Death of Spanish Springs

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Old 08-03-2021, 03:39 PM
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Originally Posted by rustyp View Post
Total BS - site your source besides hearsay.
katie belles closing - Bing
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Old 08-03-2021, 04:10 PM
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I am being dead serious here. I have heard over and over what a great place KB was and how people miss it. If it was such a great business all of you that miss it so terribly should invest and bring it back. Go to the developer and present a proposal with investment and financing secured. I truly hope someone with the capital and experience will step up. If no one is willing to step up and put your money where your mouth is then you should probably stop talking about the good old days.

The developer owns the property and has a right to do what is legally allowed with the property. If apartments are allowed I am sure they will be done well and anyone moving into them will know there is music every night. I don’t see a few apartment owners overruling all the businesses around the square to stop the music.
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Old 08-03-2021, 04:31 PM
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I am being dead serious here. I have heard over and over what a great place KB was and how people miss it. If it was such a great business all of you that miss it so terribly should invest and bring it back. Go to the developer and present a proposal with investment and financing secured. I truly hope someone with the capital and experience will step up. If no one is willing to step up and put your money where your mouth is then you should probably stop talking about the good old days.

The developer owns the property and has a right to do what is legally allowed with the property. If apartments are allowed I am sure they will be done well and anyone moving into them will know there is music every night. I don’t see a few apartment owners overruling all the businesses around the square to stop the music
.


Was at KB a few times, never impressed.........stopped in hoping to be impressed.
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Old 08-03-2021, 04:35 PM
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I am being dead serious here. I have heard over and over what a great place KB was and how people miss it. If it was such a great business all of you that miss it so terribly should invest and bring it back. Go to the developer and present a proposal with investment and financing secured. I truly hope someone with the capital and experience will step up. If no one is willing to step up and put your money where your mouth is then you should probably stop talking about the good old days.

The developer owns the property and has a right to do what is legally allowed with the property. If apartments are allowed I am sure they will be done well and anyone moving into them will know there is music every night. I don’t see a few apartment owners overruling all the businesses around the square to stop the music.
You left out the "business plan" to show why it won't fail again, but ignoring that, I am sure your intent was to provide that.

I think I will add that the "family" has been successfully doing this for decades now. And the place is still growing, still making money, still maintained, still going strong.

I like businesses with a track record and a long-term plan. That seems to be missing in much of American business today - it is all short-term planning.

One of the deciding factors for me in moving here is that I expect based on the track record that my home will continue to gain value and be able to be liquidated quickly and easily when it comes time for our kids to inherit it.

Everyone thinks they KNOW the right thing to do, the family has proven they can make this work.
  #20  
Old 08-03-2021, 05:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter View Post
How many parking spots were required for KB’s? Many more than a dozen apartments.
KB relied on open parking - they did not block off parking that people going to the square could not use
  #21  
Old 08-03-2021, 06:09 PM
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07 KBs one dinner, on the developers. People dancing, salad bar, food was good, place was packed, with residents and might be residents.

2010, KBs our nickel , smaller salad bar, food good. Great place for people watching, and listening to “who does Ralph think he is bringing that trophy wife here”. Watching people buy drinks, upstairs having dinner, still packed, but less having dinner.

After that, food went down hill very fast. Less people eating dinner, more ordering a drink, and sitting at tables for hours. When they set the 2 drink minimum( not water), and food minimum, less people came. However we stopped taking guests there, due to the food quality.

But just my opinion, and maybe 10-12 dinners, so I am part of the problem that KBs closed
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  #22  
Old 08-03-2021, 06:36 PM
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Apartments will be the death of Spanish Springs

