The Belleview Biltmore Resort - Demolition by Neglect?

THAT’S UP WITH THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE RENOVATION?

The Belleview Biltmore Resort closed June 1, 2009 in anticipation of a massive, $100 million renovation. The fully-restored resort was originally scheduled to reopen in January of 2012, but as I write this newsletter, the renovation has yet to begin.
     Initially, the renovation was stalled by legal challenges and then by the poor economy, which the current owners of the Resort, Latitude Management Real Estate Investors (LMREI), claim cost them the majority of their investors. Despite these understndable delays, patience is beginning to wear thin.
     The Town of Belleair was built in the shape of a wagon wheel, with the Belleview Hotel (later renamed the Belleview Biltmore Resort) at its heart. For over one hundred and thirteen years, the Resort has welcomed visitors from all around the world. It has preserved and showcased our local history. It has been the location of countless weddings, and other meaningful events. It offered a chance for us to walk the same hallways and perhaps stay in the same rooms as some of the most famous people in history. For these reasons and many more, people who care about this historic landmark have grown weary of delays and excuses. Some have even become angry about a perceived lack of maintenance on the property while it sits vacant, waiting for the renovation process to begin.
     Even people who don’t care about historic preservation have grown concerned about the Resort’s dilapidated roof, pointing to the potential danger of flying debris during storms/hurricanes. A neighbor of the Resort even voiced concern that there may be unforeseen health dangers related to breathing air containing mold spores and/or lead paint particles over long periods of time.
      In response to growing pressure from residents, Mayor Gary Katica and Town Commissioners have decided to aggressively pursue a remedy for the situation under the “Demolition by Neglect” section of the Town’s Historic Preservation ordinance. According to Town Ordinances, property owners must comply with applicable codes or face fines and potential criminal charges. In October of 2009, the Town slapped LMREI with a $250 per day fine for failing to comply with its code and repair the Resort’s storm-ravaged roof. To date, a whopping $65,000 in fines has accumulated, but none of it has been collected.
     The Town of Belleair recently appointed an attorney to preside over the Town’s code enforcement hearings, who is empowered to issue legally binding decisions on the Town’s behalf. The Town also filed a lien against the Resort for non-payment of assessed fines, but that lien is secondary to the primary mortgage, still held by Urdang & Associates. It’s rumored that LMREI plans to appeal the fines and the lien, claiming water is not damaging the interior of the structure and the roof looks like it’s in worse condition than it actually is.
     Meanwhile, residents continue to call for the renovation to get underway, even if LMREI has to scale back its renovation design until the economy improves. For more on this subject, click on the following link to read a St. Pete Times article: http://tinyurl.com/2coks4x 

THE GLADES TV SERIES PILOT

Filming "The Glades" pilot episode at the Belleair Country Club

     Originally titled “Sugarloaf”, “The Glades” is a new TV series on A&E that was set to be filmed in the Tampa Bay Area. In fact, several scenes of the pilot episode (which aired 7/12/10) were filmed at the Don CeSar Beach Resort, Crabby Bills and the Belleair Country Club - with the Belleview Biltmore Resort clearly visible in the background.
     Here’s the premise of the series: A gifted homicide detective with a penchant for breaking the rules runs afoul of his boss in Chicago and moves to Florida, hoping for a more relaxed work environment. Instead he finds lots of crime. With the help of a pretty, single-mom medical student (and potential love interest); an easily irritated medical examiner/friend; and a geeky, but brilliant lab technician discovered at a local tech school, the detective solves murders using unorthodox methods.
     The $2.5 million it will cost to produce each episode of the TV show would have undoubtedly boosted the local Tampa Bay economy and created jobs. Unfortunately, amidst accusations of price-gouging and slow-moving film commissioners in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties, the series creator, Clifton Campbell (who also produces the hit show “Burn Notice” in Miami), decided to move the show to a fictional town in Pompano Beach and change the show’s name to “The Glades.”
     Many of us wonder if the show’s producers might have been persuaded to remain in the area if the Belleview Biltmore Resort had been open and able to provide housing for the actors and film crews. Oh well. Maybe next time.
     Still, according to the General Manager of the Belleair Country Club, Ed Shaughnessy, filming a TV show on the course was a great experience. He was amazed when about twenty five tractor trailer trucks arrived at the Belleview Biltmore on Friday, 12/11/09. The film crews used ten of the Club’s turf trucks to avoid damaging the golf course while shooting scenes. By Monday evening, they were gone.
     Those of you who watched the pilot episode and are familiar with the Belleair Country Club might have noticed a discrepancy when the star of the series, Matt Passmore, who plays Detective Longworth, is forced to take a phone call in the middle of a round of golf. He says he’s on the 14th fairway of the East Course, when he is actually on the 6th hole of the West Course. Why? Well, Mr. Shaughnessy had offered producers their choice between those two holes. Although they decided to film on the 6th hole, the writers felt Detective Longworth’s line in the script - that he was about to break 80 for the first time in his life - would be more plausible if he was on the 14th hole.
     And in case you’re wondering, yes - those really were Belleair Country Club employees and members of the Club in the background shots. 

