"They paved Paradise and put up a parking lot!"

Wow. Not even sure what to say about this. (Sometimes the cliche nay-sayers hate is just so appropriate.)

I find it very hard to understand where all this negativity comes from. I must be living in a different place!! Not too long ago, a guy told me that he and his wife "HATE IT HERE". Then, why don't they all just leave!!!

In the 15 years that I have lived here, residents have never been asked to pay for repairs, etc to district owned facilities. In the past few months, residents in districts 5 through 10 are being told they must pay up to $1.5 million to shore up the Morse Blvd bridge and $50,000 to replace trees on Lake Miona Drive.

IMO: In the past, Gary Morse would have stepped up to the plate and paid these expenses. (This is only my opinion, based on 15 years of observing). There is no way to know for sure.

A legitimate argument for the bridge and trees can be made both ways, but if 110,000 Villagers pony up $14 each, problem is solved. I doubt there will be an epidemic of bankruptcies over that, in fact, hardly worth arguing over.
As for me, I'd rather pay my $14 than end up with a car or cart underwater, and trees do provide oxygen.

It is only the districts south of CR466 that are being asked to 'pony up'.

If you want to look at pasture and be in a rural setting, it probably wasn't a good idea to buy a house surrounded on 3-4 sides by other houses on 1/10th or 1/5th of an acre lots having city water, sewer, curbing etc. The density has always been known to buyers here, and the wise ones know that as we age, we need easy socialization with others, to avoid loneliness that research now shows worsens debilitation.

As for "greed", I don't think its greedy to build for people clamoring at the doors and on the phone that are coming with cash in hand to buy. This is a stable economy because of the residents who manage their money well, as does the developer.

That makes little sense---residents north of 466 don't use the bridge, breathe the air, or admire the scenery?????

Minnesota relatives of those who died or were maimed in the 2007 bridge collapse on I-35w probably wish somebody had proposed a solution costing county/state residents $14 each.

https://www.google.com/search?q=minn...ml%3B611%3B404

I don't recall reading or hearing that anyone would have to pay out of their pocket. The District sets aside money for repairs etc. I think this is just another misunderstanding. I haven't got a bill, have you? I am pretty sure I won't either. Let's wait and see before all this sturm und drang.

It's doubtful that any resident will get a 'bill', but when $1.5 million plus $50,000 is spent on this, it's not there for other things.

Perhaps, but in the end the bridge HAS to be fixed, unless TV residents are up for a game of Lake Sumter roulette.
So, choices are:
1) the developer pays
2) the residents pay
3) the developer goes to the bank, which I doubt is necessary

I have no idea of the cost of "other things", but if a cost offset is needed, perhaps digging up and changing the flowers could be done every 4 months instead of every 3--wonder what the savings would be?, and I doubt it would even be noticeable

Bonus is if you really feel duped you can sell your house fairly quickly :wave:

The changing landscaping of the common areas is one of the selling points of this place and when we have guests it is always noticed. Of course maybe they could cut back on how the golf courses are maintained, or the pools cleaned, etc. I'm sure there is a portion of the population that would doubt it would be that noticeable. Everything here has their constituency and I think TV does a great job of taking care of all of them. By the way, if they want to send me a bill for $14.00 I would be happy to pay it.

which was my point in the first place. most Villagers paid 200k-800K for their homes, why all the hoopla over 14, or 22, or 29 dollars

You should have antisipated the beating. I am also concerned with impact on resale with so much growth. People are paying $300,000 and more for homes that would cost $150,000 anywhere else. That is a big premium for the "lifestyle". Hopefully our concerns are unfounded and lifestyle will remain worth the investment. Keep posting.

I would call it a good business decision by an expert realestate developer. Why the dig about greed?

The property will be developed sooner rather than later by someone and I would prefer the Villages organization rather than any other.

My understanding is that the money will come from the PWA account which is funded by the resident CDDs south of 466. I think that's where the confusion comes from where people think they could be assessed for the funds. I think the PWA is funded from the CDD maintenance fee we pay with our annual tax bill. Now, that could mean that fee gets increased next year to replenish the account.

But it shouldn't affect the amenity funding as it is separate.

And the point is?

I won't be too concerned about it until they start building "bunk houses". On top is too close. :-)

except they didn't....my wife and I are astounded by the huge amount of green spaces around us

For various reasons we all made the decision to purchase here leaving behind something we either didn't like or we just thought we would like TV much better. Thank God we have the right to choose so it is with no disrespect that I say "Love it or Leave it". In this text that is a positive comment expressing your freedom of choice.

I first visited TV over 10 years ago and listened o the hype before I was even 50. Of course then they were about to build out. As I got closer to retirement and started seriously considering the move once again I heard they are about to build out. I just told my realtor I didn't believe that now as I didn't believe it 10 years ago and asked that he stick to the true facts.