As the Katie Belle’s and Spanish Springs apartment saga continues, almost like a novel that never ends, per the opinion of many Village residents, the questions are, “What, why and how is this happening?
For the longest time Katie Belle’s was similar to an anchor store in a shopping center. The various activities at Katie Belle’s were an attraction from late morning to late evening for many people that brought life to Spanish Springs. Now the Spanish Springs Town Square resembles a ghost town most of the day except for scheduled events and a couple of bar/restaurants that feature live music from midafternoon until no later than 5 p.m. prior to the music entertainment starting in the respective squares.
Currently the people working at businesses and their client/customers located on the second floor of the Spanish Springs Town Square buildings do patronize the local restaurants and stores. When the second floor businesses move to another location, consequently there will be less activity and less people. A limited amount of proposed apartment dwellers will further exacerbate the diminished people activity and cause negative business issues.
The onus, to date, is put on Lady Lake commissioners to change their determination going forward with apartments or business as usual in Spanish Springs. Lady Lake will not issue or change a zoning restriction to place businesses in a residential area of the town, but the commissioners are asked by The Villages to make a zoning change to place residential dwellings in zoned business areas.
There are approximately 8,000 Village residents that live within the Town of Lady Lake city limits. There are approximately, mean average depending on seasonal times, 100,000 plus Village residents that live within The Villages boundaries. By definition these 100,000 Village residents have “NO STANDING” in the Town of Lady Lake for any outcome forthcoming from the Lady Lake Commission that will determine the future of Spanish Springs Town Center and Katie Belle’s. Yet The Villages residents are affected the most by the outcome. How does that work? Kind of like the proverbial quote, “The tail wagging the dog.” Many Village residents chose to purchase homes in The Villages because of the lifestyle as influenced by the amenities and entertainment predicated on what Katie Belle’s and Spanish Springs Town Center offered. Although the appearance and programs for the newer squares varied and different neighborhoods developed, the camaraderie and lifestyle remained the same. The Villages grew according to this matrix and the Developer profited because of Village home sales, again based on the Spanish Springs lifestyle as presented. Most Village residents truly believe that The Villages is by far the best retirement place, but are disappointed by the lifestyle change as petitioned. Are there any fiduciary responsibilities The Villages have to the residents for proposing major lifestyle changes based on what was initially offered and what is now presented without any residents’ input?
There are many proposals presented in the Town of Lady Lake, Fruitland Park, Leesburg, Wildwood, Summerfield and other areas for apartments and additional high density living complexes. These apartments propose offering renters a very competitive rate. The concept for these apartments is to accommodate people that work in The Villages.
The Villages already is building apartment complexes and duplex housing in Wildwood not far from Brownwood Paddock Square that blend in with this area as developed and do not detract from Brownwood activities. The a la carte Lofts at Brownwood have not reached full occupancy even though rental rates were reduced to attract apartment dwellers. Up-charges for garages and additional storage places with no personal help for car parking, carrying groceries, etc. as provided in upscale apartments.
With the apartments under construction around and outside of the Spanish Springs area, a need for professional services, lawyers, doctors, dentists, accountants, etc. will become a necessity. The second floor offices of the Spanish Springs Town Center buildings will need a little compound and simonizing to facilitate professional services as such, but nowhere near the expense of apartment conversions. All that is needed is The Villages Marketing Department put their sales hats on and sell this concept to promote what is available with minor building changes and no dedicated parking places.