   THE HISTORY OF GOLF IN BELLEAIR:

     Many visitors to the Belleview Biltmore Resort are confused to find the golf courses on the adjacent property do not belong to the Resort, and that the Resort’s golf course is actually located several blocks away.  It wasn’t always that way. Here’s what happened.
      When railroad and shipping tycoon, Henry Plant, first opened the Belleview Hotel in1897, he hired Sir Launcelot Cressy Servos to build a six-hole golf course on the property, complete with elevated greens and crushed-shell putting surfaces. After Henry died in 1899, his son Morton expanded the course to 9 holes and replaced the shell putting surfaces with sand.
      But Morton Plant really wanted grass greens. Throughout most of the next decade, he experimented with various grasses and shipped several rail cars of Indiana top soil to Florida. His eventual success allowed the Belleview Hotel to boast the first grass putting greens in all of Florida.
     In 1909, Morton Plant expanded the course to 18 holes. Then, in 1915, he commissioned the great golf course architect, Donald J. Ross, to design 36 holes of golf, creating the East and West courses.
     Following Morton Plant’s death in 1918, the Belleview Hotel was sold to John Boweman of the Biltmore hotel chain and renamed the Belleview Biltmore. Throughout his ownership, the hotel remained a winter retreat for the wealthy, continuing to offer 36 holes of golf to its guests.
     Despite prohibition, the hotel thrived and in 1924, the south wing was added. However, when the Great Depression hit in 1929, the hotel business suffered and the hotel nearly closed its doors.
     In 1939 Arnold Kirkeby purchased the Belleview Biltmore and it continued to function as a winter resort, offering golf, tennis and beach facilities.
     The Belleview Biltmore was requisitioned by the Army Air Corps in 1942, to provide housing for soldiers assigned to the air station in Tampa during WWII. During the next 18 months, the golf courses were primarily used as a pup-tent city, providing space for training exercises and housing the overflow of soldiers.
     The Army left the Belleview Biltmore in late 1943, and the hotel was sold to Ed C Wright for a mere $275,000.  Mr. Wright had purchased the property as an investment and it remained closed throughout his ownership.  The golf courses were quite neglected during this time.
     In 1946, the Belleview Biltmore and its golf courses were sold to an investment group led by Bernie Powell. In an amazing feat of rapid restoration, the Belleview Biltmore and its golf courses were restored to their former grandeur and reopened in time for the 1947 winter season. For the next several decades, there were no changes to the operation.
     Then, in 1985, the Resort’s owners added a spa and hired a property management company to begin operating the Belleview Biltmore Resort and its golf courses year round. 
     The following year, 1986, Bernie Powell sold most of the land surrounding the hotel, including the golf courses, to US Steel for $5,750,000.  As part of the sale, US Steel agreed to reserve 10 tee times per day for hotel guests. The tee times alternated days between the East and West courses.
     When US Steel presented plans to the Town of Belleair to build condos all along the waterfront, local residents rallied and sued to prevent the loss of their magnificent view and sea breeze. U.S. Steel then presented an alternate plan, which would eliminate the Belleview Biltmore golf courses altogether, replacing them with 692 individual home sites. US Steel and the Town of Belleair finally reached a compromise. US Steel was allowed to build some, but not all, of the proposed condominium towers along the waterfront, provided the golf courses were deemed green spaces forever. 
     US Steel wasn’t interested in owning/operating golf courses, so they were receptive to a deal orchestrated by real estate developer, Bobby Byrd, which allowed members of a newly-formed country club to purchase the golf course under the name, “Belleview Biltmore Country Club” doing business as “Belleair Country Club.” Golf Club members bought into non-stock ownership via initiation fees and monthly dues (this ownership system is still in use today.) The Country Club was required to honor the deal US Steel had made with Bernie Powell – to reserve 10 tee times per day for Belleview Biltmore Hotel guests. This was a good deal for both the hotel and the country club because the hotel guests enjoyed great golf and were happy to pay the Country Club approximately $1 million in greens fees each year.
     Later that same year, Bernie Powell sold the remaining resort property and hotel to the Japanese Mido Corporation for $25 million. Almost immediately, bad feelings emerged between the new hotel owner and the community. First, the new owner changed the hotel’s name from the Belleview Biltmore to the Belleview Mido Resort. Then the new owner renovated the hotel to include a huge brass and glass entrance lobby, surrounded with koi ponds. The new entry didn’t blend in with the historic charm of the resort and was booed by local residents, who promptly dubbed it “The Pagoda”.  Then, when the newly renovated hotel opened for business, Mr. Mido flew a Japanese flag higher on the pole than an American flag, infuriating many who had fought in WWII against Japan. A group of local citizens organized a boycott of the hotel. 
     Meanwhile, the Belleair Country Club hired real estate attorney, Johnson, Pope & Blakely to represent their interests. It turned out the agreement between Bernie Powell and US Steel for 10 tee times per day did not automatically transcend ownership. Since there was no binding obligation, the Country Club decided to sever all ties with the hotel and for the first time since it opened in 1897, the hotel could not offer golf to its guests.
     To correct this situation, the Belleview Mido Corporation immediately purchased the public “Pelican Golf Course” on Indian Rocks Road and renamed it “The Belleview Biltmore Golf Course”. 
     In 1997, the Mido Corporation fell on hard times and was forced to abandon ownership of the hotel. The hotel was then sold to the Jetta Family for $15,750,000. The Jetta’s renamed the property the Belleview Biltmore Resort and refinanced it through Urdang & Associates in order to fund a planned renovation while keeping the hotel and golf course open. They did manage to renovate the Belleview Biltmore Golf Course and portions of the Resort, but unfortunately, their overall plan did not succeed. Shortly after the 9/11/2001 Twin Towers tragedy, the Jetta Family fell into bankruptcy. 
     Urdang & Associates took back the property via a ‘friendly foreclosure’ and entertained a purchase proposal from DeBartolo Development Group, who wanted to demolish the Belleview Biltmore Resort and replace it with hotel condominiums. When the Town of Belleair blocked that plan by instituting a Historic Preservation ordinance, Urdang & Associates sold the Belleview Biltmore Resort and golf course to Legg Mason Real Estate Investors Group (LMREI) for $6 million down; agreeing to hold the note for the remaining $24.3 million of the purchase price.
     In 2009, LMREI closed the Belleview Biltmore Resort, planning a major renovation of the property. Unfortunately the renovation was stalled - first by legal issues and then by a poor economy. Unaffected by the delayed renovation, the Belleview Biltmore Golf Course on Indian Rocks Road remains open to the public.
     So there you have it. The prestigious Belleair Country Club boasts 36 holes of golf - the East and West Courses - which are for the exclusive use of Club members and their guests. The Belleview Biltmore Golf Course is on Indian Rocks Road is open to the public (even while the Resort is closed for renovation.)  When the Resort reopens, guests will be shuttled to and from the Belleview Biltmore Golf Course in a courtesy van.    

