The Villages is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sumter County, Florida, United States.
The Villages is controlled by a several quasi-governmental Community Development Districts (CDD), which are, in turn, controlled by the evolution company which created The Villages. H.
Gary Morse, the son of the initial owner and who was responsible for turning The Villages into one of the most well-known and fastest-growing retirement communities, transferred most direct ownership in the business to his three kids in 2006; Morse died in 2014. The overall evolution lies in central Florida, approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of Ocala and approximately 45 miles (72 km) northwest of Orlando.
It is the center of The Villages Metropolitan Travel Destination (MSA), which consists of all of Sumter County; Lake County is encompassed in the Orlando Kissimmee Sanford, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area; and Marion County is encompassed in the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.
In 1992, Morse officially changed the overall evolution name to The Villages.
The committee, which consists of Villages residents, reviews and approves alterations and modifications to the properties and homes assembled by the developer.
To qualify for an exception to the Housing for Older Persons Act prohibitions against discrimination, at least 80% of the homes inside The Villages must have at least one person 55 years of age or older residing in the home. Persons under the age of 19 years are not permitted to reside inside The Villages unless an exemption is granted.
As a gated improve known for low crime rates, The Villages received publicity after a resident was killed in her home amid a hold-up in July 2006.
Republicans outnumber Democrats two-to-one. Some Democratic inhabitants complain about the distinct ly Republican coverage in small-town transmitting and newspaper, an orientation attributed to The Villages' owner, as well as voicing concerns about politically oriented vandalism. A critical part of Central Florida's Republican party, The Villages has been visited incessantly along the campaign trail by Florida Governor Rick Scott and United States Senator Marco Rubio.
During the 2014 Florida gubernatorial election, Scott visited The Villages on the eve of the election to rally votes. Just before the 2016 election for Florida Senator, Rubio stopped off at the temporary Republican Headquarters established at Lake Sumter Landing in "The Villages." The Villages is in Florida's 11th congressional precinct represented by Rep.
The entirety of The Villages is inside the boundaries of Florida Senate District 12 (currently represented by Republican Dennis Baxley), and is inside the boundaries of Florida House of Representatives District 33 (currently represented by Republican Don Hahnfeldt).
The portion of The Villages inside Lake County is inside Lake County District 1. The portion of The Villages inside Marion County is inside Marion County District 3. Areas of The Villages in Sumter County are divided between Sumter County District 1, which takes areas east of Morse Boulevard, and Sumter County District 3, which takes areas west of Morse Boulevard. Sumter County operates The Villages Sumter County Service Center at 7375 Powell Road in Wildwood. The majority of The Villages is advanced and maintained using a several Community Development Districts (CDD). The CDD is a form of special purpose small-town government available under Florida law; around 225 communities in Florida presently use this form of government. The portion of The Villages positioned in Lake County is under the jurisdiction of the town/city of Lady Lake and is not part of any of the District CDDs, but a portion is under the larger CDDs (see below).
Ten of the 12 CDDs cover the several regions of The Villages where inhabitants own homes, and furnish and maintain the roads and transit paths, storm water systems and structures, underground utilities, curbs and gutters, and street lights.
District 1 consists of approximately 998 acres (4.04 km2) in the northeast corner of Sumter County, which includes 3,420 residentiary units District 2 consists of approximately 990 acres (4.0 km2) in the northeast corner of Sumter County, which includes 3,668 residentiary units District 3 consists of approximately 894 acres (3.62 km2) in the northeast corner of Sumter County, which includes 3,762 residentiary units District 4 consists of approximately 1,187 acres (4.80 km2) in the southern portion of Marion County, which includes 5,132 residentiary units District 5 consists of approximately 1,408 acres (5.70 km2) in the northeast corner of Sumter County, which includes 6,399 residentiary units District 6 consists of approximately 1,497 acres (6.06 km2) in the northeast corner of Sumter County, which includes 6,677 residentiary units (planned) District 7 consists of approximately 976 acres (3.95 km2) in the northeast corner of Sumter County, which includes 4,765 residentiary units (planned) District 8 consists of approximately 1,070 acres (4.3 km2) in the northeast corner of Sumter County, which includes 5,140 residentiary units (planned) District 9 consists of approximately 946 acres (3.83 km2) in the northeast corner of Sumter County; as of 2010 evolution is beginning District 10 consists of approximately 999 acres (4.04 km2) in the northeast corner of Sumter County; as of 2010 evolution is beginning Village Center Community Development District (VCCDD) positioned in Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties, VCCDD provides water and sewage utility services, recreation, security services, fire protection and paramedic services to the residents.
Sumter Landing Community Development District (SLCDD) positioned in Sumter County, SLCDD provides recreation and security services to the residents.
There are also two quasi-homeowners associations in The Villages: The Property Owners Association (POA) and The Villages Homeowners Association (VHA). The 18th green at Tierra Del Sol, one of the nine nation club golf courses at The Villages It is these courses at which inhabitants of The Villages can play "free golf for life" (i.e., no greens fees) and can walk the courses for no-charge as well; fees are charged for riding a golf cart on the courses.
