[graciegirl]

Before we moved to new house here in The Villages last year we lived adjacent to Odell Recreation center where we witnessed it and all of it's outbuildings being painted EVERY year for the four years we were there.. Also the wall between us and Odell was power washed and the planting beds hand weeded at least twice a year.

The streets are clean and free from debris. The rec centers are kept up beautifully inside.

In every rec center there is a beautiful Christmas tree that goes with the decor of each place. Beautiful.

Take the time to go around and see as many trees as possible in different rec centers this season. They bring us beautiful things.

Disclaimer. I don't work for the Morses, I don't know the Morses, they could be nasty....but they sure make this place so beautiful and keep it so nice and clean.

Merry Christmas

[bimmertl]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Before we moved to new house here in The Villages last year we lived adjacent to Odell Recreation center where we witnessed it and all of it's outbuildings being painted EVERY year for the four years we were there.. Also the wall between us and Odell was power washed and the planting beds hand weeded at least twice a year.

The streets are clean and free from debris. The rec centers are kept up beautifully inside.

In every rec center there is a beautiful Christmas tree that goes with the decor of each place. Beautiful.

Take the time to go around and see as many trees as possible in different rec centers this season. They bring us beautiful things.

Disclaimer. I don't work for the Morses, I don't know the Morses, they could be nasty....but they sure make this place so beautiful and keep it so nice and clean.

Merry Christmas

Of course, this is all possible since it is the residents that pay for all of this. And we also pay all the salaries of the employees, and relatives and friends of Morse who are employees despite the fact their qualifications for their positions are unknown as are their salaries.

While we all scream for "transparency" from our government officials, in TV we have none regarding many issues and nobody complains, not that it would make a difference if we did.

[PennBF]

If anyone wants to have a deeper understanding of the clever ways the Developer is conducting business just take a look at the Amenity Fees vs
the Project Wide. There are a series of articles in the POA newspaper which addresses these and they can be sourced out of the old newspapers on their website. The residents are paying expenses which are a direct advantage to the Developer as opposed to the general public.
I repeat..we love The Villages but we don't lose sight of reality. You have CDD's who historically just approve any actions favorable to the developer, you have Village managment who in a number a cases are the result of being
appointed through the Developer. Some by very clever paths.
Most residents just don't care which I understand since they can afford the extra costs and just go on. I may be one of them. When is action required or needed..probably when the actions directly remove things we individually
enjoy? It looks like they pushed the envelope when they attacked the Parades which are much loved by many? If they can chunk this piece away then it would be time to move on to the others.., (e.g. anything they determine may be classified as "entertainment" and turned over to non Villages residents who are driven by the bottom line.)

[mickey100]

Originally Posted by Challenger

Virtually all developers in larger projects provide amenities at one level or another as partof their marketing package. Many times , as in The Villages, this includes the contribution of capital assets such as buildings and playing fields and their equipment. As the development matures it is usually the case that the developer turns these activities over to the residents who determine at what level they will operate and how much they will volunteer to contribute. ... We need to begin preparing now for their total withdrawal from these activities.

Yes, in The Villages the developer used special appraisal techniques, approved and accepted by their hand-picked boards, to sell common properties back to the residents in the CDDs at grossly inflated prices.

[graciegirl]

I believe that the some of the above posts are speculative and incorrect....at best.

It is not illegal, unethical or immoral to make money running a business.

I do not feel I have lost anything, only gained new things to do and see as we grow, and as we grow, some of our group activities may have to be rethought such as the parades filling the squares and leaving no room for people.


What do the ALWAYS ANONYMOUS naysayers have to gain, I constantly wonder. Do they not live here, and are jealous, do they work for competitive areas, or outside businesses? Do they just dislike the developers because they are successful and very rich?

It is not a sin to be rich.

[Indydealmaker]

Originally Posted by mickey100

Yes, in The Villages the developer used special appraisal techniques, approved and accepted by their hand-picked boards, to sell common properties back to the residents in the CDDs at grossly inflated prices.

Actually, the appraisals have passed more than one audit and are in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices. The valuations were for income streams as well as physical plants.

[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

It is not illegal, unethical or immoral to make money running a business.

I do not feel I have lost anything, only gained new things to do and see as we grow, and as we grow, some of our group activities may have to be rethought such as the parades filling the squares and leaving no room for people.


What do the ALWAYS ANONYMOUS naysayers have to gain, I constantly wonder. Do they not live here, and are jealous, do they work for competitive areas, or outside businesses? Do they just dislike the developer because he is successful and very rich?

It is not a sin to be rich.

Right On! It is NOT a sin to be rich....business SHOULD make money...otherwise it is called a HOBBY.

