[johnboy]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

I wasn't promised anything when I bought here - not a cart bridge over 441, not a tunnel under 466, not a causeway across Lake Sumter - but I have a right to feel aggrieved when something that was in place when I bought is suddenly taken away

with no alternative provided

with no notice or consultation

and probably solely for commercial reasons

I bought here because I could get everywhere I wanted in my golf cart without the need for a car - change that and you change the whole atmosphere of The Villages

The sad thing is that the developer of the new assisted living development on the way to Lowes seemed to go out of his way to ensure continued golf cart access - I even had high hopes that the whole route would eventually be on paved roads.


Many Villagers living south of 466 have probably never used the path that has been blocked, so may not be able to empathize with those of us who used it regularly as a part of our normal routine

It will be a major loss to us

I think there is a little over reaction on this issue. The affected people make it sound like now they will not be able to get to the grocery store or shop at Walmart. They can still go over the bridge and go to multiple grocery stores, Publix, etc., loads of stores like Target, Ace Hardware etc. The developer has made this a great place to live and that is why most of us have moved here, so support him. There may be other issues involved in this closing such as a liability.

[njbchbum]

called executive offices, dawn took name and number and told me she will have someone get back to me....but am not gonna hold my breath...looking forward to that call!

[jane032657]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

jeff - where did you get that the developer is at odds with harbor chase?

There is no bad blood between The Villages and HarborChase. Again, as I said before, contact the person who owns all the land in front of and aside and behind HarborChase. This is who sold the property to begin with. He owns a lot of land there-I think he is hoping to sell to someone who will put up more offices, not sure on that but you will see the for sale signs out on 441. I think this is someone who will know more than anyone else what is going on and what the politics and issues are. It is not the new assisted living who is involved, I believe they are as stunned as all of us and again, all plans included golf cart accessibility, parking and charging stations.

[jannd228]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

am sure you were - and glad it worked out for you! i worked too many years in the world of consumer affairs to trust much that i cannot see, touch and hear! big flag there with the info that can be retained by a political website and webmaster.

Granddaughter of a Boston politician here, I could be jaded but I am not. I am a technology integration specialist in MA (now retired). I know what is and isn't worth saving out there.

It looks like you are going to get answers this morning someone else posted about a meeting. Praying it all works out for all. I am moving to the Villages for a year to test the waters. I am not going to have a car just a golf cart, so I understand the need for all of this.

Best wishes,

[NoMoSno]

Originally Posted by johnboy

I think there is a little over reaction on this issue. The affected people make it sound like now they will not be able to get to the grocery store or shop at Walmart. They can still go over the bridge and go to multiple grocery stores, Publix, etc., loads of stores like Target, Ace Hardware etc. The developer has made this a great place to live and that is why most of us have moved here, so support him. There may be other issues involved in this closing such as a liability.

Many would rather not shop at the overpriced Publix's or Target, or the "have nothing" ACE hardware...

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by johnboy

I think there is a little over reaction on this issue. The affected people make it sound like now they will not be able to get to the grocery store or shop at Walmart. They can still go over the bridge and go to multiple grocery stores, Publix, etc., loads of stores like Target, Ace Hardware etc. The developer has made this a great place to live and that is why most of us have moved here, so support him. There may be other issues involved in this closing such as a liability.

no, johnboy, i think you have missed the point...villagers can no longer leave the villages as they have been able to do for 20 yrs...can no longer access medical offices they use...and those without car/driver's license can no longer exercise their ability to shop at locations that are not under the thumb of the developer. it's not a bad place to live...but losing our restaurant, destruction of our country club, failure to enforce covenants re property maintenance and now the wall make it a less desireable place to live.

many of the residents have been here from early on and are very established in their life patterns and habits which are slowly being eroded from under them - sorta like a sink hole that is escalating in pace. trying to make significant changes is generally difficult for those who are of an advanced age....which many of our historic side residents are.

the events on the historic side show a total lack of compassion for our residents.

