Paddock Square at Brownwood
 

First time at Brownwood's Paddock Square last night and I was a bit surprised how small the dance floor area is. The dance floor does not go all around the band stand as it does in LSL and SS. It wasn't very crowded last night when hubby and I were there but I can imagine the dance floor is going to be way too small when the area is crowded. There really is no separate area where line dancers can gather, such as the sides of the band stand.

What were they thinking when this town square was drawn up?

:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

They were thinking a little less dancing and a little more selling (commercial space.) " DA"

I doubt if it will ever be crowded, looks like the developer took the cheap way out this time, no comparison to SS or SL.

.....

What ?????
 

What ????????

We were not impressed with the Brownwood Square set up either. It is difficult to imagine hiking up & down those concrete bleachers. But in general it will be better when the other phases are complete. Sounds like some interesting businesses are going in.

Boy Howdy.

There isn't anything cheap that I can see. (Gary, if you are reading this, don't be sad)

In the beginning (I am told) Lake Sumter Landing had far fewer commercial businesses; restaurants, shops etc than it does now and eventually those were built when businesses wanted to be there. And very quickly grew to the size it is now. That was built 10-12 years ago when the whole country was not in an economic downturn and chains were expanding.

I don't know about the dancing part, I didn't really notice that it would be a detriment to all of the line dancers who I personally would NEVER get good enough to join ;) but ...are you SURE it is too little?

I am pretty sure that one of those bronze cows probably cost as much as one of our houses. All of the finishes and the decor of the movie house and the sales center are just...top of the line. I just can't hear the word cheap and the word Brownwood all in the same sentence.

Now I feel better.

I don't know Gary Morse but gosh...that would hurt my feelers if I built it.

I think the statues are beautiful, and probably expensive! And the movie house is better than SS or LSL.

we have been there when its in full swing yes a little smaller, but you don't have to pick your side as to whom to watch i don't mind the bleachers, you don't have to sit behind twenty people and have no idea what is going on

Before Brownwood was built why in the world didn't the Morse family consult every resident of TV, and every future resident of TV to get their input so that EVERYONE would be happy & satisfied with every little detail, & then there would be absolutely NO complaints?

OMG what were they thinking, it would have been so simple! But then I guess all of the complainers would just be complaining about not having anything to complain about.

GREAT POST!:BigApplause:

Dear Gracie, I agree that it's not cheaply built but the whole concept is not very conducive to The Village lifestyle. I find it confining with those bleachers....and I sure wouldn't sit up there on those hard cement seats, and my knees wouldn't like going up and down either. I don't like the "coral" cow pen look of the bars, either. I wouldn't like standing in those wooden fence things to buy a drink. I don't like the bleachers interfering with the views either. I am trying very hard to wait and see what it will be like when the shops are built, but so far, I don't like it.

sorry. now I feel better.

There's always SS & LSL...........................

YEAH - I agree! They didn't consult me and I don't even live there yet!

:22yikes:

But Connie, weren't you a Dale Evans fan? OOOPS. I am older than you. sigh.

Well if you don't like it I will look at it again, because you are a smart cookie and I sure like you. ;)

I get what you are saying, however complaining about any specific thing does not make a person a "complainer" in my opinion. Sure, there are people who can never be satisfied, but far more often someone who sees a negative has a legitimate perspective. I have not yet been to Brownwood, but I can see how some of the comments could be justified. Not everyone sees everything through the same lens.

:agree: the statues are wonderful and the theater there is THE BEST. We don't live near there but still like to go there for the movies.

I don't see Paddock Square as ever not being crowded when everything is built out in TV. As for the developer taking the "cheap way out"....I don't see it that way at all. So far, all the nice touches in Brownwood look wonderful. It is the dance floor that is lacking in space and can not compare to the set up at the other two squares.

Gracie...I agree with you that there is nothing cheap about Brownwood. Unfortunately, yes, the dance floor is very small, especially with all the folding chairs that will occupy precious dance floor space. When I was there last evening, there were still many chairs that had not been put out yet. To the sides of the band stand, there is limited space for dancing because those areas look to be a walk through for pedestrians in the area. Behind the band stand is not for dancing at all as it is only a large side walk. Sorry, but IMHO, they really messed up with the space issue for dancing.

It seems to me that the Town Squares appeal to a couple of different audience, certainly with some crossover. First, the music and dance crowd. From another thread going on here about a county grant to help pay for the nightly music, it is clear that this is very important to many folks. Although I do wonder just how narrow that group is. With the two squares previous packed, I'm guessing that couldn't have been more than a few hundred in each location. That's really not very high out of 80-100,000 residents, not to mention locals who want a free show. But if I had to guess at why there are bleachers there, I would guess it was the never ending complaining about people saving chairs when I first started reading this site a year ago. The bleachers will certainly stop people from moving chairs around. I also recall a post saying for the chairs that are at Brownwood, they now have a monitor to keep you from taking more than one for yourself. So someone may have been listening to your complaints and trying to respond.

The other audience is certainly those coming to shop and eat. Many people have said they are disappointed, but clearly this is going to take a bit of time to develop. You really cannot expect people to open stores without enough traffic. But certainly it will come with the new building. It also seems they've set aside more room for growth, than say Lake Sumter.

You know once you get beyond the initial excitement of the squares, there is a certain artifical sameness about them. That could be good say having movie theatres at each place. It's good to have the same restaurant, if you like it. If you don't it's disappointing not to have something different. But as I look at the two squares that existed, in my mind Spanish Springs is so much better. Not because the square is better or worse, but because all of the outside development that grew nearby and across the street. It really is a one stop shopping area. Lake Sumter cannot be because it's closed in.