I, like you,wonder about those who have hundreds and even thousands of posts on TOTV and they do not even live here. Some have never even been here and yet they have so many negative comments. Why would anyone not living here or ever intending to live here be on this forum so much? Perhaps it is loneliness that comes from not having all of the wonderful opportunities for friendships that we have here in TV

[Indydealmaker]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I believe that the above posts are speculative and incorrect....at best.

It is not illegal, unethical or immoral to make money running a business.

I do not feel I have lost anything, only gained new things to do and see as we grow, and as we grow, some of our group activities may have to be rethought such as the parades filling the squares and leaving no room for people.


What do the ALWAYS ANONYMOUS naysayers have to gain, I constantly wonder. Do they not live here, and are jealous, do they work for competitive areas, or outside businesses? Do they just dislike the developer because he is successful and very rich?

It is not a sin to be rich.

Gracie, It is currently in vogue to criminalize being wealthy. This whole brewhaw has started because the developer is spinning off various parts of the Villages and those parts are now going to be net income producing. WHAT A SURPRISE!

I think some of the posters are just as mad at themselves as they are the developer...they assumed certain free entertainments would continue ad infinitum.

If these features were that critical to their purchases, they should have performed their due diligence, however all too many did not even use an attorney at their closings. They depended upon the "goodwill" of their agents.

Maybe it is time to do now what they should have done back when; get in writing what will continue free and how it is to be paid for. This really is simple. It is just business and with 80,000 homes, almost any kind of entertainment can be very affordably acquired. There is no free lunch.

[loonlovers]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I believe that the some of the above posts are speculative and incorrect....at best.

It is not illegal, unethical or immoral to make money running a business.

I do not feel I have lost anything, only gained new things to do and see as we grow, and as we grow, some of our group activities may have to be rethought such as the parades filling the squares and leaving no room for people.


What do the ALWAYS ANONYMOUS naysayers have to gain, I constantly wonder. Do they not live here, and are jealous, do they work for competitive areas, or outside businesses? Do they just dislike the developers because they are successful and very rich?

It is not a sin to be rich.

Gracie, you took the words out of my mouth! All these negative posts lately from the same individuals who can find nothing right in TV. And, no..I don't have rose colored glasses on! I'm amazed how critical individuals can be who have very limited exposure to The Villages...a visit doesn't make someone an expert. Some non resident posters even attempt to criticize or even ridicule those of us who live here.

My husband and I have been full time residents for more than two years after spending just winters for six years. We are still "in love" with this wonderful community we live in.

Are there some areas for improvement here...absolutely. But, this community has provided many of us with the best experience we could ever expect in our retirement years.

[billethkid]

yes buying and selling homes/real estate is a business. no kidding!! Is it any different in anyone's mind than buying or selling through any other real estate company in the US?? Of course not.

Let's see, I do believe the developer has been out of "the business(es) north of 441. Some how they seem to have continued to exist.

Did you buy here because of the parades. Most of us did not.

Did you buy here because of the entertainmnent. Most of us did not.

Is it nice to have parades/entertainment? Of course for those who are hooked on it.....odds are this would represent a minority in TV.....which is still a sizeable number of people.

Every developer based community goes through a transition as the developer's build out approaches. There are always many amenities that are subsidized by developers which do in fact benefit residents but make no mistake these amenities are subsidized for marketing to the new sale.

Will the developer hang in here after the build out. Most likely. Why throw away the opportunity to continue to make significant profits selling the same homes over and over and over again.

Those entities the developer owns tha turn a health profit will continue to be held by them like the banks, the liquor stores, the real estate company, etc.

All the marketing driven stuff will be sold off to the insiders first like the newspaper was to the Markquards and the entertainment to the Vescos.
The other marketing driven entities will survive if a profitable venture.

No matter what is left it will still be a far and away better life style than is available in most retirement communities and cities of our size.

btk

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by billethkid

yes buying and selling homes/real estate is a business. no kidding!! Is it any different in anyone's mind than buying or selling through any other real estate company in the US?? Of course not.

Let's see, I do believe the developer has been out of "the business(es) north of 441. Some how they seem to have continued to exist.

Did you buy here because of the parades. Most of us did not.

Did you buy here because of the entertainmnent. Most of us did not.

Is it nice to have parades/entertainment? Of course for those who are hooked on it.....odds are this would represent a minority in TV.....which is still a sizeable number of people.

Every developer based community goes through a transition as the developer's build out approaches. There are always many amenities that are subsidized by developers which do in fact benefit residents but make no mistake these amenities are subsidized for marketing to the new sale.

Will the developer hang in here after the build out. Most likely. Why throw away the opportunity to continue to make significant profits selling the same homes over and over and over again.

