[cabo35]

At the July 15 meeting of the VHA at Laurel Manor, representatives Janet Tutt, Gary Lester and John Rohan responded to many questions including this one on the buffalo.

People want to start a legal defense fund to enable the developer to bring back the buffalo. Some people have suggested that the removal of the buffalo was orchestrated to enable the land to be developed. Can you please comment on these two issues and explain if there is anything residents can do to move the buffalo back to an area where they can be seen and shared with visitors?.

Answer: The decision with respect to the relocation of the buffalo is final. The problem of people getting injured has been ongoing for sometime and several options were considered before the decision to move the buffalo was reached. This can be described as the “Knucklehead Rule” – a few knuckleheads have effectively caused unwanted consequences by their irresponsible and selfish behavior.

" The suggestion that the removal of the buffalo was orchestrated to enable the land to be developed is ridiculous. The land where the hospital is located; the land where Freedom Point is being built, the land where Palmer Golf Course is located and the land where Laurel Manor Recreation Center is located, to name only a few locations, all at one time had buffalo grazing before the development of the land. The land in the community will be developed: typically for commercial, residential, or for golf courses; to suggest otherwise is simply wrong. This is the plan and always has been the plan for the use of the property."

There seems to be a contradiction or at least a calculated confusion of the answer. It says, "The suggestion that the removal of the buffalo was orchestrated to enable the land to be developed is ridiculous." Yet, the answer also says, "The land in the community will be developed: typically for commercial, residential, or for golf courses; to suggest otherwise is simply wrong. This is the plan and always has been the plan for the use of the property."

It is apparent that the developer is entitled to do what he wants with his land and intends to do just that. I understand that, but, I object to the marketing of the buffalo as an amenity of sorts and then arbitrarily removing them from public accessability. What other amenities are subject to convenient extinction?

[villages07]

Cabo,

Thanks for sharing this....

The buffalo were not a resident amenity, in the strictest definition of the term as used in the Villages. Our amenity fees did not support the buffalo or their grazing areas. In actuality, they were a free attraction, provided by the developer until such time as he elected to build on a given plot of land. The buffalo as we have known them in the last year, were destined to be moved. The lawsuits have hastened their departure. There has already been surveying activity in the plat adjacent to LSL. Perhaps the quicker departure of the buffalo led to faster development of this area? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, these are not lands nor features that we, the residents, have control or ownership over.

To your other question....the area east of Morse on 466 is ripe for development. The Polo Fields are owned by the developer so he controls how they are used.

Yes, there are unknowns, but, all in all, it's a pretty fantastic place to live.

[Donna]

Short and sweet..Forget our Buffalo..

[Russ_Boston]

It's not my birthday anymore so I guess I can go back to being a smart :edit:
The Morse are real estate developers - nothing more. They can do what they want with their land, price their houses at any price they think they can get, build their houses with any quality that they can get away with, and move the buffalo back to the Dakota's if they wish.

[billethkid]

I am not intending to hijack the intent of the thread, however, I can not let the comment about "builder grade" homes in Bridgeport pass without responding.

Anybody who would make such a statement has obviously never been in ANY of the homes finished by the residents. Not many, if any buy a Premier model AS IS.

I guess I would go further and say builder grade is derogatory for most homes, any model, built in TV.

Now if you are comparing to Custom built homes, there is no comparison.
But for those with the affordability, any model, the homes wind up customized to quite an elegant level.

If looking for a custom built home look else where. And by the way a custom built home else where will not be found in any location with the life style and amenities of TV.

BTK

[chelsea24]

BTK and I are never on the same page politically, but I stand next to you on this. I think the homes are beautifully built and when you add all the amenities of TV, I think they are remarkably priced. You couldn't touch houses like this in Illinois and I venture to say in most places, for the low prices we have in TV.

As I said before, I'm a bricklayer's kid and my Dad would be beaming at the beauty and structure of The Villages. I've been to a couple of homes in Bridgeport and they are breathtaking.

