Ya think??

:ohdear: I'm sorry but you need to do more homework before complaining (actually you should have done it before buying here) about how things work. The tennis courts, the pool, the restaurant, and even the golf course are NOT amenities. Don't feel bad..... it's not just you. Many posters on this site don't have a clue but they don't let that stop them from complaining. There are many ways to educate yourself on the Villages and how it functions if you are interested in learning..... just do yourself a favor and don't pile on with the vocal minority. Lots of time they just don't know what they are talking about. As the saying goes "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." :ho:

Gracie,
I live north of 466 and follow the activities of the AAC closely. You are correct the AAC was formed as a result of the law suit against the developer. The members are elected from CCDs 1-4 and Lady Lake. There is one member from the Spanish Springs Commercial District. This person is elected (appointed) by the developer.

Of the current AAC members, I believe there is only one that is associated with the POA. There are more POA members on the CDD boards in your area than on the AAC.

The AAC, CCDs and PWAC are all non-political. But when organizations such as the POA start backing candidates and getting representative elected it is political. Just not our traditional republican vs democrat.

Of course pools, tennis courts, restaurants, and golf courses are all amenities.

As defined by Webster, an amenity is something that provides comfort, convenience, or enjoyment.

You seem to be under the impression that only those activities that are covered by the amenity fee are amenities. Or if privately owned, cannot be called an amenity. In real estate, a wide range of things available in the neighborhood are considered amenities including schools, shopping centers, post offices, parks, playgrounds, running trails, recreational centers, golf courses, etc

Some amenities are included in an "amenity fee" and some cost extra and are privately owned.

Amenity Definition

Well I’ve Been here for 3 years and love living here. But with what’s going on with heicinda hills I see the ACC and develepor who ever that is? Has total control over a100000 residents. I feel like this how is Russia? Do we have any retired legal people that can help us? Someone should be telling any new potential home owner they can do what they want with no say say from us. Next if Palmer or Lopez is not making money there will be apartments really? We need help. David

Did you miss the part about the developer getting to pocket all but $14 a month from the apartment dweller's amenity fees?

Yes, the commercial area where Freedom Point is located is visible from many houses if you choose to look past the golf course. It is located in a long existing commercial area and has many other commercial activities just across the road from it -to the North toward Hwy 27. Freedom Point is NOT located in the center of a residential area such as the new apartments will be. There are neighborhoods in every direction from the Hacienda location.

Wrong!

The Trillium recreation center at the Lofts of Brownwood is advertised on the front page of today's (8/13) Recreation News. It is open to all with its family pool, billiards, kitchen, meeting room, picnic pavilion, and table shuffleboard.

I think that the poster above has good sense and a sense of humor as well. I like a little sarcasm with my truths and that poster does that well too. I am a fan of Mr. Guy.

I remember when the folks in Duval were having fits and bad spells over the Assisted Living facility being three stories and that some old people could spy on them. It has now been there for several years and people haven't lost a penny of value in their homes for being adjacent to it. Haven't heard a whisper about old people spying on them either. Sometimes as Bogie Shooter says it is best to have Patience Grasshopper and see how things work out.

I do not think that the developer is robbing or cheating anybody, just trying to use the space well.

Time will tell.

You mean NYC didn't take a poll, ask for opinions, clear it with anyone who complained or suffered heartache before they SPENT THEIR OWN MONEY?

Didn't she also do the song, they paved paradise and put up a f'in apartment complex?

Ah, the newest way to debate when you know you’re up against facts. Those were amenities at Hacienda, paid for with an additional fee. So, at this point people must be labeled complainers when they are discussing the facts from what has occurred in meetings to point out discrepancies accurately, and that calls for innuendo and name calling. Yes, someone here is a fool and it’s not me.

