West Villages: Getting Anxious for Braves Stadium to Break Ground

From https://tomahawktake.com/2017/08/26/atlanta-braves-still-not-started-construction-florida/

Atlanta Braves still have not started construction in Florida

by Alan Carpenter

Posted 8/26/2017

There is still time, but it’s getting tight.  Still two more hurdles to leap before the new Spring training digs can start being… dug.

At least the Atlanta Braves know where they will be Wintering come February:  the facilities at the Walt Disney World/ESPN Sports Complex.  It’s where they’ve been for 20 years.

That lease has been extended by one year through the 2018 season, so at least there’s no angst about what happens then.

It’s the 2019 season that is getting more interesting (probably for some on-field reasons, too, but that’s another story entirely).

In short, the city of North Port, the Braves, and the developers are in a holding pattern.  They are waiting for the bureaucratic wheels to turn with the State of Florida:

For the complex to open in February 2019, however, design and construction work will need to commence shortly. And while there’s no deadline for the state to respond to the West Villages application for $20 million in funding, officials usually respond in a timely manner.

It was three months ago when we reported that the parties were “two to three weeks” away from submitting their grant funding application to the State.  2 to 3 weeks after that, we got wind of the economic impact study that was to be submitted as part of that application.

Since then… nothing.

Recent History

It was on November 9, 2015 that the Nationals and Astros held a ground-breaking ceremony for their joint Spring Training complex in West Palm Beach.  Despite the size of this facility and the extra cost ($144 million) involved, they opened on time – barely – on February 28, 2017.

Even so, there were still several ‘finishing touches’ that didn’t quite get done in time.

So if that date represents a time bogey of sorts, the Braves now have about 11 weeks before the construction needs to begin.

Once the State does it’s part, there’s still one more approval needed… but from 3 different local governing bodies:  the city of North Port, the West Villages development board, and Sarasota County.

While all parties are primed to do so, it will still take time to get those boards together to do the public’s business.

But the clock is ticking.

Article copied from /https://tomahawktake.com/2017/08/26/atlanta-braves-still-not-started-construction-florida/. Check out the website for more Atlanta Braves commentary and stats.

Posted by Ali Johnston of West Villages Realty. Check out area homes at http://www.westvillageshome.com/

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC
19503 S West Villages Pkwy
Stes A2 & A11 (by Appt)
Venice, Florida 34293

Office: 941-460-3179

West Villages Realty's Website 

Link to our main blog page

Our Gran Paradiso Blog Page

Our Venice Florida Real Estate Website

Our West Villages Real Estate Site

Our Gran Paradiso Website

Our IslandWalk at the West Villages Website

Our Sarasota National Website

Thanks for reading!

Ali

Rockin' Rollin' Readin' Sock Hop For Children's Literacy

Rockin' Rollin' Readin' Sock Hop Where:   Venice Community Center, 326 S. Nokomis Ave., Venice When:     Friday, August 25th, 2017 Time:      7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Presented by the Kiwanis Club of Venice with the Friends of Venice & Jacaranda Libraries. Fundraiser for Children's Literacy. Entertainment by DJ Goodley, Raffles, Auctions, Dinner from Sharky's. Tickets: $50 per person. Call 941-416-2147 or email jmoore1101@comcast.net for reservations. Posted by Ali Johnston of West Villages Realty. Check out area homes at http://www.westvillageshome.com/ Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964 West Villages Realty LLC 19503 S West Villages Pkwy Stes A2 & A11 (by Appt) Venice, Florida 34293 Office: 941-460-3179 West Villages Realty's Website  Link to our main blog page Our Gran Paradiso Blog Page Our Venice Florida Real Estate Website Our West Villages Real Estate Site Our Gran Paradiso Website Our IslandWalk at the West Villages Website Our Sarasota National Website Thanks for reading! Ali

West Villages: Mattamy Homes Opens Renaissance At West Villages

Renaissance at West Villages celebrated its grand opening on August 19th, 2017. Mattamy Homes opened four professionally decorated models with Sales Center and onsite Design Studio. This new, gated neighborhood will have between 600 and 700 residences once complete, making it a perfectly balanced mid-sized neighborhood for the area.

It is ideally located about 10-15 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico in one direction and just 10 minutes from Interstate 75 in the other. West Villages in south Sarasota County is on its way to becoming the most desirable new community in Florida for its location, planned amenities, and a fantastic selection of new home plans offered by various builders. 

Mattamy has already sold more than 30 homes in Renaissance, some just a few months from completion, and will welcome their very excited first residents this fall.

