Not in Ocala, but somebody in my neighborhood built a sort of carport out of shipping containers. One on each side parallel to the driveway, then two on top of them perpendicularly. Didn’t even push the two on top together, so there’s a gap that lets rain in. Sort of spray painted them partially black.
Looks awful.
The houses we looked at were A-1 - my favorite one had a neighbor who had his back field full of old campers, across the street from someone with a farm implement museum on the front lawn and a blue tarp for a roof.
It’s too bad because the property was otherwise perfect but I was not willing to look at a camper “repair facility” from my pool every day.
I got to look at this for a few months. It was awful. They finally hauled it away and they are building a house, but yikes.
That looks like Dexter’s workshop or something.
The pig in the foreground is the perfect atmospheric touch.
We have the Farmlands Preservation Area, which is how Marion COunty hopes to preserve some of the rural nature and NOT turn into another Orlando. https://www.horsefarmsforever.com/farmland-preservation-area/#:~:text=The%20FPA%20encompasses%20193%2C000%20acres,through%20determined%20petitioning%20by%20developers.The FPS encompasses the Jockey CLub area. Roberts (WEC) has just settled a suit by neighbors RE his development plans for it. There wont be a hotel. He increased the lot size along the boundary to Three acres. He will only have equestrian events (there was concern about concerts). https://www.ocalagazette.com/development-detente/
Ag exemption is on top of A-1 - you have to apply for it. Gonna bet those follks had it. And tarps on roofs? Florida is in the deep end of an insurance crisis. But yes, there are always sorry-a$$ folks in many neighborhoods.
The lot size near CR225 was increased to a 6-acre minimum (up from the 3-acre minimum previously approved). I haven’t been in that area in a long time (my home town is down 441 aways) - doesn’t 225 start north of McIntosh where it splits off from 441? Or are 225 and 441 the same road until the split?
Also, the recent settlement stipulates no events that generate above a certain noise level such as concerts, music festivals, motor sport events, even car shows (where muscle car aficionados sometimes get into engine revving contests). That’s a good thing for the residents and wildlife in the area. The no hotel clause will mean patrons of allowed events have to travel a bit further for accommodations - and I know there were several individuals and small corporations that were planning to purchase homes on site to use as Airbnb offerings. The minimum 6 acre provision will make that a bit tougher but I believe that minimum applies only to the lots near 225. Other parts of the property will no doubt see homes built on smaller lots.
All in all - as nice as WEC is, I am glad there are rural preservation groups like SORA and HFF helping to protect the Farmland Preservation Area from losing its rural character. I spent many a happy hour during my teen years riding horses in rural areas of Central Florida - esp. where The Villages first started - and I hate all the rampant development.
I would think the increase in property values could seem like a windfall to those who bought their property prior to the increase, at least on paper. Of course you would have to sell to actually profit from the increase. And if you have been renting and saving up to buy that dream may be dashed.
thanks for the info. I thought it was so weird that there were no hotels anywhere near our destination, but there seemed to be a plethora of AirBBs.
I would LOVE to have the Jockey Club property. It is gorgeous. Too bad I’m not a billionaire!
Well you folks better not decide to move next to me and our used car lot. LOL
But our old camper is hidden in the barn.
Proud redneck here.
It typically doesn’t work that way for many in that situation unfortunately.
I say good luck to those trying to preserve rural areas of Marion County as rural. As a resident of North Lake County (very close to the Marion County line) I can say that development in Lake County is out of control!! I’d rather have a neighbor with old campers in the yard than a zero lot line subdivision of tacky houses next to me.
I just saw a horrible story on the news the other day about three teenagers being killed in Marion County, and I had to double check to confirm that Marion County is the location of Ocala. Awful.
The murder rate per capita in 2020 for Palm Beach County (where Wellington is) was 90, the corresponding rate for Marion County was 19. So despite these very sad (and still unsolved) cases the fact is that PBC’s murder rate is nearly 5 time that of Marion county.
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