[Altavia]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

That's unrelated.

The FDOT required the bridge design used by The Villages.
Very sad in my book.

I know, and agree.

Other Turnpike bridges have shoulders that accommodate walkers/bikers. Warm Strings for example.

The MMP cage at Sawgrass bridge looks silly.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Can you please explain how putting a small ribbon of concrete on the easement along the roads will take away any land used for building homes?

A five foot ribbon set six inches from the road will take up most if not all of my front yard.

The easement constitutes access to my property if it is ever needed - so far not once in four years. The sidewalk is an ugly piece of concrete that is there forever. (but at least I don't need to mow it, weed it, or shovel snow from it)

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Altavia

I know, and agree.

Other Turnpike bridges have shoulders that accommodate walkers/bikers. Warm Strings for example.

The MMP cage at Sawgrass bridge looks silly.

Isn't it the same as the Water Lilly, Brownwood and Chitty Chatty bridges?

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

A five foot ribbon set six inches from the road will take up most if not all of my front yard.

The easement constitutes access to my property if it is ever needed - so far not once in four years. The sidewalk is an ugly piece of concrete that is there forever. (but at least I don't need to mow it, weed it, or shovel snow from it)

Don't be confused. I don't think they're needed. I was just asking a question...

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Don't be confused. I don't think they're needed. I was just asking a question...

Understood.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Isn't it the same as the Water Lilly, Brownwood and Chitty Chatty bridges?

Sawgrass Bridget is much larger since there is a four lane divided highway adjacent to the MMP lanes.

They have a cage around then resembling the other golf cart bridges.

[VApeople]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

The sidewalk is an ugly piece of concrete that is there forever.

We had a sidewalk in front of our house in Virginia and people would walk by and let their dogs crap in our yard. I would shovel the crap back onto the sidewalk.

[mickey100]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

How can that be when the new areas are filled with walking trails? Or just more of your bashing…………

There is a big difference between a walking trail, and building a huge number of concrete sidewalks throughout all of the Villages. As of 2018, The Villages had approximately 750 miles of streets, and we know that number is much larger now. If you multiply the width of the sidewalks by the linear feet , the square footage lost to potential home sites would be astronomical. It's basic dollars and cents, not to mention the cost of the concrete itself for the sidewalks.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by mickey100

There is a big difference between a walking trail, and building a huge number of concrete sidewalks throughout all of the Villages. As of 2018, The Villages had approximately 750 miles of streets, and we know that number is much larger now. If you multiply the width of the sidewalks by the linear feet , the square footage lost to potential home sites would be astronomical. It's basic dollars and cents, not to mention the cost of the concrete itself for the sidewalks.

Please explain how they would lose land "to potential home sites"...

If the sidewalk was placed where they typically place sidewalks, it would simply take up some of the front yards...

I doubt they would put them in the Villa or Cottage homes, due to them being private streets...

[mickey100]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Can you please explain how putting a small ribbon of concrete on the easement along the roads will take away any land used for building homes?

The OP asked why there are so few sidewalks in TV, implying why were sidewalks not installed originally. We are not discussing adding in sidewalks as an afterthought. In keeping with the original lot designs/sizes, the sidewalks would take up additional land space that would have been used for home lots.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by mickey100

The OP asked why there are so few sidewalks in TV, implying why were sidewalks not installed originally. We are not discussing adding in sidewalks as an afterthought. In keeping with the original lot designs/sizes, the sidewalks would take up additional land space that would have been used for home lots.

I didn't mention "adding them later"...

My comment applies to new construction...

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Why do we have so few sidewalks in the Villages?? I grew up in a small town and we had sidewalks on every street - and this was more than 60 years ago.

Because there are no sidewalks, I see a lot of people walking in the street where they can be hit by cars. Instead of spending money on a sidewalk along 44 - where very few people walk - wouldn’t it be better spent in the residential areas where thousands walk every day??

Everything is of course compromise. As in posts, people will argue about anything. There is no shortage of nice places to walk.

Sidewalks? Our previous home had them. It was built in 1948 so a 75 year old town design.
Strange, that property belonged to the town but I the home owner had to clear the snow from it and it was cracked by trees on town owned land and I got billed to remove a tree on property I did not own and billed to repair the cement.

[mickey100]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

I didn't mention "adding them later"...

My comment applies to new construction...

Well, you are changing the discussion then. But I'll play along. If sidewalks were added, either there would be less home lots, or the new home lots would be smaller. Simple math. And I would guess that The Villages has determined the optimum lot size that appeals aesthetically to potential buyers, and that is what we have now. Considering the lots are the size of postage stamps, any decrease would likely be viewed negatively. And of course, there is the extra cost to install sidewalks, which the potential buyers would be absorbing.There is also the issue of drainage. Many of the local streets have concrete gutters rather than curbing, and I'm not sure about the specifics of sidewalk design in those instances. Code may require that there be a grass strip between the sidewalk and gutter, or else and underground grate system that would be quite expensive. Of course, once sidewalks were installed, there would be the need to address ADA requirements, which would again raise the cost. I suspect the Developer decided it would be in their best interest to bypass these concerns - provide dedicated walking trails which are cheaper than constructing individual sidewalks on a myriad of local streets.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by mickey100

Well, you are changing the discussion then. But I'll play along. If sidewalks were added, either there would be less home lots, or the new home lots would be smaller. Simple math. And I would guess that The Villages has determined the optimum lot size that appeals aesthetically to potential buyers, and that is what we have now. Considering the lots are the size of postage stamps, any decrease would likely be viewed negatively. And of course, there is the extra cost to install sidewalks, which the potential buyers would be absorbing.There is also the issue of drainage. Many of the local streets have concrete gutters rather than curbing, and I'm not sure about the specifics of sidewalk design in those instances. Code may require that there be a grass strip between the sidewalk and gutter, or else and underground grate system that would be quite expensive. Of course, once sidewalks were installed, there would be the need to address ADA requirements, which would again raise the cost. I suspect the Developer decided it would be in their best interest to bypass these concerns - provide dedicated walking trails which are cheaper than constructing individual sidewalks on a myriad of local streets.

No, the discussion was "Why so few sidewalks?". Not "Why aren't sidewalks added to existing homes?"

But neither of those options would necessarily result in smaller lot sizes. Just a bit less grass on the existing front yards...

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by mickey100

Well, you are changing the discussion then. But I'll play along. If sidewalks were added, either there would be less home lots, or the new home lots would be smaller. Simple math. And I would guess that The Villages has determined the optimum lot size that appeals aesthetically to potential buyers, and that is what we have now. Considering the lots are the size of postage stamps, any decrease would likely be viewed negatively. And of course, there is the extra cost to install sidewalks, which the potential buyers would be absorbing.There is also the issue of drainage. Many of the local streets have concrete gutters rather than curbing, and I'm not sure about the specifics of sidewalk design in those instances. Code may require that there be a grass strip between the sidewalk and gutter, or else and underground grate system that would be quite expensive. Of course, once sidewalks were installed, there would be the need to address ADA requirements, which would again raise the cost. I suspect the Developer decided it would be in their best interest to bypass these concerns - provide dedicated walking trails which are cheaper than constructing individual sidewalks on a myriad of local streets.

You think that is what is going on with the existing sidewalks in TV?

On another note, demand not the developer determines what sells. But our developer is careful to study trends and demand and adjusts accordingly. You just put the cart before the horse, that’s all.