Two story homes?
 

Just curious....I’ve seen a model with an upstairs bonus room but that’s it. Can you customize and add a second story or have a two story vaulted ceilings? Or if buying an existing home, could you renovate and add a second story?

You can call Community Standards (ARC) and ask them for your specific CDD. There is a house close to us that has a second floor over the lanai area, I have never been close enough to see exactly how much is 2 story. Also, there was a story in the online news source about a couple that was rebuilding a fire damaged house to be 2 stories. So to answer your question it appears to be possible but I am going to guess there are a lots hoops to jump through.

PS: The neighbors were NOT happy about the above 2 story house.....

There’s a house on Sweetgum, 3rd or 4th hole, then added a second floor and have a 2 story birdcage -

BUT - check with Architecture review

And fifteen years ago when we first bought here, I thought people could always easily climb stairs.

Seniors and single story living go together. One of the things I like about our Villages home (as opposed to our home up north) is that when I get up in the morning I don't have to go down any stairs. Also, when our puppies get old, we don't have to carry them up and down the stairs. When I get up in the morning sometimes I feel like the Tin Man on the wizard of Oz. My knees are crying out for Oil. The only stairway I hope to climb in my future is the stairway to heaven : )

I think it'd be pretty neat to see a house with a split-level type home, and a ramp leading up to the second level. There are some pretty amazing modern-architecture homes that have more than one level, but are wheel-chair friendly from top to bottom.

oh man, no no no!

Now, many homes have vaulted ceilings that theoretically I suppose could be done away with and allow a small space upstairs by raising up the overall home by a couple feet. But that would relegate the downstairs to a typical 8' ceiling and take all the class and beauty away.

I'll bet the neighbors weren't happy! That's the kind of thing that can cause a community uproar!

Obviously, the OP has no ailments or they wouldnt be asking

I know I'm still relatively young, but I'm amazed how weakened I felt to deal with my northern home's stairs from not doing any for the whole winter in TV. Stairs are so good for thigh strength. I'll have to try to include some in my 'training' next winter. I know 2 story homes are impossible for some, but could be a strength saver/builder for others.

Other than the townhomes near Spanish Springs and Glenview there are a handful of homes that added second floor areas. I can think of only one true two story. All of the homes I know with a second story with windows back onto a golf course, so they are not looking down into other homes.

Since I’ve seen a few, the ARC must approve some second story additions. I’m not sure how many they reject.

Lol. That was well written!

[QUOTE=Papa_lecki;1945679]There’s a house on Sweetgum, 3rd or 4th hole, then added a second floor and have a 2 story birdcage -

Overlooking the fourth green.
And there's two at Belle Glade Seminole overlooking second hole green.
The main reason we moved to The Villages from Virginia was to get out of our two story home. My wife and our then fur baby couldn't handle the stairs anymore.
:icon_wink::icon_wink:

You realize that a comment should really refence what you are commenting on? Nobody has any idea which comment you are referring to.... :)

Are you referring to the home on Eisenhower Way?

There is a model in the Premier group and there used to a model in the designer that had a second floor.

I believe a two story house could limit potential buyers, this is a retirement community. I do not want to climb stairs or ramps.

No, there is one on the north bound side of Buena Vista just south of 466a, not sure of the golf course name or road name as I never went over to investigate.

It's your home, there are many 2 story homes thru out the Villages including those built by the Villages. Many by Lake Sumter Landing right off of Morse Blvd on the lake in that small group of homes, so yes, I'm sure you can get approval. You might have your designer/architect talk to them before they do their design work. Good luck. By the way, I'm glad you aren't my neighbor, but if its your dream, go for it.

You got it right. My older brother, upon reaching his mid eighties, instead of downsizing, moved into a large two-story home. He's now 91 and he and SIL make the trip up and down numerous times per day with no problem. When I went there I had to claw my way up to the guest room.

A two story house in Florida is the last thing I would want, not so much because of my age but because heat rises. I can't imagine how hot the second floor would get.

I know this house. It’s a complete 2nd story, with a large living room, full kitchen and full bath. They also have a chair lift.

As far as I know only one neighbor was not happy (it blocked their view)

They moved to Fenny area.

The days of 2 and 3 story homes are in our rear view mirror, bye bye!

2nd Story
 

Hi We added a second story. Had to have a contractor submit the plans to the Arc committee. Arc many times turns down such requests. We believe we got lucky. There have been homes that got approval, but many more that were turned down.

