The wall
 

Spent over 1 hr at THE WALL today. I only stopped by to sign the petition but ended up helping out. Way too hot out. I met MANY of the local residents that are directly effected by the closer. Many very sad stories and they are very frightened over the closer. These are not whiners but original residents that not longer can drive a car or afford car insurance. One lady had tears in her eyes because she had a Dr.s appointment and couldn't get through. Yes. She could have called a taxi if she knew about the closer but she was going to be late and this really upset her. I met at least 15 people that had no car. When you are elderly just getting through the day is hard without this extreme stress. Had they known ahead of time, they could have changed their banks and their Dr.s. They feel betrayed and I don't blame them. This is a life changing problem for them. We all need to help.

TV Mayor...I like your way of thinking.

I would also suggest that along with pickets, a good old-fashioned boycott of Village businesses might cause some to realize that "little people" do have strength in numbers.... For just one week, go outside the confines of your village and spend your money elsewhere...

I know this "Boycott" suggestion will draw some nasty responses... but having read all 500+ posts on this golf-cart crossing... my money won't be spent in the Villages until some respect is shown to its residents.

Stumpknockers here I come! Aldi's, Leesburg or Belleville for groceries...Ocala for entertainment.... there is life beyond the Villages.

I'm sure the whole 'great wall' issue has to do with liability somewhere. Someone must have gotten sued (or a suit had been threatened) so Morse had no choice but to block the 'invite' (the path leading to the wall) onto someone else's property. It would be the same for any property owner over there. The core problem is always money somehow.

I meant doctors, when I said doc. The medical center, Lowes and Aldi are all listed in the phone book and online as having addresses in Lady Lake.

Look at the Google Earth photo that I posted.

That could very well be, but as has been brought up many times in this thread, the residents could have some warning and and explanation. If that is the case, I would understand. I would be disappointed and unhappy, but I would understand and accept that it.

But, even now, four days after the event with people very upset, demonstrations taking place, media stories and petitions being signed whoever put up the wall still hasn't explained it.

Like I said either explain what is going on or take it down.

I agree. We are adults. It would be nice to be treated with enough respect to have been warned about the closure. Even if it was just something in the Daily Sun and on the radio saying it was being closed permanently with an explanation. We don't have to agree with the reason, or even like it. But it would have been nice (and would be nice now after the fact) if Mr. Morse had, at the very least, treated the residents of this community with enough dignity and respect to tell us what is going on. That isn't asking too much.

I looked at the online county maps and it would appear as you say that the wall is very close to the county line. I am perplex as to why those businesses that I mention have addresses in Lady Lake.

I never put much stock in the old "It's not that I got fired - it was the say they did it" theory. The bottom line is that you're out of work and you're very mad about it. Or in this case you run into a wall and have to find a way around it. The one thing we know is that they didn't spend money and time to put it up for no reason. The lands (most of them) on the other side of the wall don't belong to the TV development.

What if I wanted to make a path from Colony plaza over the Burke's BBQ only a few parcels away? Can't be done without going onto private property. Why would this Historic Path to private property be any different? By having that little outlet (where the wall is) the TV developer is basically saying "I invite all of you to bring your cart onto private property past our boundaries". Liability waiting to happen and I'll be that the issue is either future liability, or a current law suit for liability, or possible money grab by one of the private parties and Morse won't pay. You KNOW it's money.

Your example would work and make sense if someone got fired without any explanation. How would you feel if you went into the hospital and they said you didn't have a job and everyone who you spoke with said they didn't know anything about it? How would you feel if they refused to give you any explanation? I imagine you'd want, at the very least, an explanation. It just adds insult to injury to not be given the time of day and treated as something insignificant.

I agree. Very bad public relations not to Address this, unless there is NO good reason for the closure.

This shows the boundaries of the 32159 zip code which includes Lady Lake. Zip Code Finder and Boundary Map.

And when you tried to get to the HR Dept. for an answer, the corridor was blocked. So you went a different way and got permission from someone to let you in via their door, but the next day that door had also been blocked. Then you tried to get access through an unlocked window, but fellow employees hissed at you and called you names for leaving bootprints in their flowerbeds, and the police gave you a warning citation. Shame on you! Why do you think you deserve an answer! NO ONE PROMISED YOU A JOB. Ask a neighbor to drive you around and look for another one. Too bad, so sad.

Well, from all the negative feelings about The Villages, it looks as though the real estate agents will be having a field day in getting new listings.

Many carts are crossing illegally 441 and going to get hurt or killed. The Villages seems to be getting worse rather than better as a friendly home town! Sorry but true. To make matters worse we the owners are not given rime or reason and possible action plans. Very Sad indeed.

