Gracie, I understand you have only been here for 6 years and yes all is beautiful on the south side of 466....but the north side looks beautiful to me also.....understand 1 thing the owners still own ALL of the properties, rec. centers and softball fields south of 466 and the only reason they do is because of the on going battle with the IRS they have not yet been able to sell all these back to you south siders.....and wait until they do and you see what they want to charge you.....hmmm then we will see people open there eyes :22yikes: there is a reason why the owners became Billionaires....and as far as the brother and sister team that represented us when the owners wanted us N.siders to pay for some of there mistakes while building many years ago.....they more than deserve the $$$$$ 4 million without there service we would have NOTHING

I agree with the posts supporting the current system governing the community. It's not broken. We don't need to fix it.

However, there is an aspect of the original post that should be considered. That is to remain interested and informed about what is going on here.

And that leads me to one area I thnk the developer has an opportunity, if not an obligation, to improve. Communication. I don't think I have any right to expect them to provide information on their development plans down the road, whether it be the Fruitland Park property or property south of 44, or anywhere else. However, when they are involved in changes to existing buildings or properties or facilities, I believe they could be more forthcoming with information if it affects the residents. Examples are everywhere. What were the real reasons the buffalo were removed? More recently, the architectural plans for the Church on the Square obviously are complete as construction has begun. What would be the downside of letting the residents know how it will look when completed and what is the prospect of resuming the Sunday services there when it is done? Same questions for Orange Blossom Hiils. These are things that affect residents' lives and enjoyment of the community. Letting us know doesn't mean giving us input, but it does cut down on the rumors that are not usually complimentary to the developer's efforts. And it would reduce the angst involving changes.

A big thumbs Up for mikeod
 

:clap2::clap2:

Gracie's concerns are very legitimate. I have been on boards of two different public unit developments that pahsed from the developer to the residents. The single biggest problem is in fact dealing with folks who want this, that or the other thing purchased, built, added, bought or done away with. They have no regard for funding what so ever and like the government they don't care or are concerned.

I was the budget watchdog. I got so many personal contacts, calls, threats, offers at home at all hours of the day or night from both for and against the same projects/wants. Eventually I was over ruled by the board on a couple of major additions to amenities that required new construction. The budget would not support it....then there were future monthly amenity fee increases assumed to make the numbers come out. Lobbying by special interests within the community.....

I can assure you regardless the resident talent within a given community, the politics and problems far outweigh the sanity of reality. One of the boards I eventually wound up resigning from as they were driven by a philosophy of it did not matter if proposals wer without funding, they proceded anyway. Eventually there was an uprising in the resident membership when too many assesments were being levied for too many projects that were not for the good of the resident owned and operated developement.

Keeping the developer involved should not be a negative. The Villages run by residents may sound good, but it will be frought with issues and problems the developer does not have as they for the most part while protecting the interests of the developer are tuned to provide for the most part for the good of the majority.

Beware what you wish for!

btk

:agree::agree::agree::agree::agree::agree:

life is short
 

Life is even shorter for 55 and over. I agree I'm not going to worry.

First there is democracy in TV for example if you live in a section that is in the city of Wildwood you have that government, plus the state government, plus the US government. If your talking about VCDD then that is a form of "control" you agreed to in writing when you bought your home, its really not that much different than HOA or condo control boards in other cities and "subdivision" in the US. I would argue that the larger TV gets the better it is for the residents of TV. The larger TV is the more clout we have collectively. I also think most of the examples you state are a matter of taste and not a good example of things starting to slip for example some of the entertainment I really enjoy some I don't that doesn't mean anyone is cutting cost it just means different people have different taste

I feel sorry for people like doomsday preppers that worry about things far in the future that they have no control over anyway. So very sad. If you live in The Villages, you are on the very top of the hill so if you worry here, you are a sad case indead.

I have long said that a benevolent dictatorship is an excellent form of government; particularly if I am the dictator.

Absent that, I am comfortable with the "family" continuing to dominate how the development - for that is what this is, their development -- is going. And I don't believe the family is going away. Word is they have already acquired an additional tract of land for further development.

Graciegirl, note that up here in the far northwest end of The Villages, in Marion County, NO YARD ART is legal.

If The Villages is slowly falling apart and gets worse in the future, all you have to do is think positive. Think "charming". Run-down communities take on a certain charm of their own. :1rotfl::D:a20::):icon_wink:;)

After reading this entire post, I am really glad that I only rent at TV annually. The thing that attracted me 14 years ago was the developer's foresight and all of the amenities offered. I don't think it's as inexpensive as people (frogs) want you to believe but the concept is is terrific. That being said, if I was thinking of retiring and buying at TV I would have serious misgivings after reading this thread. You bought and moved here because of what you saw the developer was offering --------now you want to change things. Too bad, it was a great idea when there were only about 30,000 people but now you are a major city.

I believe Polo Ridge is the only Village allowing yard art. I drive through there every day and yard art is few and far between, but they have some really nice fountains and bird baths. The north end of TV is beautifully kept, have no complaints, plus I don't compare one end to the other, to each his own.:smiley:

your post reminds me of the election campaigns my favorite freeholder used to participate in...his first question to his competition went something like why did you move to the county...and the response was always something to do with because they liked it...to which the freeholder would reply then why do you want to change it?...the reply was usually a lot of stammering!

I am going to act like Congress kicking the can down the road letting children and grandkids worry about the climate change, economy and war. At 75 and counting, I am just going to enjoy wild pigeons coo and watch the beautiful sun set in the west. Can't make the sun set in east. However, if you are 55 and moving to The Villages, you'll pray the second generation of the Morse's will be caring and loving The Villages as much as we do. Don't bitch and moan for little things and work together with the developer's and be a pragmatist. Be happy for them that they are making money within reason. Eventually The Villages will become a tourist destination if you plan well and this a good thing. Developer will make more money from commercial enterprises so they won't leave. You may even get subsidies from the Tourist Bureau of Florida.

After reading this a few more times, I'm not sure that I understand the premise that The Villages will outgrow the population. What exactly does that mean?Aren't the Villages and the population one and the same?
As the population grows, the amenities, retail establishments, roads and infrastructure will continue to grow. I don't understand why anyone sees this as a problem. So what if the population of the Villages grew to a million people as long as all the the other things grew as well? How would that affect anyone?