Will Spanish Springs Disappear?

[@suz165]

I bought in Eastport we like visiting Spanish Springs!

[@thetackroomtx]

Another wonderful video 👍🏻 I love the Spanish Springs area but not much retail to browse through and they really need to bring in a dine in breakfast place like The Flying Biscuit. It would draw people down there. Dunkin’ donut does not cut it for a sit down breakfast. Thanks again and love your view video style

[@infamyinfamy]

I think more apartments in Spanish Springs will really reinvigorate the square. More people who are right in the thick of it, listening to music, eating at the restaurants, shopping locally. It will be great.

[@joemancurreri6635]

apartments will change the entire demographics of TV. As soon as apartments are built, at this scale, look for huge changes. as an Architect, there is no where that apartments add to the value of an area. Especially when these apartments will NOT be 55+. wait until you see the valves drop in TV... You call it "invigoration".. the problem is NOT a lack of people, it;s a lack of people that spend money. 150,000 + residents, all of whom are over 55, most over 65 - are cheap and don't spend money unless it's a "deal". We have been visitors to the Villages many times, The business model there cannot support itself. Any market study will illustrate, that TV will decline, over the next few years, these Apartments will destroy the entire Villages concept. Very poor investment. It will be ""The Bronx" of Florida in 10 years.

[@infamyinfamy]

@@joemancurreri6635 There already are lots of apartments in Brownwood. I haven't noticed any terrible effects there.

[@badkarma1289]

@@joemancurreri6635 There are already apartments at Spanish Springs town square, as well as at Brownwood, and they have the same age rules as homes in The Villages. Not sure where you heard they were NOT 55+, and there has been no drop in "valves" in TV due to apartments. Not even close to "all" of the 150,000+ are over 55 - many in their 40s have moved into the new areas down south (read up on the "80/20 rule"), and there are many adult children in their 30s and 40s (legally, they can be as young as 19) who live with their parents full-time, mostly up north. The Villages has been going strong for more than 30 years, so the statement that "The business model there cannot support itself" is ludicrous. It is quite clear that you don't live here. The Morse family currently owns enough land to continue building for at least 20-30 years, and they have made billions of dollars, so I think they'll be just fine, despite the "Very poor investment" opinion of a random, non-resident in the KZbin comments section.

[@suz165]

I agree! Some people don’t want to maintain a house. And some people want to live in a small town and walk everywhere. It could bring younger seniors too.

[@johnmayerislovee]

Thanks for the stream and your hard work. Unfortunately the northern section of The Villages along with Spanish Springs has been stagnant with minimal growth for the pass several years as growth in the southern sections have been rapidly expanding. Once the fourth town square opens, many Villagers will have little reason to travel north and the added consumer traffic will continue the growth and prosperity in the southern sections of The Villages.

[@DisMindy5767]

I heard something from the developer about a new restaurant that was supposed to replace Gators Dockside. The announcement included an artist's concept drawing ama said it would have more outdoor tables. But I haven't heard anything about it recently. We love Spanish Springs. It's the closest square to our home. Amerikanos is our favorite restaurant. If you haven't eaten there, try it!

[@dweickel]

Came down for a week, loved all the squares, this one is more my style.

[@vsFY2023]

This is a natural cycle in any age restricted community. The older areas age and then take time to rotate to new younger residents. As people age their spending slows dramatically from a retail perspective. It will cycle but will be a slow process.

[@dweickel]

My wife and I have been looking at The Villages, On top of the world, they both have things to offer, Villages I think has more to offer, but the bond thing is crazy. Monthly amenity fees between the two work out about the same with each offers. Again the bond could add $250 - $300 month more and on fixed retirement budget that makes a difference. To be honest still leaning toward Villages.

[@joemancurreri6635]

the solution for poor folks like you is to stay where you are. Otherwise you move here and complain about everything. Florida is NOT cheap... and why do folks think it should be?

