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On this page you will find past past events or topics or the day's Alert in regards to saving the Belleview Biltmore that once were on the main web page. These topics are NOT relevant OR NO LONGER valid! So do NOT respond to them!
* Belleview Biltmore
Hotel, Resort: Today's Alerts, Events and Current News
* Biltmore Activities * Belleview Biltmore Hotel Web Site * Video
* Save the Biltmore Preservationists--About Us * Donate * Xmas tree award
* Memberships - Copper, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum - Join Us
* Gift Shop * Photo T-shirts, Tote Bags * Biltmore Updates, Blog
* Hotel Photos * Hotel History * Beach Photo * FREE desktop wallpapers!
* Recent Newspaper Articles * News Articles From 1997 - to current date
* Help Us Promote the Biltmore
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Organizations
* Original Home Page November, 2004 to June 20, 2007 * Past Events
* Contact Us * Mailing List for Biltmore Updates * Message Board
Memberships--Join Us!
Biltmore Watercolor
Art Biltmore T-Shirt-or
Tote Bag
Tote-Art Biltmore
Charm, Key
Chain, Cuff Links,
Tie Tack, Earrings, Pin - Sterling/Gold
Shop at our Biltmore Online Gift Shop, it's fun and you will help the Biltmore stand tall for another 110 years! Order a Biltmore calendar and proudly display it at home or at your workplace. Wear a Biltmore T-shirt, carry a Biltmore tote bag., send a Biltmore greeting card, wear a Biltmore charm, become a member of our nonprofit organization or display a Biltmore license plate on your car. All these will stir interest with the people around you and help us promote the Biltmore! An honorary one-year membership will be given to anyone purchasing any of our special Biltmore jewelry! See memberships.
Welcome to http://www.savethebiltmore.com/
Belleview Biltmore Hotel, (Belleview Biltmore Resort and Spa) Built 1896, Belleair Florida
The town of Belleair approved the extensive Legg Mason's renovation plans May, 2008. Unfortunately three men who live in close proximity to the Biltmore filed a lawsuit protesting the renovation plans. However, the Belleview Biltmore Hotel has received a favorable decision from a three judge panel of the Circuit Court for Pinellas County, Florida, sitting in its appellate capacity, regarding the restoration of the historic property. On May 28, 2009, the Circuit Court entered an Order and Opinion upholding the Belleair Town Commission’s grant of variances and approval of site plans necessary for the restoration. The complaining parties have thirty days from the date of that decision to take an additional appeal to the District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District. The Belleview Biltmore Hotel also owns a parcel on Sand Key which it proposes to redevelop with a 38 room boutique hotel as part of the overall project. The City of Clearwater Community Development Board approved redevelopment of the Sand Key site on September 16, 2008. Several neighboring residents appealed this decision to the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings. On April 13, 2009, the assigned Administrative Law Judge rejected this challenge to the approval and upheld the decision of the Community Development Board. The residents have now filed a Petition in the Circuit Court for Pinellas County, Florida challenging the decisions of the Community Development Board and the Administrative Law Judge. That Petition remains pending before the Circuit Court. The attorneys for the Belleview Biltmore Hotel expect the Circuit Court to render a decision within the next thirty days as to whether the Petition sets forth a sufficient basis for the appeal to proceed. Information from http://www.ClearwaterGazette.com June 4, 2009
Circuit judges Amy Williams, J. Thomas McGrady and Peter Ramsberger found that the three petitioners’ claim that they were denied due process by the time limits imposed by the commission for their individual testimony failed the standard of proof, considering that they were only three of the many interested persons to speak during the long commission meeting. Belleair Bee June 3, 2009 http://www.tbnweekly.com/content_articles/060309_bee-02.txt?archiveview
Biltmore T-Shirt-Art Biltmore Tote-Art Biltmore
Charm -Gold/Silver
Key
Chain
Cuff Links,
Tie Tack, Earrings, Pin - Sterling/Gold
Memberships--Join Us!
Greeting
Card Biltmore License
Plate - Mouse Pad Biltmore
Calendar
Customized T-shirts, tote bags and sugar cookies, YOUR photo/text Biltmore tie tack/pin Biltmore Art: Gardenias on the Veranda White Queen of the Gulf
Our nonprofit organization, Save the Biltmore Preservationists, created a Belleview Biltmore Hotel holiday Christmas tree) see below for photos) for the 2009 Festival of Trees sponsored by UPARC Foundation, Inc. More than 100 beautifully decorated trees from local artists, businesses and community leaders are displayed at the Westfield/Countryside Mall, Countryside, Florida. Our seven foot Save the Biltmore Preservationist Christmas tree combines the old with the new. The Belleview Biltmore Hotel opened during the Victorian era in 1897 and a popular Christmas decoration at that time was the beautiful cone-shaped ornament, the cornucopia. Vintage homemade cornucopias were constructed from paper, paper scrap, cotton, scraps of cloth, yarn, tinsel, ribbon and filled with any assortment of candy, nuts or other holiday decorations. Some had crepe-paper closures, while others were left open at the top like our ornaments are.
See photos below with a description of our ornaments and tree after them.
Close-ups of four of our 50 hand-crafted ornaments.
14 karat gold Belleview Biltmore jewelry charm which we used for half of our ornaments.
We made assorted cornucopia ornaments, all a little different so no two are alike!
Our tree topper with enlargements of our gold charm
Our hand-crafted decorated tree with 50 cornucopia ornaments and charm topper. Santa Claus visits our tree!
For our 50 Save the Biltmore hand-crafted cornucopias, we added decorations of
pine cones, silver and gold leaves, miniature craft pearls, apples, pears, gold
and silver-coated nuts, foil, ribbon, flowers and other Christmas
decorations. Half of our ornaments are adorned in the center with a
representation of our nonprofit’s Belleview Biltmore 14 karat gold jewelry charm
to represent the “charm of the Belleview Biltmore.” The top of our tree has
larger gold printed images of our charm in a circular fashion, decorated to
match the cornucopias, and you can see the distinctive chimney stacks on the
hotel. It took us approximately 65 hours to make and decorate the cornucopias
and tree topper.
Each of our cornucopias were decorated a little differently so no two are alike! We carefully hand-crafted each ornament with a variety of festive decorations for your holiday pleasure so we hope you enjoy each unique ornament and our tree. Our Save the Biltmore Preservationist tree is located on the first floor by Sears near the Santa Claus station.
We hope you make the time to attend this wonderful Festival of Trees.
The hours of the festival are Sunday, November 22, 2009 through Sunday November
29, 2009. Our Save the Biltmore Preservationist “A Victorian Christmas at the
Biltmore” will be displayed at the mall during these dates even if someone does
buy it on the gala night.
The public may attend the Premier Gala Night event for $75 per person Sunday
night November 22 at the mall to purchase a decorated tree. Patrons will have
the opportunity to enjoy fine food, refreshments and entertainment as they
search for that perfect holiday tree to purchase for home or office. Hours of
this Sunday night’s gala event will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Enter at the
entrance near Toojay’s Restaurant. There will be both live and silent
auctions. Delightful culinary food and tastings will be provided by 16
caterers. A Swarovski crystal tree will be at Macy’s sponsored by Bijoux, and
entertainment will be provided throughout the mall. Ann Kelly from The New
Magic radio station 94.9 FM will also be there.
Our Save the Biltmore Preservationist tree will be for sale this year at their
show. We are offering a FREE $50 Save the Biltmore Copper Membership to anyone
who buys our tree so be sure to attend Sunday’s event if you want to be the
first one to buy our tree! Just remember to contact us via email if you buy the
tree so we can send you your membership. To purchase tickets for the Premier
Gala Night please contact the UPARC Foundation office at 727-797-8712. All
proceeds from tree sales go to UPARC.
Starting Monday November 23 at the Westfield/Countryside Mall, you may buy
raffle tickets to win a decorated tree that was not sold at Sunday’s gala
event. Raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20, cash, check or credit card
accepted
Volunteers are still welcome and needed for the Premier Gala Night as well as
during the tree show at the mall for the five “tree pods” of which there will be
a variety of beautifully decorated trees. For more information or to volunteer,
please contact the UPARC Foundation office at 727-797-8712.
