Phone call
 

Gracie, why don't you give Gary a call, and get the real skinny on this.:22yikes::thumbup:

You know, I wish I knew him. I might be disappointed but I think I would be proud to shake his hand. By diligence and hard work and some innovative ideas and by risking his own money and by looking carefully at what could be improved he has employed a platoon of great people, took Sumter county from one of the poorest areas in Florida and made the unemployment here at 5.1% one of the lowest in the state and in the nation. He has become very, very, rich. AND old. He deserves every penny of the money he made. Thank you Gary.

It isn't shameful to be rich. You earned it and created a place where seniors are having more fun than they did in college. You made history, fella, and we are part of it.:BigApplause:

Amen sista!

Could a private individual purchase an older home over there simply for the land and then have a builder put a home on the land, or is there something in the deed which forbids that?

It is a beautiful area and I think there is a lot of potential for new homes. I have noticed that most of the old oak trees are still standing, which is more than you can say for some of the newer areas!

This has already happened. People have purchased and removed the exisiting home and built a new one in several cases. I just wonder if the developer is doing it on a bigger scale. One poster who just bought there said his real estate person said so. Who can find out who owns the land? That is public record. I just can't figure out how to use the Lake County Property Appraiser site. Sumterpa.com is easy peasy.


Inquiring minds want to know.

One even purchased two lots to build a larger house (actually too large for the area if you ask most of us who drive by it). Many purchased with plans to build a frame house once they retire. It is a beautiful area. The one minus is anything is allowed on the lawns, even gnomes, pink flamingoes and peeing dogs. Personally, I'd never have anything in my yard but I'll defend your right to have whatever until we're all blue in the face.

The oak trees are lovely until they're in your yard making a royal mess to clean up or the roots upend your driveway or street. Even so, love em.

Lake County property appraiser site...under Schwartz Blvd. Nothing but people names except for three owned by Fannie Mae and one owned by the Diocese of Orlando. No trend there that I can see. MUST be a rumor.

I'm With You
 

I'm with you, Gracie. Our "historic district" is probably the most popular residential area in The Villages among it's residents. Most will tell you that they wouldn't move from that area even if offered a newer, bigger home in the newer part of TV. And the feelings from the Developer seem to be reciprocated.

Why else would the decision be made to protect this area from unwanted traffic by the "gate decision"? Why else would the Developer stand by and let the the CDD governing that area (all of the residents in that area thru their amenity fees) spend millions to improve the country club, pool, and clubhouse restaurant? Why would the Developer stand by and permit the CDD sign a long term lease with a new restaurant operator? Why would they make major improvements to the golf course?

There are probably lots more examples that make this rumor even more ludicrous than it already seems to be. Even those of us that live in newer parts of The Villages admire and respect our neighbors that live in that area. And I'm certain that the Developer does as well. After all, our historic district was the genesis of the place we call home.

Even More True If...
 

This is even more true if you consider the dire financial straights being experienced by Ocala General Hospital, just 25 miles from here. Obtaining a certificate of need would be impossible methinks.

The Homes for Sale insert in today's paper has zero Manufactured Homes listed. They do seem to sell fast, no matter who is buying.

If you can stand the clean up, the oak leaves make great mulch and end up feeding the soil. I go around to all my neighbors begging for their leaves. Several years ago three beautiful oaks in my vicinity were cut down in a matter of minutes by one of the itinerant tree removal people who appear in the spring, two of the oaks were my shade, so I have a bad feeling about people indiscriminately cutting oaks. I know there could be a fine, but the tree is gone.

I guess I'm weird, but I don't even mind a pink flamingo in a yard - don't want to see a flock of them ..................

For those with the budget, there are a couple of manufactured homes for sale near the family inner circle......

Manufactured Home - 4 BED 3 BATH
8 HICKORY HEAD HAMMOCK
Village of Hickory Head Hammock
Price: $749,900
View details for VLS 216218

Morse FAMILY used to live in Hickory Head Hammock, but first they lived in historic area. They live off 466 now. I keep up on stuff.;)

I am guessing that is a joke between neighbors? I have a hard time justifying that house for that money and I don't care who the neighbor is!

As far as the buying of historical district trailer homes and building newer homes; I am all for it, some of those trailer homes are awfully dated, and hopefully it is done with more continuity (the "too big" house seems out of place).

Gracie, the homes were recently purchased and the public records would not show that change yet.