If you think this wasn't Mr. Swartz's idea you're fooling yourself. Developments like The Villages take years or decades to plan and execute. Between March of 2002 and September 2004 CDDs 5 through 10 were established, Mr. Swartz passed in December 2003. He was making the deals for the land many years before his death. If you think he only looked as far as SR44, once again you were fooling yourself, plans have been in the works for many years for what we are seeing now and undoubtedly he had his hand in the pot. If anyone told you about "build out" after 2002 they were either clueless to what was happening around them or lairs.
If you look at were Brownwood sits it would have been stupid to put a premier retail district on the edge of the development (Rohan Rec Center similarly), if SR44 were to be the end, Brownwood would probably be Roosevelt and Truman courses sit today. The question become when was Brownwood planned. Watch this video and pay attention at the 2:10 point.
Making of Brownwood
"...before the first house was built south of 466 we had determined were Brownwood would be..."
Translated - Harold Swartz was a part of the planning of Brownwood and knew and planned to continue on beyond Brownwood.
I never had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Swartz but from what I have read his outward persona was a kind and giving individual, much of which was likely a true reflection. In my digging into the history and progress of The Villages over the years I also see a very smart and long term thinking businessman who knew how to, with the help of his son, see the future and needs of the residents and make long term plans for this business. These skills he and Gary Morse pass on to the next generation and the one after that.
The Villages is a business, a business in the market of making retirement communities in a state who's population is increasing by 900 people a day, a significant portion of which are in the 55+ market. Many here and on other sites apply the moniker of greed to The Villages, is the same used when they pick up their phone, tablet, or laptop, or jump in their car, doubtful. If greed were the motivator the extreme attention to the environment shown in water reclamation, construction techniques, and maintaining the green spaces that has not only continued but increased in the newer sections under construction would not be happening. The current generation running the company continues to raise the bar in every aspect of the development, that is there business. Many seem to have forgotten what it means to work and run a business and now only focus on the "me" factor, too bad, the world continues to turn.
If there is a factor of greed that needs to be controlled here, it would be with those select few on the sales end to perpetuate lies such as "build out" in order to make the next sale, these are the lowest form of their profession and need to be weeded out for the good of all.
Is The Villages (both the community and the developer) perfect, hardly so, there is some room for improvement. But what is certain is that it is unlike any other community in so many positive ways that is hard to beat.
I'm no fanboy of the developer, hardly so, I have had and continue to have many conflicts with them on a personal, political, and professional level. I do however respect and appreciate what they've done, how they do it, and how they continue to evolve. At this point in my life I can't think of a better place I would want to live.