BELLEVIEW BILTMORE FURNITURE DONATED

Vintage Chest & Mirror

     Recently, Dell Valentine Kellerher donated a chest of drawers and a mirror, originally used to furnish the Belleview Biltmore Resort, to the not-for-profit preservationist organization, “Save the Biltmore”.
     Dell’s grandmother purchased the furniture in 1942, just before the hotel became temporary home to the Army Air Corps during WWII. Arnold Kirkeby, owner of the hotel, sold several rooms of furniture, which had been in use there during the 1920s-1930s, to clear space for hundreds of in-coming military bunk beds. The rest of the hotel’s furniture and the more exquisite items, such as chandeliers, were put into storage or shipped to other Kirkeby hotels. Due to loosely kept records and theft, almost all of the items that were removed from the Belleview Biltmore Resort during this time have been lost, making these recovered items even more valuable to preservationists. 
     Save The Biltmore preservationists will store the items until the Belleview Biltmore Resort renovation is complete. When the Resort reopens, the furniture will most likely be displayed in the hotel’s museum. For more information about this antique furniture acquisition, click on the following link: http://www.savethebiltmore.com/

ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA CONFERENCE

     I recently attended the RWA’s National Convention in Orlando and found it to be a thrilling experience. I was able to put faces with names of fellow members of RWA and members of the sub-genre group, Futuristic, Fantasy and Paranormal (FF&P) whom I have been chatting with on-line for many months.
     I was dazzled throughout presentations by Nora Roberts/JD Robb and Jane Ann Kranz/Amanda Quick. I met authors Suzanne Brockmann  and Maggie Shayne, both of whom were extrodinarily gracious and autographed copies of their recent releases for me (actually, Maggie autographed a couple books for my Mom, her biggest fan, which was even better.) I attended book-signings where I met many, many lesser known authors and wound up with a stack of books that should last me until next year’s conference.

