An official has criticized the Developer’s ability to hand out guest IDs to prospective homebuyers visiting The Villages.
Visitors on the Lifestyle Preview Plan get a chance to sample the pools and pickleball courts during their stay in Florida’s Friendliest Hometown. Many are so wowed by the amenities in The Villages that they sign on the dotted line and buy a home before boarding a flight back home.
However, Amenity Authority Committee member Jim Vaccaro believes the existing homeowners in The Villages are picking up the tab for the Developer’s sales pitch.
“The Developer is giving away thousands of Guest IDs and we are paying for it,” Vaccaro said.
He said he is also concerned that the Developer is collecting amenity money from renters at the new apartments at Spanish Springs and the existing apartments at Brownwood. In addition, the Developer collects the amenity money from the new Marbella Villas that have been constructed where the former Hacienda Hills Country Club was located.
However, Deputy District Manager Carrie Duckett explained that Lifestyle visitors are considered “residents” during their time in Florida’s Friendliest Hometown and there is a home – with amenities paid for by the Developer – representing the guests while they are in town.
The arrangement for the 300 amenity privileges covering the apartments and Marbella Villas dates back nearly a decade to a pact between the Developer and the AAC, explained by former AAC member Carl Bell in a 2020 Opinion piece.