[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

Likely they felt it wasn't worth the effort or the fight and opted for this as a way to take the money and run.
Now the complaining will start with "...they promised us a restaurant, and a....", all the things that come with a prevalent customer based.
This area will now be forever lost to any kind of development or commercial venture and people will bemoan how the developer broke their promise to forever take care of them.
Be careful what you ask for, you may get it.

It was lost as soon as they tore down HH’s.

It was was in already built out and sold district decade’s ago. I think it was very thoughtless to crowd in 3 story 150 plus apartments towering over residents houses and not expect complaints. Remember when they blocked construction at 466 and B/V on property they didn’t own cause it was too close to their compound. So, the mentality I can build in you’re backyard, but not mine really sets standard don’t it.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

There are many things that go into renting an apartment beyond your narrow idea of owning.

Yes, professor.

[saratogaman]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

That is unfair and uncalled for. I am so happy for the worried neighbors and I am glad they thought of it.

Since 2008 when we first moved here, I have constantly been more than satisfied with the decisions made by this family. All they get from some is criticism.

I think people some people are just jealous that their hard work and their sacrifice and the risks they took with their own money has paid off, and not only that, their business employs thousands of people.

You mean they take risks with the money they made from us?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by saratogaman

You mean they take risks with the money they made from us?

It's their money, they can take risks if they like.

HOWEVER...

when they take risks with OUR community, simply because they own a strip of property within the community, that makes it our business.

Remember the town squares are - for all intents and purposes, land-locked. They are surrounded by Villages properties within the CDDs. They exist -because- of the Villages, and they would know this because they're the ones who built it. The town squares would not exist, if the Villages had no residents.

So while they don't "owe" anything to us as residents and homeowners, it would be in their best interest to consider our interests when they make their business decisions.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by saratogaman

You mean they take risks with the money they made from us?

That is how a business works.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

It's their money, they can take risks if they like.

HOWEVER...

when they take risks with OUR community, simply because they own a strip of property within the community, that makes it our business.

Remember the town squares are - for all intents and purposes, land-locked. They are surrounded by Villages properties within the CDDs. They exist -because- of the Villages, and they would know this because they're the ones who built it. The town squares would not exist, if the Villages had no residents.

So while they don't "owe" anything to us as residents and homeowners, it would be in their best interest to consider our interests when they make their business decisions.

I have always believed they do.

[stanley]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

So while they don't "owe" anything to us as residents and homeowners, it would be in their best interest to consider our interests when they make their business decisions.

And you think they don't?

[Flyers999]

This is wonderful news. Two thoughts: 1) yes people can do what they want with their money, but people cannot just build whatever they want next door to you. They have to get a zoning change, which must be approved by the popularly–elected local government. 2) The Morses did get the zoning needed, but I believed they decided not to build apartments because it was the right thing to do. They certainly had the money to do it, but none of the neighbors wanted it.

I applaud them for that, especially Mark, Jennifer, and Tracy and for keeping their father’s dream alive, the great visionary H. Gary Morse, without whom most of us would not be here today. A hearty THANKS TO THE VILLAGES!!!!!


Next the apartments in Spanish Springs.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

It was lost as soon as they tore down HH’s.

It was was in already built out and sold district decade’s ago. I think it was very thoughtless to crowd in 3 story 150 plus apartments towering over residents houses and not expect complaints. Remember when they blocked construction at 466 and B/V on property they didn’t own cause it was too close to their compound. So, the mentality I can build in you’re backyard, but not mine really sets standard don’t it.

Topspin, It is THEIR money. Not your money and not my money....and for my money, I say that group of family called Morse has made mostly well thought out decisions that benefitted most of us.

I say for you to wait and see how this pans out. I bet it will be another good decision. People are not fools. This is the most sought after place to live in the U.S.

Mostly because it has feisty old people like you and me.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by stanley

And you think they don't?

I don't think they do, no. I think they are looking out for the interests of potential buyers of new construction, and I think they look out for the interests of potential buyers of construction south of 466 and in the greater Sumter Square area.

Their marketing revolves around the southern "half" of the Villages. So they'll do whatever is necessary to promote perfection there. The northern part of the Villages is over and done. Now that they have enough properties to keep them wealthy for the next three generations, it doesn't matter to them whether or not the entire northern section got subdivided and sold off to apartment rental management companies.

They no longer have to care, because they have hedged their bets very smartly and no longer have anything to lose by doing whatever they want with any property they still own north of Sumter Landing.

[stanley]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I don't think they do, no. I think they are looking out for the interests of potential buyers of new construction, and I think they look out for the interests of potential buyers of construction south of 466 and in the greater Sumter Square area.

Their marketing revolves around the southern "half" of the Villages. So they'll do whatever is necessary to promote perfection there. The northern part of the Villages is over and done. Now that they have enough properties to keep them wealthy for the next three generations, it doesn't matter to them whether or not the entire northern section got subdivided and sold off to apartment rental management companies.

They no longer have to care, because they have hedged their bets very smartly and no longer have anything to lose by doing whatever they want with any property they still own north of Sumter Landing.

All speculation and opinion.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Flyers999

This is wonderful news. Two thoughts: 1) yes people can do what they want with their money, but people cannot just build whatever they want next door to you. They have to get a zoning change, which must be approved by the popularly–elected local government. 2) The Morses did get the zoning needed, but I believed they decided not to build apartments because it was the right thing to do. They certainly had the money to do it, but none of the neighbors wanted it.

I applaud them for that, especially Mark, Jennifer, and Tracy and for keeping their father’s dream alive, the great visionary H. Gary Morse, without whom most of us would not be here today. A hearty THANKS TO THE VILLAGES!!!!!


Next the apartments in Spanish Springs.

So they wasted taxpayer dollars, and the time, energy, and efforts of elected officials in our town and county, countless meetings and legal fees, to fight for something and then change their minds - because it was "the right thing to do?"

They should never have done it in the first place. They could have sold the property for less. They could have renovated the existing property and gotten better management in there. They could have requested townhouses instead of a 3-story apartment building. They could have turned it into walking trails. They could have done a LOT of things.

NONE of the things they did was because "it's the right thing to do." There is nothing to applaud. They wasted everyone's time, effort, and money, until it was clear they weren't going to get what they wanted because what they wanted was the WRONG thing to do.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Topspin, It is THEIR money. Not your money and not my money....and for my money, I say that group of family called Morse has made mostly well thought out decisions that benefitted most of us.

I say for you to wait and see how this pans out. I bet it will be another good decision. People are not fools. This is the most sought after place to live in the U.S.

Mostly because it has feisty old people like you and me.

I’m not feisty, just argumentative

[villagerjack]

Originally Posted by TNGary

Thank you for sharing OP, much appreciated,
I suspect these will sell fairly fast, nice location between SS & LSL plus close to all of the conveniences/stores etc

$500,000 +++??????

Any ideas?

[npwalters]

Reference the right thing to do. The right thing to do would have been to go this route in the beginning. The right thing to do would have been to forgo bullying the Amenities Authority into giving up almost 300 amenities. The right thing to do would be to abandon the plans to put apartments in Spanish Springs town square and Sumter Landing town square. The right thing to do would be to drop the law suit suing Lake County because they did not get approval to put apartments into SS.

I applaud the decision to put the villas in HH but believe it was done as business decision to end the poor PR being generated.