[pauld315]

The bigger news from yesterday happened in Wildwood where the Villages of Southern Oaks was given approval to build up to 11000 new homes on 4518 acres. I think the whole area from 466A to 44 was about 10,000 homes and this is only part of the land that is being developed south of 44. It didn't say when development would start.

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by pauld315

How much longer is it actually going to be than it is today from Osceola Hills or Pine Hills to Brownwood on golf cart once all the streets etc are built south of 44 and there is a clear way people on golf carts will traverse to Brownwood? It is a long way on a golf cart to Brownwood today from both of those villages. Guess we will have to see when it is developed.

It is sure a whole lot closer getting to Brownwood from the new villages than it is getting to Brownwood from the original villages!!!!!

[pauld315]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

It is sure a whole lot closer getting to Brownwood from the new villages than it is getting to Brownwood from the original villages!!!!!

Sure have to agree with that.

[Mleeja]

Originally Posted by NJblue

Really? Nothing but good? I have only been here a little over 8 years and from my perspective the unabated growth has only made the quality of life worse. The traffic on the main arteries, has become much worse; in what other retirement community in the country must you take into account traffic delays to get from one part of the community to the other? Tee times, especially during the winter on the executive courses are much harder to get. To get a parking space in Colony Plaza during the winter requires you to follow people out to their car just like the malls up North at Christmas time. Trying to get a time to swim or walk in one of the exercise pools now is very difficult. I am hard pressed to think of anything positive that has come about by the unrestrained growth.

I moved to Central New Jersey in the early 70s and at that time it was a very pleasant place to live with uncongested highways and lots of open space and farms. Over the years of continued growth and sprawl it eventually became a place that was no longer a great place to live. I fear that the same thing will happen here.

Where you currently live in TV will be mpacted differently by the expansion. If you live north of 466, Fenney or Southern Oaks will very little impact on your daily life. Fenney folks are not going to be playing the executive golf courses up here or not going to the restaurants in Spanish Springs, Mulberry, or Southern Trace.

If you live on the far southern end of TV, it might be a different story.

[GaryW]

Originally Posted by SALYBOW

They better put in more town squares and through streets Morse and Buena vista are already too crowded.

Go there about 901pm, no one home then.

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by NJblue

Really? Nothing but good? I have only been here a little over 8 years and from my perspective the unabated growth has only made the quality of life worse. The traffic on the main arteries, has become much worse; in what other retirement community in the country must you take into account traffic delays to get from one part of the community to the other? Tee times, especially during the winter on the executive courses are much harder to get. To get a parking space in Colony Plaza during the winter requires you to follow people out to their car just like the malls up North at Christmas time. Trying to get a time to swim or walk in one of the exercise pools now is very difficult. I am hard pressed to think of anything positive that has come about by the unrestrained growth.

I moved to Central New Jersey in the early 70s and at that time it was a very pleasant place to live with uncongested highways and lots of open space and farms. Over the years of continued growth and sprawl it eventually became a place that was no longer a great place to live. I fear that the same thing will happen here.

It all depends on what you are looking for. Assuming you could find another retirement community that match's TV it would have the same issues since people gather in communities that meet their personal needs. People move in and people move out depending on their personal needs which is what makes this place a dynamic place to live. I find it confusing why people that find stuff to complain about stay here but maybe that's what fulfills their personal needs.

[Gordon82]

Originally Posted by pauld315

The bigger news from yesterday happened in Wildwood where the Villages of Southern Oaks was given approval to build up to 11000 new homes on 4518 acres. I think the whole area from 466A to 44 was about 10,000 homes and this is only part of the land that is being developed south of 44. It didn't say when development would start.

I am confused about the current number of homes/acreage totals that have been released. Before the Leesburg announcement yesterday, I thought the total of everything below 44 was 8000 acres and 14,000 homes. The Leesburg property is another 2000 acres, and I haven't heard how many homes are planned for that property and don't think that has been worked out.

Is the 11,000 homes referred to above part of the 14,000 homes below 44? That seems like too many since Fenney will have about 4,000 itself, and there will be 4 or 5 other villages as well.

From what I can tell, the final totals for everything south of 44 that has been announced thus far will be 10,000 acres and probably between 16,000 and 17,000 homes, depending on how many they put on the Leesburg property that was just acquired.

[NYGUY]

Originally Posted by NJblue

How the issue of town squares unfolds will be interesting to follow. Even without the additional property that has been acquired, the people in Fenney and the other villages south of 44 will have a much longer golf cart ride to get to a town square than any other people in The Villages. With building going on as far south as below Leesburg, I can only imagine that yet another town square will have to be built if they want the people buying down there to buy into the concept of the golf cart lifestyle of The Villages.

I believe it has already been announced that a new town square (or round) will be built south of 44 and golf cart access is planed over/under 44 at Morse.

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by JoMar

It all depends on what you are looking for. Assuming you could find another retirement community that match's TV it would have the same issues since people gather in communities that meet their personal needs. People move in and people move out depending on their personal needs which is what makes this place a dynamic place to live. I find it confusing why people that find stuff to complain about stay here but maybe that's what fulfills their personal needs.

