[Bonny]

Originally Posted by outlaw

1999 - 23,000 per 1 square
Now - 115,000 per 3 squares = 38,000 per square
23,000 to 38,000 = a 67% increase in people/square density
Seems like a difference to me. Just sayin'.

Yes, however we are loaded with restaurants and stores all around the Villages which we didn't have before and that takes many people to other areas not just the square. We didn't have all of that back then.

[mickey100]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Bu the key question is how many people can a "square" support comfortably--It's not 1, nor is it 1 million--I have no idea. How many people visit a square/day? How many are non-Villagers? What's the difference between a quiet evening and one with a big event? Today 115,000 people in 32 sq miles at peak season = 3594/sq mile. 1999----?23000 in maybe 8 sq mi = 2875/ sq mi. How many golf courses and Rec centers were there back then? How many grocery stores? Maybe the infrastructure has lagged a bit, but probably not by a huge amount

By the numbers you have cited, 2875 vs. 3594 people per square mile, it appears there are 25% more people now per square mile. This is huge when you're looking at use of the recreational facilities, traffic on the roads, people at the restaurants, etc. Just sayin'.

[outlaw]

Originally Posted by Bonny

Yes, however we are loaded with restaurants and stores all around the Villages which we didn't have before and that takes many people to other areas not just the square. We didn't have all of that back then.

I agree there are other factors...but you were the one using that number as if it supported the premise that nothing has changed. I was just showing that things obviously have changed just by the fact that there are many, many more people per available town square. What would be interesting is to know if water volleyball, yoga, and mahjong(?) wait times, or tee time /preferences have increased/decreased or stayed about the same over the last 4 or 5 years.

[outlaw]

I heard a discussion the other day by some realtors and TVers that have been here for a long time. They indicated that the developer studied Sun City when designing TV. They based TV on the Sun City demographic which comprised much older senior citizens than the baby boomer generation is producing, and this much younger retiree is consuming much more activity amenities than TV was designed to accommodate. I don't know if this is true or not, but it seems plausible. Kool-aid drinkers: This is not meant as a criticism of the developer. The baby boomer demographics are surprising many experts.

[Bonny]

History
Harold Schwartz, a Michigan businessman, began selling land tracts via mail order in The Villages area in the 1960s. He and his business partner, Al Tarrson, were forced to close the mail-order aspect of the business due to a 1968 Federal law banning sales of real estate by mail order.[10]
Stuck with considerable portions of Florida land, in the early 1970s Schwartz and Tarrson began development of a mobile home park, Orange Blossom Gardens, in the northwestern corner of Lake County. By the early 1980s, the community had sold only 400 units. In an attempt to improve the business, Schwartz bought out Tarrson's interest and brought his son, H. Gary Morse, on board in 1983.
Morse noted that the successful retirement communities (such as Del Webb's Sun City developments) offered numerous well-maintained amenities to the residents. They also had diverse and nearby commercial development. Morse began to significantly upgrade the development. Their sales improved in the mid-1980s. Schwartz began to buy large tracts of land in nearby Sumter and Marion counties for future expansion. In 1992, Morse officially changed the overall development name to The Villages. The development is still controlled in all major aspects by descendants of Schwartz and Morse.

[Chi-Town]

Originally Posted by Bonny

History
Harold Schwartz, a Michigan businessman, began selling land tracts via mail order in The Villages area in the 1960s. He and his business partner, Al Tarrson, were forced to close the mail-order aspect of the business due to a 1968 Federal law banning sales of real estate by mail order.[10]
Stuck with considerable portions of Florida land, in the early 1970s Schwartz and Tarrson began development of a mobile home park, Orange Blossom Gardens, in the northwestern corner of Lake County. By the early 1980s, the community had sold only 400 units. In an attempt to improve the business, Schwartz bought out Tarrson's interest and brought his son, H. Gary Morse, on board in 1983.
Morse noted that the successful retirement communities (such as Del Webb's Sun City developments) offered numerous well-maintained amenities to the residents. They also had diverse and nearby commercial development. Morse began to significantly upgrade the development. Their sales improved in the mid-1980s. Schwartz began to buy large tracts of land in nearby Sumter and Marion counties for future expansion. In 1992, Morse officially changed the overall development name to The Villages. The development is still controlled in all major aspects by descendants of Schwartz and Morse.

Nice history summary Bonny. And the Schwartz/Morse plan has been dynamic, far from static. That's why people are moving here and why people are staying here.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by mickey100

By the numbers you have cited, 2875 vs. 3594 people per square mile, it appears there are 25% more people now per square mile. This is huge when you're looking at use of the recreational facilities, traffic on the roads, people at the restaurants, etc. Just sayin'.

It's only "huge" if there has not been a 25% increase in rec centers and restaurants/sq mi and 25% more roads/sq mi. For example, IF there were 5 rec centers in 8 sq mi and now 25 centers in 32 sq mi, we would be ahead, at least as measured by sq miles. If we look at the stated 23,000 population in 1999 compared with 115,000 today, are there 5x as many centers, restaurants etc as back then?

[dholley76]

We are in TV this weekend for the site visit, and have been favorably impressed with all that we have seen. We have found many friendly people willing to answer our newbie questions about life here.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread. We have learned that things can get busy, especially in the winter, but almost everyone has told us that there are ways to soften the blow to get tee times, or get into activities such as Zumba, Yoga, and other group activities. We love the Town Centers and the golf cart rides to and from. We are looking at other communities next week, but everyone (including you on this thread) have opened our eyes to how great TV can be...Thanks again!!

[bluedivergirl]

Just yesterday, at Publix, I was aiming for the 10 or less line. So was another gentleman. We wound up in an argument.

A smiling argument over who had more time, who had more patience, and who should go first. (you go! No, you go.)

I've only been here five months, but I just don't see the overall problem. Isolated incidents, sure.

BTW, I love the southern manners in most retail establishments.

[gap2415]

We project our inner world out there. We all have good days and bad even here in The Villages. We love it with the exception of that deed compliance lady gathering her little hate list of minor indiscretions...but luckily she is not in our friendly village.
There is no perfection here yet, we haven't found any happier place for baby boomers than The Villages.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by bluedivergirl

Just yesterday, at Publix, I was aiming for the 10 or less line. So was another gentleman. We wound up in an argument.

A smiling argument over who had more time, who had more patience, and who should go first. (you go! No, you go.)

I've only been here five months, but I just don't see the overall problem. Isolated incidents, sure.

BTW, I love the southern manners in most retail establishments.

But, were one of the two of you next, or were there 17,672 people on line ahead of you, as "TV is overcrowded" group would suggest?

[DonH57]

It's just intolerable having to stand in the 10 items only lane, behind two others. How uncivilized. Why did these people decide they have to be in the store too? I hope I get back to put my stuff away and beat them to the country club to eat.

[bonrich]

We are not full time as yet, but getting close, 8 out of 12 months. We enjoy a cart ride after a late dinner, get some ice cream either LSL or BW, listen to some tunes, then a golf cart ride back, detouring through different neighborhoods and viewing the landscaping and the painted and bricked drives. Residents usually wave to us as we drive through. Back to the house for final cup of coffee.
Simple pleasures.....

[Steve9930]

Originally Posted by Allegiance

Those alleged unhappy villagers are not villagers at all, but online planted imposters from other jealous communities. Anyone need only be here to see that it is actually utopia! My arm is tired from waving at all the smiling villagers.

Really? From the post I would assume your one of them.

[Allegiance]

. Problem solved, will be selling them at market night.