These courses are owned by the Villages inhabitants and managed by the Villages Community Center Development District (VCDD) Residents of The Villages are automatically members of these clubs; however, unlike the executive courses inhabitants must pay greens fees to play the courses and the clubs charge for before ity tee times.
These championship courses are owned by the Villages Developer and through an agreement with the VCDD, are managed by that entity. On October 15, 2013, The Villages officially opened executive courses Sweetgum and Mangrove. The most recent championship course (Belle Glade) was opened for enhance play on November 26, 2014. By final buildout, The Villages will operate 12 country-club championship courses (the last two will be 27-hole layouts; there are no plans to grew Orange Blossom Hills or Tierra Del Sol beyond their existing 18-hole layouts) and 35 9-hole executive golf courses, for a total of 621 holes of golf. In addition, The Villages operates various recreation centers.
"Village Centers" (17; these centers offer family pools (except for Silverlake, which has no pool), facilities with billiard meeting rooms and full kitchens, bocce, horseshoe, and shuffleboard courts, plus tennis and pickleball courts) "Regional Centers" (eight; these centers offer resident-only sports pools (except for Paradise, which offers a family pool), larger venues with stages for theatrical and musical productions, and many of the same features as the village centers; all but two also operate public centers for which a membership must be purchased) The Villages operates 11 parks, dog parks, and public trails, which are separate from the recreation centers.
Beyond the golf courses and recreation centers, The Villages also operates various softball fields, a polo stadium (The Villages Polo Stadium), and a woodworking shop, plus the Lifelong Learning College. The newest softball complex, Soaring Eagle, opened on January 16, 2015. Nightly activities are held in The Villages three town squares, Lake Sumter Landing's Market Square and Spanish Springs Town Square. A third town square, Brownwood Paddock Square, opened on October 12, 2012. The Villages developers or their successors operate three media properties: The Villages evolution is bounded roughly by US 27/US 441 to the east, US 301 to the west, County Road 42 to the north, and County Road 466 - A to the south, though assembly has now proceeded well south of 466 - A with the evolution of a several new villages, the Bonifay Country Club, and the Brownwood town center in that area.
Agreed to an $8 million deal to purchase Pine Ridge Dairy tract in Fruitland Park, Florida with a prepared assembly of 2,038 new Villages homes. Although County Road 466 previously served as the chief east-west corridor, the addition of homes and facilities south of County Road 466 and in the town/city of Fruitland Park, Florida has turned County Road 466 - A into a secondary east-west corridor. Buena Vista Boulevard and Morse Boulevard serve as primary north-south corridors. Due to the prevalence of golf courses many inhabitants in The Villages use golf carts (some of which are street-legal, and some of which are solar-powered) to travel around the community.
Sumter County Transit operates The Villages shuttle.
The Villages developers operate a street car-style bus tour of the improve which operates from the revenue and knowledge center positioned at The Market Square in Lake Sumter Landing.
There are a number of options available for travel between Orlando International Airport and The Villages, such as the shuttle service provided by The Villages Transportation.
The following school listings are primarily for tax base purposes only, as The Villages does not allow full-time inhabitants under age 19 except in the three family unit neighborhoods of Bison Valley, Spring Arbor, and Oak Meadows or by exception granted for hardship cases.
The portion of The Villages positioned in Marion County is zoned to Lake Weir High School of the Marion County School District. There are no family unit neighborhoods in the Marion County portion of The Villages.
The portion of The Villages positioned in Sumter County is zoned to Wildwood Middle High School of Sumter District Schools.
There is one family unit neighborhood (Bison Valley) in the Sumter County portion of The Villages.
The portion of The Villages positioned in Lake County is zoned to Leesburg High School of the Lake County Schools. There are two family unit neighborhoods (Oak Meadows and Spring Arbor) in the Lake County portion of The Villages.
Although kids cannot legally reside in most neighborhoods of The Villages, The Villages Charter Schools is a PK-12 charter school in unincorporated Sumter County. Children are eligible to attend the charter school if one or both of their parents work directly for The Villages or one of its direct subcontractors, or if a parent works for a company positioned inside The Villages.
In addition to the Lifelong Learning College directed by The Villages developer, a several publicly financed options are also available.
Sumter District Schools operates the Sumter County Adult Community Education Center in unincorporated Sumter County. For inhabitants of Lake and Sumter counties, Lake-Sumter State College provides adult education at the South Lake Campus in Clermont, the Leesburg Campus in Leesburg and the Sumter Campus in unincorporated Sumter County. College of Central Florida serves inhabitants of Marion County, operating the Ocala Campus and the Hampton Center in Ocala in Marion County and centers and campuses in adjoining counties. In January 2008, the Village Center CDD was notified by the Internal Revenue Service of the IRS' intent to audit a several recreational bonds issued in 2003 to determine compliance with tax regulations (mainly due to their status as municipal bonds which are exempt from Federal income tax).
