, a quick golf cart ride, not a car trip, to go to vet, dentist, etc. Choose carefully, and do what you have already done when you looked over the dog park and didn't like your first impression. If your home backs to a family rec center, and your retirement dream is not hearing the joyful laughing and screaming of children having fun, then that location would not be for you. If you are by a 21 and over neighborhood pool, you'll probably hear very little, if any, sounds. Others will probably be able to add other things you should look for an consider in accordance to YOU and YOUR personality and what you want to live with day to day. If people in your yard, looking for golf balls (even though it is clearly posted this is forbidden!), will keep you in a constant state of irritation or down right anger, why choose that location ? On the other hand, if you are the type to walk off your lanai, hand them a beer or lemonade, and help them look, then it would be a great place for you right on one of the courses. You'll make many friends and enjoy yourself and your home !

I wonder if that is under control of the AAC or the CCD. When the group sued a certain area North is now controlled differently than the rest of us. I bet if you google you can see who is in charge.

I do know that what some find desirable others do not. The price and the size of lots and the mature landscaping is a desirable draw to the areas near Orange Blossom and Country Club Hills. Other people want brand spankin' new. Our homes lanai in back is West facing and we love the sunsets but others don't like the heat. I believe who lives near you and who you become friends will color your opinion of what you like about The Villages. Also it is hard to begin life anew in a new place and we really do have a lot of groups of different "cultures" here that were raised a bit differently than other groups. People from the Midwest and people from the Burroughs of New York City have a lot to share with each other.

I really find all areas have lovely charm.

Curious what village you live in. We are just now buying and have dogs. We bought in Monarch Grove.

Yes, I lived on a golf course for 13 years and will never do that again.

Next door to anyone who fly any political flag or sign

I'd avoid any neighborhood that empties out onto Morse, north of 466, without the help of a traffic light. You could die of old age...oh wait, probably will anyway.

My suggestion to you would be to stay way away from a golft cart cut through path from one village to another. I had no idea what that was when I purchased here, unfortunately I found ou I was living on one. The problem with living on a golf cart path cut through is it brings massive amounts of traffic from all over the area through your village. It should not be a problem, but it is. We find villagers who do not live in the neighborhood hae no respect for your property, they throw their trash on your yards, they speed through to get to where they need to be. On the other hand my neighbors who live in this village treat the area with respect and as their home and not a by-pass route.

Put up a toll booth with a big gate.

The company that is building in the southern area does not supply resources for existing areas. That comes from the residents, and is handled by the various boards made up of elected officials.

I think you need to understand the working of The Villages a bit more. Obviously the southern end of The Villages look newer because they are. The dog park you keep referencing is in the one of the original sections of The Villages. This area is 30 - 40 years old. If you failed to notice, the park is in a grove of very large oak trees. It is difficult to maintain nice grassy areas with all the shade. The dog park is closed routinely for maintenance. It may not be as nice as the newer parks in the southern parts of The Villages, but it is maintained. I bet there are not many of us that can say we look as good now as we did 30 years ago.

The area where the dog park is located is called Paradise Park. Just within the last few years a terrific walking path was installed, the softball and archery fields redone and new pagoda built on the lake. This park is a great place to go on a hot summer’s day and enjoy the cooling shade.

The recreation center is slated to be rebuilt within the next couple of years and one of the executive golf courses updated. The AAC is doing a good job in making sure this part of The Villages is well taken care of.

I don't think the dog park's condition has ANY impact on the homes on that side of 441. Mostly because there aren't any homes immediately adjacent to it; the closest home to it has a parking lot and a golf cart path between the two. Even wearing prescription glasses you don't be able to tell what the condition of the dog park is in, from the back window of that house.

I think that very specific area is more impacted by whoever has put the toilet outside on their car port with a "Flush [political candidate]" hand-written with really bad, uneven handwriting with magic marker on it. If that isn't the very description of tacky, I don't know what is. That would be one of the "areas" I would consider least desireable. I would absolutely not want to live next door to that person, no matter what name they had on that sign. It's trashy and low-rent, and I like to think I have higher standards than that.

I'd also think any area that backs up to those huge electric towers would be less desireable (though not least desireable).

For me personally, the courtyard villas are all on the lower end of "desireable" to me. While I love the idea of privacy, I hate the idea of claustrophobia. I don't want to look out my window and see a wall, even if there's a nice little wading pool and jacuzzi between me and the wall.

I also feel that homes more than a 10-minute golf cart drive to the nearest store would be on the low end of desireable.

The Paradise dog Park is heavily shaded. Grass will not grow there. The only undesirable neighborhoods are when you get the unfortunate draw of an obnoxious neighbor.

Greetings-
We live near The Everglades Recreation Center and both dog parks which are in the southern section of The Villages by the Everglades Rec Center are lovely and I'm confident that your little ones will not be disappointed. Welcome to The Villages!!!

Trying to determine whether or not it was the best decision? I don’t know about OP, but I’m learning a lot from this thread.

Way back when we were looking for our first home in The Villages a simple remark about Train Noise or something similar would be published once in a while. It jaded us against several Villages and I wish I had never seen those posts in a way.

People at one time ripped the houses on the other side of The Pike. Have you noticed how that has decreased enormously?

Less desirable areas of this operation either have a neighbor story or a buyer who didn't do their due diligence before buying. The real answer for the OP will have to be found by them on their own IMHO.

Wow, not sure you asked the correct question, and if you did...the neighborhood you are looking for is not mine!

Several people say South of 44 is the most undesirable.

The dog park is heavily used hence it's condition. I believe people like that it is shaded. Most TV dog parks are not.

It’s awful down here, you people north of 44 stay where you are.

Welcome to the real world of pets, traffic, trains, and other people.:icon_wink:

The Villages spend large sums of money on dog parks. Two were just closed for a few days for work and refurbishment. I believe the budget for the parks exceeds 200k. Owners are still responsible for picking up their dogs poop. Many don’t.