Check out our West Villages Home Site, and let me know if you would like more information about Renaissance at the West Villages or any other community in the area.
Feel free to reach out and email: westvillagesrealty@gmail.com

Posted by Ali Johnston of West Villages Realty. Check out area homes at http://www.westvillageshome.com/

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC
19503 S West Villages Pkwy
Stes A2 & A11 (by Appt)
Venice, Florida 34293

Office: 941-460-3179

West Villages Realty's Website 

Link to our main blog page

Our Gran Paradiso Blog Page

Our Venice Florida Real Estate Website

Our West Villages Real Estate Site

Our Gran Paradiso Website

Our IslandWalk at the West Villages Website

Our Sarasota National Website

Thanks for reading!

Ali

Hope to talk to you soon!
Ali

West Villages: Notice of Next Regular Board Meeting for the West Villages Improvement District August 2017

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
8/18/2017
Miscellaneous Notices

WEST VILLAGES
 IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
NOTICE OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Supervisors of the West Villages Improvement District will hold a regular Board Meeting on August 29th [Tuesday], 2017, at 11am in the Chambers of the City of North Port located at 4970 City Hall Boulevard, North Port, Florida 34286.

The purpose of the Regular Board Meeting is to conduct any business properly coming before the Board. The meeting is open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida law. A copy of the agenda for this meeting may be obtained from the District's website or by contacting the District Manager at
(561) 630-4922 and/or toll-free at
1-877-737-4922.

From time to time one or more Supervisors may participate by telephone; therefore, a speaker telephone will be present at the meeting location so that Supervisors may be fully informed of the discussions taking place. The Regular Board Meeting may be continued as found necessary to a time and date specified on the record.

If any person decides to appeal any decision made with respect to any matter considered at this Regular Board Meeting, such person will need a record of the proceedings and such person may need to insure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made at his or her own expense and which record includes the testimony and evidence on which the appeal is based.

In accordance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations or an interpreter to participate at this meeting should contact the District Manager at (561) 630-4922 and/or toll free 1-877-737-4922 at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the meeting.

Meetings may be cancelled from time to time without advertised notice.

WEST VILLAGES IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
www.westvillagesid.org
PUBLISH: SARASOTA HERALD TRIBUNE 08/18/17


Hope to see you there!
Ali



Check out area neighborhoods  and new construction options at www.WestVillagesHome.com. You can also search the MLS for resale homes.

Posted by Ali Johnston of West Villages Realty. Check out area homes at http://www.westvillageshome.com/

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC
19503 S West Villages Pkwy
Stes A2 & A11 (by Appt)
Venice, Florida 34293

Office: 941-460-3179

West Villages Realty's Website 

Link to our main blog page

Our Gran Paradiso Blog Page

Our Venice Florida Real Estate Website

Our West Villages Real Estate Site

Our Gran Paradiso Website

Our IslandWalk at the West Villages Website

Our Sarasota National Website

Thanks for reading!

Ali

West Villages: Sarasota Herald-Tribune says, "Final pieces falling into place for Atlanta Braves spring training."

Sarasota Herald-Tribune article By Zach Murdock, Staff Writer

Posted Aug 5, 2017 at 12:00 PM
Updated Aug 5, 2017 at 5:05 PM
 
After months of wrangling agreements and funding, local officials are working on the final, formal development agreement

NORTH PORT — The final pieces of the plan to bring the Atlanta Braves to a new spring training complex in North Port are expected to fall into place over the next few weeks.

After months of wrangling agreements and funding, local officials are working on the final, formal development agreement for the public-private project and waiting on approval of a $20 million state stadium grant to round out the full $75 to $80 million project.

Then it will become a matter of turning a pasture into a professional baseball stadium and Major League training campus in less than 18 months — just in time for spring training in February 2019.

“There’s still a ways to go,” said Sarasota County Economic Development Director Jeff Maultsby, who has helped lead negotiations with the team for more than two years.

August and September mark an important turning point for the project. For the past 18 months, Maultsby and leaders from North Port and the West Villages commercial and residential development have negotiated with team executives about building the training campus near U.S. 41 and River Road in the West Villages.

Now the West Villages only waits for word back on its application for a $20 million spring training stadium through the Florida Sports Foundation to complete the financing package for the project. Local and foundation leaders have been in discussions about the grant since before negotiations were even public in early 2016, but there is no deadline on when the state must respond to the application made in mid-June.