The Van Patten Building is a little more complex since over the years changes were made to Katie Belle’s that contributed to the dining dance hall’s demise. Restaurants project their cash flow based on the amount of tables available to patrons. Contrary to Katie Belle’s removing the tables and closing the dining room section. Many in the restaurant business consider this endeavor as occupational suicide. Even with the elimination of the dining room, there was an attraction for people to participate in various activities going-on at Katie Belle’s. The square actually had people walking around in late morning till mid-afternoon and some people waiting for music to start in the square. The move upstairs wrote the epitaph for Katie Belle’s.
Consideration for the Developers’ risk to build The Villages is most important. The residents are not privy to what the ups and downs are/were to make The Villages what it is today. The undertaking of an endeavor of building The Villages most likely had some good days and bad days. There is a consensus of opinion among residents that the Developer only wants to make more money without any thoughtful regard of the investment the Developer made to make The Villages what it is today. There also should be some consideration for the residents that purchased homes in The Villages that helped the Developer make The Villages the best place to live and retire.
So what happens to Katie Belle’s and Spanish Springs Town Center? Since there are a majority of residents that recognize Katie Belle’s and Spanish Springs as the draw as it was when in full operation, they should have a voice in what is happening to these places and what the future holds. There are even new residents that recently purchased homes in Fenney that heard about Katie Belle’s and ask questions why it is closed. If the fact is that Katie Belle’s lost money when in operation, none of this information was brought to the residents. By precluding The Village residents from any decision pertaining to the future of Katie Belle’s and Spanish Springs Town Center only breeds contempt throughout the resident population. The residents were never given the opportunity to correct any issues that contributed to the close of Katie Belle’s.
The Van Patten Building because of its location in Spanish Springs Town Center has a much better potential than a rental property offers. Since financial issues over the last 25 years are the word out of The Villages office, particulars never divulged, Katie Belle’s was unilaterally altered through the years and ultimately shut down with no consideration from the residents. The Village residents could correct this situation if given the opportunity.
There are many very talented business oriented individuals that live in The Villages that can make Katie Belle’s profitable. There are millions of dollars spent by the AAC and PWAC to construct new or refurbish recreational facilities with a lot of overhead but virtually have no cash flow. The residents pay for these places either through amenity fees or taxes. Suggest putting Katie Belle’s back the way it was in the beginning of The Villages and let the residents manage the operations. If capital is required for daily operations until a profit is established, raise the amenity fee per household. With the number of houses now in The Villages every $1 equates to approximately one million dollars per year. This funding can be used for required alterations and to put Katie Belle’s back in business.
Suggest building a brew pub/restaurant/dance hall operation or casino with entertainment and restaurant. This will bring jobs and taxes to this area, and most important, life. Apartments will only be the demise of Spanish Springs and the Van Patten Building.
The Village Machine never stops. Village managers, vice presidents, lawyers and authoritarian personnel reach out to anybody in a position that will agree and authorize what The Villages propose. In this particular proposal, why not ask The Villages residents?
Written by Jim Cipollon a resident of The Village.
Everything will be fine. Life goes on. Things change, life goes on. Things will be different than before, but life will go on. Spanish Springs will be different than when Gary Morse drew it up on his napkin, but hey, when was that? How long do you think something can last, unchanged, in a retirement community, where the clientele changes over so rapidly?
  #23  
Old 08-03-2021, 07:13 PM
OrangeBlossomBaby OrangeBlossomBaby is offline
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Originally Posted by Escape Artist View Post
Was it a restaurant? Why did it stop being popular with residents of TV? Could it just be the natural order of things, i.e. new squares being built, the population growth in the new areas, etc.
It was popular among Villagers who were willing to buy 2 sodas (2 drink minimum) and spend several hours not buying anything else, but taking up space that other paying customers couldn't occupy.