It appears Brownwood has much more area around it for bigger shopping venues. Of course I wasn't there when Lake Sumter went up. Perhaps it was built way before the houses around it like Brownwood.

I initially wondered why TV would build so far past all the houses, even the planned ones. I think that has been well answered by all the new land acquistion that is starting to show up. In 10 years, I'm guessing Brownwood will be surrounded like Sumter, but I'm guessing with a lot more shopping with it.

One other thing I have to mention is the farmer's market. There have been nothing but raves about it from everyone here, other than a couple of people who should never shop outdoors. Frankly we're really looking forward to seeing that in March. We drove to a couple of markets around TV this summer, but found very little homegrown stuff. I hope it really goes. (Now if we could get an actually fresh florida seafood store...so you can actually tell we're in Florida.) We spent a week on Marco Island a couple of years ago and twice a week they set up a farmer's market in a park. It was huge, well attend, the the produce and baked good were extraordinary.

So, I think Brownwood will grow, albeit slowly.

Hubby and I looked at the inside of the movie theater and must agree...it is gorgeous and so rustic and so in tuned with the theme of the square. Just a beautiful job. Plan to go to a movie there this afternoon so we will experience what the inside of the theaters are like.

I don't see it as complaining...I see it as making an observation.

People need to realize that Brownwood is still in its infancy, and I'm sure it will expand & grow well beyond its current size. I'm certainly anxious to see it again in two or three years.

I'm curious as to how long it took LSL & SS to grow to their current size. Are there any pictures anywhere of either of them when they were still in development stages? I think TV should add more on their website in regard to the history & development of the two older town squares.

Or
 

or Hunters Creek! chilout

As a die hard line dancer I love LSL the best but do love the dancing surface at BW. The few times I've danced at BW it's been good for line dancing with the only exception when Scooter shows up. Then it quickly gets over crowded. Most nights it' been pretty empty but I expect that will change when the businesses and homes get more established.

Like everything else, it takes time to make adjustment for new things. I'm sure BW will have its share of regulars like the other two squares have now. As for me and my line dance friends, we go according to the bands. With all things being equal you'll find me at LSL.

I have no doubt Brownwood is going to be a wonderful place to go to for shopping with many stores and restaurants. I do not think there will be room to enlarge the square where the band stand and the dance floor is.

We do not attend the square activities, but do enjoy going to the squares to eat, shop or walk around. I love the ambiance of Brownwood, but that's coming from a wanna be cowgirl.

Brownwood is fabulous,plenty of room for dancing, Bleacher seating is great,for those that dont like it, chairs are available.They thought of it all..
Great planning this will be the place to go in the near future....:BigApplause:.

JMHO Brownwood didn't scrimp on expenses but didn't allow for a large enough crowd by only have seating 180 degs. I don't mind bleachers but there are not enough of them. The stage looks good but limits seating to 180degs. and a limited crowd. When will we see a good restaurant where we can several times a week have breakfast there and hang out?

Brownwood critique
 

My take on the complaints about the set up of Paddock Square (bleacher seating, size of dance floor, etc).
If you don't like it, don't go there. There are 2 other squares.
Problem solved.

WOW, I AM AMAZED SOMETIMES. We have world hunger, wars, gang violence, homeless people, cancer, hurricanes, etc, etc, etc. And we complain about the dance floor, stadium seating, rude cyclist, dog poop, etc, etc, etc. Come on folks...lets get our gratitude list out!

Where are the bronze statues located ?? I've gone to Brownswood 3 times and have not seen them.
The movie theater is absolutely gorgeous, has great seating and great sound. Farmers market was excellent. I walked over to look at the bleacher seating. I looked up and there is a beam directly above the first row in the bleacher. It had 6 pigeons sitting on it. Can't wait for the new threads on pigeon poop. LOL

Bronze statues are located at entrance to Brownwood at Rte 44

Thanks Challenger. I usually take Buena Vista down to the end and turn in, so I've never seen them. I'll go in on 44 next time.

New Irish Restaurant coming to the old Butter Beanery, Holiday Inn will be going next to that, Cody's will be in the area of the Theater, also World of Beers is being built. Soon it will be fine. Rome wasn't built in a day so neither will Brownwood. Relax and enjoy the piece and quiet.

Personally, I don't see Brownwood as better or worse than Spanish Springs or Lake Sumter Landing----just different. Brownwood is more a "showplace". If the developer is able to attract a Dillard's, Macy's, and other well know stores to the Brownwood area along Rt 44, they will bring in outsider's from a larger square mile area. Maybe Brownwood was not built just with TV residents in mind, rather the goal might be attract a larger audience who would rather listen to music than to dance. There is still room to dance but the square is more of an outdoor concert type setting IMHO. One thing for sure, it is not cheap. Only time will tell, so give it three years or so and lets see what develops.

The Villages Signs ?
 

Like one post I was suprised Brownwood was not built somewhere near 466A and Buena Vista . This would have been central to the Southern area. But also someone said the Southern Point of The Villages will be in Miami soon.

I do have an observation. I do not see " The Villages " on anything other than the developer commercial places. The other squares have it on the approacing signs, bandstand, etc .

Have others noticed this and perhaps know if there was a shift in a different direction by the developer ?

Take Care!

After spending time in Paddock Square last night, hubby and I went to LSL this evening. My goodness...what a difference in the open feeling and the roominess of the square. There must be at more than twice the area for dancing and seating using all the space all around the bandstand at LSL. Still....have no idea what the developer was thinking when they designed the Paddock Square band stand and dance area. Even the Paddock Square band stand is half the size of the band stand at LSL.