Is connectivity to south of SR44 slipping again?
 

Today's Villages magazine insert shed greater uncertainty on when connectivity will happen between the north and south ends of The Villages. Many times what isn't said is just as important as what is said.

In the December 2018 edition connectivity was shown as January 2020, obviously over optimistic.

Earlier this year in one of the videos put out by The Villages it was stated that the May time-frame was the date for connectivity, now this appears questionable.

Looking at the insert that arrived this morning there are no dates mentioned only the statement "...next year you'll be able to travel by golf car through a network of bridges and tunnels that are under construction." (page 15). This makes the connectivity date vague at best. Also interesting to note is the date for when Magnolia Plaza will become a reality has now changed to "COMING SOON", (page 14 map) not a reassuring date.

Amazingly, if you drive to the Tailwinds area on CR466A, the Publix that is being built there if coming up very quickly and work there only started about 2 months ago, not 6 months ago like Magnolia Plaza. The differences are somewhat staggering to see.

As we close in on 3 years since the first homes were sold in Fenney I can't help but wonder about the level of frustration many are feeling in not just the slow progress at making the connectivity but also the complete lack of communications by the developer in keeping people informed. A press release with few paragraphs of facts and information, not the usual sales hype, in the newspaper would go a very long way in dispelling the rumors and misinformation that continues to fly about. As a privately owned company the developer is not obligated to say anything but the silence is becoming deafening.

The new areas are absolutely gorgeous and the amenities continue to get better than we've seen before with each new opening, and I've considered many times relocating there as I've watched the area grow and develop. I've learned to watch both hands of the magician as he performs his magic, here it's become harder to watch the non-show hand to get a good comfort level, and I'm just not there yet.

On a somewhat more positive note, the steel has started to arrive for the Chitty-Chatty bridge next to the Rohan so work should start soon on this 3rd bridge. One has to wonder though if it will just become another giant billboard for the next year.

In a few years I'm sure we'll all look back and say "Wow, that happened quick", but for now things seem to be stumbling along.

I've been wondering the same thing. I miss your drone videos! They reassured us that progress WAS in fact being made south of 44..

Do you think the Morse organization is financially over extended? The tax thing made me wonder.

It would be great if you could do another drone video starting at Brownwood and going south over the land where the golf cart path will eventually reside so we can see what progress has been made. Thanks.

We've been here since May, 2017 when there were very few people living here and everyone knew each other. We purchased our golf car in November of that year to ride around and watch all the growth that was going on not being concerned about tunnels or bridges to the north. I may be in the minority but I'm in no hurry to see the final connection to the areas north of 44 as I doubt that I'll go north more than one trip to Brownwood just to try it out. My concern is the possibility of overcrowding, it's already very busy down here which we expected to happen. I do welcome the Magnolia Plaza "coming soon" but it too is not on the top of my list as The Lake Deaton Plaza is only a few minutes away from us and it's very near to those living in Linden and Marsh Bend. What we really need are Primary Care Doctors that are not part of The Villages Health System, those of us having supplemental insurance can and do use their specialists but are not able to use their Primaries. There are a handful at Lake Sumter and they are very crowded, but most are north of 466. We also need the intersection of 468 and 301 to be completed. In a year or so all of the concerns will be met and everyone west of the Turnpike will be happy.

No need to wonder about frustration..............I've told to a lot of Southerners and no one of them are in a hurry for the connection. Not One.


I assume there might be a few wondering when.


But everyone I've talked to are very happy and did not "fall for the sales hype".


It's the Northerners trying to create frustration. Like most things in TV, a few pot-stir'rs try to create negativity.


:ho:

Not the Same !!!
 

Things today are NOT the same since Gary Morse left us. He built ALL the connections, GC paths, rec centers, etc... before the first home was constructed. You knew what was there before you purchased.
Today, the family is ONLY interested in building and selling homes.

The Villages is not what is used to be and I for one see the downfall beginning...

