SMR takes harder path toward Lakewood Ranch success

It was an all-time, win-win situation.

As Schroeder-Manatee Ranch launched its Lakewood Ranch project 30 years ago, the SMR braintrust selected the lesser traveled path.

The powers-that-be decided they weren't going to plop down a few thousand homes to become a bedroom community.

In fact, they never considered a home to be a building.

In those first neighborhoods in 1994, the Lakewood Ranch plan came to life. SMR was designing a community.

So what did that entail?

Well, it meant having all levels of homes for families, for retirees, for the rich, and for the not-so-rich. It meant having businesses so the people who lived in the community didn't all have to leave every day for a job.

It meant having all the services — grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, and yes, even car washes and storage facilities — that the residents would need.

Because SMR didn't start the ball rolling to be No. 2, it meant having parks, trails, open space, preserves, playgrounds, and activities.

It meant developing a lifestyle package that would evolve with the community as it grew, letting the residents pick their passions.

To complete the package, SMR needed to make sure the community had health services, fire rescue services, police services, church services, and schools.

So what was the win-win?

So for you "Independence Day" movie fans, consider the alien beings who select a world, consume all its natural resources, and then fly off to another planet, leaving the temporary host in ruins.

That can be a common refrain for some builders. Buy a strip of land, mash as many buildings as possible on every square inch, then head to the next planet, leaving the residents in a wasteland.

That didn't happen in Lakewood Ranch. 

SMR remains part of its master plan, its building still on Covenant Way. The win for the residents is that SMR knew that in order to build the No. 1 master-planned, community for all age groups, it would have to sacrifice profit in the short- to medium-run. That meant paying for better infrastructure and lifestyle amenities. Profits were sacrificed by protecting more open space and preserves. Land was given away for schools and medical, fire and police services.

The second half of the win-win went to SMR. Since 2018, Lakewood Ranch has been the No. 1-selling, multigenerational, master-planned community in the U.S. Why? Well, for all the reasons above.

So to further explain, I offer Mr. Macy's comments in "Miracle on 34th Street" as he tried to explain why sending shoppers to rival Gimbels (when Macy's didn't have what the shopper wanted) was a good strategy.

"We'll be known as the helpful store, the friendly store, the store with a heart, the store that places public service ahead of profits. And, consequently, we'll make more profits than ever before."

Would Lakewood Ranch have blossomed over the past 30 years without SMR's master plan? Or would they have torn down the bedroom community and put the airport here?

You be the judge.

I am going into my 10th year living here, and writing the Side of Ranch column. I wasn't here for the first 20 years, but the growth over the last 10 has been amazing.

Sure, there are more people, more cars, and more day-to-day pains. And yet, when I want, I can take a very easy, quiet drive from State Road 64 to Fruitville Road, and I have my choice of restaurants all along the way. I can enjoy The Green, Lakewood Main Street, the Center Point development, Waterside Place, or the Fruitville Commons.

Because of Lakewood Ranch Community Activities, I have my choice of hundreds of social clubs or activities. I can enjoy the state's No, 1 farmers market or can attend Sunday polo.

We have Music on Main, Movies in the Park, Boo Fest, the Tribute to Heroes Parade, Ranch Nite Wednesdays, Sights and Sounds at Waterside Place, and many golf opportunities (both for playing ourselves or for watching the pros). 

Sure, are we all scared of the future. Yes, because it is the unknown. And it's because we have something we love so much in this Lakewood Ranch of ours.

More people want to be here, just like we did when we bought our homes.

Then again, we've had 30 years of testimony about the master plan. The villages have been insulated from the growth around the perimeters. Much of that growth has been services to enrich our lifestyle.

So on the 30th anniversary of Lakewood Ranch's birth, I will give SMR the benefit of the doubt that the future will continue to be impressive.

And with that, I say, "Thanks for the memories."