“We’re just waiting on them to complete their review, do their due diligence on the application from the West Villages,” Maultsby said. “As soon as they’ve got their decision, they’ll let us know ... that will be the final piece of funding and of this capital stack, if you will.”

See the original article at http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20170805/final-pieces-falling-into-place-for-atlanta-braves-spring-training

Check out information about the surrounding communities at westvillageshome.com

West Villages Improvement District 2017-2018 Final Budget Documents

Here are the final budget budget documents as approved at the Meeting of the West Villages Supervisory Board on August 10th, 2017. Contact me at westvillagesrealty@gmail.com if you would like me to send you the pdf version. I can also provide a link to audio of that meeting.

Thanks,
Ali Johnston
West Villages Realty LLC

westvillageshome,com
westvillagesrealty.com

West Villages: New Metrostudy Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice area report released yesterday

This was taken from http://www.metrostudy.com/sarasota-bradenton-housing-2q17-new-home-starts-decline-2q17-best-quarterly-closings-since-recession/

Local Markets

SARASOTA / BRADENTON HOUSING 2Q17: New Home Starts Decline, As 2Q17 Has Best Quarterly Closings Since Recession

Metrostudy NewsAugust 7, 2017

- 2Q17 Quarterly New Home Starts Down 1.5% YoY & Annual Starts Up 2.2% YoY

- 2Q17 Quarterly Closings Up 8% YoY & Annual Closings Up 10% YoY

- New home production continues to trend to higher price ranges, with starts over $250K up 9.7% YoY


Metrostudy’s 2Q17 survey of the Sarasota-Bradenton housing market shows 1,457 single-family units were started in the second quarter of 2017, down 1.5% compared to 2Q16 but a 7% increase from 1Q17. The annual start rate totaled 5,515, up by 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year.  Single-family quarterly closings totaled 1,540 units, 5.8% higher than 2Q16 levels. The annual closings rate was 5,380 units, 10% above the rate in 2Q16.


“The second quarter of 2017 had the best quarterly closing rate since the recession, but the first two quarters of 2017 have been down in terms of new housing starts versus the same quarter of 2016,” said Tony Polito, Regional Director of Metrostudy’s Sarasota/Bradenton market. “This may be reflective of some price pressure however, Manatee County’s average closing price per square foot was level at $145/SF with the 2016 rate, and Sarasota County saw its average price per square foot fall from $157 to $154 over the same period. Even with this slight decline in housing starts, the Sarasota/Bradenton market is building at 119% of its 20-year moving average and it is one of only two Florida markets building above the long-term average. Naples/Ft. Myers is the other.”


For the twelve months ending June 30, 2017, annual new home starts in price ranges under $250K totaled 1,277 units, down 16.7%% from 2Q16. Annual new home starts in prices over $250K were up 9.7% from the rate at the end of 2Q16. The marginal 118-unit increase in the annual start pace was split: 256 fewer units under $250K and 374 more units above $250K.

In 2Q17, Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte Counties were the region’s top three markets based on annual starts. Manatee County recorded 2,649 annual housing starts, up 0.6% from 2Q16. Sarasota County had 2,114 annual starts, up 2.9% from the same quarter last year. Charlotte had 746 annual starts ending 2Q17, a 6.7% increase from 2Q16. During the second quarter of 2017, Manatee County recorded 629 starts, down 7.2% from the prior quarter and down 5.3% from 2Q16. Sarasota County recorded 482 starts, down 18.4% from 1Q17 and down 13.9% from 2Q16. Venice is now building 174% of the volume of North Manatee but 60% of the volume of SE Manatee County.


Total single-family inventory, which is composed of units under construction, finished vacant and models, equaled 2,832 units on the ground at the end of the second quarter, a 6.3-month supply and up 5% from last year. Compared to last year, under construction inventory rose by 17 units to 2,077. Finished vacant inventory increased by 28.6% YoY to 463 in 2Q17. However, the number of move-ins exceeded completions during the quarter and FV inventory decreased by 33 units. We consider FV equilibrium between 1.5 and 2 months. As of June 30, 2017, the months of supply of FV units for all of Sarasota/Bradenton stood at 1.0 months. All told, total inventory of 6.3 months is at the low end of equilibrium, but price increases may be difficult.