My living room dining room combination is 20’ x 46’ and has a 10 foot ceiling and a steep roof above it. I’m not sure what the model is called. It would be possible to lower the ceiling to eight or nine feet and put in a well-insulated cathedral ceiling second floor suite with a larger dormer or a shed roof in the back with big windows overlooking the golf course. There would be no apparent difference from the front and no increase in the height of the ridge line. It would not be cheap, though. Fortunately, I have no plan to do this.

I've seen many in TV, more south of 466A(Belle Glade and EPCC on Killdeer), but I was shocked to see one near Spanish Springs. I know someone that's renting up there, and I was surprised to see someone build a HUGE 2 story home(I think they demo'd/re-built?), right in between smaller single storied homes?! I mean this thing is so tall, it looks like they can accommodate an attic above the 2nd story? Those neighbors must not be very happy?

Per the above quote, for homes built in close proximity of each other, a 2-story next door or behind would minimize the natural long-range view of the land/skyscape from one's backyard, and IMO worse, would remove any sense of privacy in the backyard of the homeowner whose neighbor has the 2-story. In my past house-hunting, this has been a definite deal-breaker as the prospective (even non-intentional) gawker or gawkee.

I live 2 blocks away from that two story. It looks absolutely out of place. There are I other. The question arises why and how did they get it approved? We can't have anything out of the ordinary even in your yard let alone that monstrosity. No one like it and I don't know what it does to the resale in the neighborhood. Another question is who would buy it. We are older. We look for things in one floor. So if true who would want it. I think it was a crazy rebuild.MO

I live 2 blocks away from that two story. It looks absolutely out of place. There are I other. The question arises why and how did they get it approved? We can't have anything out of the ordinary even in your yard let alone that monstrosity. No one like it and I don't know what it does to the resale in the neighborhood. Another question is who would buy it. We are older. We look for things in one floor. So if true who would want it. I think it was a crazy rebuild.MO. it was 2 bedrooms up fyi

Why on earth build a two story house in a retirement community? Build your house in a regular subdivision. These lots are so small I sure wouldn’t want that next door to me. Plenty of other golf communities with larger lots to build a two story house. Go there.

We just visited our first grandchild in Ohio and I had a 12-ft high staircase to climb for the bedrooms, I promised myself to get one of those stair step plastic thingies to exercise on in the future

There are plenty of mcmansions in the villages with three and four car garages and the ceiling height is tremendous so don't tell me it'll look out of place. In particular I know people that have built second stories over their garages for their hobby rooms. I bet there were a few elevators installed as well!

Younger gens are moving to TV, not everyone is my parents age, (76). But they live in 2 story, and love it. Living areas downstairs, bedrooms upstairs. Great grandma lived up stairs @ 96, wouldn’t have it any other way.

Apparently not everyone in TV has issues with climbing stairs, no matter what age they are

There are a couple on TDS Golf Course that have been there for many years - there's also one high up on a hill on the left of a hole on the Amelia 9 of Mallory GC. I have a 2 storey home in the UK which I really want to get rid of having experienced single level living at my home in the USA.

We have a home in Bridgeport at Lake Sumter that added an upstairs level to the home.

I watched my mom, who died at 98, and my aging will be no different. Stairs had become a problem for her, so have decided to forego the wait and see and deal with the reality. Do not want to make the decision to “have” to move later and took to resolve the issue while I could. No more steps for me, except at the gym, of course.

The one in Rio grande is not on a golf course

Designer with room above
 

You are correct. We looked at the Designer Model (I think began with a B) and it had one room on the second floor or I should say above the living space. There is also one of these homes on my street and to look at it from the street it most certainly does not look out of place.

My getaway home in New Mexico which I have had for 31 years is a two storey townhome. When I go over there it takes me a few days to adjust to going up and down the stairs. Coming down is more difficult than going up especially as the tread depth is pretty short. The railing is thankfully sturdy and well-placed. I can see the day coming where negotiating stairs may become too difficult. I definitely would not build a two storey house in which to reside anymore.

Anyone else recall this song? George Jones & Tammy Wynette - Two Story House - YouTube

Our getaway home is also two storey. It takes a few days to get the soreness out of the thighs, but I find that it actually helps my back problem (sciatica) to be going up and down stairs. We never had a one-storey home until moving to TV, and that's when the back problems started.


We too have a very sturdy railing on the stairs. My only problem is I wish we could shoe-horn a powder room on the main floor!:boom:

My single family home in Boston has 3 floors, 8 concrete steps to front door, then 48 steps to top floor which is my bedroom, I never watch tv in bed only on first floor I’m up and down stairs a lot , at 82 I’m very fit but I would never want to give up those stairs , I’ll be seeing them soon for summer after not going home during the past year