[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Aces4

I believe, CW, that amenities were removed when Hacienda was torn down such as tennis courts, swimming pool and I don’t know of others. Those amenities removed, even if they required membership, leaves less for area residents to utilize and thus, more use of amenities that remain.

Are you familiar with just how the AAC was formed? The AAC is made up of districts 1-4.

No one can openly discuss the "lawsuit". But many of us have views. My opinion is that the area got "control" of that area as a result of winning a lawsuit against the Developer.

I always think of that area sort of running it's own railroad since then. Keeping it's dollars separate, making it's own decision about how the roadways are maintained etc. Maybe I am wrong to connect the area with the POA but for a long time the governing folks lived in that area. Please correct me if I am wrong.

I am not a HUGE fan of the VHA either. So many times you see people wanting to run things that have not much experience in running things.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by Aces4

I’ve
I believe, CW, that amenities were removed when Havienda was torn down such as tennis courts, swimming pool and I don’t know of others. Those amenities removed, even if they required membership, leaves less for area residents to utilize and thus, more use of amenities that are left.

The championship courses, clubs, restaurants and pools are privately owned businesses. They are not amenities.

[Smalley]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

The AAC by default voted on building the apartments, because without amenity privileges it would be very difficult to rent out the apartments so they would most likely not have been built. That is why the developer threatened (or should I say bullied) the AAC members into approving the apartments, or they would build something even less desirable.

If they are well built and well designed, I would favor apartments (or condos) over a parking lot or a big box store. They would be useful for residents who are too old to maintain a house.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Aces4

That’s funny, you are aware the developers aren’t broke, aren’t you. This is a discussion of plans for the removal of amenities in an area where more people will be housed with fees not shared with residents of that AAC.

I don’t waste my time being “jealous or hating the developers”. I wish them well as I do my children but that doesn’t mean I don’t have opinions as to what they do.

I must say though, you’re working diligently to make this personal, not interested.

We have lived in 11 different home in three states in our lifetime. This is the best run area of them all. Because of the deed restrictions and the maintenance by the developers this area is absolutely beautiful and well run. I don't know these people, but I would love to shake their hand some day and thank them. I feel as safe as I did as a child walking around this wonderful place. I LOVE that they have made it so that ALMOST anyone can afford to live here. You may be at the square and sit next to a person who ran a billion dollar company and also one who worked hard and diligently as a waitress. One would never know or care about your past and I love that about this place.

[npwalters]

Originally Posted by Jayhawk

The head of "the other news source" worked for The Villages several years ago and has an axe to grind. Most stories have a negative color towards The Villages.

And the Village Sun is all unicorns and flowers

[npwalters]

Originally Posted by Jim 9922

Looks like the camel is now almost fully in the tent. First a whisker (never completing a grill and bar room at Glenview Tennis Club, now an investment planner's office) then a nose (conversion of Silver Lake restaurant to a pool hall), then a foot (conversion of Chula Vista Country Club to a pool hall and a couple of meeting rooms), then another foot (El Santiago Country Club" sold but had to be torn down) then another foot (conversion of Terra Del Sol Country Club into a "theater toy" for "family members"), and the fourth foot (modification and eventual closing of Katie Belle's), now conversion of a country club (and maybe possibly part of a golf course) into apartments. What comes next?: All country clubs go, championship courses converted to more apartments, villas, homes, etc. By then the whole herd of camels is in the tent and we will be outside looking in. And maybe eventually Spanish Springs is torn down to be replace by a Costco, now the whole herd is reproducing!!

It is a shame that approval of such a significant change to an existing residential neighborhood area is allowed to proceed in less time than than it took to remove a few useless speed bumps on the golf cart paths or the in depth studies and engineering surveys done to stripe and reflectorize the cart paths. Of course, I am sure a few votes from current lame duck representatives played into the necessary speed of it. Now, just think what will happen in Sumter County as a whole if the Developer's apparent minions are voted out in the primaries.

The threat to put up a "big parking structure" to me is a joke unless there is a big nearby building to utilize it; and such a building, I would think, would require significant rezoning from recreational or residential use to commercial use.

good post

[npwalters]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

https://esarch.com/content/uploads/f...villages01.jpg

Here is a picture of the much larger Freedom Pointe as seen from The Golf Course.

The Assisted Living Facilities are built adjacent to area homes on 466 and 466A.

Neither of those facilities is built in the middle of a residential area. They are both north of the housing areas and south of the commercial district.

[npwalters]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

HEY. To posters who are relatively new here. Many of us are very happy with the incumbent commissioners. I have NO problem with the commissioners working well with the developer. The amenities fees paid go for all amenities. We all pay them. We all get the amenities. They don't "go" to the developer. Horse Manure. I like a big business run well.

Be very wary of throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

Many of us are not. I suspect they will be tossed to the wayside following this election.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

We have lived in 11 different home in three states in our lifetime. This is the best run area of them all. Because of the deed restrictions and the maintenance by the developers this area is absolutely beautiful and well run. I don't know these people, but I would love to shake their hand some day and thank them. I feel as safe as I did as a child walking around this wonderful place. I LOVE that they have made it so that ALMOST anyone can afford to live here. You may be at the square and sit next to a person who ran a billion dollar company and also one who worked hard and diligently as a waitress. One would never know or care about your past and I love that about this place.

We have had over 20 closings in our life and this, in our experience, not the best run. Good, but not the best. That is our experience and does not dismiss your experiences.

That’s the point isn’t it? Why is everyone required to love everything about TheVillages? What floats your boat doesn’t float everyone else’s. You’re not being requested to dislike TheVillages. Repeating, people should do what makes them happy.

[New Englander]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

HEY. To posters who are relatively new here. Many of us are very happy with the incumbent commissioners. I have NO problem with the commissioners working well with the developer. The amenities fees paid go for all amenities. We all pay them. We all get the amenities. They don't "go" to the developer. Horse Manure. I like a big business run well.

Be very wary of throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

It's more like the Commissioners working well FOR the developer.

[Cbriggi]

So living in a house where we viewed the old club house and dealing with the traffic and lack of our own Rec Center - my major concerns are around the potential drop in value of my house, additional traffic on Morse, loss of local golf, and lack of a voice in the governance of the development.
One of the reasons we bought here was the “mature” development - we knew what we were getting for views and resources.
Allow those in the direct vicinity have their concerns heard and addressed - prior to just a rubber stamp of approval.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

The championship courses, clubs, restaurants and pools are privately owned businesses. They are not amenities.

You misread my post. I acknowledged that even if it required a membership at Hacienda, those people weren’t using the other amenities allowing a better occupancy level for residents.

[npwalters]

Originally Posted by Cbriggi

So living in a house where we viewed the old club house and dealing with the traffic and lack of our own Rec Center - my major concerns are around the potential drop in value of my house, additional traffic on Morse, loss of local golf, and lack of a voice in the governance of the development.
One of the reasons we bought here was the “mature” development - we knew what we were getting for views and resources.
Allow those in the direct vicinity have their concerns heard and addressed - prior to just a rubber stamp of approval.

exactly

[Mleeja]

Originally Posted by Aces4

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.

At this point in time, the amenities associated with the apartments will be owned and maintained by the developer.

[Mleeja]

Originally Posted by npwalters

Neither of those facilities is built in the middle of a residential area. They are both north of the housing areas and south of the commercial district.

The houses that border holes 3, 4, 5, and maybe 6 of the Palms Course can all see Freedom Point when looking out over the golf course.