We are now homeowners south of 466A and very much looking forward to the move permanently in the near future. I listen to all the post negative and positive and have made the decisions the positives far out weigh the negatives. Once here if it doesn't measure up or we simply tire of the location I will do as I feel so free to do, move again. And I would do so with no hard feelings. Life is an adventure. Jump aboard.

I look forward to the growth knowing many good concerned citizens are helping direct the path through local regulation. Our best vote is with our wallet. When they stop buying it is because they aren't building what is wanted or needed. I can't wait to watch it develop and hope I continue to love it.

We first looked here in 2000. There were 8000 homes. There was one square, one grocery store, no Home Depot, no Lowes, Walmart, Target, Publix, SAMs, Best Buy, etc, etc,etc. I like it better with all of the conviences we have now..even if it means more traffic. Without the added population there would be a long drive to these conviencs.

I agree. There will be folks whose glass is always half empty and those whose glass is half full and Pollyanna's like me whose cup runneth over. Maybe got just a few years left so why shouldn't I find happy things????? We all forget sometimes that this is the third quarter for most of us.

Why all this negativity??? Now is the time to dance in the rain. AND THIS is the place to do it.

Out of pure curiosity, I regularly check home values in areas where I've lived or visited, family members have lived or visited, and other areas at random...I simply don't find this statement to be true. And I didn't find it to be true when I purchased my home in TV.

Well, I don't ever see a real backup at any of the circles unless there has been an accident or some type of roadwork. They seem to work quite well considering how many accidents we have at the traffic lights.

As for gas consumption, I assure you, that putting in stop signs or traffic lights would increase gas consumption not decrease it. I don't know about the increased wear on tires, but that is a possibility. Has someone documented the increased wear due to circles? Is the increase in wear enough to worry about considering that we would all be burning more gas if the circles were changed to traffic lights or stop signs?

"Significantly more homes in Wildwood"
 

Not one word of my post says nothing will change. Things absolutely will change. I just don't see it as the bad thing you apparently do.

Totally agree.

"Without any stops"? Highly debatable, especially during the peak season.

You're right, they could have been. And if they had been, it would have been a huge mistake. They're arterial/collector/distributor roads that are designed appropriately to serve their purpose...not state roads designed to take traffic long distances at high speeds. Like you said, you can't compare 441 to Morse and BV. There are reasons for that. Good reasons.

Here's the biggest flaw in your post...roundabouts facilitate the smooth flow of traffic. It has been documented in more than one traffic study. Stopping at every intersection where there is now a roundabout would increase travel times and congestion. Almost every aspect of traffic flow would be worse. And yes...let's do talk about gas consumption...it would be dramatically increased with stop signs or traffic signals.

Again, one thing we can agree upon.

The purchase and development of this small parcel of land by TV makes sense. It's practically surrounded by TV now. I remember "hearing" that TV attempted to buy it years ago, but the owner either didn't want to sell or wanted too much money. If TV had been able to purchase it back then, it would have had homes on it 4 or 5 years ago when they built Tamarind Grove, Buttonwood, etc. Just a couple of years ago it was rezoned from Agricultural to Mixed Use and there were plans floated for another developer to put in commercial, medical and residential units. I remember seeing concept drawings of that development posted here on TOTV. I don't know why that fell through, and maybe it's still on the table. After all, Wildwood hasn't even agreed to letting TV purchase the property yet. But as many other people have already stated, something will eventually go there.

Well the channel 9 news reported last night that TV is going after land on Rt. 44 & Powell Rd. so that must be next to the Publix Shopping center & S/O the new Villa Section. They have a meeting set with wildwood to discuss this.

Courtyard villas

When I saw that report, I had the impression that they got the location wrong and that they should have said 466A & Powell Rd. (the location of the previously reported potential 200 acre purchase on the north side of 466A). I could be wrong though and there is another 200 acres on 44.

New Village Houses
 

These wide open large areas next to Sand Hill and north of 466A currently have Village houses bordering everywhere with the exception of the Tamerin Grove postal station. Just wondering how this area wd be golf cart accessible ? A new 466A tunnel or path up sandhill to turtle mound tunnel?

I am guessing that an "AT GRADE" crossing of 466a at Powell or Pinellas will be the solution for golf cart crossing. In either case, IMHO, changes should be made to the existing streets in Pinellas Plaza to handle all of the additional golf carts.

That's a good question. Perhaps there is room to exit to the north onto Tamarind Grove Run just west of the Tamarind Grove pool. And/or, as you stated, a MM path along the north side of 466a and bring it around the corner at Buena Vista Blvd where it could link up to the MM path that runs north along Buena Vista or through the tunnel to Turtle Mound. Another tunnel under 466a would be great, but I'm sure they would still need a way for golf cart traffic to stay on the north side of 466a.

Is the new Wildwood addition going to be family housing? Like for The Villages employees?

If so, it could not then be part of The Villages. The Villages is exclusively an age-restricted retirement community. There are developments in the area that can accommodate families, but they are completely unique.

The contemplated expansion under discussion here would be part of The Villages.