It went out of business because the business model wasn't sustainable.
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Old 08-03-2021, 07:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Polish Golfer View Post
Apartments will be the death of Spanish Springs

As the Katie Belle’s and Spanish Springs apartment saga continues, almost like a novel that never ends, per the opinion of many Village residents, the questions are, “What, why and how is this happening?
For the longest time Katie Belle’s was similar to an anchor store in a shopping center. The various activities at Katie Belle’s were an attraction from late morning to late evening for many people that brought life to Spanish Springs. Now the Spanish Springs Town Square resembles a ghost town most of the day except for scheduled events and a couple of bar/restaurants that feature live music from midafternoon until no later than 5 p.m. prior to the music entertainment starting in the respective squares.
Currently the people working at businesses and their client/customers located on the second floor of the Spanish Springs Town Square buildings do patronize the local restaurants and stores. When the second floor businesses move to another location, consequently there will be less activity and less people. A limited amount of proposed apartment dwellers will further exacerbate the diminished people activity and cause negative business issues.
The onus, to date, is put on Lady Lake commissioners to change their determination going forward with apartments or business as usual in Spanish Springs. Lady Lake will not issue or change a zoning restriction to place businesses in a residential area of the town, but the commissioners are asked by The Villages to make a zoning change to place residential dwellings in zoned business areas.
There are approximately 8,000 Village residents that live within the Town of Lady Lake city limits. There are approximately, mean average depending on seasonal times, 100,000 plus Village residents that live within The Villages boundaries. By definition these 100,000 Village residents have “NO STANDING” in the Town of Lady Lake for any outcome forthcoming from the Lady Lake Commission that will determine the future of Spanish Springs Town Center and Katie Belle’s. Yet The Villages residents are affected the most by the outcome. How does that work? Kind of like the proverbial quote, “The tail wagging the dog.” Many Village residents chose to purchase homes in The Villages because of the lifestyle as influenced by the amenities and entertainment predicated on what Katie Belle’s and Spanish Springs Town Center offered. Although the appearance and programs for the newer squares varied and different neighborhoods developed, the camaraderie and lifestyle remained the same. The Villages grew according to this matrix and the Developer profited because of Village home sales, again based on the Spanish Springs lifestyle as presented. Most Village residents truly believe that The Villages is by far the best retirement place, but are disappointed by the lifestyle change as petitioned. Are there any fiduciary responsibilities The Villages have to the residents for proposing major lifestyle changes based on what was initially offered and what is now presented without any residents’ input?
There are many proposals presented in the Town of Lady Lake, Fruitland Park, Leesburg, Wildwood, Summerfield and other areas for apartments and additional high density living complexes. These apartments propose offering renters a very competitive rate. The concept for these apartments is to accommodate people that work in The Villages.
The Villages already is building apartment complexes and duplex housing in Wildwood not far from Brownwood Paddock Square that blend in with this area as developed and do not detract from Brownwood activities. The a la carte Lofts at Brownwood have not reached full occupancy even though rental rates were reduced to attract apartment dwellers. Up-charges for garages and additional storage places with no personal help for car parking, carrying groceries, etc. as provided in upscale apartments.
With the apartments under construction around and outside of the Spanish Springs area, a need for professional services, lawyers, doctors, dentists, accountants, etc. will become a necessity. The second floor offices of the Spanish Springs Town Center buildings will need a little compound and simonizing to facilitate professional services as such, but nowhere near the expense of apartment conversions. All that is needed is The Villages Marketing Department put their sales hats on and sell this concept to promote what is available with minor building changes and no dedicated parking places.
The Van Patten Building is a little more complex since over the years changes were made to Katie Belle’s that contributed to the dining dance hall’s demise. Restaurants project their cash flow based on the amount of tables available to patrons. Contrary to Katie Belle’s removing the tables and closing the dining room section. Many in the restaurant business consider this endeavor as occupational suicide. Even with the elimination of the dining room, there was an attraction for people to participate in various activities going-on at Katie Belle’s. The square actually had people walking around in late morning till mid-afternoon and some people waiting for music to start in the square. The move upstairs wrote the epitaph for Katie Belle’s.
