Spanish Springs’ La Reina Building being retrofitted for 39 apartments

The La Reina Building at Spanish Springs Town Square is being retrofitted to house 39 new loft-style apartments.

The interior of the three-story building has been gutted to make way for the new apartments.

Plans for the major remodeling of La Reina Building, long considered the crown jewel of The Villages’ original town square, also include space for a ground-floor restaurant, previously home to Gator’s Dockside, which closed in 2024 after more than a decade in operation. Another large section of the building, in the back, is being reserved for a yet-undisclosed-purpose.

Apartment dwellers will have the use of a resort-style pool and some apartments will have balconies overlooking the town square. There will also be covered golf cart parking available for those living in the new apartments.

The Lofts at Van Patten House, former home of Katie Belle’s, marked the introduction of apartments at Spanish Springs Town Square. In 2020, the announcement of apartments at the square ignited a rebellion among residents, who nearly convinced the Lady Lake Commission to block the plan. However, legal threats from The Villages forced Lady Lake officials to back down. The Lofts at Van Patten House opened in 2024.

A two-bedroom, two-bathroom loft at Van Patten House starts at $3,300 per month. Renters pay an extra $200 monthly amenity fee. They also pay extra for utilities, cable and trash pickup.

Apartments will soon surround Spanish Springs Town Square as they also coming to the P.B. Smythe and Citrus Exchange buildings, former home to The Villages Daily Sun. The newspaper offices have been moved to Lake Sumter Landing, above Starbucks.