[jacksonbrown]

Originally Posted by kendi

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

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.

[La lamy]

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.

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by shut the front door

AAC voted 4-1 for the apartments at Hacienda.
The most infuriating part is this:
"It was clear that the Developer had vowed to put a parking garage or big box retailer at the Hacienda Hills site if the AAC did not go along with the apartment complex."

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.

[jbrown132]

Originally Posted by Jayhawk

The Villages is not a town. It is a business development that sits inside several towns and counties. The developer is the only one who made a business investment in this entity. I'd even bet a majority of the people bitching about it never ONCE went to the old dump they just leveled. For too many, it's just something else to kill time complaining about.

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.

[Jazzman]

Originally Posted by MSchad

Who would park there, and for what reason? Then walk for a mile to get somewhere. I doubt a parking garage was a legitimate concern.

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.

[rjn5656]

Isn't the ACC appointed by the Developer?

[J1ceasar]

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

[RonGee]

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

[Mleeja]

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.

[msilagy]

Embrace change - it's ongoing - and exciting!

[Two Bills]

Joni Mitchell Big Yellow Taxi - YouTube

[champion6]

Originally Posted by Sabella

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?

Please spend some time investigating for yourself: The Lofts

[LowOnCash]

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

[champion6]

Originally Posted by rjn5656

Isn't the ACC appointed by the Developer?

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

[Don Ferguson]

Originally Posted by JoMar

Wow, talking about misinformation unrelated facts combined and speculative truth....all in one post. Well done.

Jim was EXACTLY right on EVERY issue he described.

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