	Left: Suzanne Brockmann      Center: Maggie Shayne         Right: Nora Roberts

     But the real reason I attended the conference was to pitch my paranormal romance, Pearls and the Spirits of Belleview to literary agents. I had appointments with two agents and met a third via serendipity, when I found myself sitting next to Donald Maass, President of the highly esteemed Donald Maass Literary Agency in New York, at lunch one day. I ran into him again the following day and he was extremely generous with his time. He seemed genuinely interested in my book and gave me some amazing advice on how to ‘punch up’ sections of my story - advice I plan on taking to heart. And best of all, he invited me to submit my project to him once I’ve finished my revisions.
     Next I pitched my book to Christine Witthohn from Book Cents Literary Agency. She told me she was excited about my project and requested the full manuscript; however, she wants me to cut it to 100,000 words before submitting (it’s currently 124,000 words.) 
     Finally, I pitched Pearls to Kim Lionetti of Book Ends Inc. She requested a synopsis and a partial manuscript (3 chapters.)
     All in all, I couldn’t be happier with the outcome of the conference. I’ve been invited to submit my work to three, reputable agencies and also acquired contact information for several other agencies that might be a good fit for my writing style. Of course, now comes the hard part… to make the changes the literary agents have asked for quickly, so I can send them my manuscript! 
     Once I am signed with an agent, there will be additional rounds of editing, and then the agency will pitch my book to publishers. When the book is sold, the publishers will design a cover and finally, the book will go to print. The entire process to get the first book into bookstores usually takes about eighteen months, but once the first book is on the market, the rest of the Spirits of Belleview series shouldn’t take nearly that long.

 ’M LOOKING FOR YOUR BELLEVIEW BILTMORE STORIES
      My only child will be married on the 24th of September, so I plan to devote my next newsletter to those who were married at the Belleview Biltmore Resort or have other interesting memories pertaining to this amazing hotel.
      I have been in contact with a couple of fascinating people who worked at the Resort and others who are willing to share stories from their grandparents who used to work at the Belleview Biltmore and/or spend a lot of their time there.
      I would love to include your story as well. Don’t be shy - send me an e-mail and tell me a little bit about yourself.

I

WHAT DO SPIRITS OR GHOSTS LOOK LIKE? 

People visualize spirits many ways

When someone says the word ‘ghost’ or ‘spirit’, what picture pops into your mind? Is it a shadowy and frightening figure; a friendly, sheet-covered creature… or perhaps something in-between? The answer to that question is probably based, at least in part, on two key qualifiers.
     •Do you watch horror movies and/or read scary books?
     •Do you believe you have had a personal encounter with a ghost or spirit?

People often describe an encounter with the spirit realm using eerily similar terms. Initially, a spine-tingling sensation is felt. There is an instant awareness that something is present which doesn’t fit into normal frames of reference. There is a rush of adrenaline. The fight or flight instinct is awakened. Often the surrounding air changes abruptly. It becomes cold or wet or breezy. The overwhelming sensations occur in an instant and often leave just as quickly. The memory of the encounter is crystal clear, even long after the event. Logic and rational thought cannot make the lingering, uneasy feelings go away.

I recently spoke with two people who not only experienced such encounters, but believe they were fortunate enough to have captured the event on film. As often happens, the images were not visible during these actual encounters, but when the film was later developed, or when the images were downloaded onto a computer, they became evident.

PARANORMAL EXPERIENCE?

When I was a small child, we lived in an old farm house, which I believe was haunted. I remember having a long conversation with a young spirit one night. Afterward, the people I told about that encounter insisted I had simply experienced an extremely vivid dream. Perhaps. But I don’t remember any other dreams from my childhood… just that one. Now that I am older, I am not so easily persuaded to accept simplistic explanations for what may be paranormal experiences, including an unusual incident at Heritage Village recently.  

The House of the Seven Gables