Talk of The Villages Florida - New homes on The Villages Original Side

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Quote:

Originally Posted by champion6 (Post 946726)

Are you sure about this? Personally, I don't think this is true. Anyone else know for sure?

It is absolutely true. Harold Schwartz lived on the historic side for many years. The entire Morse family lived there until the late 80's or early 90's when they built a home in Hickory Hammock.

Where do you think they would live? The historic side was all there was at that time. There was no development on the other side of 441/27.

Quote:

Originally Posted by champion6 (Post 946726)

Are you sure about this? Personally, I don't think this is true. Anyone else know for sure?

Harold Schwartz lived on Aloha Way and Gary Morse lived on Paradise Drive. The names of many streets on the historic side are names of Harold's friends and family. FYI below is a short history:

Story about Harold Schwartz, founder of The Villages, family history, Gary Morse and a link to pictures of his yacht based near Tampa.

Cracker Bay Yacht Photos - Hakvoort Shipyard.. | superyachts.com

A little Villages� History:

Mary Louise (�Mema�) Brown-Schwartz was divorced from the founder, Harold S. Schwartz and she moved back from Chicago IL. to Central Lake, MI (where she was raised) about 1944 with her two children, Harold Gary Schwartz and Mary Louise Schwartz. She later married Clifford H. Morse there and started Brownwood Farms about 1945. Because the war was still going on, she didn�t want the Schwartz name of her children to be an anti-semetic target in case the Nazis invaded the US. Clifford adopted the children and their names were legally changed to his (Morse). Son, H. Gary (his Mom preferred to use his middle name) later operated the Farmhouse Restaurant there with his Mom and wife, Sharon. Gary�s sister, Mary Louise (�Mar�) married David S. Detar and continued to run Brownwood Farms with her son, Stephan Detar. She still lives in Central Lake and Gary visits her often.

Founder, Harold Schwartz later married Bernice Newman (about 1946) and had three other children, one of which is Richard A. Schwartz (who lived in �Eden Prairie�, MN. for a while), Gary�s half brother, who now lives in the area but no longer is involved with the golf operations of the corporation. Harold went around the country buying up radio stations until he got to Wildwood, FL. and found Orange Blossom Gardens. He bought and sold land plots in Florida and New Mexico and even owned a hotel in Miami, FL. at one time.

About 1983 after buying out his OBG partner, Albert J. Tarrson, Harold asked his son Gary to come down and manage the business and help develop the growing retirement community. Gary, Sharon and their three children moved to Paradise Drive. Harold returned to Chicago for two years then came back to live on Aloha Way about 1985. Together, Harold and Gary had a bright vision for a retirement place they eventually named The Villages. By the time Harold died (just before Chrismas, 2003), he was 93 years old, had 5 children, 16 grandchildren (Mark Gary, Jennifer Louise and Tracy Lee among them), 28 greatgrandchildren and shook thousands of hands on the Town Square.

H. Gary Morse, who lost his wife Sharon to cancer just before New Years in 1999, is now 74 years old and loves to spend time on his 143 ft. yacht named �Cracker Bay� with his second wife, Renee.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rustyp (Post 947628)

I received a letter with a local newspaper clipping from upper Michigan last week from a poster on this forum who knows I am a Morse fan. She has known the Morse family since her childhood when she spent summers near the Michigan Brownwood. Mary Lou, Gary's sister is still making homemade donuts for her patrons at The General Store. Her picture was in the local paper. Mary Lou has visited here but continues to run her small business that was the family business in the original Brownwood.

This poster came to a TOTV gathering at my home last Christmas season for the expressed purpose of meeting me and reassuring me that I am right to think the Morse family are worthy of my admiration. She said that they were decent, hard working people and deserve their success.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl (Post 942828)

Prices may end up being not much different for than for small new builds south of 466a, but the lot sizes in the historic section are so much larger. Just speculating.

I'm not sure where so many people get the idea that the lots are larger over here. Most of the lots are 60 X 90. They probably look larger because the manufactured homes are so much smaller. But, when you look at these new homes, you'll see that there's not a lot of room between houses.

Quote:

Originally Posted by champion6 (Post 946726)

Are you sure about this? Personally, I don't think this is true. Anyone else know for sure?

Harold lived on the corner of Aloha Way and Tarrson Blvd until his death in 2003. The home is still there. I drive by it all the time. Next to it is Schwartz Park.

I know people over here that knew Harold Schwartz. They all have nothing but good things to say about him. He would walk around his neighborhood and say hi and shake hands with everyone. He'd invite people into his house for ice tea and lemonade.

The historic district is where The Villages began. Everything else is an addition. In fact the first town square sits behind the Circle K on LaGrande Ave opposite the post office. That is where the first nightly live entertainment was held. I believe that all of the retail establishments are now gone. Cal's Barber Shop was the last one. The Mexican restaurant is still there, but the rest of the building are medical offices or soon to be medical offices.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVMayor (Post 942235)

I will say $210,000 but because of the price paid the land I think that is low.

You nailed the price, but I don't understand why you think the price of the land is low.

If you look at home owners insurance for the manufactured homes on this side, you'll see that the value of the land is about $39,000. The developer is paying about $100,000 for the lot and then has to remove the old home and then remove the driveway and sidewalks. Many of these older homes have stick built additions that slo have to be torn down.

Then a lot of the site work is more complex because old infrastructure has to be removed before new pipes and conduit can be installed.

It seems to me that he's over paying for these lots by a wide margin.

Maybe $120,000 or so is less than what one would pay for a lot on the other side, but these just don't seem to be worth that. I can't imagine that the developer is making money on these few homes. They must have some sort of long term goal in mind.

rustyp and Dr. Winston O Boogie Jr: Thanks for the history lesson. I appreciate the information!

Neither of the two homes listed on the Villages site are there. I assume that they both sold.

3 more new cottages were just listed on the villages site

The Villages - Search for New, Pre-owned Homes and Villas in The Villages, Florida