The growth of The Villages has been extraordinary, and growth can be a very good thing. New homes, new town squares, and new amenities have helped make this one of the most successful retirement communities in the country.
But growth should never come at the expense of the residents and neighborhoods that helped build The Villages into what it is today.
The Historic Side, and especially Spanish Springs, deserves more attention and investment. Spanish Springs was the original heart of The Villages. It is where many of us chose to live, where lifelong friendships were formed, and where this remarkable community began.
Over the years, many longtime residents have watched beloved landmarks disappear.
Hacienda Hills Country Club and Restaurant was closed years ago because it needed maintenance and renovations. Instead of restoring and preserving an important part of our community, it was torn down and replaced with a parking lot.
Now we are seeing the same pattern with Tierra Del Sol. Rather than investing in the property and maintaining another cherished gathering place, it has been closed while new restaurants and amenities continue to open in the newer sections of The Villages.
This sends a disappointing message to the residents of the Historic Side: we are the forgotten residents who helped build the foundation of this community.
Those of us on the Historic Side may no longer have bond payments, but that should not mean we are overlooked, ignored, or taken for granted.
We deserve the same level of care, maintenance, and reinvestment as every other part of The Villages.
Continued growth is important, but so is honoring and preserving the neighborhoods that made The Villages successful in the first place.
Spanish Springs is not just another town square. It is the soul and foundation of The Villages.
It is time to reinvest in the Historic Side and show longtime residents the respect they have earned.
William Kondas is a resident of the Vera Cruz Villas.