As far as the Buffalo go, yes the developers do have the right to do with them as they choose. I still think it's a shame, and I still blame the idiot people that caused this, more than the developer. I agree, it probably was inevitable, but the timing went to fast forward.

However, even though they might not directly say they are an amenity, the buffalo were certainly pointed out as such on our Lifestyle Preview. Since they are no longer "in view" I'm sure this will not happen, but I do believe they should be taken off the DVD and all direct mail that is sent out to people as advertisement. If they continue, this then becomes "false advertising" albeit subliminal.

McCelheny, Cinderella, Pretty Lady, Best Mom or whoever you are this week, I have to adamantly disagree with you and your "Pool of Wisdom". You are so consistently and constantly negative towards The Villages, I really don't know why you stay here. And please don't come back with "It's a beautiful life, tra-la". YOU haven't been wrong???? That's the best laugh I've had all day. Oh, I know you're happy here sometimes. I saw you running around, shrieking with your sparklers on the July 4th. Get a grip girl. That said, all in all, I'm really sick of your negativity, so I will choose to disregard your posts in the future. You can take that to the bank -- and to the pool!

[cabo35]

Thank you Sam and Chelsea, my thoughts exactly. You however, are much more diplomatic in expressing them.

[graciegirl]

Sam and Chelsea, I admire your honesty and I agree with you.

[drdodge]

Well said Chelsea

drd

[redwitch]

And what does the price of homes have to do with our loss of buffalo anyway? I miss my buffs and really want them back. I know I can't have them but that doesn't stop my wanting them. The cows are a really sorry substitute.

However, going back to the house price issue. As the saying goes, ya gits what ya's pays for. In TV, you pay for a decent home that is relatively well-built in a community that is indescribable to those of us fortunate to live here and unbelievable to those who don't. We're paying for that community. The house is almost an aside.

I do believe that if you don't like here, you should move. Not necessarily the easiest thing to do given the cost of moving, but certainly doable for most. TV is not perfect and it certainly is not for everyone.

I will always appreciate Mr. Schwartz's vision and his children's willingness to have that vision become a reality. I don't like every decision made by the Morses and I don't have to. I believe that both the VHA and the POA are needed by the residents of TV. I love TV and its people. I want to stay here even with its few warts. I truly don't care what you paid for your house. If you're happy here, not living over your head, ya done good!

So, I will miss my buffs and sometimes B--itch about their loss but I'll still enjoy my life here. And the rest has nothing to do with this thread.

[graciegirl]

Once again RedWitch. I am privileged to know ya.

I like what you say and how you say it.

[gingersmom]

In response to the pool, I worked for 3 years for a plaintiff's lawyer here in TV. We had at least two claims against TV for buffalo (stupid people doing stupid things to wild animals), so even if there wasn't a lawsuit filed, there were claims filed and insurance settlements. Too bad you can't litigate common sense.

[renielarson]

It isn't our call about the buffalo. We don't own them. I didn't move here because of the buffalo. If you made your decision about buying in the Villages because of them, there is some real cheap land in Nebraska and Kansas you might want to think about.

About the prices of homes: A million dollars in many parts of Florida and California buys you a shack. In other places it will buy you a mansion. Location, location, and lifestyle come with a price.

About the quality of homes: Personally, for the money, I am quite happy with the construction of my villa. As for my Bridgeport friends...they have a home that is of the highest quality. Perhaps your friends (and you) are wearing rose colored glasses.

Let's try to be a little more positive and a little less nit picky. Life is short. Party on!! And The Villages is where I choose to party on!

[Floridagal]

I didn't move here for the Buffalo, but for the great lifestyle in TV. I do miss the Buffalo but life goes on.

[swrinfla]

Yes, life goes on.

I just wish there weren't so very much too much bitterness in TOTV.

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SWR