Consideration for the Developers’ risk to build The Villages is most important. The residents are not privy to what the ups and downs are/were to make The Villages what it is today. The undertaking of an endeavor of building The Villages most likely had some good days and bad days. There is a consensus of opinion among residents that the Developer only wants to make more money without any thoughtful regard of the investment the Developer made to make The Villages what it is today. There also should be some consideration for the residents that purchased homes in The Villages that helped the Developer make The Villages the best place to live and retire.
So what happens to Katie Belle’s and Spanish Springs Town Center? Since there are a majority of residents that recognize Katie Belle’s and Spanish Springs as the draw as it was when in full operation, they should have a voice in what is happening to these places and what the future holds. There are even new residents that recently purchased homes in Fenney that heard about Katie Belle’s and ask questions why it is closed. If the fact is that Katie Belle’s lost money when in operation, none of this information was brought to the residents. By precluding The Village residents from any decision pertaining to the future of Katie Belle’s and Spanish Springs Town Center only breeds contempt throughout the resident population. The residents were never given the opportunity to correct any issues that contributed to the close of Katie Belle’s.
The Van Patten Building because of its location in Spanish Springs Town Center has a much better potential than a rental property offers. Since financial issues over the last 25 years are the word out of The Villages office, particulars never divulged, Katie Belle’s was unilaterally altered through the years and ultimately shut down with no consideration from the residents. The Village residents could correct this situation if given the opportunity.
There are many very talented business oriented individuals that live in The Villages that can make Katie Belle’s profitable. There are millions of dollars spent by the AAC and PWAC to construct new or refurbish recreational facilities with a lot of overhead but virtually have no cash flow. The residents pay for these places either through amenity fees or taxes. Suggest putting Katie Belle’s back the way it was in the beginning of The Villages and let the residents manage the operations. If capital is required for daily operations until a profit is established, raise the amenity fee per household. With the number of houses now in The Villages every $1 equates to approximately one million dollars per year. This funding can be used for required alterations and to put Katie Belle’s back in business.
Suggest building a brew pub/restaurant/dance hall operation or casino with entertainment and restaurant. This will bring jobs and taxes to this area, and most important, life. Apartments will only be the demise of Spanish Springs and the Van Patten Building.
The Village Machine never stops. Village managers, vice presidents, lawyers and authoritarian personnel reach out to anybody in a position that will agree and authorize what The Villages propose. In this particular proposal, why not ask The Villages residents?
Written by Jim Cipollon a resident of The Village.
Stopped reading when you were so off base with the red quoted section. The upstairs offices are, for the most part, VILLAGES owned businesses. The same one that drove off outdoor entertainment at Demshars and another location because they said it was too loud. When a business owner is threatened by the landlord that they could lose their lease if they don't stop outdoor entertainment in the afternoon? Guess what, that business owner loses thousands over a month because they cant compete with the bars that don't have offices upstairs.
No, the workers upstairs don't make one bit of difference in the revenue after 5 pm.
The residents do. And many days, I can't find a parking space on the square at 2 pm.
You lost credibility in paragraph 1 of your War and Peace essay.
  #25  
Old 08-04-2021, 04:55 AM
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It would appear The Developer used Katie-Bells as a marketing tool for years, not really concerned about the bottom line finances of the Business as long as the Marketing was effective and the income at least made it near break even. I think that is genius. Then, once its usefulness as a Marketing tool was no longer needed, handed it over to someone else to try to make a go of it as a real income producing business. Then the forces of the real market determined that this business model was not sustainable. Glad everyone enjoyed it while it was around. And, yes I think the Apartments will destroy the vibe of the area. Perhaps time for those who no longer like what is happening to move on to another area to live or suck it up and find other distracting interests.
  #26  
Old 08-04-2021, 05:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Polish Golfer View Post
Apartments will be the death of Spanish Springs

