[champion6]

I noticed something interesting in the Aug. 26, 2013 meeting agenda of the Wildwood City Commission. It shows a plan for TV to build a villa neighborhood at the southwest corner of Powell Road and CR 44A. It is named Alden Bungalows and will have 180 villas.

From what I recall, the original plan for the entire area was for a "large mall," which I think was named Antrim Dells. It was to be west of Powell Road between CR 44A and CR 44. The proposed Alden Bungalows appears to fill the north half of this area.

The style of villas is not specified, but the term bungalow is interesting. It makes me wonder if they will be high-end units like the Edgewater Bungalows on Old Mill Run near Lake Sumter Landing.

I also wonder if the remaining south half of the area will be developed as commercial or residential.

[justjim]

The Developer will "strike while the iron is hot" and right now "homes/villas are hot---mall's not so much.

[Bogie Shooter]

Interesting. Thanks for the post.

[Skybo]

"Bungalow" is the term currently used to designate CBS villas (as opposed to vinyl villas which are called "Cabana" villas).

[ilovetv]

That is a really nice field and location for a courtyard villa neighborhood. My bet is they'll be pricier due to the closeness to Brownwood and new shopping going into that area.

And I think all of the TV construction/commerce around there will lift up Wildwood's economy, employment, school tax revenues, etc.

[mulligan]

That's where they got approval to expand district #10 a couple of months ago.

[StarbuckSammy]

Thanks for the heads-up on this.

[Villages Kahuna]

Originally Posted by justjim

The Developer will "strike while the iron is hot" and right now "homes/villas are hot---mall's not so much.

The iron is definitely hot for the sale of residential properties in The Villages. At the same time, large mall development is not anything that the Developer has a lot of experience with. And right now, many of the large anchor store chains have completely stalled their plans for new store development. Trying to put together a well-anchored retail mall development serving a largely seasonal community in this economy could be a multi-year project. The developer could completely sell out that property if developed as residential long before they'd make their first dollar of profit on a retail mall.

Personally, I'd be just as surprised if there wasn't a (much needed) smaller retail component on that property--try a Publix-anchored mall like Colony--as I would if it actually was all developed as a large mall.