Click here for link for above information and photos on our tree.
BELLEVIEW BILTMORE INTERIOR
LIQUIDATION SALE
There is a liquidation sale for the NONHISTORIC items at the
Belleview Biltmore Hotel. The liquidation will run for 45 days
and starts on Thursday, July 9 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday
through Saturdays. The hours change for Sunday when it will run
from 12 noon to 5 p.m. All historic items are NOT for sale and
are being marked as not for sale. For a list of items and photos
click here:
http://www.nclsales.com/BelleviewBiltmoreResortAndBeachClub.html
For more information, call (727) 441-9690
(Note, the liquidation sale is over.)
"BACK TO THE FUTURE" PARTY
On June 1, 2009 the Belleview Biltmore will close for renovations for
approximately three years. To celebrate the resort's amazing history, from its
origin when it was built in 1897, to the present, and to the future, when it
will reopen in 2012, UPARC, a local nonprofit organization, will hold the last
party at the venerable historic Biltmore. The party "Back to the Future" will be
on Sunday, May 31, 2009 from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. A variety of rooms in the
hotel will be set up to represent different eras so you can mingle from place to
place. Guests may also tour the hotel. The dress is casual but you may also
dress up in costume. Cuisine from past eras will also be served, and you will
be able to dance to a variety of live music. The event co-chairs are Chris
Daily and May Lynne Hawkins, and the honorary chairs are Karen Crown and Diane
and Dean Gobo. UPARC is an organization that serves individuals with
developmental disability. Individual tickets are $100. Patron level tickets,
which include a listing in the event program, are $150. Tickets for the Chinese
Auction also are available in advance for $20/8. Sponsorship opportunities are
still available. For tickets, call Elisa Fredericks at UPARC at 799-3330, ext.
7451. If no answer call (727) 797-8712. For Belleview Biltmore information,
call Mark Boyer at 373-3762.
MONDAY JUNE 1, 2009
On Monday, June 1, at 1 p.m. guests at the Belleview Biltmore Hotel will be
escorted to the door for their last checkout, serenaded by musical recordings
reminiscent of bittersweet parting with the promise of reuniting.
"It will be a fun day," said Martin Smith, Belleview Biltmore vice president and
managing director. Info from:
http://tbnweekly.com/pubs/belleair_bee/content_articles/052609_bee-01.txt
Belleair Bee Tuesday May 26, 2009
IDEAS FOR THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE HOTEL (formerly on the home page)
A supporter of the Belleview Biltmore wrote me this. It is a more detailed description of what I wrote above under "General Information." He prefers not to use his name, but I felt his ideas were very creative and intriguing, so here they are: Since the Belleview Biltmore is the largest wooden structure in Florida and the largest continually occupied wooden structure in the world, it would be terrific to use this to develop the Biltmore's reputation. For example, have a school for woodcrafts including: woodworking, such as restoring and making anything with wood, wooden boats, antique reproductions, wood carving, veneering, wood joining, cabinet making and marquetry. Small stores could be set up to sell this merchandise, and retailers would be paying rent to sell their merchandise. He said the Belleview Biltmore could also have a wood craft museum, a wood product museum through the ages and pay as you go classes. Since the hotel is Victorian, he said we should have a Victorian lobby, furnish some guest rooms with Victorian themes (charge more for those of course) and have a Victorian school of cooking with original recipes. Since the magnificent Tiffany ballroom has original Tiffany glass in the ceiling, stained glass classes would fit right in and it would be a wonderful idea too. See Biltmore photos on the web page for the photo of the Tiffany ceiling.
Our nonprofit organization, Save the Biltmore Preservationists, created a Belleview Biltmore Hotel holiday Christmas tree for the 2008 Festival of Trees. The Biltmore tree won a second place red ribbon in the seven-foot tree division for handcrafted ornaments. The tree has 55 ornaments on it with photos depicting the historic journey of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel from 1896 when it was built to the 2012 proposed renovations by the new owner Legg Mason Real Estate Investors. UPARC Foundation, Inc. sponsors the show, and more than 100 beautifully decorated trees from local artists, businesses and community leaders are displayed along with craft items available for purchase. The Biltmore tree took about 60 hours to complete including the unique, hand-crafted tree topper gazebo that illuminates three historic views of the hotel. Next to the tree are displays of other Biltmore memorabilia, antique photos, furniture, a history of the hotel and some vintage apparel from different eras, which add to the theme of the tree. The Festival of Trees is located at the Harborview Center, Cleveland Street, Clearwater, FL. The show runs from Wednesday, November 26 through Sunday, November 30, 2008 For times of the show click: To see a larger view of our tree click here
Tickets are $8 per person
The hours of the festival are:
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Noon - 8:00 p.m.
Thursday November 27, 2008 - Thanksgiving Day
2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Friday November 28, 2008
10:00 am - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
10:00 am - 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
noon - 5:00 p.m.
CHRISTMAS AT THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE 2008
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NEW YEAR'S EVE
25 Belleview Boulevard Clearwater, FL 33756
Main: 727-373-3000 / Fax:
727-443-6361
Our packages include a standard guestroom (Tuesday and Wednesday for the 2 night package and Wednesday only for the 1 night package), Welcome Reception (2 night package only), Gourmet New Year’s Eve Buffet Dinner, Champagne Toast, Party Favors, Dancing To Live Music with "The Shawn Brown Band” from 9:00 pm to 1:00 am, And an Open Bar from 8:00 pm to 1:00 am.
*Package Pricing is Inclusive of All Taxes and Gratuities
Ala Carte & Upgrades
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008**
Ice Glow Station
Sushi Display
Cheese Display
Salad Stations
Carving Stations
Sauté Stations
Hot Display Stations
Dessert Station
(**Please Note That Reserved Seating Will Be Available For Parties of 10 Only, All Other Seating Will Be Pre-Assigned By The Hotel)
For Reservations Please Call (727) 373-3768
THANKSGIVING DINNER AT THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE HOTEL
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HALLOWEEN AT THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE
PLEASE NOTE! The Biltmore was also placed on the list of 11 most endangered historical buildings by the prestigious National Trust. Florida Trust also placed the Biltmore on its list in 2006. Again these preservation organizations provided absolutely NO legal protection to save the Biltmore! These organizations only support and endorse historic protection. NEW!! We are now offering MEMBERSHIPS! We thank the community for all its support in saving the Biltmore. Now you can join our nonprofit organization and become a member. Your donation gift will help us continue to preserve and promote the beautiful Victorian, 1897 Belleview Biltmore Hotel, "The White Queen of the Gulf," Belleair, Florida. (Clearwater)
Please note that the demolition of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel for now has been stopped. We need preservation-minded buyers to save the Biltmore forever! We welcome all ideas on how to find these buyers. Email Me
Thanks to Adrian Wyllie Webmaster and Editor, of TampaBayStart.com for this photo.
HALLOWEEN AT THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE
The following information is from a flyer from the Belleview Biltmore: "Join us for a night of ghostly encounters interlaced with the history of our Grand Hotel. Follow along with the Orlando Ghost Tours team of paranormal investigation experts on an interesting journey inside the Belleview Biltmore Resort. The package includes room accommodations, Dinner for two in the Palm Grill and Ghost Tour for two. The tour starts at 9 p.m. and lasts approximately 3 hours. Not recommended for children. 12 and under. Available October 31 and November 1, 2008
1 night package inclusive price for 2 guests: $239.00 727-373-3000
Detective Dinner Theater extends ‘Poison Lounge’ Belleair Bee Tuesday, October 30, 2007
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The town’s Planning and Zoning Board reviewed Legg Mason’s Belleview Biltmore renovation site plan on Monday, May 12, at 5:30 p.m. and approved them. Legg Mason will present the plan for approval to the commission at its Tuesday, May 20 meeting at 7:30 p.m. The public is invited and encouraged to attend this very important meeting! There has been a few groups of people who are opposing some of the changes. Therefore it is extremely important for you to attend this meeting and voice your support to Belleair officials so the renovation plans will be approved! THE PLANS MUST BE APPROVED FOR THE BILTMORE TO BE A SUCCESSFUL HOTEL! Please show your support for the new renovation plans and attend this meeting at the Belleair town hall at 901 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Here are the instructions for who can speak at the meeting:
People
will be heard in the following order:
1. People of standing - (those who received public notices; ie. those people
whose property is immediately affected by the development)
2. Belleair residents
3. Time permitting, the General Public - the general public will only be able to
make comments and not cross-examine the applicant
Anyone who wishes to speak must sign in with the Town Clerk - call 588-3769,
ext. 312 - ahead of time. You can sign immediately before the meeting but you
will have to get there early because as soon as the meeting starts they will stop
signing people in. Of course, anyone can attend and hear the public hearing.
