What I've been told by a friend who lives in Duval
 

From what I've been told, when those residents purchased their homes which backed up to that vacant property at the time, they were informed it was slated to be a financial district like the one on 466. I hear they were also told, no buildings over 1 story would be built. I'm in Duval often and when I first came around the bend and saw that tall building right behind those homes, I have to say I was shocked. Those from the assisted living facility can look down right into windows of homes. With that said, Sumter Place is a very attractive facility. I guess I would be upset if I purchased a property and was promised there would only be 1 story buildings behind me and got huge massive walls blocking my views of the beautiful skies we have but ... Sorry to say, now-a-days, you can never trust anything someone says without it being in writing.

My father was in an assisted living facility before he died, and the only action that he ever saw going on outside was a couple of turkeys occasionally passing by his window!
http://smileys.smilchat.net/smiley/f...g/thanks02.gif http://smileys.smilchat.net/smiley/f...g/thanks02.gif

Or it could just be that initial plans called for a financial district at that location. Thing is, building plans on vacant property are always subject to change. Always. We can borrow a lovely view and appreciate it while it's there, but unless we buy it, we don't own it.

I do suspect and strongly hope that the more Duval homeowners learn about the new development, the more they will learn it won't be a problem. My guess and hope is that it will be landscaped in such a way as to add beauty to their surroundings, not subtract from it.

It also seems unlikely that it will be built in such a way that residents of the assisted living complex can see into their homes and vise versa. I don't blame them at all for asking questions and seeking answers. I just think that when all is said and done it's going to end up being not only without detriment but gorgeous.

We're hearing about "what they were told", but what was on the signed disclosure at closing?

P Turner said it all so gently and so well.

Sometimes the words "promised" and "told" when written on here really should be the words "surmised" and "thought".

That was pretty much what we were told by our sales rep back in 2007 when she showed us houses backing up to that property. One story professional offices open 9 - 5 Mon thru Fri. Did not matter to us as we had no desire to back up to an unknown.

If this is true, I would be an extremely upset homeowner now that a three story building was built. Taught me a lesson...get it in writing!!!

There is nothing gorgeous about blocking the view of beautiful blue sky, especially when anyone can look down on your property. Walls are built or landscaped for privacy. This is one heck of a huge wall and it has windows too. I'm thankful I am not one of those unlucky unsuspecting homeowners.

Here is the reason I think...the story may be a story. Who when describing future plans for an area adds in the number of stories? WHO?

I don't buy it. You need to take into consideration that when you buy some thing empty behind you it probably will someday be something...and something you don't like. It is YOUR responsibilty. I have YET to hear of anything from our sales persons mouth other than "we don't know"....when asked "What is that gonna be". They are too well trained to try shananigans like that...most of them anyway.

Further...I think that their hue and cry, those that are hueing and crying..is just plain SILLY. Those older than us folks aren't going to be peering down on them anymore than their neighbors will be peering in on them. ...and so what if they do? Older people are just like us only older.

boy howdy.

Don't people investigate before they buy? :gc:

Even though you could get something in writing The Villages will say they have the right to make changes. I know first hand dealing with a transformer issue. Even though we like to build brand new, there is something said for buying in an established area. No surprises and you get what you see.

Decided to take a ride in the convertible and see first hand what all the fuss is about.

We were looking at new homes in TV in Sept 07. We specifically looked at an under construction Designer home that backed up to an empty lot overlooking 466A. Our realtor said he heard a Publix was going to go on the empty lot. I have no doubt that in 07 nobody was sure what was going to be there as property was for sale and nothing was finalized. We didn't buy the home for reasons having nothing to do with the empty lot.

That home now backs up directly to the multi story facility as do others. I doubt there is anybody who frequents this site that would want one of these homes. Whether or not somebody is looking out of their window or not is irrelevant. It's not a pretty site and no doubt their property values are dramatically affected.

Bottom line, it's a mess if you live directly behind it. Doubt you could have found out about it in 07.

I suggest all of you who think it's not a big deal get in your golf cart or car and go see for your selves and then ask a simple question, would I want to live there?

Of course if you happen to be in front of a computer screen in Atlanta, you can just keep imagining it's all just "gorgeous". Well guess what, it's not!

Penguin, it's not even a question of The Villages right to make changes. The Villages has never had any control at to what was being built on the property because they never owned it. The property ownership where the facility is being built has been continually owned by the Word family out of Gainsville since at least 9/3/62. (per Sumter Co. Assessors Records) If the ownership has been transfered prior to the start of the buildings construction, it's not yet recorded on the Assessors website.

I think you're probably right about the misinformation being in writing at the time of the closing, but I doubt even that would do much good. The Villages could simply say that the information was to the best of their knowledge at the time, and that changes could have been made that they had no control over. I do feel to some extent for those who may feel short changed, but unfortunately I think it's pretty much a moot matter now with little or no recourse for them.

It has been brought to my attention that my comments above were based on my misunderstanding on exactly where the assisted living facility is located. I thought it was on the west side of Buena Vista rather than it's location on the east side of Buena Vista. Please disregard my comments and I apologize for any confusion that may have been caused by my misunderstanding.

Lake front property, never have to worry about a hurricane, max residents 20,000. These are just a few I have heard in past.

Growth is a beautiful thing.

It's called due dilligence. If you want to be guaranteed of privacy in your back yard, you can pay a large premium to back on a golf course or on Lake Sumter.

Otherwise, if you buy a home backing on an open space, enjoy it for a while. It's buyer beware. The plans for the lands may change, and the zoning may change also (e.g., from horse farm to commercial).