Welcome Waterwood Resort

Coming soon: Donald Brown, a true innovator; Learn more behind the man who created Vermilion's mansion. VERMILION TWP. — A multimillion-dollar transformational project aims to accomplish three major tasks. For starters, builders want to provide new, upscale housing to meet the market's pressing demands. Additionally, the work should allow for opening up lakefront areas kept secluded for decades. Lastly, and maybe most importantly, all tasks circle back to preserving a couple's storied legacy, building, quite possibly, the most breathtaking home found anywhere on Ohio's north coast. Those representing the DiGeronimo Companies' development firm recently unveiled their plans to establish Waterwood Resort — a mansion property evolving from Waterwood Estate, created by the late Donald and Shirley Brown, just west of downtown Vermilion — into a first-rate resort community. This past month, DiGeronimo executives and the estate's main representative invited Register staffers inside the estate's white wrought-iron fences, off West Lake Road (U.S. 6), into the hallowed grounds for an exclusive tour. What's to come Through a company statement, DiGeronimo executives offered some insight into the initial phase of a multifaceted initiative for what they're calling Waterwood Resort. "Phase 1 of the project will see the existing Waterwood Estate home converted into the Waterwood Resort, a resort community inspired by its lush natural surroundings with a particular focus on wellness," the statement read. "The Waterwood Resort will feature a new fine-dining restaurant helmed by Chef Fabio Salerno, a boutique inn for overnight guests, lakefront beaches, a marina, a fitness center and a new swimming pool and cabana bar overlooking Lake Erie," the statement read. "Flanking the estate are The Bluffs Townhomes and The Meadows Condominiums, both new construction contemporary residential offerings featuring uninterrupted lake views," it read. Regarding the numbers, Phase 1 features 26 townhomes, two condominium buildings along with Waterwood Resort. It's believed at least 150 people could live at the townhomes and condominiums. But people won't reside in the actual resort area formerly known as Waterwood Estate. "The Waterwood Resort expects to fully open by May 2025," the statement read. "Prior to that time, the resort will host select events and gatherings for both residents and community members. The first residential units are expected to finish in the last half of 2024." Phase 1 totals about $80 million, an expense DiGeronimo should fully fund. But what about the future phases? While under consideration, right now, plans show DiGeronimo possibly creating additional residential properties and maybe even a hotel. A lasting legacy When construction starts, the firm vowed to maintain the essence of what the late Donald and Shirley Brown first started on this property in 1986. That's when they acquired the land and, a few years later, finished up construction work to live there. The Browns "built and maintained the estate with such thoughtfulness, creativity and care that it deserves to be preserved and shared with the community," the statement read. This would include: • A gallery lift, an elevator-like structure, rising about 30 feet from within the floor up into an observation deck looking out onto Lake Erie • Rotating turntables, both for cars and motorized wheelchairs, so people with disabilities, including Donald, could move freely around the property no matter in garages, piers and elsewhere • A helipad and appropriate-sized hanger as Donald often rode in a helicopter for leisure and business purposes • Various rooms for virtually any purpose like entertainment, billiards, fitness, snowmobile storage, wine, art and much more; Most notably, there's the Florida Room, which offers majestic views of Lake Erie and the property's marina. Firm executives value what the Browns put into this home and want to keep, rather than destroy, what they created. "Our goal is to build on (their) legacy by not changing it," the statement read. "We plan to preserve as much of the estate in its original form as possible." The firm then pivoted to talk about opening up this private space for public use. "In its second act, as a functioning resort, Waterwood becomes more fully integrated into the fabric of the community," the statement read. "Community members will now have the opportunity to experience Waterwood's beauty while the region benefits from the increased economic activity generated by the resort." The firm received the blessing from Terri Pabon, who first began working for Donald more than 30 years ago. She continues to oversee the property and manage the estate. "Mr. Brown would love what's going on here," Pabon said. "Back in the day, when he knew that he was aging, he always thought it would be good for this to become a museum, like Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens (in Akron). He would want people to come in and enjoy what he created. He loved people and loved showing off the place. Sharing it with the world would make him very happy. Mrs. Brown, maybe not so much, but definitely him." Donald, an inventor, rose to fame and received his fortune, in large part, due to creating the suspension system for drop ceiling tiles. It's the reason why many people refer to the Brown estate as the "drop ceiling tile mansion." In an upcoming edition, the Register will feature the Brown backstory and why and how they built their mansion. Bio blast: DiGeronimo Development Here's some background on DiGeronimo Development, first established nearly 60 years ago, that is overseeing work at Waterwood Estate/Resort: DiGeronimo Development is an Independence, Ohio,-based real estate development company. Part of the DiGeronimo Companies family of companies, DiGeronimo Development has extensive experience with mixed-use development projects, including Pine Crest in Orange, Ohio, and Valor Acres in Brecksville, Ohio. Partnering in the Waterwood Resort will be the Salerno Group. Based in Cleveland, Salerno Group owns and operates a growing portfolio of hospitality brands. Its restaurant concepts include Lago East Bank, Sora, Banditos and a full-service catering and event production business, Lago Custom Events. Salerno Group has already begun activating the Waterwood property with intimate, experiential events and will fully integrate the Waterwood Resort into their hospitality portfolio as the project continues to develop. By the numbers: Waterwood Resort Here's a look at the land's layout: Exterior, north side • 38,000 — overall building square footage • 2,300 — number of feet measured for lakefront area • 200 — height, in feet, of waterfall • 187 — number of feet for the dock; There's also a 80-foot-long ramp • 60 — number of acres • 2 — number of acres for the marina • 1 — miles of asphalt road Exterior, south side • 100 — number of acres; This includes 95 acres of land being leased for farming. • 2 — support buildings • 1 — greenhouse • 1 — fuel farm, containing a 500-gallon diesel and 1,500 gasoline tanks. Interior • 96 — telephones • 37 — total rooms; This number grows to 100 when factoring in areas for storage and mechanical. • 17 — bathrooms • 9 — fireplaces • 6 — bedrooms • 3 — kitchens • 2 — elevators • 2 — kitchenettes • 2 — interior swimming pools; There's a 40-foot-long lap pool and a 20-foot-diameter round pool. • 2 — 2-car garages • 1 — hot tub • 1 — sauna There's also a number of power doors and automatic lighting system.