The table below ranks the top ten communities in the market by annual starts:


Community (Area)                                      Annual Starts

Lakewood Ranch ……………………………………901

The West Villages …………………………………..428

Palmer Ranch…………………………………………229

Del Tierra……………………………………………….207

Grand Palm ……………………………………………185

South Gulf Cove ……………………………………..171

Rotonda …………………………………………………168

Punta Gorda Isles …………………………………..160

Milano…………………………………………………….153

Sarasota National ……………………………………131



About Metrostudy: Metrostudy is the leading provider of primary and secondary market information to the housing and related industries nationwide. Metrostudy provides research, data, analytics and consulting services to help builders, developers, lenders, suppliers, retailers, utilities and others make investment and business decisions every day. For more information, visit www.metrostudy.com
Metrostudy contact: Tony Polito, 813.888.5151, tpolito@metrostudy.com

About Hanley Wood: Hanley Wood is the premier information, media, event, and strategic marketing services company serving the residential, commercial design and construction industries. Utilizing the largest editorial- and analytics-driven construction market database, the company produces powerful market data and insights; award-winning publications, newsletters and websites; high-profile executive events; and strategic marketing solutions. To learn more, visit hanleywood.com.



Let us know how we can assist you today!

West Villages Realty LLC
www.WestVillagesRealty.com
www.WestVillagesHome.com

West Villages: Don't Forget! District Budget Meeting 2017

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
7/21/2017; 7/28/17
Miscellaneous Notices

WEST VILLAGES
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2017/2018 BUDGET AND NOTICE OF REGULAR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS' MEETING

The Board of Supervisors of the West Villages Improvement District will hold a Public Hearing on August 10, 2017, at 11:00 a.m., or as soon thereafter as can be heard, in a Meeting Room of the City of North Port located at 4970 City Hall Boulevard, North Port, Florida 34286 for the purpose of hearing comments and objections on the adoption of the budget of the District for the Fiscal Year 2017/2018. A regular board meeting of the District will also be held at that time where the Board may consider any other business that may properly come before it.

A copy of the agenda and budget may be obtained from the District's website or at the offices of the District Manager, 2501A Burns Road, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410, Telephone: (561) 630-4922 and/or toll free at 1-877-737-4922, during normal business hours.

The public hearing and meeting are open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida law for special districts. The public hearing and meeting may be continued to a date, time and place to be specified on the record at the meeting. There may be occasions when staff or Supervisors may participate by speaker telephone.

Any person requiring special accommodations at this meeting because of a disability or physical impairment should contact the District Office at (561) 630-4922 at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service at 1-800-955-8770, for aid in contacting the District Office.

Each person who decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at the public hearings or meeting is advised that person will need a record of proceedings and that accordingly, the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which such appeal is to be based.

Meetings may be cancelled from time to time without advertised notice.

Todd Wodraska, District Manager
WEST VILLAGES IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT


Thanks,
Ali

Thinking about buying or selling your home in this area? Our in-depth knowledge and experience here is exceptional, as you can see, and can be of particular value to you throughout the process. Contact us today and find out all of the ways we can be of help to you!

Ali H. Johnston, MHA, MBA in Real Estate

Realtor®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

Office: 941-460-3179

www.WestVillagesRealty.com

WVID Blogspot

Gran Paradiso Blogspot

NewHomeVenice.com

West Villages Home Site

My Gran Paradiso Site

My IslandWalk Site

My Sarasota National Site

West Villages: District Supervisory Board Meeting July 27, 2017

There was a great turnout at the last West Villages Improvement District Supervisory Board meeting on Thursday. A lot of residents showed up to ask questions and voice personal opinions/concerns about various items of interest for both individual communities and the greater district.

There really was too much for me to mention everything, so I have posted a video that contains recorded audio from the meeting. Please note, I was 2-3 min late, so the meeting had just begun when the recording started, but nothing of significance was missed.

The primary item of note was the refinancing of the district bonds (essentially CDD assessment). There was a great deal of concern as to how this would impact residents. Resident representative on the Board, Bob Rossman, asked the district attorney whether the terms would change, and the response was that it will not extend the length and the total amount of the payments will basically remain the same. The difference is that in those payments, the principal amount will be higher and the interest amount will be lower.

Open the video above to listen to the entire meeting.

Regards,

Ali

Thinking about buying or selling your home in this area? Our in-depth knowledge and experience here is exceptional, as you can see, and can be of particular value to you throughout the process. Contact us today and find out all of the ways we can be of help to you!

Ali H. Johnston, MHA, MBA in Real Estate

Realtor®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

Office: 941-460-3179

www.WestVillagesRealty.com

WVID Blogspot

Gran Paradiso Blogspot

NewHomeVenice.com

West Villages Home Site

My Gran Paradiso Site

My IslandWalk Site

My Sarasota National Site