[@plumber802]

@@joemancurreri6635 I think you could have put it a little more delicately but I agree with your statement. People should not come here with the expectation of a cheap lifestyle.

[@badkarma1289]

A few things to keep in mind: The Villages beats OTOTW in every single category, and it is not particularly close. The few people who choose OTOTW over The Villages almost always do so because either they are introverts, or think that The Villages is "way too big/busy". One thing you must be very careful about at OTOTW is that when it comes to some of the homes there, you do not own the land under the house. Read that again. Regarding the bond, pre-owned homes will have the total bond amount paid down to various degrees, with many up north having the bond completely paid off! There are currently more than 30 homes for sale on The Villages site under $250,000, and numerous have zero or negligible bond - many more on MLS sites. The current amenity fee in The Villages is still under $200, and the value you receive for that is staggering.

[@mwm3360]

Beautiful area

[@Streetglide905]

I’d like to see a movie theater, more restaurants.

[@PaulMarcantoni]

Also the movie theater in SP springs and Brownwood that is huge closed down thanks to Netflix. The villages should consider converting the Brownwood movie theater into a late 70s style roller skating rink playing 70s and 80s music only no rap please and limit admission to only the villages residents and visiting family members. Pennings thoughts. Be great to skate to disco again like Donna summer music or Peter Frampton and Phil Collins

[@dweickel]

We did notice pricy restaurant's, not into sea food. But choices all around the area.

[@badkarma1289]

The prices can be a bit high, but almost all restaurants in The Villages offer discounted or 2-for-1 food and drink specials (especially when the snowbirds fly back up north).

[@plumber802]

Why would anyone want to see apartments within ANY area of the Villages?!?!

[@PaulMarcantoni]

Expand the Dunkin donuts because it's too small for indoor and outdoor seating put in Chipotle where margarita Republic was located. A Starbucks could be put there with outdoor seating. This square is a great people watching location and Probably popular for our musicians playing there outdoors or at Sharon Morse center

[@PaulMarcantoni]

Dunkin donuts could move to margarita Republic for larger seating areas inside and outside

[@fierceflyer5]

I surprised that j-Jill chose Spanish Springs. I would think Eastport, Middleton Or Brownwood would be a better location for them based on clientele and income.

[@dweickel]

Maybe rent is too high.

[@margaretmattason-tw9cc]

I have lived in the Villages for nearly 25 yrs. Newbies to the Villages have NO IDEA what occurred in the Villages before they came. For example, when Spanish Springs was first built, there was a church, a Bakery Katie Belles, a fresh vegetable market, a very large home decor place and more. All gone and replaced. More businesses came and went. Lake Sumter Landing has seen its fair share of businesses coming and going. Brownwood has seen change. And now, McGradys at Sawgrass Grove has gone.There is nothing odd going on at Spanish Springs! Change has been occurring for since it was built. It's NORMAL! For whatever reason, some newbies move here and attempt to rewrite the history of the Villages. A place they know nothing about because THEY WERE NOT HERE. It's quite comical for the long timers and locals.

[@athletikonaol]

I think this development looks a little tired and run down. it needs a facelift. A more vibrant color and design. The demographic changes are harder to resolve. If original residents were closer to age 55, they would have had more inclination to get out and drink beer. If they now average 75, they'd be less inclined.

[@badkarma1289]

The Morse family is in the process of freshening up the Spanish Springs area.

[@SmartHomeImprovementTv]

Hello- i have a comment: I did not know Spanish Springs was in Sumter County? I do not think I agree with you, that Spanish Springs is beautiful. Water falling from ruins is not beautiful to many. Spanish "anything" is not considered luxury, by anyone I personally know of. (I'm just sayin) Thanks for the content! -Bryan

[@macjones-wn5xl]

The last place on earth I would buy. The Villages says old folks farm. Over priced poorly built homes in a state run by republicans. Hurricanes, insurance issues, medical care that really is poor for the clientele. Nope