[gocubsgo]

Originally Posted by tucson;72***1

The best way to resolve this problem would(I think) be to create alot of press re; this issue. Contact a major news outlet who's always looking for a interesting human interest story, like this one. Because of the major PR thrust/campaign in TV to sell houses IS that they say it's The Friendliest Town in Florida & "golf cart assessible to everything " is contrary to what the CEO (Morse) has now done to all the homeowners that made him a billionaire.

I have contacted all 3 major TV stations. WESH is VERY interested in this story!

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by johnboy

I think there is a little over reaction on this issue. The affected people make it sound like now they will not be able to get to the grocery store or shop at Walmart. They can still go over the bridge and go to multiple grocery stores, Publix, etc., loads of stores like Target, Ace Hardware etc. The developer has made this a great place to live and that is why most of us have moved here, so support him. There may be other issues involved in this closing such as a liability.

Really? I'd to hear you tell the people that work over there and don't drive that they're over reacting. Especially the ones who were at work and found this wall as they tried to return to their homes int he morning.

Or tell it to my wife who had the opportunity to go to work for another supermarket and turned it down because she just got promoted at Aldi.

I'd also like you to tell this to the people who no longer drive for whatever reason who have chosen the doctors in that medical building because they are able to get to them unassisted.

I'd like you to tell someone who does not drive and cannot get to the urgent care facility located on Villages property that has golf cart accessible for the past ten years that they are over reacting.

How about someone who has just made the decision to go into that new assisted living facility because they'd be able to visit their friends and family by going through that gate that has been there as long as they have.

The developer put in this cart gate and many of us made life decisions based on the fact that it was there.

It's pretty easy to sit there and say we're over reacting when you're not affected by it.

[tucson]

Originally Posted by gocubsgo

I have contacted all 3 major TV stations. WESH is VERY interested in this story!

That's great. Watch it take off from there....:-)

[gocubsgo]

Well said Dr W..it's easy for others to sit over on their 466 side and poo-poo all this. Those of us who are truly affected by this wall are the only ones who understand.

I had a urology appt this morning at 9:30 on the other side of the wall. Hubby took car to work at 6AM so guess what? I had to cancel because I can't get my golf cart there! There is no one to drive me because a) my street has emptied for the summer and b) I would never ask someone to drive me and then sit and wait an hour to drive me home or turn around and come pick me back up!

There's a perfect example of how this has inconvenienced everyone here on the north side!!

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by JeffAVEWS

I think it's a pretty safe bet that the developer is the one who put up that wall. His motivation could be spite or greed. Spite because of the bad blood between him and the Harbor Chase people, or greed because he makes a lot more money selling new homes then he does from a sale in the historic side. The historic side homes are in direct competition with his new properties. If he can make properties there less attractive to perspective buyers he may sell more new ones. This may also be his reason for the closing of OBH CC restaurant and the Tiki bar.

Isn't the restaurant being/going to be remodeled?

[Stitcher girl]

Driving on 441 yesterday and saw 2 carts driving on the grassy area in front of the businesses south of Lowe's. Wondered why. Now I know.
Aha....maybe that is the solution drive along in front of the businesses and create a new path......!!!

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Isn't the restaurant being/going to be remodeled?

if someone can be found and contracted to do so! hasn't happened yet to my knowledge. tiki bar is still gone, too - no place to get a libation after golf!

[mulligan]

...

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

no, johnboy, i think you have missed the point...villagers can no longer leave the villages as they have been able to do for 20 yrs...can no longer access medical offices they use...and those without car/driver's license can no longer exercise their ability to shop at locations that are not under the thumb of the developer. it's not a bad place to live...but losing our restaurant, destruction of our country club, failure to enforce covenants re property maintenance and now the wall make it a less desireable place to live.

many of the residents have been here from early on and are very established in their life patterns and habits which are slowly being eroded from under them - sorta like a sink hole that is escalating in pace. trying to make significant changes is generally difficult for those who are of an advanced age....which many of our historic side residents are.

the events on the historic side show a total lack of compassion for our residents.

Is the CC restaurant now going to be closed?