I was there at 4pm today & signed a petition that is going around. Heard it has something to do with a feud between Mr. a the new assisted living building owner....................??????? Someone wrote graffiti on it "Mr Morse take down this wall" - it was painted over when found the next day. Look on Facebook - The Villages Book has it posted. I'm sure we'll hear a lot more on this - it affects too many people including Stonecrest folks.

I'm not sticking up for anyone. Maybe the Moorse Family didn't put the wall up, so IF he didn't put it up he can't take it down or comment on it. Why don't you try and contact Gary Lester he seems to be the go to guy !!

Right, so if you show up for work one morning and all of your stuff is out on the sidewalk and when you go inside a receptionist says, "You don't work here anymore and I'm not allowed to say anything else" and you are not allowed to talk to any of your former superiors, you would feel exactly the same as if they sat you down and said, "We're very sorry, but the company is not doing well and we just can't afford to keep you here. (Or even, I'm sorry, but you're doing a terrible job and we are letting you go) Good luck in the future. You would feel exactly the same in those two situations? Is that what you're saying? If you were fired, you wouldn't feel that you were owed an explanation why?

That gate has been there, from what I now understand, for over twenty years. People have used it every day. People have made important life decisions based on that gate being there. And now, with no explanation it's just closed.

Like I said, if there is a good reason for it, I would be very disappointed and unhappy, but at least I would be able to understand.

Also the fact that it was done in this way and that no one from the Villages will give and explanation and have stated that they were told to say nothing by their superiors sounds at the very least a bit suspicious. If it were done for a good reason, it would have been made public. Sometimes silence speaks volumes.

If he didn't put it up, he can't comment on it? He couldn't say, "I didn't put it up"? If he knows who did put it up, he couldn't say so?

The people at the assisted living facility posted on this very forum that they didn't put it up but they are looking into it.

Can you verify that the graffiti was indeed painted over? I tried going to FaceBook but that didn't work. Did TV paint it over or did the neighbors?

Although I am against the wall and feel that it was wrong and poorly / not communicated properly....I thought that the graffiti was 'childish' and not benefitting the cause.

Hopefully we'll gat an answer or resolve shortly........

The sad thing is that the developer wouldn't be affected by that at all. In fact the more of that leave the more homes his sales agency sells and the more commission they make.

given that...i wonder why it took 20+ years to cancel the invitation.

Well, I would just think that if there are so many unhappy residents and they are so angry at the tactics of the Developer that they would not want to stay in such a community. I am sure Stonecrest, Spruce Creek, or Plantation would be to their liking - and they could get more home for their money after selling and making a profit.

Here is why I believe it was done as it was done. Anyone with half a brain would know there would be a large out cry if they knew in advance the path would be closed. There is enough history on the path that there is a good legal case for not allowing the path to be closed under Florida Law. It would have been very easy to get an injunction against closing the path by a judge until the case worked its way through the court. All the time the path would remain open. Now close it immediately, get no permit to do so, and the path will remain closed while the whole thing works it way through the court system. How much money is everyone willing to spend to get the path open? How many years will it take?

Despite the fact that many of them are physically located in Sumter County, they have Lady Lake addresses because they are served by the Post Office located in Lady Lake which I'm sure you know is in Lake County.

Well said!

It doesn't matter to the developer. When you sell your home at a profit someone is buying it and becoming a Villager. Not only that, but if the Properties of the Villages is involved in the sale, some of the commission ends up with the developer. Moving out may make you feel better, but it doesn't hurt the developer.

As my wife would say..." I just hate it when you're right"...:cus:

I was there about four hours ago and the wall looks pristine. In fact when I first saw it, a large section of paint looked like it had peeled off. I'd like to know who painted it. That would probably give a pretty good indication of who put it up. I wonder if the fact that it was painted from the Villages side means anything?

A little compassion wouldn't hurt - these are real people being affected by this unfortunate circumstance.

Has anyone on here contacted the president of POA or HOA today? Did you get any kind of response?

Bugs, just because people are unhappy with being disrespected and being left in the dark on an issue that is very important, it certainly doesn't mean they are going to pack up and move. I love where I live and hope, God willing, that I am here until I die. I don't plan on moving anywhere and I haven't heard any of my friends or neighbors say that are moving or hate the place they love and call home because of this.

I just left her a message on her answering machine about 30 minutes ago. The third message in two days. I haven't heard from her. She hasn't returned a call. I know she must be busy and tired of people calling her.

I don't know the answer to these questions and to this problem but I think it will be sooner solved by those who keep a cool head and an open mind like many of you who have acted as leaders and as calming agents.

Njbchbum, Dr. Winston Boogie, bkcunningham, Artic Fox and many more who live there and who this more directly affects have been helpful and involved to find out just why this happened and what if anything can be done to remedy it. You have been good leaders.

