I live in the Village of Chatham and stand opposed the VLS proposal on the proposed redevelopment of Hacienda Hills Apartment development plan. It is simply the wrong plan for the proposed site. There are many reasons for this;

1) It would drastically change the tenor of area for the current residents living in that area. We already have the developer building assisted living or memory care facilities on just about every open area north of 466.

2) Morse Blvd is already one of the most busy and candidly, dangerous roads in not only TV, but in all of Sumter county. The intersections all along that road from Paige Place circle to the gate at 466 are dangerous enough for vehicular traffic, golf carts, and pedestrians without adding more cars to the mix.

3) the proposed amenities the developer would build are not needed in this area, there are enough pools, courts, etc in this area to meet demand and our Amenity fees are not and never have been designed to help the developer attract new buyers to new ventures. There are more than enough restaurants and what happens if years down the road they pull another “Katie Bells” on us folks when they decide a more lucrative commercial development than a restaurant serves their purpose. There are plenty of open spots in all the town centers if they want to go into the restaurant business. Also remember the “Santiago” restaurant, how did that work out.

Instead of any new pools, courts, etc. how about the developer offering to change the 27 hole Hacienda Hills pay to play country club where he makes money into (3) “new” “ executive”golf courses for the benefit of ALL those living in the area north of 466. All that would require is some starter shacks be built. Counter his proposal with that idea and see what they say. I suspect the developer will not even consider that. He has built no new golf courses north of 466 in many years yet added many more new homes and residents, (Phillips, Souillere, Chatham acres) and made a lot of $$$ but added no new holes to play. He has no compunction about building courses south of the Turnpike.

4) the developer is always looking at using our amenity fees as a lure for every project he plans, like the apartments at Brownwood. The developer never builds new amenities although he proposes that here, but history has shown that if and when he does he laters ends up selling them back to the AAC or PWC who get stuck with long term costs of maintenance and repairs.

5) the amenity fees are already increasing yearly, and we do not need to be giving them away. The AAC settlement fees will not last forever. As it is now If a new house is buil, the occupants join in and pay amenity fees, just like the folks in Souiller Villas and Phillips Villas did. If the residents of these new apartments want amenities, let them pay to play just like any new homeowner in TV is required to do.

These are just a few thoughts you and the fellow board members might want to consider.

Thank you
Philip Rogers
V/O Chatham

Witness
 

The paying of fees to live there is not the critical need. The critical point is what has been done to handle the infrastructures and the needs to protect the residents in that particular area. What are the plans for the added traffic, what are the plans for police coverage, the plans for cell towers for added usage, the lights, parking, additional roads, sewage, etc etc. The fortunate Villagers are the ones who, before they bought, did extensive studies to understand where they would live, the exposure to new buildings, infrastructures, etc. It took us 2 years of renting 2 months at a time to study the best areas to live, property values, home style, returning to the target locations at days and nights, neighbors, etc and we hit the jackpot at the end. Have been here over 12 years and never once questioning our decision. Those that buy without studying the many factors needed are just rolling dice. The Villages have many good and bad areas and to listen to a "Sales Reality Rep" to buy is just plain stupid. You should be ready to sign a contract the minute you call the Rep as you have done all the homework to purchase. We have watched over the years the complaints of residents who did not do the work and bought near the turnpike noise, the ones that purchased near recycle plants, the ones without good cell phone coverage, poor home building workmenship, the ones that had to wait a year or so to use the Villages access (e.g. bridges), parking problems, etc, etc. We found a good practice is to buy a resale in the right area and at the price and style you want. It will probably be a couple of years of studying the challenge, and a few months of rental to reach a best choice decision. No one cares about your needs and want except you and in the end you should be happy not just for a year but remembering this is truly "God's waiting room". A last point is to always keep in your mind that the Developer is interested in maximizing his/her opportunity to build and your job is to buy where you are protected from their expansion and the many risks these may bring to your desired life style. :popcorn:

To anyone owning a home on a Championship golf course anywhere in the Villages, you better be watching this very closely. That huge premium you paid for your home could rapidly go up in smoke. If the developer gets away with their plans for Hacienda Hills, I predict Glenview will be the next target.

