Wellington resident and entrepreneur Mark Bellissimo is partnering with NEXUS Luxury Collection, founded by Joe Lewis and his Tavistock Group, Tiger Woods, Justin Timberlake, and Ernie Els, to ‘bring sexy back’ to South Florida.
Through their new partnership, Wellington Lifestyle Partners (WLP), the group is reimagining more 600 owned acres. The developers plan to work with the Village of Wellington (VOW) and the local community to craft ‘The Wellington,’ a residential experience focused on wellness, resort living, and sport, while keeping the focus on Wellington’s time-honored equestrian tradition.
But the biggest news for winter horse enthusiasts: The Wellington’s proposed development includes doubling the size of the Wellington International showgrounds, which is currently at capacity.
The expansion will facilitate a nine-figure investment to expand and enhance the major equestrian facilities. The plan also includes a public riding facility for trail riding and introductory lessons, with a goal of making horse sport more accessible to the wider community.
“WLP is eager to launch this next chapter to ensure that Wellington continues as the world’s premier equestrian lifestyle destination,” Bellissimo said. “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.”
The Wellington, inspired by NEXUS’ Albany in the Bahamas project, focuses on a multi-generational community that complements the existing Village.
“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.
In addition to its expansion of the Wellington International, the proposed club community will also feature the newly acquired Cypress Golf Course. The Pete Dye-designed, 18-hole championship course will undergo extensive renovation, including a new clubhouse, short game facility, and performance center with training and analytics demanded by the game’s best golfers.
Some of the other, proposed developments at the Wellington 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: a 25-meter, six-lane lap pool; family pool; kid’s splash area; and adult-only resort-style pool with cabanas
- Expansive 120,000-square-foot, two-story Field House including an indoor full basketball court, two tennis courts, two padel courts, four pickleball courts, four squash courts, five 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 two 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 VOW approval, the initial residential offerings within the community will focus on home sites ranging from a quarter-acre up to five acres. Upon completion, the residences are eligible to participate in an exclusive rental program, which will be managed by NEXUS. Homeowners will also enjoy membership to the club community as well as membership in the NEXUS Luxury Collection in cities around the world.
“It has been a pleasure working with the team at NEXUS,” said Spy Coast Farm’s Lisa Lourie, an investor in WLP. “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.”