[Pballer]

The Brownwood town square has become ridiculously overcrowded in the evening and it isn't even snowbird season. The developer keeps building houses south of 44 and the amenities have not kept up there. Does anybody know when they plan on opening the Eastport town square to take some of the pressure off?

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Craig Vernon

I believe that businesses inside the bubble should be more responsive to what folks are looking for rather than some niche one size fits all thinking. Example I have read some articles about food delivery services booming inside the bubble. Kroger has a grocery delivery that is expanding but they do not operate a store in TV. I wonder if there is a reason that current businesses do not cater more toward home shoppers or delivery services. Just one small example to answer your question. Thanks for the respectful response.

How does that make sense? Why would a business pay a premium price for a footprint inside the bubble and then market to customers who will never step foot into their store? Kroger is an interesting example, they are delivering in the Villages and all of Florida without having a single store in the state.

[Glowing Horizon]

Originally Posted by CarlR33

No kidding. Random posts now and again about the state of the Villages from a non resident. Either jump onboard or stop playing from afar? Even the wizard of oz had issues, LOL

As my wise Mama always said “you can catch a lot more flies with honey than with vinegar.” Who thought what you sniped was funny? (LOL) kindness costs you nothing but can pay unlimited dividends. It’s sad if that’s how you were treated as a newbie but grumpy old entitled men are a major deterrent to newbies.

[Glowing Horizon]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

How does that make sense? Why would a business pay a premium price for a footprint inside the bubble and then market to customers who will never step foot into their store? Kroger is an interesting example, they are delivering in the Villages and all of Florida without having a single store in the state.

Ever heard of Uber Eats? They deliver foods & goods from local brick & mortar restaurants & stores. Competing in the delivery business & e-commerce is a reality every business must face now. Kroger’s business model of delivery-only groceries is not one which every retailer or grocer can or should try to duplicate. As consumers change to eating fresher foods, perishable items will cause more waste & unhappy customers IMO

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by Craig Vernon

Thank You. My wife and I are coming upon plunge time for retirement and are both committed to TV. New and shiny refers to how the marketing of the Eastport area. We prefer between the 6's. My posts are usually me just pondering current events in order to reason my best decision with a little anxiety mixed in about retirement and best use of a lifetime of savings. I appreciate your insights and would love to have that beer sometime. Thanks Again Craig...

I hope I never come across as trying to disparage other areas, new or old, nor as someone who believes that what works for me should work for you or anybody else, but we love it "between the sixes".
Good luck in your search and relocation.

[Glowing Horizon]

Originally Posted by Jackryan57

We also left Massachusetts for the very reasons you said and we close on a house in TV at the end of the month. We are very excited.


QUOTE=BostonTom;2366428]Massachusetts is the most highly educated state in the country. Feel free to Google that. However we came here to escape the weather, high taxes and the far left political agenda. We love The Villages and you shouldn't paint everybody from Boston with a broad brush.

[/QUOTE]
My dear son has adopted Boston as his home & I still love him. 😊 He’s a very kind, well-educated, aspiring young man so his love of Boston carries a lot of water for me. Every place has some folks who are nice & others who are not-so-much. Our job is to stay focused on being the best we can be & hope they will follow along. Enjoy the Villages!

[Glowing Horizon]

Originally Posted by Pballer

The Brownwood town square has become ridiculously overcrowded in the evening and it isn't even snowbird season. The developer keeps building houses south of 44 and the amenities have not kept up there. Does anybody know when they plan on opening the Eastport town square to take some of the pressure off?

I have never enjoyed crowds so I understand your complaint. Watching Brownwood be developed was instructive since the Developer moved very quickly when sales are strong & costs were lower, but slower when sales were slower or costs rose—like most businesses do. In other words, no one knows because no one has a crystal ball, including the Developer. The fact that they own & have platted the land means it will happen which is a lot more assurance than we usually get in life.

[mpstrang]

I live South of 44, and yes, many are younger and still working. However, they are many, such as me, who are in their 50s, retired, and live here on a full-time basis. Also, many work locally or via remote jobs so they are here on a FT basis as well. To me, it seems like more of the older people are snowbirds because they can't tolerate the heat, whereas the younger folks, don't mind it as much.

[Glowing Horizon]

Originally Posted by opinionist

You may be observing a country-wide recession. Florida remains a destination state, and TV remains a destination community within the state. You may not control the events around you, but you can control your reaction to them.

Where is the 👎🏻 button? Denial is a terrible state to live in.

[Glowing Horizon]

Originally Posted by dougawhite

I visited my CT hometown in June. The HUGE mall constructed around 1980 was practically deserted at 5pm. All 4 anchor stores are out of business and have never gotten new tenants. A few food court restaurants and a few clothing stores. Pretty depressing!

Ripe for redevelopment. Fortunately land is a valuable finite resource so when the price is right, a new repurposed venue will come in. I know of one which became a high-density apartment complex catering to migrants :0

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Glowing Horizon

As my wise Mama always said “you can catch a lot more flies with honey than with vinegar.” Who thought what you sniped was funny? (LOL) kindness costs you nothing but can pay unlimited dividends. It’s sad if that’s how you were treated as a newbie but grumpy old entitled men are a major deterrent to newbies.

As well as those that post the doom and gloom with nothing to back it up!

[Glowing Horizon]

Originally Posted by ronda

Yes, it's the circle of life. I've seen it in our neighborhood. Houses are turning over. Original owners are "aging out" and new ones come in. I think some of the properties in SS are getting lone in the tooth and need restoration, which is happening. Definitely newer amenities down south. The developer says they are committed to keeping SS vibrant, and have made improvements, but they have also put in apartments in what used to be retail space. I never really thought retail stores would do well in the town squares. It's just not where people go to shop.

Downtown retail stores can also serve for shipping & delivery services. Many retail stores ship to online buyers. I recently bought a birthday gift online which shipped from a retail store in Dallas TX to Denver CO for instance. When I bought it, I was unaware where it would ship from. No need to know.

[Two Bills]

Amusing to read how many find Brownwood so congested.
I remember the early years of complaints that Brownwood had no atmosphere, most of the business buildings were empty, and the Developer had overstretched expansion, etc etc.
TV is now passing Leesburg.
What a mug that Developer turned out to be!
Funny old world.

[SHIBUMI]

Your decision to get a place between the 466 and 466 A. is the right plan.....

So much is available in a short distance.........worth the premium..good luck!!!


QUOTE=Craig Vernon;2366113]TV's are continuing to struggle internally as residents age and the footprint gets larger. The oldest areas seem to be losing businesses as the shiny new areas develop. It seems to me that it would be very difficult to maintain a business with so many part time residents and an aging population that has less need, desire or ability to leave their homes to support them. Spanish Springs and Sumter landing are losing staple businesses, and there do not seem to be people knocking the doors down to fill any of them. Outside and nearby things are booming with construction and development. Perhaps the apartments, family areas and cheaper housing around TV will save the day. Perhaps the bubble will turn into a landlocked beach town where certain businesses close during off season periods. Your thoughts and opinions welcome. See you as a full-time neighbor coming early next year. Have a Great day![/QUOTE]

[Retiring]

There are always growing pains as a "town" matures into a small city. More traffic, more accidents, more crime and infrastructure repairs will take more time. I've only been here 3 years, wanted to be here sooner but I hit a time when they took the 55 rule seriously. I've heard about the TV of 30 years ago, I'm afraid those days are gone forever but it doesn't mean we sit back and watch things slide. Be the type of neighbor that you expect next door to you, and we'll be fine.