I used to be addicted to the kool aid that Gary Morse served, and boy do I miss that drink. The new recipe for kool aid being served by the current generation of the Morse family has a bitter taste.

It just amazes me how many people here hate this place or think others should hate it , example I’m out in Fenney from the start we are all supposed to hate it here , but we don’t , I don’t care when the bridges go up and contrary to what some people say they were promised I was told maybe Spring of 2020 I do care about all the beautiful green space we have here, I have moved 5 times starting 20 years ago in Springdale, I still keep in touch with some neighbors from these neighborhoods, all of them are still happy about the villages and all the new choices we have. ENJOY

Wonderful
 

It is wonderful that you like your home in Fenney ! That is what my points are all about. If you like your home then you either did your homework or were lucky. Either way it worked out. I am sure there are many who feel they made the right decision? :popcorn:

:ho:
“Bitterness is what happens when we view the things we want which we don't have. Those harboring bitterness in their hearts have the tendency to alienate themselves from those things that cause the bitter taste. Which is why bitterness never works. Because in order to achieve that which we want but don't have, we need to be putting ourselves in that river, in those rivers, and flowing in them. Bitterness is an anchor that denies you the right to flow in, and towards, the things that you really wish you had. Grace of the Soul is what empowers you with the ability to be joyful for the ones who have what you don't yet have. Grace of Soul is the canoe helping you to flow with and in those rivers.”
― C. JoyBell C.

Yet the bitterness, naysayers, glass half empty, believers that Harold Schwartz and Gary Morse didn't have a vision to make a lot of money or believe there is an obligation for the Developer to cater to individual needs are still here. Why?

You can spend all the time you wish
 

and still end up with new neighbors who are loud and have dogs that bark . I’ve bought 5 new homes here never took more then 2days to decide , the one at haciendas of Mission Hill I bought 15 minutes after looking . I like to buy early , you can never plan for neighbors , it’s always location , location after 14 homes and condos did I mention location , location lol plus I make it a point to not socialize with neighbors , so if they do become annoying, you don’t have to worry about hurting there feelings

Amenity gone
 

I don't live in that area but I feel like TV has taken away an amenity that was touted when I purchased here. I think it could have continued as an amenity IF the right management team were put in place there. I also think TV will be making even more money by re purposing this property. We need to be watchful of our other amenities - who's to say this isn't a long term direction now that there are thousands of people that have bought property here.

Let us hope that The Villages (not tied to any individual) is smart enough to realize that alienating several hundred residents will backfire in the long run.

Like the OP, I see a pattern of disrespect to everything north of 466. Eventually, what goes around comes around.

,,,

Article in the Daily Sun
 

Can someone post the article that was posted in the newspaper last week about the Developer's proposal for Hacienda CC remodel? I thought it read that they would rebuild (upgrade) the demolition area as it was. In exchange, he was asking for approval to build senior housing somewhere in the District. I don't think it stated that they picked a location for the housing.

I agree with your post, but putting it on TOV won't do any good. Please send it to each member of the Amenity Authority Committee, they are the only ones that will be voting to, or not to, grant amenity privileges to a high density rental apartment complex, and they are meeting tomorrow at 9:00 AM. There is a reason the developer currently can NOT grant amenity privileges to high density housing north of 466, to protect the amenities from not getting over-utilized by high density developments. The amenities were designed to serve a single family residential development. It will be very bad for existing amenity using homeowners living in the area if the developer is allowed to build the proposed apartments and offer amenity privileges to the residents. No one can stop the developer from building the apartments, but without being able to offer amenity privileges, renting the units will be much more difficult and building the complex would need to be reconsidered.

You can get the e-mail address of all the Amenity Authority Committee members from the districtgov.org website. I have already written each of them individually.

Although I said I agree with the above quoted post, I strongly disagree with the part about turning the 27 hole championship golf course into three executive courses. We need more Championship golf, not less.

The best post so far. I agree completely. What scares me even more are the non age restricted districts the developer is proposing.

You are absolutely correct it is a long term direction of the developer.