We recommend that you come by at least 7 p.m. to sign in if you do not call
ahead of time! There will be many people attending this meeting so come
early!!
Here is a link to a map for directions:
Celebrity and TV talk show hostess Ellen DeGeneres is sponsoring a contest in which she is on the hunt for America's best hometown! Will it be Belleair's where the famous and now saved Belleview Biltmore Hotel is!? You can help Ellen choose Yes to Belleair by voting online at http://ellen.aol.com/profile/fl/belleair/claim+to+fame/largest+occupied+wooden+structure/ Just vote "yes" near the photo where it says "I like this profile" You can help Belleair and its Victorian Belleview Biltmore become famous and bring in tourists long into the future!
We have a brand new Biltmore T-shirt and tote bag design by renowned watercolorist Janice James so click here to order it at our online store. This NEW design now says "Saved 2007"
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: (bring a car load of your friends and family to all meetings!)
For a complete list of events at the Belleview Biltmore Hotel click Activities
FIRST FRIDAYS AT THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE HOTEL, BELLEAIR, FLORIDA
Every first Friday at the Biltmore is open to the public where cocktails and appetizers are served. Bring your friends and neighbors, have fun and enjoy meeting new people at the Biltmore!
There are many very festive days and nights planned for the upcoming holiday season! Be sure to click on the links and participate or stay at the Belleview Biltmore for any or all of them!
Chef Etienne and Chef Hueppi of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel created a holiday gingerbread house for the 2007 Festival of Trees in Clearwater this past weekend and won a first place ribbon! It took 16 man hours to complete, and it was a popular stop at the show with children posing in front of it for their parents to photograph them. And of course the fragrant ginger aroma brought many people over to this edible house! The chefs have won a first place award twice in the past four years. The gingerbread house is now on display at the hotel along with many other holiday decorations including a 22 foot Christmas tree.
For a larger photo of the gingerbread house click here
CHRISTMAS DINNER AT THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE: Tuesday, December 25, 2007
For more details, special Victorian package and the menu click here: http://www.belleviewbiltmore.com/Christmas.html
NEW YEAR'S EVE AT THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE: Tuesday, December 31, 2007
For more details, special weekend package and the menu click here: http://www.belleviewbiltmore.com/NewYearsEve.html
For another TV segment that gives a wonderful synopsis of the past few years plus interviews, click Pinellas County's TV web site. http://www.pinellascounty.org/tv/ Then click on "Progressive Pinellas" which is about one half way down the page and to the very right. This will take you to an interview with Pinellas County Commissioner Karen Seel, Belleair Commissioner Stephanie Oddo and our vice president Ed Jameson of our nonprofit organization Save the Biltmore Preservationists. There are some video clips in the segment also including one of the Belleair meetings from 2005, the recent visit by Florida Governor Charlie Crist at the hotel and also interviews with Belleview Biltmore General Manager Martin Smith and his assistant Stephanie Delahanty. In the TV segment, many of the beautiful and historic rooms of the hotel are shown. The video is about 30 minutes long and the segment on the Biltmore is half way through at the number 14:16 on their counter so you may fast forward to view it. It is about nine minutes long. For those of you who live in the Tampa Bay Area you may also view the program on TV. Progressive Pinellas airs everyday at 8 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Their channel… PCC-TV… Pinellas County Connection TV… airs on channel 622 on Bright House. Its on channel 18 for Knology and very soon it will be on channel 44 on Verizon Cable.
THANKSGIVING AT THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE: Thursday, November 22, 2007
For more details and the menu click here: http://www.belleviewbiltmore.com/Thanksgiving.html
BELLEAIR – Gov. Charlie Crist will be the keynote speaker at the Belleview Biltmore Resort Monday, Nov. 19, 3:30 p.m., where he will address Legg Mason Real Estate Investors’ preservation efforts for the Biltmore. Anyone may attend.
The public is invited to view the plans at a 6 p.m. reception on Nov. 19 in the
Tiffany Ballroom.
Legg Mason Real Estate Investors of Los Angeles, plan to seek LEED certification
from the U.S. Green Building Council for the Belleview Biltmore. According to
Joseph Penner, managing director of Legg Mason, the intent is to utilize a water
efficient landscape design, energy efficient equipment and construction methods,
reusable materials, ventilation improvements and other enhancements to achieve
“green” certification.
Legg Mason’s goal is to return the magnificent wooden structure to its former
glory and achieve a four- to-five star hotel rating. Plans include restoring the
hotel and surrounding historic homes in accordance with Department of Interior -
U. S. Park Service preservation standards, removal of the pagoda-like front
entrance, removal of the aluminum siding, adding an underground parking
facility, a new spa, the creation of a park surrounding the hotel and a façade
easement to protect the hotel forever.
“The achievement of LEED certification is an important step in
the life of this magnificent historic property,” said Penner. “The new design
includes underground parking and sculptured gardens which will help restore the
property to its grandeur, while creating a modern energy efficient destination
resort.” Legg Mason paid nearly $30.3-million for the landmark in June.
HALLOWEEN NIGHT AT THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE: Wednesday October 31, 2007
For more details click here: http://www.belleviewbiltmore.com/halloween07.pdf
Biltmore to host ‘Who Let The Dogs Art?’ Belleair Bee, 2007
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Legg Mason will be presenting their formal renovation plans for the Biltmore Wednesday, September 19 at 7:30 in Belleair, Florida. Be sure to attend!
Labor Day Weekend
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Belleview
Biltmore Hotel & Golf & Spa Resort, 25 Belleview Blvd,
Clearwater, Florida
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Don't forget to
make your Sunset Reservations at the Cabana Grill & Bar
727-595-1807 |
For more information about Labor Day Specials,
Book a Room or make an event reservation, call our Holiday Hotline at(727) 373-3768. |
CURRENT STATUS OF THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE HOTEL: There is exciting news to report! Legg Mason Real Estate Investment company has a contract to purchase the Biltmore and the closing date has been scheduled for June 20, 2007. They have great plans for preservation and restoration and plan to make the Biltmore a 4 or 5 star hotel! Click here for more details: http://www.tbnweekly.com/content_articles/060707_bee-01.txt The Biltmore is on the National Register of Historic Places, this offers NO legal protection for the hotel. The Biltmore was also placed on the list of 11 most endangered historical buildings by the prestigious National Trust. Florida Trust also placed the Biltmore on its list in 2006. Again these preservation organizations provide absolutely NO legal protection to save the Biltmore! These organizations only support and endorse historic protection. The current hotel owner who wanted to demolish the hotel has been granted an indefinite continuance for the redevelopment and demolition permit review.
CURRENT STATUS OF THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE HOTEL: The hotel owner is currently taking bids for the purchase of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel in Belleair, Florida. Email me Diane Hein if you are interested in purchasing the Biltmore OR if you would like to join a group of investors to purchase the hotel. Please note that although the Biltmore is on the National Register of Historic Places, this offers NO legal protection for the hotel. The Biltmore was also placed on the list of 11 most endangered historical buildings by the prestigious National Trust. Florida Trust also placed the Biltmore on its list. Again these preservation organizations provide absolutely NO legal protection to save the Biltmore! These organizations only support and endorse historic protection. Only local laws in Belleair will save the Biltmore. DeBartolo has backed off from buying the hotel September 16 due a huge public outcry with over 300 people in attendance! The preservation ordinance to save the Biltmore in Belleair was passed October 26, 2005. It took effect Thursday, November 25, 2005. The hotel owner Urdang and Associates (under the name of Belleview Biltmore Resorts LTD) is continuing its efforts to demolish the hotel. The redevelopment permit application for demolition of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel was reviewed by the town’s Planning and Zoning Board on Monday, January 9 and they voted to DENY the demolition permit application 7-0! This is wonderful news! The hotel owner who wishes to demolish the hotel has been granted an indefinite continuance for the redevelopment and demolition permit review.
