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1897 – 1899 – Hotel Belleview
Ownership: The Plant Investment Company – Henry Plant
Improvements: Built railroad tracks to entrance of future hotel; Designed & Built original, 144 room hotel; Installed first, 6-hole golf course
1899-1919 - Hotel Belleview
Ownership: The Plant Investment Company – Morton Plant
Improvements: Added 9-hole golf course; Built first grass greens; Extended golf to 18 holes, designed by Launcelot Cressy Servos; then to 36 holes designed by Donald J. Ross; Painted hotel white with green shingled roof; Added East Wing; Built Tiffany Dining Room & new kitchen; Allowed guests to build 12 cottages on hotel property; Built first swimming pool with covered deck for shade.
1919-1935 – Belleview Biltmore Hotel
Ownership: The Biltmore Chain – John McEntee Bowman
Improvements: Added South Wing; Enlarged Tiffany Dining Room to current size.
1935-1939 – Belleview Biltmore Hotel
Ownership: Hotel went into receivership, following losses suffered during Great Depression
1939-1942 – Belleview Biltmore Hotel
Ownership: Kirkeby Hotels – Arnold & Carlotta Kirkeby
Improvements: Removed shaded deck from pool; Stopped trains from entering hotel property; Began featuring Big Band entertainment.
1942 - 1943 – Belleview Biltmore Hotel
Ownership: Kirkeby Hotels but leased to U.S. Army Air Corps to house 3,000 soldiers
Improvements: Moved post office & fire department off-site; Removed all ornamental furniture, lighting, and decor; Used golf courses for rifle practice range, marching drills, and tents for surplus soldiers; Installed automatic sprinkler system.
1943 -1944 Belleview Biltmore Hotel
Ownership: Kirkeby Hotels but remained closed following departure of US Army Air Corps
1944-1946 – Belleview Biltmore Hotel
Ownership: Ed C. Wright but was purchased as real estate investment, so hotel remained closed.
Improvements: Leased Cabana Club beach property for 20-year term
1946-1990 – Belleview Biltmore Hotel
Ownership: Bernard & Mary Powell, Nora Mae Peabody & Roger L. Stevens
Improvements: Total renovation of entire hotel, complete with new telephone switchboard, furnishings and décor; Restored golf courses; Enlarged cocktail lounge into Candlelight Ballroom; Added Belleair Room; Upgraded all plumbing, electrical wiring, and added individual thermostat controls in each room; Built new Cabana Club and restaurant on beach property; Installed white aluminum siding on entire exterior of hotel; Built full-service spa, indoor pool and fitness center; Began keeping hotel open year-round.
1990 – Surrounding property and golf courses sold to U.S. Steel, which subsequently sells Golf courses to a collective that forms private membership Belleview Biltmore Country Club dba Belleair Country Club.
1990-1997 – Belleview Mido Hotel
Ownership: Mido Development Company, LTD -- Hideo Kurosawa
Improvements: Built new lobby/entrance with Japanese flare; Purchase Pelican Golf Course and rename it Belleview Biltmore Country Club; Built clubhouse at new golf course; Built new swimming pool with Jacuzzi and waterfall; Added 4 clay tennis courts; Upgraded many hotel suites; Added 3,400 square foot Presidential Suite; Expand Carriage Porch to include a Japanese cuisine restaurant.
1997-2003 – Belleview Biltmore Resort
Ownership: Jetha Corporation – The Jetha Family
Improvements: Removed some of the Japanese décor to return the hotel more to its Victorian origins; Renovated carpeting and window treatments; Installed hand-made Adirondack style chairs and rockers on all porches.
2003-2007 – Belleview Biltmore Resort
Ownership: Urdang & Associates of Pennsylvania – purchased as real estate investment
· Belleair Redevelopment Group tentative plan to purchase & raze hotel halted by community opposition.
· DeBartolo Development of Tampa tentative plan to purchase & raze hotel halted by community opposition.
2007-2010 – Belleview Biltmore Resort
Ownership: Legg Mason Real Estate Investors Group
Improvements: Brought community together to support hotel closure to undergo 4-year renovation to restore 1930s ambiance; Closed, fenced-in, and gutted hotel; Interior demolition begun in anticipation of renovation.
2010-2010 - Belleview Biltmore Resort
Ownership: Urdang & Associates of Pennsylvania began foreclosure proceedings when LMREI Group defaults on mortgage.
2010 – Present – Belleview Biltmore Resort (closed)
Ownership: KAWA Capital Management – Daniel & Rafael Ades
· Purchased in lieu of foreclosure
· Property is currently for sale; community concerned roof leaks have not yet been addressed.
· Community/Supporters attempting to band together to find new owner to continue with renovation.
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