[NoMoSno]

Originally Posted by janmcn

The sign they put up was so devious: Construction alert. This path will be closed at 6:00am Sat Aug 10th. Why did they not add for good or forever? Why no advance notice? Construction alert makes it sound temporary.

I agree.
This has been planned for awhile.
A construction crew does not show up with a precast concrete wall and have it installed in a couple hours, without alot of planning...

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by English Ivy

Gracie I suggest you read this history of St. George Episcopal Church of The Villages, how it was started and how they held their weekly services at the Church on the Square for nearly five years. Their congregation and first priest had input into the design of the Church on the Square and the Episcopal Diocese even gave the developer a $25,000 "start-up" loan for construction (the loan was repaid).

So I'm not too sure about your assertion that the Church on the Square was always a venue for musical performances.

History

I did. St. George apparently started in a tent, used two different Villages rec halls and used the church on the square for five years, then built it's own building. In this history it mentions the building was used for a musical venue. The 25K was refunded to the priest if I read this correctly.

I could be horribly wrong and sometimes I am only mostly wrong, but I do think that the church was built as a part of the presentation of a typical old Spanish town that always had a church. If you check back you will see that Harold Schwartz the founder, funded a good deal of the musical presentations from the start at The Church on the Square..

Here is a copy of part of the history of St. George Church you linked above;

The Episcopal congregation shared the building with a non-denominational service and other musical celebrations.


English Ivy. Did you move to Texas? Do you miss The Villages?

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Bizdoc

Before we break out the torches and pitch forks to storm the Dark Lord's castle, you may want to look at the Sumter GIS. I'm not an expert on surveying and property lines, but there's a piece of property where Life Family Practice and Lake ENT are located. If their property includes 1/2 of the circle (which it would if the circle is on an easement), then they could be justified in asking for the path to be closed.

Yeah, it was a sucky way of doing it, but then again, no matter how you shake and bake it, we don't own that chunk of real estate and may or may not have a claim on its use as a cart trail.

If you look at the 2013 $5 map, you will note that it doesn't show a cart path there.

bump

[janmcn]

Originally Posted by Bizdoc

Before we break out the torches and pitch forks to storm the Dark Lord's castle, you may want to look at the Sumter GIS. I'm not an expert on surveying and property lines, but there's a piece of property where Life Family Practice and Lake ENT are located. If their property includes 1/2 of the circle (which it would if the circle is on an easement), then they could be justified in asking for the path to be closed.

Yeah, it was a sucky way of doing it, but then again, no matter how you shake and bake it, we don't own that chunk of real estate and may or may not have a claim on its use as a cart trail.

If you look at the 2013 $5 map, you will note that it doesn't show a cart path there.

If the Life Family Practice asked for this golf cart path be closed, why was this never published in the Daily Sun so that people could plan ahead and not get stuck behind a cement wall in their golf carts? It seems it would be better PR to put the reason out there ahead of time.

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by Bizdoc

Before we break out the torches and pitch forks to storm the Dark Lord's castle, you may want to look at the Sumter GIS. I'm not an expert on surveying and property lines, but there's a piece of property where Life Family Practice and Lake ENT are located. If their property includes 1/2 of the circle (which it would if the circle is on an easement), then they could be justified in asking for the path to be closed.

Yeah, it was a sucky way of doing it, but then again, no matter how you shake and bake it, we don't own that chunk of real estate and may or may not have a claim on its use as a cart trail.

If you look at the 2013 $5 map, you will note that it doesn't show a cart path there.

If I'm looking at the correct area, it appears there are two paths after exiting Paradise Dr. One that passes in front of the new construction and uses the access road toward it before turning toward Lowes. The other passes behind the construction site before going toward Lowes. So maybe there is a liability concern with carts mixing with construction activity and the contractor called for eliminating carts.

That's not say it couldn't have been coordinated better with residents. It is certainly common knowledge that residents, especially those on the historic side, regularly use that method for many services. And it would be prudent for better communication should the change be permanent. Right Daily Sun?

[gocubsgo]

If the contractor wanted to eliminate carts during construction then they would call this temporary, not permanent.

Write a letter to District Administration on the VCDD website. Ask for answers and see if they give any. The least they could do is put SOMETHING in the paper!! Oh wait..they took away something we used and enjoyed...nope! That's "negative and doesn't sell those houses!"

[downeaster]

Originally Posted by Bizdoc

Before we break out the torches and pitch forks to storm the Dark Lord's castle, you may want to look at the Sumter GIS. I'm not an expert on surveying and property lines, but there's a piece of property where Life Family Practice and Lake ENT are located. If their property includes 1/2 of the circle (which it would if the circle is on an easement), then they could be justified in asking for the path to be closed.