To help save the Biltmore, PLEASE spread the word around via email, letters, phone calls that the Belleview Biltmore needs a buyer who is interested in preserving it! We need this action immediately! There are also flyers to print out and yard signs available to spread the word.
May 30, 2007
CLEARWATER'S WEEK LONG JULY 4TH CELEBRATION AT THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE
CLEARWATER, FL - Clearwater's July 4th celebration is a week-long event at
the Belleview Biltmore Resort. The historic resort invites guests and the
public to attend its week-long festivities that include activities for all
ages, friends and families. Events are focused around the resort's
waterfall-pool and include special holiday menus, live music, all day drink
specials, special seafood and BBQ buffets, even poker nights and a festive
night of Karaoke in the St. Andrew's Pub.
No Clearwater Independence Day is complete without fireworks, and the resort
offers great views of the firework displays. Guests and the public are
invited to watch the fireworks, starting at dusk, from the resort's dock or
from its Beach Club on Sand Key, where more special events are held at the
Cabana Grill & Sunset Bar.
"The week-long celebration allows us all to get together to honor the great
events that founded this country. Recall and honor its defenders and renew
our understanding of the how blessed we are to be free," said Martin Smith,
Managing Director and VP. " The Beach Club on Sand Key is an ideal location
to view the city's spectacular displays without the overwhelming crowds. We
look forward to making our pool terrace, beach and facilities available to
our neighbors."
This year the Biltmore has expanded to a seven day event, adding
some new items such as karaoke night, poker tournament and special menus at
pool side. It really is a week with something for everyone, all ages." To
find out more you can view the full schedule at contact the resort's
holiday hotline at (727) 373-3768
This year's events are all planned around pool parties at the hotel's
waterfall pool area. Some of the scheduled events will include:
Friday, June 29th ~ GET READY POOL PARTY Holiday menus, Live DJ, drink
specials, complimentary Hors D'oeuvres and a Victorian Seafood Buffet.
Saturday, June 30th ~ ANNUAL POOL PARTY! Holiday Menus, Live DJ, Drink
Specials, and the resort's famous "Victorian Prime Rib Buffet"
Wednesday, July 4th ~ POOL PARTY & FIREWORKS. Yahoo! Holiday Menus, Live DJ,
drink specials and FIREWORKS! Watch the fireworks at sundown from the
resort's docks or on the beach at the Cabana Grill & Bar or Sunset Bar, Sand
Key
Thursday, July 5th ~ POOL & POKER! Drink specials, Live DJ and FREE Texas
Hold'em Poker Tournament
Friday, July 6th ~ POOL, SEAFOOD & KARAOKE Drink specials, Live DJ, Seafood
Buffet and karaoke at St. Andrew's Pub
Saturday, July 7th ~ THE POOL TURNS INTO MARGARITAVILLE! Margarita specials,
Live DJ ~ 4:00 to 8 P.M. Prime Rib Buffet and Ghost Tours.
Clearwater Beach Hotel.............is... |
..... now demolished! |
"Hiller has worked as a development consultant on several projects, including the Marriott Suites Clearwater Beach on Sand Key and the Sandpearl Resort and Belle Harbor projects on Clearwater Beach."
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/08/04/Northpinellas/Hotel_s_new_suitors_l.shtml
Readers note: The Sandpearl is the resort that is REPLACING the once beautiful but now demolished Clearwater Beach Hotel. Rory Hiller is the developer who wants to purchase the Biltmore and put in ultra modern condo/hotel units which this web site is against!
FIRST FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2006, AT THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE HOTEL, BELLEAIR, FLORIDA
First Friday at the Belleview Biltmore Hotel, wine tasting and fund raising event for "Support our Troops" sponsored by the Indian Shores Women's Club and the Republican Party. The information below is from an article by reporter, Renee Burrell of the local newspaper, the Clearwater Gazette.
"The Town of Indian Shores and the
Indian Shores Women’s Club have embraced an on-going project collecting needed
items for our men and women in Iraq. These items are boxed and mailed to various
military sources in Iraq to be shared with our troops. To date, over 400 boxes
have been sent. We receive many thank –you letters from our soldiers.
Our goal is to keep the source of supply continuous until our troops can return
to the U.S. We need your help to provide this source. Indian Shores hopes that
towns can join together to be a continuous source of items for our troops.
Various approaches or ideas of collecting items are possible. Be creative!
Indian Shores Town Hall has a display, an item list, and a plastic bin in the
foyer for drop-offs during working hours. Condos have taken on the project and
different clubs may sponsor an event, including item drop-offs. Memorial Day and
July 4th are the perfect Holidays to include collections.
I have included a list of items approved for sending. We will be happy to pick
up items and get them to the packing location. You will receive personal
thank-you notes. I will be glad to help with any set-up or speak to any group to
help you “kick this off.” My phone numbers and e-mail address are listed below.
We say, “Indian Shores is the Little Town with a Big Heart.” We believe we have
many other Big Hearts on the Barrier Island.
Thank you for your support.
God bless you and God bless America.
Sincerely,
Marlene Clausen
Council Member, Indian Shores
Phone: 595-5933
Cell: 415-8738
Email: mclausen@myindianshores.com
LIST OF ITEMS FOR THE TROOPS OR BRING A MONETARY DONATION!
FOOD GOODS: jerky, gummy bears, licorice, nuts, powdered lemonade or Gatorade,
sandwich kits, packaged candy (not chocolate), lifesavers, gum, packaged
cookies, cheese n crackers, pudding packs, lunch size snacks, granola bars,
Pringles, Dorritos, salsa in plastic containers, granola mixes, hot cocoa
packets, coffee or tea bags, ramen noodles, packets of condiments.
TOILETRIES: toothpaste, tooth brushes, sunscreen, moist wipes, hand sanitizer,
hairspray, lotion, deodorant, shaving lotion, soap, shampoo, chapstick,
mouthwash (travel size), eye drops, Q-tips, Kleenex, razors, travel size toilet
paper, feminine hygiene items, foot powder, cough drops, Ibuprofen, Tylenol,
Advil.
MISCELLANEOUS: bandanas (khaki or camo), socks, pens, stationary, post cards,
phone cards (international), disposable cameras, batteries (AA and AAA), CD's,
DVD movies, magazines, books, hand-held battery-operated fans.
A new silver plate bowl with a
clear glass liner from Neiman Marcus with
all over pierced design and bright cut
decoration. The base is 4" and the
top diameter is 10" A beautiful item
to own or to give as a gift.
Fill it with flowers or fruit or
champagne punch for any festive occasion.
It comes in original box and packing
Donor: Robert Burrell, Esq.
Indian Shores, FL
Price: $30 plus shipping and handling
PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING, November 8, 2005. Steve Cottrell, Belleair town manager discussed that the Comprehensive Plan of Belleair is being reviewed as it must be every 7 to 10 years. There are proposed changes to this Comprehensive Plan that will eventually be discussed at a workshop meeting. One proposed change has to do with redevelopment of the Biltmore Hotel! One other proposed change is for the Biltmore golf course, for redevelopment purposes. Here is part of the memo:"Potential Major Issues: (order of importance- 1 essential; 2 important; 3 somewhat important; preliminary ranking without benefit of P & Z board recommendations). 1. Historic Preservation (1): including, - a. Potential redevelopment of the hotel and surrounding land (1); b. Potential hotel golf course redevelopment and future land use issues (1); and c. Preservation of the town's character and other historic resources (3)." There are three other potential major issues after this, so for a copy of the entire memo contact Belleair Town Hall, 901 Ponce de Leon Blvd. We are not exactly sure what any of this will entail so BE SURE to attend the proposed workshop on this...DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED.
