I have never talked with a resident of Chitty Chatty but I know someone who lives in the Sandalwood condos right across the street. He said it is VERY difficult to turn left onto Morse Road in the morning when he is going to work.

I told him if someone is going to start a petition to request a stop light at that intersection, I would be happy to sign it.

It’s not a problem.

Between being seasonal residents for six years and full time residents for five years, we still do go to the town squares to listen to live music. We have our favorites and usually go when they are playing. We love being so close to all three town squares, living in Mallory Square. LSL is the closest town square to us and we are about 6 minutes away in our golf cart.

Just last night we drove through LSL when The Hooligans were playing. The place was jammed so there are plenty of people who enjoy live music at the squares and socializing too. Then we went to Spanish Springs to listen to Johnny Wild and the Delights (personally my absolute favorite band) and the place was also jammed. We enjoy that sort of stuff but as I said, there are folks who don't. People have to decide what is important to them.

Agree. Hubby and I much prefer to be close to the 441/27 corridor of stores and restaurants. Many people do say that having this convenience is not important to them. For anyone looking to move to The Villages, they must decide for themselves if they prefer to be closer to those stores and restaurants. It is a bit of a "hike" from areas south.

THAT drive at night is what sold us on purchasing in The Villages. The drive during the day is breathtaking but that drive at night was so peaceful and serene I was immediately in love with The Villages. Good thing we had our check book with us. LOL.

Hubby and I have driven around the areas south of 44 and I see less green space and rolling golf courses off of main roads so I'm not quite sure where the green space is that people talk about. Are those green spaces in the residential areas where the homes are? Seems to me the front lawns are even smaller south of 44. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong areas. I just don't know.

I do love the walking path behind the Fenney Grill with the board walk so we sometimes take the drive in our car and hop on the path for a nice walk. That is a wonderful plus in the southern area. Lots of wildlife to take in. I see the same wild life in the northern area too and I can enjoy them when in the golf cart more so than in the car.

I prefer the golf cart paths to be separate from the main roads on Morse Blvd and Buena Vista Blvd. When we drove south of 44 (and also north of 466 is the same way on Morse Blvd.), the golf cart path is in the main street on Morse Blvd or what other name it has south of 44. I do understand that this infrastructure south of 44 affords the walking paths that do not allow golf carts. I much prefer the golf cart path on those busy main roads to be completely separate and away from the road with vehicular traffic which is the way that infrastructure was built south of 466 and north of 44..

Again, as most people have been saying.......anyone trying to weigh the pros and cons of what ever area they are looking to move to, needs to decide what is important to them.

I don't know much about Sawgrass Grove but I'm surely hoping there will be a band stand like the other three squares where there will be live music. Folks south of 44 need to have that type of entertainment because the squares north of 44 can already get very crowded when the really popular bands play them.

From what I keep reading on this thread, it sounds like a traffic light may be the answer.

Morse at Colony is divided with an area for cars to sit and wait for clearance of opposing traffic. Is 468 a divided highway by Magnolia Plaza? I know I have been there but can't remember the configuration of the road.

I do too and that is because it is divided with area to sit and wait for the opposing traffic to clear. No big deal.

I'm glad to hear that you guys don't mind sitting in the median with the traffic whizzing by you in front and in back.

We drive down to the Southern Area several times a week to enjoy your amenities and I always feel bad for the Chitty Chatty and Sandalwood and Continental people sitting in the median. I'm pleased to hear it is not a problem for you.

Really no problem at all. Isn't that those medians are for?

The only drawback that worries me is the size of the lots in that area. They appear to be much smaller, and the houses look very close together.

Some are and some are not, just like in all of TV. There are probably more homes south of 44 with 4 car garages than up north and they require larger lots.

What?
 

Swampland, really? Take a look at google earth historical photos...more like cow pastures.

Exactly, far more trees/green than before. The preserves and lakes support all forms of Florida wildlife where the future McDonalds hamburgers used to roam.

You may want to inquire about higher bond prices and property taxes south.

Please don’t feel bad for us, and please no traffic light. Maybe police could enforce the speed limit from Morse to Warm Springs a bit more.

Many of the multimodal paths south of 44 have lovely views of the Turnpike as well as its constant noise. The multimodal path through Chitty Chatty has nice views of the high voltage lines that run along side it.

You feel better now?

Yes, new build can bring higher bonds. I remember checking out Lake Deaton and nearby areas a few years back, whew, bonds over 30K. You'll find bonds here in that range or depending on the size of the home, as low as 16K. The Wildwood tax is about $300 per $100K.

They would like to but have a shortage of patrol cars.

They were put along the major thoroughfares and now they forgot where they are.

I have to admit the developers were very smart in using land that was not suitable for building for some of the cart paths. If you want to cross the turnpike I guess you have to drive along side of it to find a bridge, doesn't seem to bother anyone that lives down here.

The villages in Lake County have the higher taxes and the bonds vary just like everywhere else.

You owe me a keyboard :1rotfl:

Why would proximity to Magnolia Plaza matter to a Chitty Chatty resident? Lake Deaton Plaza is a right turn on Morse or a quick 4 to 6 minute cart ride over the Chitty Chatty bridge and also has a Marathon gas station selling recreational fuel, Walgreen's, Publix, etc.

The only reason to turn left is to go to the southern Villages, Everglades and amenities to the south. The majority of the time it is rather painless and Meggison is already routing some of the traffic pressure off of Morse.

My only negative of living in the southern area is the noise, the Florida turnpike is very noisy, and if the wind is blowing just right, it's extremely noisy.

It's not noisy on the west side of the southern villages. I've lived here for 4 years and have yet to hear the turnpike. They are in the process of building more homes even further west in the village of Fenney Hammock along the Red and Gray Fox golf courses. .

We often go to the Southern Area to ride our bikes, go for walks, play golf at Marshview, or just hang out at Edna's.

You're right, some areas can be very noisy, especially when the breeze is coming off the turnpike, but other areas are pretty quiet. It is something for buyers to check out before making a purchase.

This will echo much of what has been posted: We thought we wanted to be very near one of the squares and did not want to be South of 44. We rented for 6 weeks in Desoto (we did not want to be in Desoto but it was the only rental we could find). That turned out to be a blessing. We discovered that everything we wanted to do was nearby. We ended up in Marsh Bend (and love it). Brownwood is a 12-15 min golf cart ride. But after only a few months, we rarely go.

Rent before you buy if possible

100% agree which is one of the reasons we recently purchased a home in Bradford, great location and as of yet I haven't heard the turnpike noise at all. It's pretty simple to use The Villages app/website to view a particular lot's proximity to the turnpike, distance and obstructions between you and the 18 wheelers matters.