Those entities the developer owns tha turn a health profit will continue to be held by them like the banks, the liquor stores, the real estate company, etc.

All the marketing driven stuff will be sold off to the insiders first like the newspaper was to the Markquards and the entertainment to the Vescos.
The other marketing driven entities will survive if a profitable venture.

No matter what is left it will still be a far and away better life style than is available in most retirement communities and cities of our size.

btk

We don't always agree, but you score a SPOT ON for this post BTK.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Indydealmaker

Gracie, It is currently in vogue to criminalize being wealthy. This whole brewhaw has started because the developer is spinning off various parts of the Villages and those parts are now going to be net income producing. WHAT A SURPRISE!

I think some of the posters are just as mad at themselves as they are the developer...they assumed certain free entertainments would continue ad infinitum.

If these features were that critical to their purchases, they should have performed their due diligence, however all too many did not even use an attorney at their closings. They depended upon the "goodwill" of their agents.

Maybe it is time to do now what they should have done back when; get in writing what will continue free and how it is to be paid for. This really is simple. It is just business and with 80,000 homes, almost any kind of entertainment can be very affordably acquired. There is no free lunch.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally Posted by billethkid

yes buying and selling homes/real estate is a business. no kidding!! Is it any different in anyone's mind than buying or selling through any other real estate company in the US?? Of course not.

Let's see, I do believe the developer has been out of "the business(es) north of 441. Some how they seem to have continued to exist.

Did you buy here because of the parades. Most of us did not.

Did you buy here because of the entertainmnent. Most of us did not.

Is it nice to have parades/entertainment? Of course for those who are hooked on it.....odds are this would represent a minority in TV.....which is still a sizeable number of people.

Every developer based community goes through a transition as the developer's build out approaches. There are always many amenities that are subsidized by developers which do in fact benefit residents but make no mistake these amenities are subsidized for marketing to the new sale.

Will the developer hang in here after the build out. Most likely. Why throw away the opportunity to continue to make significant profits selling the same homes over and over and over again.

Those entities the developer owns tha turn a health profit will continue to be held by them like the banks, the liquor stores, the real estate company, etc.

All the marketing driven stuff will be sold off to the insiders first like the newspaper was to the Markquards and the entertainment to the Vescos.
The other marketing driven entities will survive if a profitable venture.

No matter what is left it will still be a far and away better life style than is available in most retirement communities and cities of our size.

btk

-----------------------------------
After all those depressing posts.................these two will now allow us to not worry anymore!

[villages07]

The term "amenity" has been used, abused, and misused in this thread.

The amenities that we pay for, via, our monthly amenity fee include.... rec centers, exec golf, pools, community watch, and support for the myriad of recreation programs. We pay for it, we have some (but not a lot) of say in what is offered and how they operate.

All of the entertainment and special events are put on by commercial entities. We don't contract for it or pay for it directly so we have little influence over what is scheduled, when, and how much. If we support these events with our participation and patronage and they are profitable for the sponsoring business...they will probably continue.

Arts and crafts shows, cruise in, parades, military honor events, polo, other car shows at the squares, onsite filming of television talk shows, political rallies, chili cook off, BBQ bash, events for the High School ... and on and on the list goes. These are all events and activities we enjoy but we don't pay for.

You can only control (to some degree) what you own and pay for.

I truly wish the Developer was a little more forthcoming about these business changes and the reasons for them .... that would serve to quell some of the outrage and rumors.

All in all, it's still a pretty remarkable place to live.

[mulligan]

IMHO, Barbara Vesco has no need to justify her business decisions to anyone.

[Challenger]

Originally Posted by villages07

The term "amenity" has been used, abused, and misused in this thread.

The amenities that we pay for, via, our monthly amenity fee include.... rec centers, exec golf, pools, community watch, and support for the myriad of recreation programs. We pay for it, we have some (but not a lot) of say in what is offered and how they operate.

All of the entertainment and special events are put on by commercial entities. We don't contract for it or pay for it directly so we have little influence over what is scheduled, when, and how much. If we support these events with our participation and patronage and they are profitable for the sponsoring business...they will probably continue.

Arts and crafts shows, cruise in, parades, military honor events, polo, other car shows at the squares, onsite filming of television talk shows, political rallies, chili cook off, BBQ bash, events for the High School ... and on and on the list goes. These are all events and activities we enjoy but we don't pay for.

You can only control (to some degree) what you own and pay for.

I truly wish the Developer was a little more forthcoming about these business changes and the reasons for them .... that would serve to quell some of the outrage and rumors.

All in all, it's still a pretty remarkable place to live.

Well said