I have stated earlier in this thread that some people will be fine with sharing more of their amenities and others will be upset, we all have varying opinions. Life is short now and people should chose what makes them happy and enjoy their remaining days. Hardly piling on and btw, not a new comer to TV. I believe you’re the newcomer. Welcome. :wave:

Agree, and the people that bought homes in the area mentioned in the above post had previous knowledge that the space on El Camino Real and the West side of Morse Blvd. was an area zoned for commercial development. The people that paid a premium for the Championship golf course experience, across the East side of the street on Morse Boulevard, had every reason to expect that the premium they paid to live on a Championship golf course would give them confidence that they would not be living next to a high density apartment complex. BAIT and SWITCH at is best!

No one in their right mind should ever again pay a premium for a Championship golf course lot or home.

AN IMPORTANT NOTE TO EVERYONE WHO IS A FUTURE POTENTIAL PURCHASER OF A GOLF COURSE LOT OR HOME. BUYER BEWARE, YOU JUST BOUGHT A LOT SURROUNDED BY LAND OWNED BY A PROFIT, AT NO COST, HUNGRY FAMILY THAT IS ZONED AND CONTROLLED BY THE WHIMS AND BULLYING TACTICS OF SUCH FAMILY. YOU SHOULD GET A SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDY FOR YOUR PURCHASE TO COMPENSATE YOU FOR THE SIGNIFICANT RISK YOU ARE ABOUT TO TAKE ON. GOOD LUCK!

The Developer owns everything here, including the committee members!

Proper Procedures:
 

#1) How can the developer demand a one (1) on one (1) secret closed door meeting with elected officials of the ACC? Why is not a violation of the Florida Sunshine Law?

What is the Sunshine Law? Florida's Government-in-the-Sunshine law provides a right of access to governmental proceedings at both the state and local levels. It applies to any gathering of two or more members of the same board to discuss some matter which will foresee ably come before that board for action. (Florida Attorney General - Home Page)

#2) Why have none of the ACC commissioners divulged what was said in that one (1) on one (1) meeting?

#3) It is normal procedure that commissions, planning boards, etc review and approve site plan proposals after a set number of readings. Not be told what to do in closed door meetings!

#4) So the ACC voted to give the amenity fee to the Developer without any information as to what the proposed site plan will be. Will the golf course patrons be allowed to use the unknown amenities of the development?

Go ahead, have at it!

Gracie, you may be right, that "apartments are not awful". But I live less than a half mile up Morse Blvd. from the former Hacienda Hills Country Club site, and I have several concerns about the developer's plans. First and foremost, Morse Blvd. is woefully inadequate to handle today's traffic, let alone an increase in population that such a large apartment complex will bring. When I try to cross Morse to get to my mail station in the off-season, I usually have to wait for 15-20 cars to pass by before I can pull out. In the Winter, it's not unusual to have over 50 cars pass. It's simply dangerous, and the developer doesn't seem interested in any improvements there. I'm hoping that the local authorities will be required to hold public hearings before issuing any construction permits. In my opinion, there should be at least a traffic study by a credible agency, and an environmental impact study as well. This is my neighborhood, and I believe that my neighbors and I deserve to have some input on a plan such as this.

You are right about Morse Blvd. Every time I use that road to get to the medical facilities by the hospital I feel sorry for the people who live in those neighborhoods and have to enter/exit onto Morse without a traffic light and also for the golf cart drivers crossing the road by the Morse Gate. This is something that should have been addressed by now, as well as the inadequate traffic circle by 441/27.

Yet those that live up that way always tout the availability of shopping, restaurants, medical facilities. All those things create traffic. The responsibility for correcting that is at the County level not the Developer. If you can get large groups to go to an ACC meeting on amenity fees, why can't you get like minded people to a Commissioners meeting and express the same frustration? And while it's easier to express your frustration on here than actually participating, this isn't exactly the place where you will have you issue addressed.

Because, the current crop of commissioners had made up their minds prior to the meetings.

We'll see what happens after the 18th.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The truth of the matter is, if someone’s ox isn’t being gored, most don’t care about yours.

It will require residents in the affected area pressing to change the situation and even then, good luck.

***

Not true
 

What was clear was that the threat to install a parking garage or big box was a red herring. The Developer has invested 5 years and hundreds of thousands of dollars in this project and he is not going to walk away from that.

