The vote was not taken on the apartments.

Let the developer build a parking lot next to a golf course. This creates no harm and it will be useless to most people. Essentially, it will be a waste of money. And a retailer being placed in the location will not do very well. I would bet it would stay empty most of the time due to the location. The ACC truly made a big mistake on this one.

Brownwood apartments
 

Seems like a secret. Anyone know the rental fees and other monthly costs to rent an apartment at the new Brownwood location owned by the villages?

OMG. Just more belly aching. I think all these complainers on TOTV want to be unhappy. It’s a choice

After hearing of apts to be built at Hacienda my husband and I went to Brownwood to see the apts there. We thought they were very nice even though I doubt if we'll ever rent there. If I'm one day by myself, I would consider renting an apt. We were surprised that the 3 bedroom apts were already filled.

You probably don't live north of 466 and have a need to navigate the traffic jam of Morse during high season.

With the additional revenue of amenity fees, I suggest that the developers install additional stop lights on Morse -- a light at every intersecting street between 466 and 441.

Or, build a parking garage and use the bus fleet to shuttle folks between Spanish Springs and Sumter Landing, Brownwood, Fenny, Bushnell, Webster, Zepherhills.

I'm amazed it's taken this long for them to build apartments/condos. It makes a lot of sense for elderly people and for snowbirds. As long as they plan for extra recreation centers, shopping, parking, medical aid, etc.. it seems to be a good option.

I doubt that there was an actual “vow”. It’s possible that someone threw out a parking garage or a big box store as a mild threat to get people to play along, but I don’t think it was a serious threat. Neither would be well-sited there. They would not make as much money there as elsewhere.

I certainly wouldn’t want a big apartment house next to my house. However, I bought my house from a couple who wanted to downsize to a courtyard house with no maintenance for health reasons. I think they would have gone smaller if they could. Plenty of people at The Villages who have lost a spouse and now live alone and find keeping things up to be difficult might be relieved to move into an efficiency apartment or a one bedroom apartment of 350 to 500 square feet. The surroundings would be familiar, and they would be safe. They would pay amenities fees, but it’s quite possible that they wouldn’t play any sports. Some might not have a car, or might not have a golf cart.

There are probably also snowbirds who would really prefer having an apartment all year and saving the money they spend on yard work. Maybe they would just rent.

I don’t think the developer is considering a low income housing development, and this would not be for families with children. I doubt this would increase crime.

Sorry but you are wrong about a business investment. Everyone who has purchased a home in The Villages has made a business decision. The actions of the developers can increase your property values or devalue them. I have eaten at the restaurant many times and played golf there many times. There was nothing wrong with the facility that some investment in it could not fixed. Just like your home, you have to maintain it and occasionally you have to make a major investment in it. Just follow the money that’s where the real truth lies.

At the meeting the rep from the villages developer stated it was either apartments or a parking garage. The garage per the developer was to be used primarily for the villages hospital.

Acc
 

Isn't the ACC appointed by the Developer?

Forget the past ???
 

You guys all seem to forget that's a Villages and all the Senior Communities around here started out selling mobile homes. Not everyone can afford $300,000 or half a million dollars for a house or wants or needs it you're all being very prejudiced but not wanting Apartments yes please people also use your amenities but they will also be paying for them just like everybody else so don't be snobs because

If I wanted to see a 2 or 3 story building in the quite residential area I could have stayed in NYC

There are going to be apartments built at this location. This was the developers prerogative. It is their land. The AAC made a bad deal in giving away so much of the Amenity Fees. Let's look at some positives.

For the people bemoaning the fact the restaurant is gone, there will be a new restaurant. It will be up to the residents to patronize this restaurant to make it an ongoing concern. If they (we) had done this with Hacienda Hills, maybe we would not be having this discussion. We will get a new pool open to ALL residents. The former pool was only open to Priority Country Club members. I am not a Priority Member, are you? I am willing to bet most people commenting here are not. From what I have read it will be a resort style pool with a swim up bar. Nice change from the other pools. There will be other amenities, such as a walking trail and sports courts. If the restaurant and pool is modeled after The Fenney Grill and pool complex this will be a nice addition area.

Embrace change - it's ongoing - and exciting!