You make it sound like the issue of moving is nothing more than snapping one's fingers and being instantly transported to a new community. When we bought here we thought we had found the perfectly sized community - large enough to offer good amenities but not so large that it felt like suburban sprawl. This was going to be our final home.

We were told by the person who was VP of sales that once the original area south of 466A was completed, that would be the end of the development (not just the end of planned development.) This was later confirmed by the Daily Sun when they began selling south of 466A. Large headlines said "Final Phase", buy now before it's too late. Then Fruitland Park happened - again advertised as "final phase". What was once the perfect community for us is now morphing into this giant soul-less sprawl that we moved away from. If raising an objection to being duped is "whining" then so be it.

What I find confusing is those who rejoice in the fact that the sprawl will continue. They are quick to label those who raise legitimate objections as "whiners", but never list the reasons why they are so excited by the growth. It's almost as if the only thing they have in their lives is the "excitement" of seeing trees bulldozed and houses being built and the affirmation that they are living in the fastest growing area in the country.

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by NYGUY

I believe it has already been announced that a new town square (or round) will be built south of 44 and golf cart access is planed over/under 44 at Morse.

If that is the case, the sales people down at Fenney are not aware of it. We spoke with them today and the best that they could come up with is that it might make sense that a new square might be built. As of now, the only thing that has been committed to is the Fenney Recreation Center which will have a grill to buy burgers and things.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by NJblue

You make it sound like the issue of moving is nothing more than snapping one's fingers and being instantly transported to a new community. When we bought here we thought we had found the perfectly sized community - large enough to offer good amenities but not so large that it felt like suburban sprawl. This was going to be our final home.

We were told by the person who was VP of sales that once the original area south of 466A was completed, that would be the end of the development (not just the end of planned development.) This was later confirmed by the Daily Sun when they began selling south of 466A. Large headlines said "Final Phase", buy now before it's too late. Then Fruitland Park happened - again advertised as "final phase". What was once the perfect community for us is now morphing into this giant soul-less sprawl that we moved away from. If raising an objection to being duped is "whining" then so be it.

What I find confusing is those who rejoice in the fact that the sprawl will continue. They are quick to label those who raise legitimate objections as "whiners", but never list the reasons why they are so excited by the growth. It's almost as if the only thing they have in their lives is the "excitement" of seeing trees bulldozed and houses being built and the affirmation that they are living in the fastest growing area in the country.

Anybody who believes somebody who talks of a final phase, or build out, or anything similar, is setting themselves up for disappointment right from the get-go, especially with your aversion to growth.

Also, you are confusing many peoples' comfort with a well planned, growing community with a lust for growth. Two very different things.

And when you compare growth in TV to a Jersey type soulless sprawl, you've lost a lot of credibility imho.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

Anybody who believes somebody who talks of a final phase, or build out, or anything similar, is setting themselves up for disappointment right from the get-go, especially with your aversion to growth.

Also, you are confusing many peoples' comfort with a well planned, growing community with a lust for growth. Two very different things.

And when you compare growth in TV to a Jersey type soulless sprawl, you've lost a lot of credibility imho.

I was fixin' to say the same thing but it just would never sound as good as your post.

I SO agree.

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by NJblue

You make it sound like the issue of moving is nothing more than snapping one's fingers and being instantly transported to a new community. When we bought here we thought we had found the perfectly sized community - large enough to offer good amenities but not so large that it felt like suburban sprawl. This was going to be our final home.

We were told by the person who was VP of sales that once the original area south of 466A was completed, that would be the end of the development (not just the end of planned development.) This was later confirmed by the Daily Sun when they began selling south of 466A. Large headlines said "Final Phase", buy now before it's too late. Then Fruitland Park happened - again advertised as "final phase". What was once the perfect community for us is now morphing into this giant soul-less sprawl that we moved away from. If raising an objection to being duped is "whining" then so be it.

What I find confusing is those who rejoice in the fact that the sprawl will continue. They are quick to label those who raise legitimate objections as "whiners", but never list the reasons why they are so excited by the growth. It's almost as if the only thing they have in their lives is the "excitement" of seeing trees bulldozed and houses being built and the affirmation that they are living in the fastest growing area in the country.

I came from PA and worked in NJ and when we decided to move here we were told the same thing, and that was what the sales folks knew at the time. We expected growth to continue since the entire State has been growing. TV provides a community many of us enjoy and understand that the sprawl here is to our benefit. Moving to another place is not difficult, may take a couple months but people leave here all the time because they feel the way you do. The legitimate objections you raise are legitimate to you and that's great, but your objections do not speak to those of us that love it here. When we stop loving it we will move.....we control our lives, not the developer or sales force.

[Uberschaf]

When they built Pine Ridge I called them Fruit flies, Now I am buying and moving to a new home there.I have been in the village of Duval for over 5 years,belong to many clubs and have many friends from 42 to 44 and this place just keeps gettin' better. Long Live The Villages. I also agree with gg they are doing the best.

[kcrazorbackfan]

My wife and I are both retired Law Enforcement; me State, her Federal. We were discussing this mornings headline and she pretty much summed up our feelings about the expansion of The Villages when she said "the expansion will insulate us more from the trash, riffraff and, in general, a**holes that we dealt with all of our careers".

We now live in the central part of TV (in the future, probably north central) and the more property the Developers acquire, the bigger the bubble will be; bring it on.