The position stems in large part from the interrelationship between VCCDD and The Villages developers (since VCCDD has no residents, the Board of Supervisors consists solely of individuals who work for or have an affiliation with The Villages developers, and VCCDDs transit framework was purchased by the developers-controlled board from the developers).
After an IRS settlement offer was rejected by VCCDD, the IRS further period its audit in July 2009 to include all recreational and utility revenue bonds issued by VCCDD as well as similar bonds issued by Sumter Landing CDD, on the basis that Sumter Landing CDD is also an "alter ego" of the developers.
VCCDD opposes the position taken by the IRS, and in January 2010 it formally requested technical advice from the IRS as to the position it has taken. On June 14, 2011, VCCDD (after discussions with the IRS) submitted its final Request for Technical Advice, outlining its position on the matter. In June 2013, the IRS ruled that $426 million in bonds were not tax no-charge since the agencycracy running The Villages could not be considered a real government.
The IRS found that the agencycracy was not structured to represent the residents. On April 30, 2014, the IRS Office of Tax Exempt Bonds issued a negative response in lieu of The Villages requests for tax relief on the grounds of qualifying as a political subdivision under IRS regulations. From March 2008 until October 1, 2013, it is estimated that through the Amenity Authority Committee and CDD government, Villages' inhabitants bore approximately $750,000.00 in legal fees in defending against the IRS audit. In a memo dated July 11, 2016, the IRS, noting that the remaining Village Center municipal bonds had been redeemed in 2015, stated, "We have concluded that method this examination without further IRS action supports sound tax administration.
"Florida's Villages Shifts to Taxable Debt Amid IRS Probe".
"Villages developer H.
"The Villages CDP (Florida)".
Ryan Erisman, The Complete Guide to The Villages Florida, Chapter 3.
Architectural Review, Village Center, Retrieved November 4, 2007.
"," The Villages.
"Sarah Palin fans show up for book signing at Villages Barnes & Noble".
"Huckabee, Beck, Palin tis a privilege to live in The Villages Central Florida Political Pulse".
"Marco Rubio rallies voters in The Villages ahead of Election Day".
"Conservative Ben Carson packs home at Villages Barnes & Noble".
"The Villages: Florida retirement improve provides foundation for Republican candidates".
"The Villages: Florida retirement improve provides foundation for Republican candidates".
For Flynn and other Democrats who live in the Villages, [the creator of the Villages, H.
The journal Morse owns, 'The Villages Daily Sun,' runs conservative columnists like Ann Coulter and Oliver North, but no liberal counterpoint or bad news about Morse or the Villages, Flynn says.
Susan Hausner, an active Democrat in The Villages, penned a letter to the Tampa Bay Times in which she said the atmosphere Morse has fostered has led "'family values' party members to do things like key cars that have Obama bumper stickers and put dog waste on golf carts with Obama signs.
"Sumter County, Fla.
Village Center Community Development District, Annual Report for Fiscal Year ended September 30, 2009, pp.
20 21 (provides knowledge on the 10 residentiary CDDs and two central CDDs inside The Villages) Village Center Community Development District, Annual Report for Fiscal Year ended September 30, 2009, p.
Sumter Landing Community Development District, Annual Report for Fiscal Year ended September 30, 2009, p.
The Villages Championship "The Villages - November 2010".
Villages Recreation Centers NOTE: There is a discrepancy in the numbers depending on which map is used; the count is taken from the PDF map.
"Opening evening at The Sharon a bit of Villages' history in the making".
"Villagers thrilled at chance to see comic legend Jerry Lewis at The Sharon".
"Check that one off the bucket list, Villager appears on stage with modern 'n roll legend".
"The Villages Commercial Property Sales & Leasing".
"The Villages Commercial Property Sales & Leasing".
"The Villages Commercial Property Sales & Leasing".
"Villages closes $8 million deal on Fruitland Park property".
Sumter County Transit "Sumter County Adult Community Education Center." IRS Expands Florida CDD Audits, Peter Schroder, Bond Buyer, July 27, 2009, accessed April 23, 2010 Village Center Community Development District, Annual Report for Fiscal Year ended September 30, 2009, pp.
Sumter Landing Community Development District, Annual Report for Fiscal Year ended September 30, 2009, pp.
"IRS ruling on the Villages tax-free bonds a long time coming".
"Long-running Villages dispute with IRS could be grinding to final conclusion".
"Tutt issues memo revealing costs to Villages inhabitants in IRS battle".
The Villages Community Development District (the website provides enhance knowledge on all 12 Community Development Districts positioned inside The Villages area) 28.94318 N 81.94820 W The locale of the golf cart overpass over US 27-441 in the center of The Villages Municipalities and communities of Sumter County, Florida, United States
Categories:
Census-designated places in Sumter County, Florida - Micropolitan areas of Florida - Planned communities in Florida - Retirement communities - Census-designated places in Florida
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