The rest of us look up to you.

DING DING DING!! winner winner chicken dinner.

Here is the other part IMO ..... "The Developer" really does not give a @&*# about people being mad about this because they will still be selling 200+ new homes per month south of 466A. Until The Great Buildout .... at which point they will have even less reason to care.

This generation(s) of "The Developer" might have inherited some biz skills (although at this point the place is pretty much on autopilot) ... they are badly badly lacking in compassion.

Thinking about the long term effects of a decision to allow a paved path from outling communities into The Villages with their golf carts forever... might not hurt either. Maybe the developer is trying to save many of us from ourselves.

There is hard work at hand to open that "hole in the wall". If it is reopened, the big winners are Stonecrest, Spruce Creek and the developed areas beyond. It's not that difficult to have the county open up the back streets to allow access to "The Path". The home values in those subdivisions would profit nicely while The Villages would definitely lose value.

Remember the premium you paid when you bought in The Villages for the Lifestyle? Now many bordering communities have access to the same things we have and don't have to pay the piper. They also are private and much quieter with bigger lots for a lot less money.

If that gate is reopened and the path is paved into The Villages, I would advise anyone considering buying in The Villages to look at these surrounding communities. They would have a gated, private neighborhood with pools, golf and activity centers to enjoy and there is no longer anything special about The Villages. Anyone can use their cart paths.

There is a lot more to think about here, the long term ramifications are HUGE. You can't unring a bell.

Most likely some new lawsuit or more likely a money grab (someone wants payment for the carts that cross their property) and we won't pay.

What would your answer be? I'll bet anything that my answer ends up the correct one. It's not just because Morse wants to that's for sure. Something precipitated the action.

Doesn't in any way change the fact that I'm out of a job. Or that a wall is up. Who cares about the manner. Doesn't change the outcome in any way.

Another example which may have some relevance: If I won a huge lottery and wanted to quit my job I would never give notice. The problem? Liability. The fact that I now have deep pockets would give some people a thought to sue me over something that they never would have before. As a nurse we do things on a daily basis that COULD put us at risk. Not the kindest thing to do to my employer but I'd have to watch out for liability. I'll bet that is what is happening here - something might have had to happen quick and sudden to avoid further risk of liability.

Thanks. Oh well.

Thank you, Gracie. I have racked my brain trying to understand and make sense of this. That is where my frustration comes from. Just not understanding and not knowing the answers to why. My husband and I are blessed. We don't depend solely on a golf cart for transportation. Going to the businesses by cart was a pleasure and a novelty, not a necessity. I do personally know people who don't have cars.

Ironically, two of my friends don't own cars because they come from The Bronx and New York City and never had need of a car. Myself and another woman help one of the women when the need arises that she has to go somewhere outside TV for doctor's appointments and whatnot. The other woman rents a car and has friends she rides with to recreational/social activities outside the bubble.

I have another friend whose grown daughter is handicapped but proudly works at Walmart. She was able to drive herself in a golf cart to and from work and was proud of her independence. I now know of Dr. Boogie's wife's situation and feel badly for them both.

I know other people who don't have cars and thankfully, wonderfully and unbelievable; they've all managed with the help of friends throughout the years to survive. We'll all survive this if the wall isn't removed. It won't be the worst thing to happen to these wonderful people I've gotten to know and grown to love over the past four years we've proudly been owners of a house in TV.

I have always been impressed and proud to explain how things operated in TV. I've studied the history and been amazed at how the free market system has worked for this family and how the vision and hardwork of a few has benefited and changed the lives of so many.

I think that is why this is so...hurtful...I don't know if that is the right word. Disappointing may be a better word. But it does sting. I know there are people who it impacts a lot worse than my circle of friends. But I'll tell you this. I know the character and the caliber of the people here and I don't think they will let anyone who needs a ride walk nor anyone who needs to eat go hungry.

The management of the new assisted living facility has stated on this site as not knowing anything about this. They could be lying through their teeth (imo, highly unlikely) but if so ..... why wouldn't The Developer throw them under the bus?

"Mr. Brown" not only sold the land to the assisted living facility with the written understanding that golf carts could continue to utilize the access .... he allowed a temp trail through his property during construction of the facility. Of course it is not beyond the realms of possibility that "Mr. Brown" tricked everyone and now wants a pound of flesh (even more unlikely), but that leads us back to who gets thrown under the bus.

AGAIN .... if any of your reason(s) where true ..... then why not launch a preemptive strike on bad PR and tell / warn everyone up front????

Please give me one just one good reason to handle this in the manner that it has been!

My reason(s) are stated above.