I Was There
 

Gracie, I attended the meeting so I can vouch that the residents were threatened with a big box store or parking garage. Both of which were red herrings to scare residents.

There would be no more traffic. Parking lot would have been better. At least we wouldn't have 600 more people golfing and in squares and especially on Morse Blvd. They don't have enough nerve to ever say no.

2 Questions please
 

I have two questions if someone could be so kind and reply.
1) what are the current rental rates for the lofts, such as 1,2,3 bedroom?
2) What was stated about folks not living in the to be constructed Apartments regarding being able to use the various amenities such as pool, walking trail, any fitness stuff, etc.?
thank you very much

It will be getting so overcrowded and the developers do not care about the quality or what was promised when homes were purchased. They are driven by greed. No way a traffic study would ever pass unless they are in the pockets of the developers. Next they will be doing this at all of the country clubs.

Parking garage
 

At the meeting, it was said that the developer would put up a parking garage for the hospital and shuttles to transfer employees and visitors to the hospital.

That sounds way better to me then the apartment complex. Their threat should have been called, build the parking garage. The people getting shuttled to the hospital would not have been using the already overcrowded amenities in the area. My guess is that the non-income generating parking garage would have never been built

It seems to me that everyone commenting that they don’t see a problem are not from that area. It doesn’t effect them so it isn’t worth talking about. I will probably be 6 feet under, but I’d like to be a fly on the wall when in a few years the developers kids and grandkids decide to plop down an apartment complex where Evans Prairie or Belle Glade are now.. I think there is a reason why no Country Clubs are being built in the southern part of the Villahes.

They are building two Country Clubs in the southern part of the Villages, pay attention.

Why are we having apartments at all and not age-restricted? I didn’t buy into this kind of retirement community and I bet you didn’t either.

I really don’t know what that comment has to do with my post. I haven’t mentioned the AAC or that argument.:confused:

:clap2:

You had me at "resort style pool with swim up bar." SWIM UP BAR!!!! I vote YES!!
I already love this place.

Does anyone really expect any significant push-back from the county regarding not approving the proposal for the apartment complex?
Do the math, estimated value of $100K per unit including infrastructure and such puts the project at a property value of over $28,000,000. The county will ask the normal questions about traffic and intrusion of views and such. Developers will counter-offer with the normal such as turning lanes and enhanced shrubs. Perhaps I am missing something, if so please advise, thank you.

Forewarning: in my previous life, I was a RE investor.

What was the $ dollar value associated with “fair market value” to buy HH? El Santiago went for $340k or so right? If this price was anywhere in keeping with that, then realize that commercial buildings OUTSIDE the villages are selling for millions similarly sized without the extra acreage this has.

It sounds to me like if AAC was a real estate developer, they might have turned down a really good deal. Since they’re not and can’t see beyond simply keeping it in its current use, the real estate developer who owns the property (and clearly wasn’t making money in its current form) has decided to invest a few MM to build out in exchange for a huge income stream. That’s their prerogative and that’s really all there is to it. They won’t do it everywhere bc if they did, it would decrease the appeal of the villages. So maybe they’re just making their common use space a more “efficient” use.

That said, if they want to play hardball and ask for use of your amenities, AAC is under no need to grant it to them. Or, there’s a world of negotiation bw an even exchange of amenities with no fees, and no exchange at all. Sounds like a raw deal was made both times and the AAC was listening to villagers’ wishes that weren’t based in realities. But that’s just me.

The Morse family isn’t santa clause. If they’re losing money on something that is worth millions, they’re going to try to optimize the space.

One more thing, would you rather have a parking lot or have use of brand spanking new group of amenities (not paid for by your fees).

ps I think that’s BS about a parking lot. The walk to the hospital is too far, but they could have made it into a space that required as little $ to maintain as possible, if they didn’t want to invest dollars.

Thank God the family stay well clear of any politics around the elections of commissioners.
Would not want large sums of money backing any candidates, or false candidates being put forward to stop thousand having a vote!! :icon_wink:

Yes, a parking lot would be preferable.

Yes