SPECIAL WORK SESSIONS: More workshops will be coming up in the near future for presentation and review of the proposed Evaluation and Appraisal Report for Belleair's Comprehensive Plan. Check back often for dates and times. We urge you to attend these extremely important workshops on the Comprehensive Plan to ENSURE the preservation of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel and its historic golf course. If you want this legal entity to continue to stand as is in regards to the hotel and golf course, please tell your neighbors to attend this meeting with you and start speaking up.
BELLEVIEW BILTMORE SETTING FOR ABC
DOCUMENTARY
CLEARWATER, FL Ð Tonight from 9pm-11pm ABC will air a 2-hour special on the mysterious story of Clearwater's Charles Stopford. Ê The Historic Belleview Biltmore was where ABC producers chose the Belleview Biltmore as the setting to film several interviews the reunion for the documentary.
Martin Bashir investigates one man's life of deception. Ê Charles Stopford a poor boy from Florida pretended to be an English lord under the false name of Christopher Buckingham, fooling everyone for more then 20 years. Find out how he got away with it tonight on ABC's ÒPrimetime.Tune in to see exclusive interviews and the reunion between his American and British families filmed at Clearwater's Belleview Biltmore Resort, Beach Club, Golf Club & Spa.
ABC's Primetime 2-hour special will air tonight, July 11th from 9pm-11pm.Ê For more information regarding the Belleview Biltmore Resort, Beach Club, Golf Club & Spa contact 727-373-3000.
TOWN MEETING JUNE 20, 2006 7:30 p.m. At the town meeting in Belleair, June 20, at 7:30 p.m. we encourage the community to attend this meeting to voice your opinion that a STRONGLY worded Comprehensive Plan continue in Belleair to ensure the viability of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel and its historic golf course. Citizens may speak for 3 minutes on this subject. There still may be further workshop dates on rewriting the Comprehensive Plan, no dates available as of yet. If you want this legal entity to continue to stand as is, then tell your neighbors to attend this meeting with you and start speaking up that you want a STRONGLY worded Comprehensive Plan for the Biltmore and the golf course! It's up to you.
SPECIAL WORK SESSION: JUNE 21, 2006 2:00 P.M. Presentation and review of the proposed Evaluation and Appraisal Report for the Comprehensive Plan. We urge you to attend this extremely important workshop and any further workshops on the Comprehensive Plan to ENSURE that the preservation of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel and its historic golf course. If you want this legal entity to continue to stand as is in regards to the hotel and golf course, then tell your neighbors to attend this meeting with you and start speaking up.
TOWN MEETING JUNE 20, 2006 7:30 p.m. At the town meeting in Belleair, June 20, at 7:30 p.m. we encourage the community to attend this meeting to voice your opinion that a STRONGLY worded Comprehensive Plan continue in Belleair to ensure the viability of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel and its historic golf course. Citizens may speak for 3 minutes on this subject.
BELLEAIR TOWN COMMISSION MEETING
- Regular Meeting
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Time: 7:30 PM
901 Ponce De Leon Blvd
Belleair, FL 33756
Topic of Discussion: The topic of Saving the Biltmore
may be brought up by anyone.
BELLEAIR PLANNING AND ZONING
BOARD MEETING
Monday, March 13, 2006 at 5:30 PM
Time: 5:30 PM
901 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
Belleair, FL 33756
Topic of Discussion: The topic of Saving the Biltmore
and the golf course may be brought up by anyone. We need Biltmore supporters to continue to attend these
meetings for the long-term future of the hotel!
BELLEAIR TOWN COMMISSION - SPECIAL MEETING AND WORK
SESSION
Tuesday, March 07, 2006 at 5:30 PM
Time: 5:30 P.M.
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida 33756-1034
BELLEAIR TOWN COMMISSION MEETING
- Regular Meeting
Tuesday, February 21, 2006 at
Time: 7:30 PM
901 Ponce De Leon Blvd
Belleair, FL 33756
Topic of Discussion: The topic of Saving the Biltmore
and the golf course may be brought up by anyone.
OTHER PRESERVATION EVENTS IN FLORIDA:
Sunday, February 19, 2006 12:30 to 4 p.m. There is a
Hollywood, Florida Historical Home Tour sponsored by the Hollywood
Historical Society. Contact Linda Wilson at
lb_wilson@earthlink.net for
more information on tickets and location.
or this more urgent Save the Biltmore Town Meeting flyer
We have found Marcus Hotels and Resorts and a philanthropic investment trust fund who both want to purchase the Biltmore and restore it to its full Victorian glory!
BELLEAIR PLANNING AND ZONING
BOARD MEETING
Monday, February 13, 2006
Time: 5:30 PM
901 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
Belleair, FL 33756
Topic of Discussion: The topic of Saving the Biltmore
and the golf course may be brought up by anyone.
BELLEAIR TOWN COMMISSION MEETING
- Special Meeting and Work Session
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Time: 5:30 PM
901 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
Belleair, FL 33756
Topic of Discussion: There will be a
discussion of process for evaluation and appraisal of the Comprehensive Plan.
PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING, November 8, 2005.
Steve Cottrell, Belleair town manager discussed that the Comprehensive
Plan of Belleair is being reviewed as it must be every 7 to 10 years.
There are proposed changes to this Comprehensive Plan that will eventually
be discussed at a workshop meeting. One proposed change has to do
with redevelopment of the Biltmore Hotel! One other proposed change
is for the Biltmore golf course, for redevelopment purposes.
For a copy
of the proposed changes contact Belleair Town Hall, 901 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
The topic of Saving the Biltmore and the golf course may be brought up by anyone.
BELLEAIR HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING -
We URGENTLY need donations for newspaper ads that we want to put in the local paper to advertise the importance of Belleair and Tampa Bay area citizens to attend this meeting. To donate for these advertisements click: Donate
BELLEAIR COMMISSION MEETING
TONIGHT!!
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Time: 7:30 P.M.
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida 33756-1034
Topic of Discussion: The hotel owner who wishes to demolish
the hotel has been granted a continuance for the redevelopment and demolition
permit review. There will be NO final vote tonight! The
topic of saving the Belleview Biltmore Hotel maybe brought up by anyone at any
time by any citizen! We
need Biltmore supporters to continue to attend these meetings for the long-term
future of the hotel!
THE BILTMORE IS NOT SAVED YET!! So PLEASE ATTEND the meeting on JANUARY 17, 2006, the commission meeting at 7:30 p.m. THIS Tuesday, where the fate of the Biltmore will be decided that night! If you live in Belleair, Pinellas County or anywhere in the Tampa Bay area, PLEASE ATTEND THIS MEETING AND BRING YOUR FRIENDS! The Biltmore needs your help! This is your last chance to save the Biltmore! See newspaper articles below on this.
BELLEAIR COMMISSION MEETING
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Time: 7:30 P.M.
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida 33756-1034
Topic of Discussion: The town manager and commissioners
will decide whether to accept or deny the redevelopment and demolition
permit application on the Belleview Biltmore Hotel submitted by hotel owner
Urdang and Associates. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT MEETING FOR
EVERYONE TO ATTEND IN PINELLAS COUNTY! The Biltmore is NOT
saved yet! Encourage the denial of the demolition of the Biltmore
at this meeting!!
If you would like to be a "Save the Biltmore Volunteer," how would you like to help?
1. Speak at town meetings
2. Distribute save the Biltmore flyers
3. Organize fund-raising activities
4. Be involved in fund-raising activities
5. Other (We welcome other ideas on how you want to help save the Biltmore!)
URGENT!!!! PRINT FLYER AND HAND OUT! Show your support to Save the Biltmore at this URGENT meeting!
BELLEAIR PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING
URGENT!!! TONIGHT AT 5:30 P.M. PLEASE ATTEND!
January 9, 2006, Monday
Time: 5:30 P.M.
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida
Topic of Discussion - The redevelopment application
permit for the demolition submitted by hotel owner Urdang and Associates
for the Biltmore will be discussed. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT MEETING
FOR EVERYONE TO ATTEND IN PINELLAS COUNTY! We do NOT understand why they
are having this extensive review after the preservation ordinance to save
the Biltmore was passed in October. The Biltmore is NOT saved yet! So PLEASE
ATTEND THIS MEETING AND ALL MEETINGS JANUARY, 2006!
