Some real estate stories are about transactions. Others are about timing, trust, and bringing the right people together to create something truly rare.
On the shores of Fort Erie, Lakewood Beach Developments is one of those stories.
A private lakefront condominium community featuring 33 lakefront lots and 8 lakeview lots, the development offers more than 600 metres of sandy private beachfront along Lake Erie — something nearly impossible to replicate in Southern Ontario today. With private roads, green space, advanced water and sanitation systems, and a carefully planned landscape design, the vision for Lakewood Beach Developments was always about creating a lifestyle rooted in quality, nature, and long-term value.
But projects like this don’t come together without people.
For developer Dan Raseta and his partners, the opportunity began nearly two decades ago when the former Easter Seals camp property became available. What followed was years of planning, servicing, environmental consideration, and thoughtful design to create a high-end waterfront community unlike anything else in the region.
“We put a lot of thought into every detail,” he said. “From the servicing and landscaping to the entryway and green space, we wanted this to feel like a truly high-end waterfront community.”
And when it came time to bring the project to market, it required a partnership built on both expertise and trust.
That’s where Donna Gray and Shawn Schertzing came together.
Donna Gray, a Broker and Realtor with Regan Irish & Associates at RE/MAX Escarpment in Oakville, brought extensive experience in luxury waterfront and development properties across markets like Muskoka, Oakville, Burlington, and Mississauga. Shawn Schertzing, a Broker with Team Zing at RE/MAX Niagara, brought the local insight, relationships, and a deep understanding of Niagara's South Coast lifestyle that only comes from growing up in the area.
Different markets. Different experiences. One shared vision.
Their collaboration became a perfect example of the RE/MAX Escarpment & Niagara advantage: combining regional expertise with collaborative process to create better outcomes for clients and communities alike.
For Donna, the site immediately stood out.
“You wonder if you’re even in Canada,” she said. “The sand, the clean water, the way the grass transitions right into the beach — it’s incredibly rare.”
“Lakefront property on Lake Erie is becoming increasingly scarce. Much of the shoreline has already been developed, and there are very few opportunities like this left. As the area continues to evolve, values and pricing will change over time, making now an ideal opportunity for people to get in early and secure something truly special.”
For Shawn, the project represented something even deeper: an opportunity to showcase a lifestyle locals have understood for years — one rooted in nature, recreation, privacy, and connection to the water.
“Having grown up near this area, I’ve always understood how special this stretch of shoreline is,” Shawn said. “There’s a lifestyle here that people from outside the region are just starting to discover — the beaches, the golf, the sense of calm, the community. Opportunities like this almost never come up.”
“Working alongside Donna has been a great synergy because we bring two completely different perspectives to the table,” he added.
“She understands the luxury waterfront buyer coming from the GTA, and I understand the local lifestyle and what makes this area so unique. Together, it’s been a really powerful partnership for this project.”
And for buyers coming from the GTA, the appeal is undeniable.
For Matthew Regan, Co-Founder of Regan Irish & Associates, one of the most surprising parts of the experience was how accessible it felt from the GTA.
“You know, it was so unique coming in from Oakville today. It took one hour and ten minutes at the speed limit,” he said. “Whether you want to live here full time or make this a secondary home — this is just so easy.”
But beyond the beauty of the location, this story is ultimately about process.
It’s about thoughtful development. About respecting the environment. About bringing together the right experts at the right time. And about how collaboration across cities, specialties, and experiences can create something far greater than any one person could accomplish alone.
At RE/MAX Escarpment & Niagara, we often say our strength is our people.
“This is exactly the kind of synergy we believe in fostering at RE/MAX Escarpment & Niagara,” said Broker Owner Conrad Zurini. “Regan Irish & Associates bring deep experience in luxury waterfront and development sales from the GTA markets, paired with Team Zing’s local knowledge and relationships in Niagara. When you bring talented people together within a backdrop of collaboration clients win, projects win, and ultimately our entire brokerage community becomes stronger.”
Lakewood Beach Developments is proof of what happens when those people come together.
For more information, visit
www.lakewoodbeachdevelopments.ca
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