Yeah, it was a sucky way of doing it, but then again, no matter how you shake and bake it, we don't own that chunk of real estate and may or may not have a claim on its use as a cart trail.

If you look at the 2013 $5 map, you will note that it doesn't show a cart path there.

I have looked at the GIS map and the photo BK referred to and it looks to me like the subject wall is on or very close to the Sumter/Lake county line. I don't know if this is fact and even if it is I have no idea of the significance.

I find it hard to believe the Developer would be involved in something that has this much negative impact on The Villages' image.

The fact that it is a concrete, although precast, wall and appears permanent doesn't bode well for those who have relied on its existence for so many years.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by gocubsgo

If the contractor wanted to eliminate carts during construction then they would call this temporary, not permanent.

Write a letter to District Administration on the VCDD website. Ask for answers and see if they give any. The least they could do is put SOMETHING in the paper!! Oh wait..they took away something we used and enjoyed...nope! That's "negative and doesn't sell those houses!"

The VCDD has nothing to do with this, since it is not district property.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by gocubsgo

If the contractor wanted to eliminate carts during construction then they would call this temporary, not permanent.

Write a letter to District Administration on the VCDD website. Ask for answers and see if they give any. The least they could do is put SOMETHING in the paper!! Oh wait..they took away something we used and enjoyed...nope! That's "negative and doesn't sell those houses!"

They don't have to worry about selling houses, they are going like hot cakes these days.....so why do some leap to being so joyous that it could be some vile plot? It sure sounds strange, but how could it benefit the enormously rich Mr. Morse? What could the reason BE????

Is the BRIDGE CLOSED?

Calm. How many would you think don't own cars that live in the Villages of Orange Blossom Hills and Country Club Hills. I don't know of anyone that doesn't own a car so this is a new thought for me and I feel bad for Artic Fox.

We need to find out who really owns the property that the path leads through and we may find a plausible reason. Even if old Gary was as greedy as some say, how in the heck would this help him make money?

Deep Breaths everyone. Think!

[ttown]

Gracie...love your posts.
I've owned here 25 yrs. I personally know of only three people who do not have a car, but there are many others who have difficulty driving in heavy traffic. This is 441, with three lanes of bad traffic. To get from Orange Blossom Gardens, Silverlake or Country Club Hills, we must either cross the bridge or fight traffic. The path was a nice thing for us and especially those who are no longer as sure of their driving. It is just sad.

[Arctic Fox]

Berlin Wall Built (1961): Just past midnight during the night of August 12-13, 1961, East German soldiers and construction workers headed to the border of West and East Berlin. While most Berliners were sleeping, the workers quickly constructed a barrier made of concrete posts and barbed wire along the border.

When Berliners did finally wake, they found themselves stuck on whichever side of the border they had fallen asleep on. For nearly three decades, East Germans would be kept behind this barrier, the Berlin Wall.



While comparing our situation with those who found themselves the "wrong" side of the Berlin Wall is rather disingenuous, the parallels between the construction of each are worthy of our consideration.

And, yes, August 12-13 1961 was a weekend.

[OldManTime]

Yep, a concrete wall has been built. The developer doesn't want any Villager to shop at any other store outside his Walls.

[schwarz]

What about all the folks over here who do NOT own a car...How do they get to their doctor, to Lowes, Walmat Aldi? Anyone care...now you have to drive along the road, which many are already doing and we will certainly do too...

[bkcunningham1]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

They don't have to worry about selling houses, they are going like hot cakes these days.....so why do some leap to being so joyous that it could be some vile plot? It sure sounds strange, but how could it benefit the enormously rich Mr. Morse? What could the reason BE????

Is the BRIDGE CLOSED?

Calm. How many would you think don't own cars that live in the Villages of Orange Blossom Hills and Country Club Hills. I don't know of anyone that doesn't own a car so this is a new thought for me and I feel bad for Artic Fox.

We need to find out who really owns the property that the path leads through and we may find a plausible reason. Even if old Gary was as greedy as some say, how in the heck would this help him make money?

Deep Breaths everyone. Think!

From what I'm hearing from many reliable sources, finding out who owns the property that "The Developer" has blocked cart access to and understanding the history of why this property is not part of TV may be the answer to understanding this sad and frustrating situation.

The developer has blocked access to the new assisted living which has advertised as golf cart accessible to and from TV. According to my sources, and yes, take it how you want and research and talk to people on your own, it is a long standing feud between the Morse family and the family who owns this property.

According to at least four different reliable people I've spoken to, it started years ago when this family who owns the commercial property along 441 going to Lowe's and the property with the commercial real estate between TV and Sonic, wouldn't sell the property to "The Developer." There has been bad blood between them for years including a water rights issue that was solved in court, according to my sources.

If it is true, this wall is a low point in the feud, IMHO.

[schwarz]

well said...