Water line project helps WaterWood Resort

VERMILION TWP. — An upcoming project aims to make a major splash to improve public infrastructure while supporting a massive, ongoing development project. During a recent public meeting, Erie County commissioners approved a $5.4 million water line replacement project, completely covered by DiGeronimo Companies, the entity overseeing a project known as WaterWood Resort. Here are some project details to understand as provided by county administrator Hank Solowiej and county community outreach coordinator Anna James: • The location: It will span U.S. 6 from Gateway Boulevard in Huron to Joppa Road in Vermilion Township. • The overview: The project will replace 5 miles of waterline with a new 12-inch pipe and include the installation of hydrants to improve service reliability and fire protection along the corridor. • The reason: The current water line is very small and outdated, creating major water pressure issues for Vermilion-area residents. The project will address these issues. At the same time, it provides the infrastructure necessary to fully build out WaterWood Resort. • The cost: A bidding process resulted in receiving a price of $5.4 million from Underground Utilities, significantly lower than the initial estimates of about $7 million. • The funding source: No public tax dollars will fund this project. The project will be funded through what's known as tax increment financing. It's an economic development tool public entities often use to spur redevelopment for major projects. • The funding source explained: Under this arrangement, the developer will pay upfront for the public infrastructure improvements, including the new water line. The developer will then be reimbursed over time using a portion of the new property tax revenue generated by the completed development. Specifically: * 75% of the additional property taxes created by the increased property value will go toward repayment. * 25% will continue to be distributed normally to local taxing entities, including Vermilion Township. • The investment: The private development on the site is expected to add approximately $206 million in property value. • The timeline: The work will start in June and should finish by Dec. 31. • The traffic impact: At least one lane on U.S. 6 will be open at all times. There might be some minor delays. What is WaterWood Resort? WaterWood Resort represents a transformational project aiming 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 open 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. In 2023, 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. Through the property's official website, it describes this site as "a private waterfront community and resort club combining harbor, hospitality, and wellness on Lake Erie's stunning shoreline." "WaterWood exists to create space for connection to the water, to the land, to one another, to oneself and to the moments that make life feel full," it added. Three years ago, representatives exclusively spoke with the Register about their plans. "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," according to a company statement. Beyond the resort, intended for guests, this site will also feature year-round residency in the form of townhomes and condos equipped with various amenities, like beaches, dining, a lakefront pool along with a 100-slip marina along Lake Erie. Construction work, slowly but surely, continues. Amid this initial phase, it'll likely involve offering 26 townhomes, two condominium buildings along with WaterWood Resort. It's believed at least 150 units could eventually be built there. Other housing structures remain under construction. Some townhouses are nearing completion and are expected to have occupants sometime this summer, even before water line construction ends. Developers originally wanted to debut the site in 2025, but that didn't happen because of unexpected issues with utilities. It's possible that a majority of the work at this site could wrap up by 2027. The firm then pivoted to talk about opening up this private space for public use. Developers, meanwhile, want both visitors and locals to take advantage of everything WaterWood Resort will offer. "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." A lasting legacy Throughout all phases of construction, 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. DiGeronimo vowed to maintain some of the site's most unique and notable features, mostly found in the mansion, folding it into the resort. 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 regardless of whether in garages, piers and elsewhere • A helipad and an appropriately sized hangar 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." 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." 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 in a 2023 interview. "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." 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 its hospitality portfolio as the project continues to develop.