[vintageogauge]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

If you don’t live in the SS area why would your opinion really mean anything if you’re not a frequent visitor.
The post, I live south SS and never go there, SO WHAT? Who cares if you don’t? You have really added nothing.

By posting that we/they rarely visit SS gives a possible reason why the businesses are closing down. If everyone stated that they frequent SS the question of why the businesses are closing will go unanswered. So, the replies actually have added something.

[kansasr]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

It seems Spanish Springs will need a major investment of capital in the next 3 to 5 years.
Bottom line, Developer needs/wants to keep rents strong and flowing in. We all see an office building getting a facelift every 20 or 30 years. Same concept.

Are the loss of the 3 restaurants recently a sign (not to mention some of the other places that closed - that wine/beer place)?

SS is in a tough location - I think of amount of housing in all 4 directions. SS doesn’t have many villagers to the north or east.
That was okay when it was only SS and LSL - it was a reasonable drive from LSL area to SS.
Now, those around LSL, can go south, not only to Brownwood, but Sawgrass and soon 2 more areas.
Residents around Brownwood and south, will do the same thing, traveling north to SS less frequently,

UNLESS - SS gets a renovation. New concept, new retail new restaurants.

Perhaps you need to take a drive around that area as the residents in that area would argue that there are "few" of them. To the east you have Silver Lake, Country Club and Orange Blossom with over 2,800 homes in those 3 villages. To the west, as far as villages that border Morse Blvd you have more than 7,000 more homes. That doesn't even account for the villages in the area of the Savannah Center or up in Marion County, for whom Spanish Springs is their closest town square.

I don't think the problem is the number of residents.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

By posting that we/they rarely visit SS gives a possible reason why the businesses are closing down. If everyone stated that they frequent SS the question of why the businesses are closing will go unanswered. So, the replies actually have added something.

Absolutely!

Some live in their own bubble and don’t view our issues in a better, well rounded, holistic scope.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Normal

Absolutely!

Some live in their own bubble and don’t view our issues in a better, well rounded, holistic scope.

Better, well rounded, holistic ………
I went to Sawgrass once, was not impressed. How does this statement help anything.
Or for that matter for me to repeat the statement on multiple threads as some posters continually do, accomplishes nothing.
Let’s face it, those citing all these issues (restaurants closing) even if new places were opened…..would not drive from south of 44 to SS twice or even once a week to give them support.
Sorry I don’t see the connection.

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

Does the Developer have "that many" rentals in the area??

Brownwood, yes............but in SS??

Doesn’t the Developer own all the commercial real estate in SS? I wasn’t really talking residential, was talking commercial.

Commercial rent for retail is based on retail revenue - if your revenue can’t meet rent, you are not renting.

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by Normal

We live south of 44. We’ve been to Spanish Springs once in 3 years. We just enjoy Brownwood more and it’s closer I guess. I don’t wish it any ill will, but they really won’t be getting any income from most in our area. After Eastport is built, there just isn’t really any need to drive a half hour north for entertainment. Retail is starting to boom, Clermont is closer for additional shopping and life couldn’t be better.

We live JUST north of 44. We would go to SS 4 or 5 times a month, now maybe once a month. We would get a margarita, walk someplace different, eat.
If there was a renaissance at SS, we would go back - and I can walk to Brownwood.

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by kansasr

Perhaps you need to take a drive around that area as the residents in that area would argue that there are "few" of them. To the east you have Silver Lake, Country Club and Orange Blossom with over 2,800 homes in those 3 villages. To the west, as far as villages that border Morse Blvd you have more than 7,000 more homes. That doesn't even account for the villages in the area of the Savannah Center or up in Marion County, for whom Spanish Springs is their closest town square.

I don't think the problem is the number of residents.

Yes, there are villagers on all 4 sides, BUT
IF you go to Google Earth and draw a 2 mile radius around LSL, you hit houses the entire way (east only goes to 1.75 miles)

SS, north and east, houses stop at 1.5 miles.
West, housing goes to 3 and South goes a lot.

Brownwood is similar to the WEST and SOUTHWEST, Villagers to 0.5 miles
But the other 3 directions, East goes out to 4 miles
We know about south and north.