BELLEAIR TOWN COMMISSION - SPECIAL MEETING AND WORK
SESSION
January 3, Tuesday 2006
Time: 5:30 P.M.
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida 33756-1034
Topic of Discussion:
1. Town Manager's report.
2. Town Attorney's report.
3. Mayor and commissioners' report/Board and committee
reports.
4. Discussion of Belleview Biltmore Hotel fire code
compliance.
5. The topic of saving the Belleview Biltmore may
be brought up by anyone. We need Biltmore supporters to continue to attend
these meetings for the long-term future of the hotel! The Biltmore is NOT
saved yet! So PLEASE ATTEND THIS MEETING AND ALL MEETINGS JANUARY, 2006!
BELLEAIR REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING-PLEASE ATTEND!
This is from their FAQ's:
Why is public involvement so important, and how can
I participate?
Citizen participation and public input play important
roles in establishing the content of a comprehensive plan, because ultimately
the people who live in a community have the greatest stake in its future
and should help determine its future course. If you want to give us your
ideas about the future of Pinellas County, you may call us at 464-8200,
or contact them by e-mail
planningtostay@co.pinellas.fl.us
To Whom it May Concern:
I am a concerned citizen who values
historical buildings, our heritage and saving our beautiful past treasures.
The Belleview Biltmore Hotel has
a rich history in Pinellas County, Florida, and we need to fight to save
this elegant lady. I want
to voice my opinion that we need to save the ALL four wings, east, west,
north and south
of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel
for my generation and generations to come.
Please do what you can to preserve this valuable landmark, a jewel in Pinellas County, a gem in peoples' hearts.
Sincerely,
BELLEAIR FINANCE BOARD MEETING
December 14, 2005, Wednesday
Time: 4:00 PM
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida
Topic of Discussion -
The topic of saving the Belleview Biltmore may be brought up by anyone.
We need Biltmore supporters to continue to attend these
meetings for the long-term future of the hotel!
CURRENT EVENT: DECEMBER 13, 7 p.m.
The Friends of the Largo Library will be sponsoring Who Wants to Meet a
Millionaire, a live re-enactment of the life of Henry Plant who built the
Belleview Biltmore Hotel by Dr. Kelly Reynolds on Tuesday evening,
December 13, at 7 pm. The program is free and open to the public and will
be held in Room B of the new Largo Public Library at 120 Central Park Drive.
Dr. Reynolds does a great show!
Map to Belleair Town Hall at 901 Ponce de Leon Blvd.:
BELLEAIR PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING TONIGHT!!
BELLEAIR COMMISSION MEETING
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Time: 7:30 P.M.
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida 33756-1034
Map: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adpsearchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=901+Ponce+de
Seminole Area, yard signs
Keller Williams Gulf Coast (Realty Office)
13800 Park Blvd.
Seminole
Contact: Lokey
Hours: M-F 8-5
BELLEAIR TOWN COMMISSION - SPECIAL MEETING - REFERENDUM (unrelated to the Biltmore)
SAMPLE LETTER #3 TO THE TOWN OF BELLEAIR:
George Mariani, Mayor of Belleair
Stephen Fowler, Belleair Commissioner
Gary Katica, Belleair Commissioner
Bonnie Ruggles, Belleair Commissioner
Tom Shelly, Belleair Commissioner
Steve Cottrell Town Manager of Belleair, Florida where
the Biltmore Hotel is located
Micah Maxwell (Assistant to the Town Manager of Belleair,
Florida) Finance
Dear Mr. Cottrell,
I am writing to urge you, as the Town Manager of Belleair, to save the Belleview Biltmore Hotel
Thank you.
FOR THOSE WHO CAN NOT ATTEND BELLEAIR TOWN MEETINGS:
If for any reason you can not attend this month's
town meeting or if you live out of town, just send your ONE-MINUTE EMAIL
to the town council and Mayor of Belleair. A sample is below. Ask
them to continue to push forward that the preservation ordinance be written
as soon as possible to forever preserve the Biltmore. This way they
will know where you stand! Anyone may send an email to Belleair:
Biltmore friends, public officials, preservation organizations, out of
towners and the news media. So please send a ONE-MINUTE EMAIL to
have the preservation ordinance written immediately and to save all four
historical wings of this hotel! Of course even if you attend the
meetings, feel free to email the town of Belleair your opinion.
SAMPLE EMAIL
Here is a sample ONE-MINUTE email you can simply copy
and send to the town of Belleair or write your own. Or feel free
to read it at the town council meeting this Wednesday or write your own.
Dear Mayor Mariani and Belleair Commissioners:
The Belleview Biltmore Hotel must be preserved in its
entirety including all hotel guest rooms. It MUST remain as a true hotel
to ensure its historical relevancy and beauty in Belleair. We urge
you to have a strong preservation ordinance written and passed as soon
as possible in order that this magnificent hotel in your town is saved
forever. This Victorian hotel is an American treasure so important
to your history, to the history of our lovely State of Florida and to our
country. The National Trust has placed the Biltmore on its list of
historic places to be saved so they recognize the importance of this wonderful
hotel. We ask that you take action TODAY to ensure that a preservation
ordinance be written IMMEDIATELY and approved by you so that the Biltmore's
future is secure for my generation and generations to come. We are
counting on you. Thank you.
The Town of Belleair email addresses for your ONE-MINUTE EMAIL campaign are:
gemarianijr@cs.com,
fowlerarch@aol.com,
gmkatica@highstream.net,
tshelly@tampabay.rr.com,
tmanager@tampabay.rr.com,
mimaxwel@tampabay.rr.com,
bruggles@tampabay.rr.com
George Mariani, Mayor of Belleair
Stephen Fowler, Belleair Commissioner
Gary Katica, Belleair Commissioner
Bonnie Ruggles, Belleair Commissioner
Tom Shelly, Belleair Commissioner
Steve Cottrell Town Manager of Belleair,
Florida where the Biltmore Hotel is located
Micah Maxwell (Assistant to the Town
Manager of Belleair, Florida) Finance
Feel free to send me a copy of your email to the town
of Belleair at email me, Diane
Hein, Lead Preservationist and President, Save the Biltmore Preservationists,
Inc. I always enjoy knowing our supporters
better.
We need a strong preservation ordinance in Belleair like they have in Coral Gables/Miami for their historic Biltmore Hotel.
MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT
Please read in full! "This
is to announce that I, Diane Hein, am no longer associated with or cooperating
with Rae Claire Johnson and her group "Friends
of the Belleview Biltmore" or also called "Friends of the Biltmore" to
save the Belleview Biltmore Hotel. However, I will continue to try to stop
the demolition and to save the Biltmore, that is to save ALL four wings,
through my web site www.SaveTheBiltmore.com
which I first put up in December 2004 when there were reports that the
Belleview Biltmore would be demolished. By saving the entire hotel,
we will be saving the Biltmore's historical relevancy as the world's largest
continually-occupied wooden structure, the largest wooden structure in
Florida, and its Victorian beauty for future generations! The Belleview
Biltmore was integral to the development of Pinellas County, Florida, therefore
a part of American history. We must safeguard this history!
To read the full letter and why I have done this, click June
6, 2005 If you support
saving the entire structure, please sign up for our mailing
list, Friends and Supporters. Once you are on this mailing
list, you will receive my Belleview
Biltmore Updates which I periodically send out concerning current events
etc. regarding saving this beautiful historical hotel.
URGENT!! EMAIL POTENTIAL BUYERS OF THE BILTMORE
It was reported in the St. Petersburg Times by Lorri Helfand this week that Mr. Hiller will be meeting with Urdang and Associates (current owner of the Biltmore) early this week. I urge you to write a ONE MINUTE EMAIL to Mr. Rory Hiller AS SOON AS POSSIBLE at rhiller@ourflorida.net, joannehiller@NUMBER1EXPERT.com, where he works and ask him to NOT buy the Biltmore since he will be destroying Biltmore history if he does so and going against the wishes of approximately 400 people in Belleair who signed two petitions in which this referendum would rezone Belleair and STOP CONDO development! This is extremely strong evidence that Belleair citizens do NOT want condo/hotels in their lovely town! Also the comprehensive plan of Belleair STILL has to be interpreted by Belleair's preservation attorney as to the legality of condominium development and also whether it is legal or illegal to tear down any of the Biltmore wings!