Please spend some time investigating for yourself: The Lofts

Lol all you village home owners are now just #vin numbers - no one cares!

There are six members - one is appointed by the Village Center CDD (the developer). There are five more - one from each of the numbered districts north of 466, districts 1-4, plus one from the Lady Lake/Lake County portion of The Villages (five residents).
Amenity Authority Committee

Jim was EXACTLY right on EVERY issue he described.

I was here for all of them and he did not exaggerate one bit!

I wonder if you would feel the same way if you had purchased a single family home facing a golf course that will now be facing an apartment building or perhaps even an apartment building parking lot. Empathy helps build perspective.

They will be paying for amenities, but that money is going to the developer. We are subsidizing their use of the amenities.

Where can we go to find out more info? Is there a link you can share?
Do you know if these apts are open to the public? Or are they 55+ ? Coops? Rentals?

As long as it’s not in my neighborhood! I think The developer would be smart to offer a condo/apartment living Village. I’m sure people would come. I at Some point will come. Just don’t try to disrupt people that are set in their ways living the dream in their 80’s. Wait for the area to turn over. I want to know where I’m buying, not buy and then be converted. I guess I’ll make sure not to purchase on a golf course, within walking distance of a square or near the out skirts of the development. I’m glad I bough In the inner circle.

I love a swim up bar concept. I wish ALL pools here would allow residents to enjoy a drink while in the pool. Hotels do it. Legitimate country clubs do it. Why can’t we?

Seniors are basically careful and would not want to spill their drink in the pool. How often would that happen? Twice a year, maybe?

Lets Stop
 

Lets stop using the term "Developer" and use the correct term "Village Owner". Now let's call the Villages what they are, a "Company Town". Anyone who lived in Western Pennsylvania many years ago recognize the the term and can see the Villages as an "Upscale" Company town. This is a profit making business! It is not a religious place with a conscience. Some like to give it a "soul" it does not have a soul and it exists to make a profit for the Owner. When this is understood there is a chance the residents will understand what they are facing in their desire for any controls. Allegedly the owner pretty much dictates the Village Newspaper, the Homeowners Association (e.g.HOA) which protects his/her against investigations by the POA, the Owner appoints and therefore has strong leverage with regards to the Commissioner's. He controls the building policies and practices. Again, going back to the old Companies Town's in Western Pennsylvania run by Coal Mining Owners you can see the comparison to the current Upscale Company town. Is it all bad? I would vote no. Is it all good again I would vote No. Replacing the current Commissioner's is a good start?:ho:

The apartments in Brownwood are renting fast, so I think the Hacienda ones will too. I'm sure they will be beautiful and another option for Villagers who want less hassle as they age.

Your guests and those of 120,000 other residents get to use the amenities at no cost.

Does that bother you?

Vote with your wallet and go somewhere more to your liking (if such a place exists). For me and many others, I vote to let the developers / owners make the decisions they are entitled to make since they built and continue to build with THEIR money, not yours.

I would guess not because the homeowners paid for that priviledge. It appears the developers are not, rather like elbowing one’s way to the neighbors table at dinner time.

That’s precisely the point. Lecturing people for their frustrations is fruitless. We all have opinions and this forum is for airing them, not suppressing them.:)

I wasn't here for all of them so help me out. When were Chula Vista and El Santiago actually "Country Clubs"" as Jim stated?

Apparently so does Entitlement.

Not exactly, since some residents NEVER have guests using the amenities while others have almost constant guests. Yet all pay about the same.

I think the point is being missed in that the developers will charge for the amenity fees and pocket the profits. There will be no additional financial support to the apartments AAC for maintenance of said amenities.

You probably subsidized business wherever you came from in the form of tax incentive financing. No different here. The builder gets an incentive and provides something all can use even as the residents complain and gripe about it.

Unbelievable. Not.

:pray:

And they don’t mind because they know that their neighbors paid for that right every month.

This is what it REALLY boils down to for so many malcontents.

They got theirs so to hell with everyone else.

:ohdear:

Those tax incentives create businesses that area residents can enjoy in the long run. Increased population and strain on the amenities without financial support enhances no ones life.

I believe that is a distortion, most people accept the continuing growth of The Villages. What they didn’t expect is growing expenses from their pockets and overcrowded amenities on behalf of the developers’ financial wealth.