[Goldwingnut]

Here’s the latest update on the construction happenings in The Villages. This was all shot yesterday afternoon and is about as up to date as I can get. The video includes footage of the work on all three bridges, Magnolia Plaza, the villages of Chitty Chatty, Bradford, Hawkins, Richmond, St. Catherine, Carson Hammock, Hammock at Fenney, and St. Johns as well as other areas. There is also information included about the extension of Buena Vista Blvd. down to Meggison Rd.
The Villages 9-6-2020 Construction Update - YouTube
I hope you enjoy the video and be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and turn on the Notifications so you’ll know as soon as new videos are published.

[Kenswing]

Always look forward to your videos. Would love to see St. Catherine in more detail when things start moving more in that direction.

[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by Kenswing

Always look forward to your videos. Would love to see St. Catherine in more detail when things start moving more in that direction.

Give it another month or so and lots of things will be happening there.

[MSchad]

As always an excellent video. Glad to hear about another golfing venue of some kind between Deluna and Brownwood.

[stings]

Great update. Thank you. What do you think is the timeline for completion of Sawgrass square/recreation area?

[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by stings

Great update. Thank you. What do you think is the timeline for completion of Sawgrass square/recreation area?

Well, the building is being built now and things around it are going very quickly. Depending on the golf course progress I's say about a year from now it would be open. By new year we should see the golf course fully underway, by mid-spring the fairways and greens growing. They'll likely give the course the full summer to become established and healthy and ready for play.
If I had to look into a crystal ball, I would see a really big celebration as Sawgrass and the golf course open as one event around Labor Day at the latest next year. Just a guess.

[davem4616]

thank you...any word on when the Chitty Chatty bridge will open?

[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by davem4616

thank you...any word on when the Chitty Chatty bridge will open?

Sorry, I know nothing more than anyone else at this point, sometime later this month. Still lots of work going on on the bridge ramps.

[Jewelz]

As always, THANK YOU for your great updates!

[jacksonbrown]

As a walker, runner and cyclist, I am confused about the walkways stopping at the top of the approaches.

And with the width of the bridges barely wide enough to accommodate two carts, It seems to me that little has been done to accommodate us pedestrians and cyclists.

[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by stings

Great update. Thank you. What do you think is the timeline for completion of Sawgrass square/recreation area?

Nothing has been put out yet so anything would be either an educated guess or just pure speculation.
Work has started on the building for Sawgrass, using Everglades as a benchmark I would say it will be about 9 months before it open. Adding in the golfing functions and the time to build, green, and establish the Southern Oaks golf course would also likely be a consideration.
It would not be a stretch to see an opening celebration of these areas on Memorial Day 2021.
Obviously, there are a lot of other factors to consider and the developer only shares what is absolutely necessary until they are ready to share all.

After looking at the site for Sawgrass Grove I would expect an entertainment venue somewhere between a super-sized Edna's and a downsized town square, with minimal shopping and a few eateries. The "square" of sorts will be south of Monarch Grove in the areas they announced a month ago, there I think we will see many new and special things happening.

[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by jacksonbrown

As a walker, runner and cyclist, I am confused about the walkways stopping at the top of the approaches.

And with the width of the bridges barely wide enough to accommodate two carts, It seems to me that little has been done to accommodate us pedestrians and cyclists.

The new bridges are about 20 ft wide, the MMPs in TV are typically 16 ft wide, the bridge over 27/441 and over Sumter lake is only 10 ft wide.
I don't understand the ramps either, but they are very good at what they do and learn from their mistakes and rarely repeat them. Let's see what the final products look like when they open the first bridge at Chitty Chatty before passing judgement.

[Rwirish]

Thanks for doing this.

The amount of expansion is concerning. So many of the areas are unimpressive (imo) being so near the Turnpike ( drove thru several areas this past weekend). The other concern is the lack of golf courses ( at least announced golf courses ) relative to the number of roof tops.

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

Here’s the latest update on the construction happenings in The Villages. This was all shot yesterday afternoon and is about as up to date as I can get. The video includes footage of the work on all three bridges, Magnolia Plaza, the villages of Chitty Chatty, Bradford, Hawkins, Richmond, St. Catherine, Carson Hammock, Hammock at Fenney, and St. Johns as well as other areas. There is also information included about the extension of Buena Vista Blvd. down to Meggison Rd.
The Villages 9-6-2020 Construction Update - YouTube
I hope you enjoy the video and be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and turn on the Notifications so you’ll know as soon as new videos are published.

Thanks so much for another delightful video. I always enjoy your work.

I had to grin at your use of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture as the background music. It tells the story, in music, of the suffering and sacrifice of the Russian people under attack by Napoleon’s French troops, followed by Napoleon’s overwhelming defeat, losing 90% of his troops. Cannon fire is replaced by jubilant ringing of church bells. (As I recall, it’s said that Tchaikovsky originally asked that the bells be rung by the angels of heaven, but that may be a myth.) I’ve loved this piece since the seventies, and I always find the ending cathartic because I enter into the story and imagine the relief and joy of the Russians who survived.

Of course, I’m sure that you didn’t choose the music to make a statement or bring a catharsis, but still, I enjoyed it.

[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by Choro&Swing

Thanks so much for another delightful video. I always enjoy your work.

I had to grin at your use of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture as the background music. It tells the story, in music, of the suffering and sacrifice of the Russian people under attack by Napoleon’s French troops, followed by Napoleon’s overwhelming defeat, losing 90% of his troops. Cannon fire is replaced by jubilant ringing of church bells. (As I recall, it’s said that Tchaikovsky originally asked that the bells be rung by the angels of heaven, but that may be a myth.) I’ve loved this piece since the seventies, and I always find the ending cathartic because I enter into the story and imagine the relief and joy of the Russians who survived.

Of course, I’m sure that you didn’t choose the music to make a statement or bring a catharsis, but still, I enjoyed it.

Wow, I learn something new every day. I love classical music but never really looked at the backstory for any particular movement.

No message was being sent with the music selection, was just looking for something a little uplifting without huge volume changes for the background and of an appropriate duration.