I am surprised the airport shuttle doesn’t yet make a stop south of 44. They must make good money on the taxi service from Brownwood. I always enjoy getting picked up at the shuttle in LSL by a golf cart.

Or maybe because there is no square down there.

Agreed which is why we chose down here in Amelia rather than Fenney area which was just being opened up when mwmoved here. Probably in 10 or so years it will be like it is here now but I may be pushing up daisies by then so I didn't want to wait! :D It is really really nice down there but was/is just too far off the beaten path for us. We can always drive up for some "serenity" on an as-needed basis as we did yesterday.

I think it’s easier to look at the Villages north of 44, and those Villages south of 44 not as one community, but as sister communities. They do have lots in common, and residents of one can access amenities in the other, but they aren’t catering to the same types of seniors. The north is the golf cart communities, with the MMPs meant for golf carts and easily accessible squares and commercial areas with markets and health care and restaurants. Folks that prefer that section often embrace the golf cart only mentality, leaving their cars in the garage while using their carts for all shopping, entertainment, and other transportation needs.

The south is more of a walking/running/biking community with miles of trails for those pursuits. People choosing the south are enjoying the quiet of nature with less sounds of gas golf carts. They are not adverse to driving for shopping or restaurants, as they probably would drive even if those things were within golf cart reach.

Both communities have tons of recreation opportunities. The developer is consistently getting the neighborhood recreation centers open as people move to the area. I think some of the most beautiful executive courses are in the south.

I think connectivity will be a bonus for both sides, but I think very few bought homes in the south thinking they were getting a golf cart community. Nature is the keystone of the south Villages.

Great photo, thanks!

Does anyone know why they built all of those mounds in there?

The dirt is being moved to a) build the retention ponds and b) the it is back fill for the lots and landscaping that will soon being going in in this location. Normally they would move it off-site then move it back when they need it (like the dirt at 301/Turnpike SE corner) but they is a relatively small area so they're probably just keeping it on site and moving it as they need it.

They have to remove so much to ensure there is no foreign matter below the homes (peat field, piles of logs/trees, etc.) then move it back to establish a firm topsoil layer before building. This extensive work is why we hear of very few foundation cracking issues here in The Villages. My previous home in Haines City developed 1/2 in cracks in the slab the full length of the house within 3 years of construction that you could feel in the carpet due to settling, all my neighbors had the same problems. When I had tile put down after 4 years here there were only 2 hairline cracks about 6 ft long in the foundation, very little settling happens here.

The mounds will be gone in a month or two and replaced by 5 or 6 sets of villas and a designer neighborhood along the golf course frontage .

i'm always surprised @ how fast things go up here. last winter our neighborhood was a construction zone, 2day all the homes are sold! now we watch as the shopping plaza goes up, saw them leveling out the foundations over the wknd. i'd say they could if they wanted to. the huge bridge up now on 44 was done overnite while we all slept

Just a small add to Don's comment, they are also using an isolation barrier under tile minimize risk of cracking. Just one example of the attention to detail for new construction quality.

Here the same picture with the street layout in the upper right. You can see how the digging and the streets align.

Just wait................the South will rise, there will be a Civil War.

If we are patient, we will see the North and the South combined.

But.

There still will be a lot of old people.

I believe you mean the war of northern aggression ;-)

Don - any chance we are going to get some drone footage down there soon? I am having total withdrawal - it has been like a month without your awesome videos!
Ed

I know a berm was built along the turnpike in the Linden and Monarch Grove areas to reduce turnpike noise. Does anyone have an idea as to why a berm wasn't installed along the turnpike in Marsh Bend and up through to De Luna? Some of the homes are just as close to the turnpike in Marsh Bend (and soon De Luna) as they are in Linden and Monarch Grove.

Ive thought about that as well, but when I drive down the turnpike and look over at the Marsh Bend area, its like a long vista billboard for the sales office, its really something to see as you roll by.
Possibly they put a berm in after Marsh Bend and Deluna are at capacity?