As the Katie Belle’s and Spanish Springs apartment saga continues, almost like a novel that never ends, per the opinion of many Village residents, the questions are, “What, why and how is this happening?
For the longest time Katie Belle’s was similar to an anchor store in a shopping center. The various activities at Katie Belle’s were an attraction from late morning to late evening for many people that brought life to Spanish Springs. Now the Spanish Springs Town Square resembles a ghost town most of the day except for scheduled events and a couple of bar/restaurants that feature live music from midafternoon until no later than 5 p.m. prior to the music entertainment starting in the respective squares.
Currently the people working at businesses and their client/customers located on the second floor of the Spanish Springs Town Square buildings do patronize the local restaurants and stores. When the second floor businesses move to another location, consequently there will be less activity and less people. A limited amount of proposed apartment dwellers will further exacerbate the diminished people activity and cause negative business issues.
The onus, to date, is put on Lady Lake commissioners to change their determination going forward with apartments or business as usual in Spanish Springs. Lady Lake will not issue or change a zoning restriction to place businesses in a residential area of the town, but the commissioners are asked by The Villages to make a zoning change to place residential dwellings in zoned business areas.
There are approximately 8,000 Village residents that live within the Town of Lady Lake city limits. There are approximately, mean average depending on seasonal times, 100,000 plus Village residents that live within The Villages boundaries. By definition these 100,000 Village residents have “NO STANDING” in the Town of Lady Lake for any outcome forthcoming from the Lady Lake Commission that will determine the future of Spanish Springs Town Center and Katie Belle’s. Yet The Villages residents are affected the most by the outcome. How does that work? Kind of like the proverbial quote, “The tail wagging the dog.” Many Village residents chose to purchase homes in The Villages because of the lifestyle as influenced by the amenities and entertainment predicated on what Katie Belle’s and Spanish Springs Town Center offered. Although the appearance and programs for the newer squares varied and different neighborhoods developed, the camaraderie and lifestyle remained the same. The Villages grew according to this matrix and the Developer profited because of Village home sales, again based on the Spanish Springs lifestyle as presented. Most Village residents truly believe that The Villages is by far the best retirement place, but are disappointed by the lifestyle change as petitioned. Are there any fiduciary responsibilities The Villages have to the residents for proposing major lifestyle changes based on what was initially offered and what is now presented without any residents’ input?
There are many proposals presented in the Town of Lady Lake, Fruitland Park, Leesburg, Wildwood, Summerfield and other areas for apartments and additional high density living complexes. These apartments propose offering renters a very competitive rate. The concept for these apartments is to accommodate people that work in The Villages.
The Villages already is building apartment complexes and duplex housing in Wildwood not far from Brownwood Paddock Square that blend in with this area as developed and do not detract from Brownwood activities. The a la carte Lofts at Brownwood have not reached full occupancy even though rental rates were reduced to attract apartment dwellers. Up-charges for garages and additional storage places with no personal help for car parking, carrying groceries, etc. as provided in upscale apartments.
With the apartments under construction around and outside of the Spanish Springs area, a need for professional services, lawyers, doctors, dentists, accountants, etc. will become a necessity. The second floor offices of the Spanish Springs Town Center buildings will need a little compound and simonizing to facilitate professional services as such, but nowhere near the expense of apartment conversions. All that is needed is The Villages Marketing Department put their sales hats on and sell this concept to promote what is available with minor building changes and no dedicated parking places.
The Van Patten Building is a little more complex since over the years changes were made to Katie Belle’s that contributed to the dining dance hall’s demise. Restaurants project their cash flow based on the amount of tables available to patrons. Contrary to Katie Belle’s removing the tables and closing the dining room section. Many in the restaurant business consider this endeavor as occupational suicide. Even with the elimination of the dining room, there was an attraction for people to participate in various activities going-on at Katie Belle’s. The square actually had people walking around in late morning till mid-afternoon and some people waiting for music to start in the square. The move upstairs wrote the epitaph for Katie Belle’s.
Consideration for the Developers’ risk to build The Villages is most important. The residents are not privy to what the ups and downs are/were to make The Villages what it is today. The undertaking of an endeavor of building The Villages most likely had some good days and bad days. There is a consensus of opinion among residents that the Developer only wants to make more money without any thoughtful regard of the investment the Developer made to make The Villages what it is today. There also should be some consideration for the residents that purchased homes in The Villages that helped the Developer make The Villages the best place to live and retire.
So what happens to Katie Belle’s and Spanish Springs Town Center? Since there are a majority of residents that recognize Katie Belle’s and Spanish Springs as the draw as it was when in full operation, they should have a voice in what is happening to these places and what the future holds. There are even new residents that recently purchased homes in Fenney that heard about Katie Belle’s and ask questions why it is closed. If the fact is that Katie Belle’s lost money when in operation, none of this information was brought to the residents. By precluding The Village residents from any decision pertaining to the future of Katie Belle’s and Spanish Springs Town Center only breeds contempt throughout the resident population. The residents were never given the opportunity to correct any issues that contributed to the close of Katie Belle’s.
The Van Patten Building because of its location in Spanish Springs Town Center has a much better potential than a rental property offers. Since financial issues over the last 25 years are the word out of The Villages office, particulars never divulged, Katie Belle’s was unilaterally altered through the years and ultimately shut down with no consideration from the residents. The Village residents could correct this situation if given the opportunity.
There are many very talented business oriented individuals that live in The Villages that can make Katie Belle’s profitable. There are millions of dollars spent by the AAC and PWAC to construct new or refurbish recreational facilities with a lot of overhead but virtually have no cash flow. The residents pay for these places either through amenity fees or taxes. Suggest putting Katie Belle’s back the way it was in the beginning of The Villages and let the residents manage the operations. If capital is required for daily operations until a profit is established, raise the amenity fee per household. With the number of houses now in The Villages every $1 equates to approximately one million dollars per year. This funding can be used for required alterations and to put Katie Belle’s back in business.
Suggest building a brew pub/restaurant/dance hall operation or casino with entertainment and restaurant. This will bring jobs and taxes to this area, and most important, life. Apartments will only be the demise of Spanish Springs and the Van Patten Building.
The Village Machine never stops. Village managers, vice presidents, lawyers and authoritarian personnel reach out to anybody in a position that will agree and authorize what The Villages propose. In this particular proposal, why not ask The Villages residents?
Written by Jim Cipollon a resident of The Village.

