What's the dirt on Rotonda? (Tampa, Sarasota: salon, sublet, homeowners association)

[beachbum wannabe]

Hi! I'm back again looking for any reasons why we should'nt be looking at Rotonda for a nice place to retire in. Is anyone out there who lives in Rotonda,and has reasons why we should'nt be looking to move there? Please write in and let us know, what we do'nt know about the area ! Thanks!!

[lilaclady]

Originally Posted by beachbum wannabe

Hi! I'm back again looking for any reasons why we should'nt be looking at Rotonda for a nice place to retire in. Is anyone out there who lives in Rotonda,and has reasons why we should'nt be looking to move there? Please write in and let us know, what we do'nt know about the area ! Thanks!!

It's ok, too far away from everything for my liking. I knew someone who lived out there and she moved soooo. If you like being out away from everything, you'll love it.
Beachbum Wannabe? It's a bit of a drive to the beach but I suppose being a bum wouldn't make it matter.

Rotonda is close to Grove City which has basically a bar, a beauty salon , a restaurant and a deli. Oh yeah, the laundry mat is there.

It may be growing. I haven't been there in a couple of years.

[Love2LiveNCities]

is rotonda strickly a retirement community?

[FLBob]

Rotonda is a bit remote. If you like golf there are plenty of golf courses. Beach is a bit of a drive, and the closest is on Gasparilla Island. Boating and fishing is good, there is a boat ramp just before the boca causeway. The Placida trestles have some great snook fishing. Friends that live there love it, they bought a nice house with a pool on a canal. She plays golf and he fishes. Their boat fits in the garage so they don't need to store it. Grocery store is within a couple of miles. Not for everyone but if you can entertain yourself it's a good place to live.

[SoFLGal]

No Rotonda is not strickly a retirement community. Like lilaclady pointed out, it's not really close to the nite-life. But if you're not into that you shold be fine. It is very close to Englewood and Boca Grande beaches. Here's something I wrote about the Rotonda area that might give you a better feel for the area:

Rotonda
With its canals and roads perfectly laid out in a big circle, Rotonda looks like a giant pizza with each piece being a different neighborhood. It is actually a desirable group of communities on the Cape Haze Peninsula, in Charlotte County on the south coast of Florida. Only 100 miles south of Tampa between Sarasota and Punta Gorda, the quiet Rotonda communities are off the beaten path, yet close to shopping, medical facilities, schools, and entertainment.

If you love the water, Rotonda is the place for you with over 30 miles of landlocked canals. There is ample boating, fishing, swimming and other water sports. The nearby beaches are uncrowded with miles of sparkling, white sands. Situated close to the center of the Cape Haze Peninsula, the Rotonda communities are well protected from the most severe hurricane winds. Rotonda is an upscale, deed restricted community with freshwater canals and numerous separate communities. The inner circle of Rotonda includes 1,600 square foot homes and larger, while the outer circle has homes that are more modest and smaller, ranging from 1,200 square feet and up. Rotonda Golf and Country Club features many courses scattered throughout the community. It offers complete practice facilities, a full length driving ranges, putting and chipping greens, and bunkers. The Country Club was awarded a ‘Beginner Friendly Certification’ from the National Golf Course Owners Association and the Charlotte Sun Herald Reader’s choice award as the best course in Charlotte County. The three Rotonda Golf and Country Club courses - The Hills, The Palms and The Links – stretch like a necklace of sparkling gems through the Rotonda communities, cooled by the gentle gulf breezes.

Rotonda West is a master-planned community with over 20,000 acres of lakes, ponds, greenbelts, and fairways and 23 miles of waterways. Rotonda West is comprised of several neighborhoods including Long Meadow, White Marsh, Broadmoor and Pine Valley. These outer communities are linked to land by three bridges that cross the canal system to the mainland. Home sites are as large as one-third acre. Homeowners pay a modest association for canal and lot maintenance, and other expenses. The Rotonda West communities are comprised of 8,000 home sites with about 5,000 currently completed. Most residents are full-time, and a few seasonal residents live here. There are six golf courses here, four of them operated by the Rotonda Golf and Country Club and two run by Pinemoor Golf Club. These communities are well-known for their natural surroundings, and include a bird sanctuary and plenty of canals for boating enthusiasts. The older communities like Oakland Hills and Pebble Beach are more fully developed, while the newer areas are still evolving. These include Pinehurst, Broadmoor, Long Meadow, and Long Marsh and the more recent development, Pine Valley. All communities are deed restricted with homeowners associations, underground utilities and public water and sewer.

Rotonda Broadmoor is a private golf course community, close to Boca Grande beaches, shopping and dining.

Rotonda Oakland Hills features golf courses, a clubhouse, and street lights.

Rotonda Pine Valley is a popular, neighborly community, within ten minutes of shopping, dining and other services. This golf course community also has tennis courts.

Rotonda Pinehurst is a golf course community with a clubhouse.

Rotonda Pebble Beach is a golf course community in a great location, only seven miles from Englewood Beach.

Rotonda White Marsh is a golf course community with a clubhouse and tennis courts.

The inner circle communities offer intimacy and a neighborly environment, with plenty of great amenities, and lush landscaping.

Rotonda Heights is a lovely little community with great access to local beaches and golf courses.

Rotonda Lakes is a golf course community located just minutes from Boca Grande with its world-class fishing, beaches and a marina.

Rotonda Sands is a picturesque community that is just across from South Gulf Cove, with beautiful lakes and quiet, private streets. It is only two miles from Gasparilla Island.

Rotonda Meadows is a golf course community with tennis courts, and close proximity to beaches, shopping, fishing and boating.

No matter which Rotonda community you choose, you will find a variety of home styles, including carriage houses, single-family homes and villas.

[snowbirdlakefeild]

Bought new home in rotonda lakes 2 years ago, could not be more satisfied, great place to live, safe quiet well kept. not one complaint recommend it.

[snowbirdlakefeild]

Spent two years driving around south Florida looking for a place to buy a home, we live in Canada in a small community, put close to large city. The big cities in Florida were aging and properties are small and neigbours are close.
Found Rotonda by luck. It is perfect on the outer circles, all new homes, close to great shopping,dinning and services.
Deed restrictions are monitered and maintain appearance of area. Strongly recommend the area. Very pleased and satisfied with our purchase.
This is the best kept secret in Florida. Great area and Location,safe quiet and well maintained.

[mr&mrssunshine]

we won land in R heights and just bought a home in R sands. It is a great place , very queit and very safe. been going there for 15 years. The beach is 15 minutes drive (how close Do you want) Port Charlotte and the mall/retsuarants is also 15. You couldnt be much closer without suffering a bigger town environment.

Whilst the population is slightly older the people in general are very warm and friendly.

we love it

[Tall_Mike]

Hey there, my family (kids 5 + 8) is planning to spend a couple of months in Florida. We did some sublet searching and found a pretty good offer somewhere in the middle of the Rotonda Blvd W. What do you think, is it a good idea? Our kids need company so there should be some other families around, they will need school, playgrounds etc. Lack of nite-life is not a problem for us. Opinions and advices appreciated.

[mr&mrssunshine]

Rotonda Blvd is generally a very nice road , lots of homes so you will have neighbours and feel very safe. You are able to bike, walk, run in perfect safety. There seem to be more 'residents' than holiday makers on the Blvd so you should meet other families although the median age is slightly towards the older side. The only thing I would say is the further west round the rad you go the older the homes are and the area is slightly less desirable. if you know the house # you should be able to tell where it is. If it has a pool then the kids are sorted , if not you are 15 mins to a great beach and 15 mins from Port charlotte and the mall and restaurants