What is Unit 84? - The Villages Construction Update #128 6/30/23
 

What and Where is Unit 84? It’s a new section of houses in The Villages that’s unlike anything we’ve seen in several years. I’ve included a quick history of the different home types here in The Villages that I hope you’ll enjoy as I introduce Unit 84.

I’ve also included a tour of the new Franklin Recreation Center in Newell, there’s a new Then-And-Now segment where I take a look at Bradford and Hawkins and how that area has changed. There’s a brief look at Moultrie Creek, Shallow Creek Championship Golf Course, and the VPSD station 84 location. There’s a look at Middleton and Eastport, as well as 7-11 and CVS at Magnolia Plaza. I also looked at the Hacienda Hills area under construction.

Enjoy,
Don
https://youtu.be/Lged4Bh0s60

Thank you!

Thanks, Don. Very interesting. Very informative.

Another great video. Very informative! While watching your video, I look at the Feb. 2023 Continuing The Dream map to figure out where you are.

You said that permits have not been pulled, but what will be built on the corners of Warm Springs and Meggison? I thought a rehab facility is targeted for one of the corners.

Kind of disappointed Unit 84 isn’t some sort of UFO location.

That's at Bugg Springs.

Awesome work Don, very informative and professional as always, they just keep better!

Any hints on when/where to there might be connectivity to the bridge from west of the Turnpike?

Don, the most surprising thing in your video is the small golf practice area at the new Middleton high school.

It looks like a putting green and two sand traps to practice bunker shots. I have seen a lot of people 'skull' practice sand shots and send the ball flying over the green and endangering other people. It must have been a non-golfer who designed that practice area.

Best guess is just before the schools open in August.

Yes, a medical/rehab has been announced, the property is all designed for commercial development.

If find it amazing that there haven't been more CTD episodes to come out in recent months, as you mentioned Feb23, that was the last one. over 4 1/2 months since it came out. Even then, the last 3 have been minimal information at best.

These are great informative videos - I drive by the new 7-11 everyday on my golf cart - I actually saw several people go inside a few days ago to do something. Since, it has been empty again - no one seems to know when it will open.

Too funny! That was what I was hoping for too! :jester:

Karen Miller
 

Thank you. This was very helpful. I am evaluating whether to move to FL from NV.

It is my understanding those practice facilities are for the high school golf team, along with indoor practice bays with shot trackers. My guess is the high school will be producing some high caliber golfers in the years to come.

Really enjoyed the video. And the Unit 84 piece at the end was quite interesting. I wondered about the lack of premier homes south of 44 when there were premier villages and neighborhoods and even a smattering in the family sections to the north.

They will probably sell out quickly.

Great post Don! The last few homes in Deluna that were able to "Premier" their homes got in right before the rule change. I've been in a few of them and they truly are amazing.

With the tax rates that Unit 84 is located in, its definitely a bigger lift than most would want to manage.

An observation. Driving around the villas, in the video, I couldn't help notice that at least 99% had only rocks and no grass in front of them.

Great info Don! You wouldn't think people would be willing to pay $1M+ for a house so far away from everything and in higher tax Lake County, but the Developer knows its customers.

Thank you ,Don!

One of the tenants in the center behind 7-11 told us it’s a permitting issue and they haven’t been able to secure the permits needed to occupy / open.

🤷🏼

I was wondering how long it would be before someone made a comment like this. Each community has its own specific rules. Generally, Courtyard Villas can have rock yards instead of grass. In my CYV neighborhood nearly half have rock yards, 3 were built that way and the reset got ARC approval as it was allowed in our deed restrictions.

In the patio villas, just like the CYVs, they each have their own rules.

If someone files a complaint, so be it, the issue is NOT the person filing the complaint, it is the resident not abiding by the deed restrictions of their community. For those who take the stand of wanting to face the accuser the answer is simple, look in the mirror, you will see the one who failed to live up to their agreement and responsibilities.

I love it, another Bugg Springs fan! I grew up in New London, CT, the home of the Naval Underwater Sound Lab. They develop sonar and other underwater military scientific stuff. Bugg Springs is one of their test facilities for sonar devices. It's somewhat unique because it's very deep yet small in surface area. The facility is supposedly still in use. I'd love to know if there are people in the area who worked there and have any interesting stories.

Is it time to change the avatar, Don. Congratulations to the family.

I did three tours out of New London on the Webster, Topeka, and the GW Carver. There was lots of submarine history there and a very pleasant climate, but no real desire to go back unless I was going back to sea on a boat, but at my age it's not likely to happen.

The taxes are something to consider certainly. Of course the people who have been fortunate enough to create a nest egg sufficient to purchase a $1M+ home are less likely to be overly concerned about a few hundred dollars more in taxes each year.

The location today has some challenges but in a few years when the commercial development kicks in on 470 around the Turnpike, the Dabney, Lake Denham and Newell locations won’t be such a detractor. It will just take a little time.

From my experience travelling, the kind of "commercial development" that is built near turnpike exits is not where I want to live.

Never understood why people would be willing to buy a house so closes to a major thoroughfare.

Millions of people buying homes along the Turnpike, I95 and I75 throughout Florida obviously don't care...

It wouldn't be my choice, but some don't care.

This always reminds me of the movie My Cousin Vinney where he finally gets some peaceful rest when he was thrown in the county jail for contempt of court, the din of the jail's noise obviously was akin to what he was used to in NYC.

LOL...

Not my choice either but others can't stop beating The Villages dead horses:

Looks like construction along the Turnpike will soon be drawing to a close for the foreseeable future.

Commercial development in Middleton will be interesting to watch. Seems likely there could be some interesting new options, catered more to the younger/family demographic, coming to their commercial area.

Don, I have an interest in area 84 and was wondering if you could speculate on how it will be connected golf cart wise?

- Lou

There is a 2 lane road running n/s from Chandler Drive to Unit 44 that both cars and carts will take into the area. Basically, a residential street so it will be no different than any other residential street here in The Villages. Traffic will not be either an issue or a major concern as there is only 121 lots in Unit 84, this is about twice the size of a regular villa community or about 2/3 the size of one of the larger villa communities (Antrum Dells, Alden Bungalows, etc.) all of which only have one road entering and exiting.

Is there any commercial space along 470 planned for that end?

Something popped up on the Villages App map?

That's the postal station for Unit 84.

Commercial property planned for the south side of 470 on the 550 acres purchased last year.

Small Postal Station?

Yes, it is for unit 84, it’s to serve only 121 homes.

Thank you. Very informative!
 

Thank you Don. You're such a great source of information. Very much appreciated.

I just checked the bond for Unit 84. It is $72,080.45.

If you pay it off over 30 years, you will pay $157,738.72!!!

Wow rather pricey

Yes, the bond is higher than seen before, the cost of everything goes up over time. They haven’t had lots this larger in over 5 years (Conservation trail area), so many have never seen a high end home’s bond. Do some math and you’ll find that the bond rate per acre throughout The Villages has tracked pretty close with inflation. Trying to compare the bond for a home in CDD5 with the bond for a home in CDD14 must take into account the cost increases for 18 years, there are some differences in cost also based on the land’s characteristics that must be taken into account, when all factors are taken into account the adjusted bonds are of similar values.

As far as the 30 year cost goes, the people buying the homes in 84 will likely be paying 7 figures for their homes and have sufficient means to afford it, but will more than likely will just pay it off, just as most of the homes will probably not have a mortgage on them.

Most don’t realize that the bond is just a part of the cost of the home that will always have to be paid, either rolled into the cost of the home like most developments do or as a separate cost like done here.