By HEATHER BAUGHMAN

Baughman@crescent-news.com

WAUSEON -- The face of downtown Wauseon will soon be changing.

Where a fire destroyed several downtown buildings a year ago and left a hole in the middle of the historic downtown district, a new building will be constructed. The project was marked by a groundbreaking ceremony at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

More than 100 individuals, local and state officials and investors in the Downtown Wauseon Development group were on hand for the ceremonious groundbreaking for Renaissance Square, the official name of the 28,000-square-foot project.

Renaissance Square, a $5 million-$6 million project, will include a restaurant with a banquet room, a 20-room hotel and five retail shops.

Charlie Bryan of the development group said construction is expected to take seven to nine months to complete.

It was just more than a year ago, April 14, 2007, that a fire ravaged five downtown Wauseon businesses in the 100 block of North Fulton Street. Following the fire, Bryan, the former Doc Holiday's owner (which was destroyed in the blaze), decided he needed to rebuild.

"Someone once told me, 'When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.' I didn't understand the true meaning of that quote until this year," he said. "This venture has proven to be a new beginning for myself and the community ... and I hope I will make Wauseon proud."

Bryan, along with his partner, William Van Bakel of Vreba-Hoff Dairy Development, and the other investors in Downtown Wauseon Development, are working together to see that downtown Wauseon's face gets a new and improved look. Bryan also said he will work to "make those lemons I was handed (into) the best lemonade stand possible."

Also on hand for the ceremony was Wauseon council president Doug Shaw, who also lost his store to the fire. He said that the new development will bring Wauseon "back to life. I know it will succeed," he said.

Fulton County Commissioner Dean Genter also spoke during the ceremony, complimenting both local and state officials who cooperated with the planning and helped secure funding for the project. "It's a great opportunity for Wauseon," he said, wishing everyone in the development group the best as the project continues.

Fulton County native Sen. Steve Buehrer, R-Delta, said it was exciting to see so many people sharing in the groundbreaking event, noting that a community is about people ... and about places.

"People want to drive through a downtown and see stores, see restaurants and see vitality," he said. "It is critical that we make an investment in downtown," which "is the heartbeat of the community."

In other parts of the state, Rep. Bruce Goodwin, R-Defiance, said he's seen similar situations of downtown devastation, with people cutting their losses and walking away.

Unlike these places, he commended the Downtown Wauseon Development group for making the commitment to rebuild.

Along with the revitalization of the community that this project is sure to spur, Goodwin pointed out the other good news regarding the project: "This is going to create upwards of 30 part-time and full-time jobs in Fulton County."

And finally, before the first shovel full of dirt for the project was turned over, Van Bakel spoke to the crowd. "When I first relocated from the Netherlands, I ate at Doc Holidays" and frequently, he said. That's how he became acquainted with Bryan.

After the fire when Bryan asked Van Bakel to partner with him on building a new downtown development, "It wasn't possible for me to say no," Van Bakel said. "My business efforts are focused on making others' dreams come true."

Turning to address the local and state officials who sat behind him on the stage, and to the crowd before him, Van Bakel added, "I'm really grateful for the help of everyone involved."

The efforts of the Downtown Wauseon Development group are not going unnoticed by other downtown business owners. "There are already a lot of people talking about redoing their store (fronts)," Bryan said, noting that the city is hoping to obtain state funding to help with the new and improved look of downtown Wauseon.