HDV Logo Full

Barns, Fencing & Equipment   click here!  Spring/Summer Show Previews  click here!     Photo Contest click here!     

Join Our Mailing List and Get a Free Subscription.

Sign up to get interesting news
delivered FREE to your inbox.  

Friday, March 29, 2024

Mark Bellissimo and Nexus propose a new residential community that worries equestrians

WELLINGTON, Fla.--The Winter Equestrian Festival has for a long time suffered from lack of space, and Mark Bellissimo, who bought the venue from the group headed by Gene Mische, and then sold it to the Global Equestrian Group in 1922, now proposes a new residential community that he claims would also double the size of the current show grounds.

Wellington mapWellington map of the proposed residential communityBut, according to the Village of Wellington, not a single plan for this venture has been presented to the Village for approval, and much of Bellissimo's proposed community would require the rezoning of the equestrian preserve, which would be very bad for the equestrian community.

Bellissimo wants to build houses and a commercial center in the equestrian preserve, which is zoned to prevent exactly that..

Any alteration in the equestrian preserve is not good horses, say equestrians in the area, adding that this proposal is all smoke and mirrors and is just a get rich quick scheme.

Traffic is already terrible on the two lane roads like Pierson, Shore and 50th street, and this would make it even more dangerous for equestrians.

Besides ,the Global Equestrian Group has already announced plans to double the size of the present venue for the Winter Equestrian Festival, so is this proposal necessary.

The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, which hosts the equestrian festival, is a 160-acre venue consisting of 18 competition arenas, as well as 256 permanent horse stalls.

This proposal includes taking over the Cypress Golf course, and golfers contacted about this plan are also worried about what this would mean as it apparently would involve big changes to the course.

Bellissimo has circulated a press release that follows that makes the plan sound wonderful, but it worries both equestrians and golfers who are against it.

 

BELLISSIMO has partnered with Nexus Luxury Collection, founded by Joe Lewis and his Tavistock Group, Tiger Woods, Justin Timberlake and Ernie Els, to develop and manage The Wellington, a new 600-acre community with world-class amenities.

Through their new partnership, Wellington Lifestyle Partners, the principals will rework over 600 owned acres and work with the Village of Wellington and the local community to build a residential community.

The proposed development includes doubling the size of the Wellington International equestrian showgrounds, which is currently at capacity.

The expansion will facilitate a nine-figure investment to expand and enhance the major equestrian facilities.

This proposed new project, called The Wellington, will include a walkable commercial center featuring shops, hotels, offices, a park, and restaurants featuring some of the world’s top luxury retail brands conveniently abutting the residential club community.

The development plan will also include a public riding facility that will include trail riding and a basic introduction to horse sport that will be accessible by the community.

“We are highly selective in where we choose to go to curate a complementary suite of experiences for our customers. Partnering and co-investing with Mark to create The Wellington is a perfect fit for Nexus as we expand into the important South Florida marketplace,” said Christopher Anand, chief executive officer and managing partner of Nexus. “We are excited to build something special on the land Mark has painstakingly pulled together over the last 18 years. This new club community will take inspiration from what we have created at Albany in The Bahamas and will be customized to celebrate the best of Wellington’s sports lifestyle.”

“Wellington Lifestyle Partners is eager to launch this next chapter to ensure that Wellington continues as the world’s premier equestrian lifestyle destination,” said Bellissimo. “With Nexus, we have selected an experienced, top-tier development partner to help us create The Wellington, a world-class residential experience that underscores all we have come to love about this village - sport, recreation, and community.”

In addition to Bellissimo and Nexus, Wellington Lifestyle Partners is supported by several other prominent investors including entrepreneur Jeff Skoll.

Skoll, founding president of eBay, is an entrepreneur devoted to creating a sustainable world of peace and prosperity for all, and as founder of the Jeff Skoll Group, he has created an innovative portfolio of philanthropic and commercial enterprises which includes the Skoll Foundation, Capricorn Investment Group, and Participant Media.

Each is a distinctive lever for achieving transformational social change.

Skoll is also co-founder of The Rise Fund, a global impact fund investing in entrepreneurial companies driving measurable, positive social and environmental change in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Nexus’ experience in creating the 600-acre Albany residential community in The Bahamas is invaluable, and we look forward to infusing a style that is modern but respectful to Wellington’s inherent beauty and tradition,” said Paige Bellissimo, who is managing the development process.

“We will be working closely with the Village of Wellington on all aspects of this important addition to the community,” said Douglas McMahon, a senior managing director at Nexus and Tavistock Group, who is becoming the managing partner of Wellington Lifestyle Partners.