I don't agree with that. The scale of building has increased enormously but building and selling houses is what the Morse family does. Let's not start denigrating people for profitable business. Our nations economic health is based on that, not someone spending government money. (that ultimately comes out of all of our pockets)

I don't think the Morse family is without fault but neither are they malicious scammers. They years ago passed the standard of great wealth and own anything they might aspire to. They don't need more money. I just hope they are still all working together. Last years State of The Villages presentation at the Sharon didn't seem like all three were still as involved as they once were. Granted, even the Morse family keeps getting older, just like we do, and people have a right to retire.

So far it has been a wonderful success. I am hoping it will continue. I am rooting for that.

My biggest complaint is the work being done on Warm Springs Ave, aka 468. The changes are being done piece meal instead of doing it all at one time. It took a long time to get the intersection of 501 and Warms Springs completed. The work on widening the road to 4 lanes between 501 and 301 is still going on and it has been over a year. The new roundabout on the east side of the turnpike created another bottleneck and congestion, and now after months of that mess and it is completed, then they create another choke point by digging up the road for a golf cart tunnel. The slow pace of construction is uncalled for, they're digging in sand not blasing granite to build the roadway. I know it isn't all contractor's fault as the work is being done by the state, county, and whoever, but you would think some of these well paid decision makers would use a bit of common sense. As you can tell I'm getting pretty tired of detours and sand and debris on the roadway.

I had to recheck my tablet settings. I could have sworn I was logged onto the Villages hyphen News site, or the POA site. Things will be done when they get done. In the big scheme of things, looking back to how far the Villages have come since the beginning, progress has been very quick. Villagers down Fenney way don't seem to be worried like others are.

Since Gary ? How about when Harold left us. Just today we were reminded of Budweiser Clydesdales and real snow making machines at the Christmas Tree lightings when Harold was alive. They were in front of Katie Bells - remember that exclusive for members only club we considered our flagship. Free golf and Katie Bell's was the sales pitch. The early lifestyle visits included Katie Bell's dollars. People on here think we are so negative but they forget most are new here and have not experienced the changes. In 2003 when Harold passed population was around 30000. Today TV is approaching 140000. Like the old story goes I didn't know we were poor growing up until the government told me. Thus many of you are comparing the past to your hometowns, not here because you were not here. Harold was about the people. Sure he was a businessman and was in it to make money. However he loved the people, He did not live as an isolationist. Harold donated 1 million dollars of his own money to the then Villages corporation to build Spanish Springs Town Square because the corporation did not have the funds to do it as he saw what it deserved to be.

We are on the third generation of a family business. There's an old adage about that . Now I still haven't found a better place but seen many changes and each change seems to be more business oriented. Slogan was live like a millionaire on a retirement budget. I see signs of the class system raising it's ugly head. That won't be good for a "Friendly Hometown".

I have my own barometer of when to bail (I hope never). Watch the flower beds. When they stop changing them 3X per year it will be time to take the profits and run.

Again please don't tell me you are free to leave. I am fully aware of that and will when my barometer pegs. However I try to point out to newbies there is a history here and you should make a little effort to understand this new place you now call home.

What ever happened to judging a place simply by whether you like it or not...now.

Absolutely nothing. But that doesn't give one the right to shoot the messenger when their opinion is different. That was not an acquisition against you personally just a generalization. I also believe this TOTV is meant to be a place to share those opinions so one can see both sides and that includes if and when some of the glitter wears off. I often post the other side of a story even if I'm not an actual proponent of the point I'm trying to convey.

Hopefully not the beginning of a downfall but the game plan sure has changed. If it weren't for the strong history of The Villages success I would be leary as a new home buyer.

Here is a thought. Just because the 'third generation' decides to proceed in a different manner than previous, doesn't mean that they are doing wrong. Yes, they chose to build a lot of homes before the ammenities were created, but, many ammenites are now in place with others on the way.

I just don't get finding fault in so many things that are so insignificant. This is the best community there is. After all, many complain, few leave,