Why is Rory Hiller going to invest in the Biltmore, some $40 million, when all the legal concerns are not even finalized? And why is he pushing his plan to buy the Biltmore when approximately 400 Belleair citizens want to change Belleair zoning to STOP CONDO DEVELOPMENT!
In the Belleair Bee week of June 20th, www.TBNweekly.com, there is an article in which Rory Hiller was quoted that he is going to "rescue" the Biltmore. This is an absurd statement! He is going to "rescue" the Biltmore by destroying the beautiful inside Victorian guest hotel rooms of the north and south wings and put in condo/hotels in place of them? That is not a rescue. His plan is demolition! If the White House needed renovating, would we "rescue" the West Wing by gutting the inside and putting in hotel/condos to save money!? NO! Of course not.
The Biltmore has NOT been included in the American tourist "Bible" the well-known AAA, American Automobile Association, for at least the past three years. Why I do not know. But as a result millions of Americans never had the opportunity to read about let alone visit the beautiful Belleview Biltmore Hotel. Yet these Florida hotels: the Vinoy, the Casa Monica (Victorian hotel in St. Augustine), the Lakeside Inn in Mt. Dora, and the Don CeSar are ALL advertised in the AAA! No wonder why the Biltmore has been losing money, it never has been properly marketed or promoted to the public through one of the most popular American tourist guides!
On June 5th, the day before I parted ways with Rae Claire Johnson and her Friends of the Belleview Biltmore, I asked her about the legality of Rory Hiller tearing down two Biltmore wings and building condos if we were also trying to stop another developer, DeBartolo from building condos! This is her reply:
"Diane First we don't know for sure what we are going to do. If the town will allow the wings to be taken down they may be. Rae Claire"
To repeat myself....Why is Rory Hiller going to invest in the Biltmore, some $40 million, when all the legal concerns are not even finalized as to whether he can proceed with his plan!! ??
In the Belleair Bee, June 8, there is a big question mark if Hiller can even buy the Biltmore according to an article by Wayne Ayers. It said: "Johnson also said that she is unsure whether the current DeBartolo offer to purchase the hotel and reportedly replace it with condos is an ironclad contract. “We are getting conflicting information on this,” she said."In an earlier article in the Tampa Tribune on June 4th by Carlos Moncada, Rory Hiller was quoted as saying: "Our intent is to present our plans to the community and the town before we approach the owners,'' he said. "We want to make sure what we're doing is acceptable to the people of Belleair and the town.'' Rory Hiller
CLOSING THOUGHTS: Now isn't this most interesting that Hiller and his group feel they are going to buy the Belleview Biltmore this week and yet they have NOT let all the legal work go through! ?And isn't it interesting that Rory Hiller has NOT fully taken into consideration of what is really acceptable to the town of Belleair or acceptable to the approximately 400 citizens who signed petitions to STOP CONDO DEVELOPMENT!! ? Again write Rory Hiller a ONE MINUTE EMAIL at rhiller@ourflorida.net, joannehiller@NUMBER1EXPERT.com, and tell him to STOP destroying Belleview Biltmore Hotel history and to STOP his purchase of it and to STOP any condo/hotel development at the beautiful Biltmore Hotel. Remember that Rory Hiller is the developer who is tearing down our landmark beautiful Clearwater Beach Hotel and putting in condo towers and a small hotel in place of it! We need someone who truly loves the Biltmore to preserve it all! If you want, feel free to carbon copy me your letter to Mr. Hiller at email me. Just be sure to write him! Let's save all four wings and the hotel rooms of the beautiful Victorian Belleview Biltmore Resort and Spa so it may continue to be a real hotel!
However, my web site is AGAINST putting hotel/condo units as being proposed by Rory Hiller who now is next in line to buy the Biltmore! What has happened is that one developer has backed off, and another developer has signed on to make millions of dollars with his condo/hotel units built inside the Biltmore north and south wings to be bought by investors.
BELLEAIR COMMISSION MEETING - A VOTE TO BE TAKEN ON
THE PRESERVATION ORDINANCE!!!
PLEASE ATTEND!
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Time: 7:30 P.M.
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida 33756-1034
The preservation ordinance will be presented for a
vote October 26. If it passes, as it appears that it will, then 30
days from this vote, it will go into effect. October 26 will be a
very historic day if the preservation ordinance is passed so please attend
to encourage that it is adopted! The preservation ordinance will
strengthen Belleair's Comprehensive Plan, certify that Belleair is in synch
with other legally proven preservation ordinances and will allow for grants
to be applied for. The Belleview Biltmore Hotel will be saved forever once
this ordinance is passed! Bring your family and friends to
this historic meeting!
NOTE: This web site supports the purchase of the Biltmore
Hotel by Marcus Hotels and Resorts and or a philanthropic trust fund who
will save the hotel, and preserve and restore it fully, keeping the guest
rooms and the interior historically accurate.
This web site is AGAINST any or all demolition of
the Biltmore and AGAINST any condo or high-end ultra modernization of condo/hotel
development by other developers as has been reported in the news media!!
Map: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adpsearchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=901+Ponce+de
DeBartolo Development,
Ed Kobel, President and COO, is the company who plans on buying the Biltmore
and razing it so email him IMMEDIATELY to stop the purchase of the Biltmore!
. Below is his email and street addresses, his phone number and fax
numbers. Their address is listed below in addition to being listed
above in the mass mailing addresses above.
Belleair Town Commission - Cancelled!
STATUS OF PRESERVATION ORDINANCE DRAFT:
There was to have been a vote taken at the meeting on Tuesday, October
18 whether to adopt the preservation ordinance or not. Because only two
commissioners, Gary Katica and Bonnie Ruggles, will be in attendance that
night, NO vote will be taken on the preservation ordinance on whether to
adopt it. A new date that night will be set up when the vote for the ordinance
will be taken. In order to adopt the preservation ordinance, a majority
or three out of five town officials must approve it. These five include
Mayor George Mariani and the four commissioners, Steve Fowler, Gary Katica,
Bonnie Ruggles and Tom Shelley.
Belleair Special Joint Meeting - Planning & Zoning Board and Historic Preservation Board
Speak out at TONIGHT'S Wednesday night meeting, September
21, in Belleair at 7:30 p.m. that the preservation ordinance needs to give
more power to the historic preservation board. We must stop extensive
remodeling to the Biltmore and we must continue to push for historic PRESERVATION
of the INSIDE of the magnificent historic Biltmore! Our Save the
Biltmore Preservationists are going to be there on a long term basis to
educate, influence, and inspire the community regarding the responsibilities
and sensitivities involved with its preservation. This web site has contacted
and sent the St. Petersburg Times news article from today, Tuesday, September
20, to Marcus Hotels and Resorts and the philanthropic trust fund organization
for them to contact Urdang to try to purchase the hotel since DeBartolo
has backed off. Email me to attend
a meeting this coming Sunday at 6:30 p.m. in Clearwater for location of
meeting to help fight condo/hotel units in the Biltmore!
BELLEAIR SPECIAL WORKSHOP MEETING - TODAY!!
Please voice your opinion that the preservation ordinance
draft written by Nancy Stroud needs to be strengthened. More power must
be given to the historic preservation board in Belleair so the inside and
outside of the Biltmore is protected against extensive remodeling
and more of the hotel is preserved no matter who buys it! The preservation
ordinance in Miami/Coral Gables for the Biltmore Hotel is a strong ordinance
giving many decisions to the historic preservation board. This is the way
a preservation ordinance should be written! We need your support,
please attend! Also please voice your opinion that you wish the entire
Belleview Biltmore Hotel be saved: the east, west, north and south wings
including the original hotel rooms! We do NOT want hotel/condo rooms in
there as these involve extensive remodeling! This is very important
for everyone to do this at this meeting! This will preserve the historical
relevancy, beauty and charm of this Victorian hotel.