McMahon brings 20 years’ experience working in various capacities across Tavistock Group including the acclaimed Florida communities of Isleworth Golf & Country Club and Lake Nona.

“Doug has been instrumental in building and developing every aspect of Albany and Nexus since its inception and will be the perfect “hands-on” senior partner to ensure we deliver a first-class community,” said Anand.

“We are going to bring our best experiences, collective ideas and thinking to The Wellington as we create an extraordinary multi-generational community that adds to the greater Village of Wellington,” said McMahon.

The proposed club community will also feature the newly acquired Cypress Golf Course, a Pete Dye-designed, 18-hole championship course that will go through an extensive renovation, impacting the entire course.

It will be supported by a new clubhouse, short game facility and performance center with training and analytics demanded by the game’s best golfers.

Other amenities and components of the development will include:

World-class racquet center with a pro shop, a stadium tennis court, 12 additional tennis courts, 10 padel courts, and 12 pickleball courts
Four swimming pools ranging from a 25-meter, six-lane lap pool, family pool and kid’s splash area to an adult-only resort-style pool with cabanas
Expansive 120,000-square-foot, two-story Field House including an indoor full basketball court, 2 tennis courts, 2 padel courts, 4 pickleball courts, 4 squash courts, 5 sports simulators, a purveyors market and smoothie bar, and a 40,000-square-foot fitness center with cardio training rooms, circuit and free weight training, stretching areas, studio classrooms, saunas, cold water plunge, saltwater float pods, hydrotherapy pools, men’s and women’s locker rooms, and a full spa offering massages, recovery and an array of specialized wellness treatments
Children’s indoor and outdoor facilities including sports, gaming rooms, a rock-climbing wall, regulation bowling lanes, arts and crafts, and 2 outdoor sports fields
16-acre Central Park and lake with exercise and relaxation trails, yoga gardens and outdoor event spaces
Access to hundreds of acres of walking, jogging and biking trails, and nature preserves
17-acre commercial center with shops, offices, park, retail, and restaurants
Both single family custom homes and condominium residences

Subject to Village Of Wellington approval, the initial residential offerings within the community will focus on home sites ranging from a quarter-acre up to 5 acres. Upon completion, the residences are eligible to participate in an exclusive rental program which will be managed by Nexus.

“Interest in this project is already high amongst our many Nexus families, shareholders and friends,” said McMahon. “We intend to launch a Founder’s program, stagger the release of real estate offerings, and bring a wonderful collection of new architects and residences to Palm Beach County.”

Homeowners in this new project will enjoy membership to this club community as well as membership in the Nexus Luxury Collection and enjoy access, services, and benefits to Nexus’ experiences in cities around the world.

“It has been a pleasure working with the team at Nexus,” said Lisa Lourie, an investor in Wellington Lifestyle Partners. “I truly believe that they will design and build a community worthy of Wellington’s residents, and I look forward to being a part of it.”

For more information on The Wellington, visit www.thewellington.com.

The Horse of Delaware Valley

Editor: Sara Cavanagh
Target Market Publications
newshorse@aol.com
610-793-1964

Advertising Director: Ginny Jenkins 
ginny.jenkins@hotmail.com
For information please call:
610-873-4042

Marketing Manager: Debbie Morrison
debbiehdv1@gmail.com
610-368-1677

Media Manager/Creative Coordinator: Heather Mullen
heather.bradway75@gmail.com 

Since 1980

facebook200 Instagram

 

Monthly Advertising Themes

  • February
    Barns, Fencing & Equipment, Photo Contest 2022, Winter Care & Stallions & Breeding
  • March
    Spring/Summer Show Previews, Barns, Fencing & Equipment
  • April
    All Natural Products & Services, Spring/Summer Show Previews
  • May
    DEVON HORSE SHOW, All Natural Products & Services, Equine Vets & Caregivers
  • June
    Equine Vets & Caregivers, Pets, Pet Supplies & Pest Control, Footing and Fencing, Equestrian Apparel & Accessories
  • July
    Pets, Pet Supplies & Pest Control, Footing and Fencing, Equestrian Apparel & Accessories 
  • August
    Fall Show Previews, Equine Insurance, Legal & Accounting, Dressage at Devon
  • September
    Fall Show Previews, Equine Feed & Supplies, Equine Insurance, Legal, & Accounting, Dressage at Devon
  • October
    Trailers & Equine Transportation & Equine Feed & Supplies
  • November
    Holiday Gift Guide, Trailers & Equine Transportation & Equine Feed & Supplies
  • December
    Stallions & Breeding, Holiday Gift Guide
  • January
    Stallions & Breeding, Photo Contest & Winter Care

Click here for more Information.