All I am saying, SS has less volume of customers close to it;
It needs a renaissance to draw us in, to cross 466.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

Doesn’t the Developer own all the commercial real estate in SS? I wasn’t really talking residential, was talking commercial.

Commercial rent for retail is based on retail revenue - if your revenue can’t meet rent, you are not renting.

If you were talking commercial, leasehold improvements are paid for by the tenants, not the landlord.

The landlord might finance it for the tenant..........but the tenant pays.

The bones are in place for retailers, the developer won't be the one to "need a major investment of capital in the next 3 to 5 years"

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Better, well rounded, holistic ………
I went to Sawgrass once, was not impressed. How does this statement help anything.
Or for that matter for me to repeat the statement on multiple threads as some posters continually do, accomplishes nothing.
Let’s face it, those citing all these issues (restaurants closing) even if new places were opened…..would not drive from south of 44 to SS twice or even once a week to give them support.
Sorry I don’t see the connection.

We would, if SS had the best restaurants and best retail, we would take the golf cart - getting there is half the fun
From Brownwood area, SS is probably as close as Eastport will be (just a guess)

[kansasr]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

Doesn’t the Developer own all the commercial real estate in SS? I wasn’t really talking residential, was talking commercial.

Commercial rent for retail is based on retail revenue - if your revenue can’t meet rent, you are not renting.

Pretty much.....orange areas are Developer owned, blue areas VCCDD

[Blueblaze]

Not sure why anyone would care how often someone south of 44 comes to Spanish. For the thousands of us who live on the North side, the apparent exodus is very concerning -- and stupid, if there is no plan to revitalize it. If Spanish dies, it will hurt all of our home values -- even you folks down South. Why would someone buy the "lifestyle", even below 44, if it becomes obvious that the current developer generation is just going to jerk the rug out, the moment all the new houses are sold?

As for the notion that nobody goes to Spanish for music any more, try to find a parking spot next January. We don't even bother trying to get in during the high season. You can't even find a place to park a golfcart. There is PLENTY of traffic. If it's dying from lack of interest, it certainly isn't the Villagers who are the problem.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

Yes, there are villagers on all 4 sides, BUT
IF you go to Google Earth and draw a 2 mile radius around LSL, you hit houses the entire way (east only goes to 1.75 miles)

SS, north and east, houses stop at 1.5 miles.
West, housing goes to 3 and South goes a lot.

Brownwood is similar to the WEST and SOUTHWEST, Villagers to 0.5 miles
But the other 3 directions, East goes out to 4 miles
We know about south and north.

All I am saying, SS has less volume of customers close to it;
It needs a renaissance to draw us in, to cross 466.

They need to advertise in Leesburg and Lady Lake more. Fliers in the trailer park development on Lake Yale could help bring in more of a crowd too. Perhaps even Marion Market could be hit with advertisements on the entertainment schedule.

The best chance for its survival would be more local attendance and flavor.

[vintageogauge]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Better, well rounded, holistic ………
I went to Sawgrass once, was not impressed. How does this statement help anything.
Or for that matter for me to repeat the statement on multiple threads as some posters continually do, accomplishes nothing.
Let’s face it, those citing all these issues (restaurants closing) even if new places were opened…..would not drive from south of 44 to SS twice or even once a week to give them support.
Sorry I don’t see the connection.

Your statement, not being impressed with Sawgrass, doesn't help anything because the question of why Sawgrass is losing business was not asked nor is it losing businesses. This particular topic about SS is helped with the answers that the OP is receiving.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

Your statement, not being impressed with Sawgrass, doesn't help anything because the question of why Sawgrass is losing business was not asked nor is it losing businesses. This particular topic about SS is helped with the answers that the OP is receiving.

//////

[Normal]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

Your statement, not being impressed with Sawgrass, doesn't help anything because the question of why Sawgrass is losing business was not asked nor is it losing businesses. This particular topic about SS is helped with the answers that the OP is receiving.

Not any of this is helping the SS area. What is, is what is. Foot traffic needs to increase there. Seasonal influxes won’t save the area. Local non Villagers who occupy more than half the circumference of its retail zone need to be involved? It can’t just be catering to “Villagers”.