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The original author is a District 2 Supervisor. Obviously he does NOT understand how The Villages works. He also proposed putting a Gambling Casino in the Hacienda Hills Country Club or where Katie Belle's was originally located. Doesn't he know that such gambling is illegal in Florida (except by license on tribal lands)? Think The Villages Operating Company would turn over that building to the Seminole Tribe of Florida so they can take a share of Villagers' wealth? That long dissertation just rambles and makes no sense to me.

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[Alana33]

I like the concept of the apartments in SS but unless they are soundproofed, I cannot fathom why anyone would want to be inflicted with the noise from the music in the Square, daily, until 9 PM.
That would be an absolute nightmare for me.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

How many parking spots were required for KB’s? Many more than a dozen apartments.

Ten years ago, I would park in the Publix parking lot if I had to. I never minded walking. Katie Belles was worth the walk. Then, slowly KBs and even I changed - both becoming less energetic and interesting.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by KRMACK55

He’s a big promoter of the villages owners should be paid by them. The residents here pay for everything and even pay for the maintenance for the business owners. It’s getting too expensive for older residents. Thad just a fact.

Can you show us in the budgets where residents' funds go to maintenance of privately owned buildings.

[cswett5234]

Originally Posted by Mlogan22@tampabay.rr.com

I think apartments are a Great idea! If I were to come visit The Villages I would prefer Staying at these apartments rather than an offsite place. Some people like to be where the action is....

Noise...you know that when you rent. What if they offered short 6 month leases? That way, an out-of-tower like my wife and I could stay at the apartment, research the differing neighborhoods before deciding where we want to be. Or maybe, we would love to stay there where the action is, music, food, street festivals, people love that stuff.

Stop thinking about the negative aspects and try to think "outside the box" just a little.

Clint from Freeport, ME

[Gpsma]

Spanish Springs...along with that whole northern tier of TV...is a ghetto now.

The real villages is now south of 466a and 44.

No one cares anymore about north of 466. All the bad news comes from there.

The Esteemed Developer would bulldoze it down in a heartbeat.

[shut the front door]

Originally Posted by Gpsma

Spanish Springs...along with that whole northern tier of TV...is a ghetto now.

The real villages is now south of 466a and 44.

No one cares anymore about north of 466. All the bad news comes from there.

The Esteemed Developer would bulldoze it down in a heartbeat.

That is absolutely laughable. The violent crime rate of Lady Lake is far less that HALF that of Wildwood. And Wildwood property crime and violent crime rates both surpass the national average in both categories. You couldn't pay me to live near that hood.

2021 Compare Crime Rates: Wildwood, FL vs Lady Lake, FL

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Gpsma

Spanish Springs...along with that whole northern tier of TV...is a ghetto now.

The real villages is now south of 466a and 44.

No one cares anymore about north of 466. All the bad news comes from there.

The Esteemed Developer would bulldoze it down in a heartbeat.

Where do you live?

[Laker14]

according to a Google search I just performed, Spanish Springs was built in 1994, which makes it about 27 years old. 27 years in a retirement community is several lifetimes, and several different "classes" of retirees. I figure about every 5-7 years you get a "class" of retirees, whose life experiences are different enough to account for different tastes. As teens growing up, that period of time creates differences in fashions, music, and even political thinking. 27 years would account for 4 or 5 such transitions, and it's reasonable to assume that what "rocked" for retirees in 1994 probably won't rock for retirees in 2021 and beyond.
The most efficient way to "kill" Spanish Springs would have been to be locked into the original concept, for 30 years or more , and think that would continue to be attractive.

[JRietz]

Originally Posted by Polish Golfer

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?
...
Written by Jim Cipollon a resident of The Village.

I will suggest going to SaveSpanishSprings.com and voice your opinion there.

Originally Posted by justjim

There were actually two Katie Belles. Old and new. The old KB had the restaurant on the
second floor and entertainment/dancing on the first floor. After 20 plus years the old KB needed a facelift, however, Instead of a facelift a decision was made for a complete renovation. In the transition, Katie Belles lost a great deal of its “natural” saloon ambiance of the 1800’s. Another major change was it went from a “resident/guest” operation to a total public operation. Village residents and their guests were made to feel special when entering old Katie Belles. 12-15 years ago I remember lines clear out to the street for residents and their guests. The Developer doesn’t make many mistakes but perhaps one was made in the changes made to Katie Belles. These are my observations without having any access to financial records of Katie Belles bottom line. But for sure, old Katie Belles was a big draw for Spanish Springs.

Yes it was popular. We enjoyed going there. But the update was a flop. Poor management. The apartments will be another flop. Presently all the second stories are rented to businesses.

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by John41

Yes it was popular. We enjoyed going there. But the update was a flop. Poor management. The apartments will be another flop. Presently all the second stories are rented to businesses.

The second stories are Villages employees that were relocated. I much preferred the new Katie Belles they good food and entertainment. They failed because Villagers would not spend the money for more expensive entree's. I hope the apts succeed. If I was single I would move there.

[stanley]

Originally Posted by John41

. Poor management. The apartments will be another flop.

From what I "heard" ( ), there is already a waiting list for when they get built. If I could afford it I would rent there also.

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by stanley

From what I "heard" ( ), there is already a waiting list for when they get built. If I could afford it I would rent there also.

I think it would be a fun place to live!

[npwalters]

Originally Posted by Gpsma

Spanish Springs...along with that whole northern tier of TV...is a ghetto now.

The real villages is now south of 466a and 44.

No one cares anymore about north of 466. All the bad news comes from there.

The Esteemed Developer would bulldoze it down in a heartbeat.

LOL. If any of you folks in "the hood" north of 466 want to sell your crib at the discounted "ghetto" price please contact me.