Ocala Preserve (house, school, gated community)

[Dolce_Vita]

I’m looking for some updated info regarding Ocala Preserve. Is it not truly a 55+ community? Also is reliable high speed internet a problem there? Any information would be really appreciated.

[dontaskwhy]

While I have never visited there, here is their current internet site: https://www.sheahomes.com/new-homes/...cala-preserve/

Truly high-speed internet is rare in many parts of Ocala. It depends on who provides the service.

[Ghaati]

It specifies on their website that they are "partial 55+." I don't know what they mean by that. Either it's a 55+ community or it isn't. The term 55+ community has an actual definition. In a nutshell, it means:

At least 80% of all homes must have at least 1 person living in it aged 55 or older.

That means - the community can require 100% of the homes to have at least 1 person 55 or older. It also means that 20% of the homes can have families in them, including kids. In fact, it could allow kids in 100% of the homes - as long as ONE person living in each of the first 80% of them is over 55. It also means that the community is not obligated to allow children or anyone under 55 living in any of their homes.

The point of the 55+ designation is to protect older people, who have often been discriminated against in housing. It is a measure to prevent homelessness among the elderly.

So your community either complies with this, or it doesn't. There's no such thing as a "partial" 55+ community.

As for high speed internet, it depends on what you consider to be high speed. A DSL company's idea of "high-speed" is very very different from a cable company's idea.

[Dolce_Vita]

The partial +55 is one of the things I was curious about. I have nothing against families with kids but at this stage in my life would prefer a more adult and quiet community particularly when it comes to use of amenities like the pool and fitness room.

[Ghaati]

Originally Posted by Dolce_Vita

The partial +55 is one of the things I was curious about. I have nothing against families with kids but at this stage in my life would prefer a more adult and quiet community particularly when it comes to use of amenities like the pool and fitness room.

My community is designated 55+ but seems to not be enforced strictly. It is also a "community with gates" as opposed to a "gated community." The gates are more for traffic control rather than security. It does provide a psychological security measure - many criminals would rather not have to go through the effort of pushing the red button, while their image and vehicle is being captured on camera, just to pass through to steal the potted plant off Mrs. Smith's lanai.

We have "family pools" so that visiting grandkids can enjoy themselves. The adult pools are 30+ only - that way even adult children living with their parents with no little kids in the house are restricted. Knowing that you have to drive a mile to the nearest family pool and swim with a bunch of toddlers and young teens, just because you're 25 years old and not allowed to swim with ONLY adults... is a good way to minimize the number of 25-year-olds living with their 55+ year old parents here. Still happens, but it's minimal.

You won't find kids in the rec centers unaccompanied by their parents/grandparents.

So while my community is a 55+ community, it does have a few kids living here full time, but mostly they are just visitors during school vacations. And - in a community that has over 130,000 residents, "a few kids" is only a big deal if they live next door to you