Per Trains Newswire:
BELLEAIR, Fla. â€" The Belleview Biltmore hotel, built in Belleair by railroad tycoon Henry Plant, will face the wrecking ball if preservationists can't raise enough money to purchase the property from its current real estate developer owners, reports the Wall Street Journal. The 324-room hotel opened in 1897 and closed in 2009.
Plant built the hotel on his railroad to spur Gulf Coast property sales to wealthy Northeast residents. Belleair is near Clearwater, Fla., north of Tampa.
He gained fame and fortune by developing a network of railroads in the Southeast in the 19th century. His holdings included the Savannah, Albany & Gulf Railroad; the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad; and the Savannah, Florida & Western Railway. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad acquired Plant's rail holdings in 1902.
Wow, the hotel just closed three years ago. I can't imagine its to the point of where its ready to fall into the ground.
(http://www.preservationnation.org/assets/photos-images/issues/11-most-endangered/Belleview-Biltmore-Hotel-Exterior-Belleair-FL_mr.jpg)
http://www.savethebiltmore.com/
Isn't it the largest wood building in the world?
Quote from: acme54321 on October 16, 2012, 01:14:23 PM
Isn't it the largest wood building in the world?
Maybe and if it does come down a lot of great wood could be saved.
Reminds me of the old Ormond hotel..... I watched it being razed when I was just a kid and it still held a bit of nostalgia for me. Now the property is covered with condos....
Quote from: thelakelander on October 16, 2012, 10:57:59 AM
Wow, the hotel just closed three years ago. I can't imagine its to the point of where its ready to fall into the ground.
the demolition discussion has been going on for the better part of 10 years now
IILY,
Re: the picture of Rick Scott you are using. I've described it as looking like someone just tazered him in the ass and that he enjoyed it. I found that picture on the internet with the caption, "I am Lord Voldamort", downloaded it and printed it on several T shirts which I gave to people to wear to rallies.
Quote from: Dog Walker on October 16, 2012, 03:41:14 PM
IILY,
Re: the picture of Rick Scott you are using. I've described it as looking like someone just tazered him in the ass and that he enjoyed it. I found that picture on the internet with the caption, "I am Lord Voldamort", downloaded it and printed it on several T shirts which I gave to people to wear to rallies.
Good idea! ;D
Quote from: Jason on October 16, 2012, 01:38:19 PM
Reminds me of the old Ormond hotel..... I watched it being razed when I was just a kid and it still held a bit of nostalgia for me. Now the property is covered with condos....
I didn't know you were a fellow volusian. Don't forget they chopped off one of the towers and dumped in the park across the street, excuse me, I should have said "preserved" it.