A plan has been unveiled for more apartments at Spanish Springs Town Square.
The 17 apartments will be located in the headquarters of The Villages Daily Sun in the Citrus Exchange Building at 1100 Main St. The newspaper office, which has been located for decades at Spanish Springs, will be moving to Lake Sumter Landing to take over the former offices of the District Government, which are now located in Brownwood.
The 17 apartments will include three studios, four one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom units, A few leaseable storage spaces will be provided where possible. The existing interior staircase and elevator will remain in place as well as the exterior staircase at the rear of the building. A stand-alone golf cart parking structure will be built, offering 18 spaces.
There will be a renovation of the exterior of the building, including enhancements to the windows and doors.
Spanish Springs, which is more than three decades old, is currently undergoing a major transformation with an emphasis on more walkable spaces.
The former home of Katie Belle’s has already been converted to the Lofts at Van Patten House. A one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment there begins at $1,850 per month and a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment starts at $3,300 per month.
Apartments at Spanish Springs have been a highly emotional issue for residents. In 2022, the Lady Lake Commission voted against allowing The Villages to proceed with its plan for apartments. However, The Villages threatened to sue the Town of Lady Lake and a commissioner changed his vote, allowing the apartments to move forward.