I don't think people want to read your newspaper length stuff; especially on this short snippet type of forum.

I know I didn't.. You lost me after the first two paragraphs
  #27  
Old 08-04-2021, 05:34 AM
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[QUOTE=graciegirl;1982936]Katie Belles died because it failed to get enough business.

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Originally Posted by rustyp View Post
Total BS - site your source besides hearsay.
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Originally Posted by graciegirl View Post

Another swing and a miss. Did you read the article you sited ? No mention closure was due to the inability of getting enough business. If anything the article is pointing the reader to when is enough - enough ? (I.E. greed ?) A couple of interesting quotes from the "article":

- When Katie Belle’s reopened after the renovation, many residents were unhappy with the results. The fact that Katie Belle’s was no longer a private club for residents prompted one resident to conclude, “Sorry Mr. Developer, but you blew this one.”

- Unfortunately, Katie Belle’s won’t the be the last piece of Villages magic to disappear. The community is now being run by the fourth generation Morse Millennials – the group who actually expects Villagers to believe the popular venue is being closed because of the Coronavirus. If you ask us, that seems a bit too convenient and a sorry excuse for making the space available to a hefty-rent-paying tenant.
  #28  
Old 08-04-2021, 05:46 AM
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Originally Posted by Road-Runner View Post
I would think apartments right on top of an outdoor music venue is not a good idea for most renters! What I'd be worried about is the same thing that happens when people build houses right beside a race track and then have it shut down because of the noise. The same thing is absolutely going to happen in Spanish Springs. The Villages should get involved when an amenity like a town square is going to be made unusable by allowing residential in a strictly commercial space.
With the growth of TV South of Morse Blvd., maybe TV long term plan is to slowly phase out Spanish Springs as one of the Town Squares. I have heard that Brownwood is now becoming the epicenter of the TV Squares, due to all the growth at that end of the TV. They have after all just relocated their Street of Dreams Sales compound there. Sounds to me like this is the natural path of things "out with the old, in with the new". I agree with some of what was said, but SS sadly has become somewhat a ghost town. However, raising amenity fees is not the answer. You can't keep raising amenity fees to bail out failed business'. There will always be some that will fail, and it is not the residents responsibilities to bail them out so to speak.
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Old 08-04-2021, 05:51 AM
FromNY FromNY is offline
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How many Villagers south of 466A and especially south of 44 ever visit Spanish Springs?After almost 20 years here the squares do not hold the same adventures. Fun at times same same at times. Age changes how we see and do things. Spanish Springs is in a time warp. Or is it a mish mush of structures? When they took the church on the square away the realization of constant change hit.Their (as in Developer ) business their choices. Personally bring back the sweet Buffalo .
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Old 08-04-2021, 06:05 AM
Girlcopper Girlcopper is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Escape Artist View Post
Was it a restaurant? Why did it stop being popular with residents of TV? Could it just be the natural order of things, i.e. new squares being built, the population growth in the new areas, etc.
It was a novelty and an anchor as previously said. New and better restaurants started opening and people moved on. Think about it. Dont you patronize new places to check them out? Sure. No one eats constantly at the same place plus……parking at a busy time
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