This web site supports the purchase of the Biltmore
by Marcus Hotels and Resorts and or a philanthropic trust fund who will
save the hotel, and preserve and restore it fully, keeping the guest rooms
historically accurate.
NOTE: This web site is AGAINST any or all demolition
of the Biltmore and AGAINST any condo or condo/hotel development by other
developers as has been reported in the news media!!
Map: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adpsearchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=901+Ponce+de
SAVE THE BILTMORE MEETING:
Sunday, September 25, 6:30 p.m. Clearwater We are holding
a Save the Biltmore meeting this coming Sunday at 6:30 p.m.. We will
be discussing fund raising ideas and how to continue to gather ideas to
save the Biltmore (all four wings) and how to STOP CONDO/HOTEL development
in the Biltmore as there is extensive remodeling involved! Please
note this meeting is only for people who are against putting condominiums
around the Biltmore and for people who are AGAINST the developer who will
be buying the Biltmore and who wants to put ultra modern condo/hotel units
in the Biltmore wings! Email for
location of meeting and directions.
(Readers please note that Rory Hiller's plan who wants to buy the Biltmore (he contributed to destroying our landmark Clearwater Beach Hotel! Click to see before and after photos of this once beautiful hotel) wants to put in condo/hotel units which this web site is AGAINST because of his extensive REMODELING plan! We want to save the Biltmore as a real hotel with all its historical AUTHENTICITY and Victorian charm with preservation inside the guest rooms. Come to our Sunday meeting at 6:30 p.m. and help us stop condo/hotel development at the Biltmore. Email me for directions and location.)
SAVE THE BILTMORE MEETING: Sunday, September 25, 6:30 p.m. Clearwater We are holding a Save the Biltmore meeting this coming Sunday at 6:30 p.m.. We will be discussing fund raising ideas and how to continue to gather ideas to save the Biltmore (all four wings) and how to STOP CONDO/HOTEL development in the Biltmore as there is extensive remodeling involved! Please note this meeting is only for people who are against putting condominiums around the Biltmore and for people who are AGAINST the developer who will be buying the Biltmore and who wants to put ultra modern condo/hotel units in the Biltmore wings! Email for location of meeting and directions.
(Readers please note that
Rory
Hiller's plan who wants to buy the Biltmore (he contributed to destroying
our landmark Clearwater Beach Hotel!
Click
to see before and after photos of this once beautiful hotel) wants
to put in condo/hotel units which this web site is AGAINST because of his
extensive REMODELING plan! We want to save the Biltmore as a real
hotel with all its historical AUTHENTICITY and Victorian charm with preservation
inside the guest rooms. Come to our Sunday meeting at 6:30
p.m. and help us stop condo/hotel development at the Biltmore. Email
me for directions and location.)
BELLEAIR REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING
Please voice your opinion that the preservation ordinance
draft written by Nancy Stroud needs to be strengthened. More power
must be given to the historic preservation board in Belleair so the inside
of the Biltmore is protected against extensive remodeling!!
Currently the power on this preservation ordinance draft is given to Belleair
commissioners, thus making decisions on the Biltmore political ones and
not preservation! This is a weak ordinance draft!! The preservation
ordinance in Miami/Coral Gables for the Biltmore Hotel there is a strong
ordinance giving many decisions to the historic preservation board.
This is the way a preservation ordinance should be written!
It is very important
to attend and speak to the commissioners and Mayor that the preservation
ordinance needs passed by the town of Belleair as soon as possible!
We need your support, please attend! Also
please voice your opinion that you wish the entire Belleview Biltmore Hotel
be saved: the east, west, north and south wings including the original
hotel rooms! We do NOT want hotel/condo rooms in there!
This is very important for everyone to do this at
this meeting!
This will preserve the historical relevancy of this
Victorian hotel and its beauty.
This web site supports
the purchase of the Biltmore by Marcus Hotels and Resorts and or a philanthropic
trust fund who will save the hotel, and preserve and restore it fully,
keeping the guest rooms historically accurate.
NOTE: This web
site is AGAINST any or all demolition
of the Biltmore and AGAINST any condo or condo/hotel development by other
developers as has been reported in the news media!!
Map: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adpsearchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=901+Ponce+de
BELLEAIR SPECIAL MEETING - URGENT!!
LETTERS FROM SAM CASELLA
AND PINELLAS COUNTY COMMISSIONER KAREN SEEL:
Email from Sam Casella
to this web site: "County Commissioner Karen Seel sent the following
message providing information on a county program in support of historic
preservation. It is encouraging to know that our county officials
are sensitive to the issue and in the future may be able to coordinate
with the town and contribute to a plan of action."
"Dear Sam,
Thank you for your intelligent
research and sound plan approach. It looks like you have provided an excellent
framework.
Last night at the County
Commission meeting, we approved 13 historic St. Pete properties for tax
abatement on improvements for 10 years. Residential plus small commercial
properties were included. There is a countywide ordinance which
allows this IF the city has an ordinance in place, too.
BCC members did question
the criteria for what improvements are allowed.
My point is that this
may be something you could discuss with Brian Smith to see if a similar
ordinance could help the Biltmore.
I so appreciate all you
are doing.
Please let me know if
I can help.
Again, thanks!!!
Karen"
CONVERSATION WITH PINELLAS
COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND SAM CASELLA
Email from Sam Casella
to this web site: "I just had a very encouraging conversation with
Pinellas County Commissioner John Morroni. Commissioner Morroni supports
saving the Belleview Biltmore and encourages Friends of the Belleview Biltmore
to contact all the county commissioners to let them know that the public
strongly supports efforts to preserve the historic hotel."
BELLEAIR BEE ARTICLE AUGUST 3, 2005
Town Commission talks preservation
"BELLEAIR – Attorney Nancy Stroud has presented the
Town Commission with criteria that are necessary when writing a historic
preservation ordinance that could potentially save the Belleview Biltmore
Resort and Spa from demolition. Stroud will be back for the Tuesday, Sept.
6 meeting with a draft of the historic preservation ordinance." (To
read full article click: http://www.tbnweekly.com/content_articles/080305_bee-03.txt
GREAT NEWS!
The Historic Preservation
Committee voted to accept the town attorney's recommended resolution to
deny Urdang's demolition request at Tuesday's meeting, May 17, in Belleair.
For the full details read the St. Petersburg Times article by Lorri Helfand:
"Preservation
board: Don't raze Biltmore" http://www.sptimes.com/2005/05/18/Northpinellas/Preservation_board__D.shtml
Read Demolition Reprieve: Sam
Casella's letters and documents. Sam
Casella's hard work made this possible!
EMAIL FROM PINELLAS COUNTY COMMISSIONER RONNIE DUNCAN:
"I have created a preservation task force - county
wide - so that hopefully this type of event does not continue to occur
in our community. Thank you" Ronnie Duncan, Pinellas County Commissioner
(Please note that since Mr. Duncan wrote this, the Pinellas Task Force
is NOT considering the Biltmore in their immediate plans to help save the
Biltmore!)
LETTER FROM FLORIDA TRUST
FOR HISTORICAL PRESERVATION
I received a wonderful letter from Kathleen Slesnick
Kauffman, Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, and she informed us
that the Belleview Biltmore Hotel, Belleair, Florida has been placed on
their 10 Most Endangered List. Note that she has received
HUNDREDS of support letters, and I want to thank anyone who sent out these
letters to her! Keep writing letters to addresses below. Also
note her stressing the importance of our city or town's commission to act
in saving the Belleview Biltmore. County commission email addresses
are listed on this web site below. To read her complete letter
click
here. She wrote another letter dated May 9, 2005 and click
here to read it.
HOWARD TROXLER'S COMMENTARY,
ST. PETERSBURG TIMES
There was excellent commentary
by columnist, Howard Troxler, in the St. Petersburg Times, Thursday, May
19, about saving the Belleview Biltmore Hotel. Bravo Mr. Troxler,
bravo! The full story, "Bandwagon better late than never for Biltmore"
is at: http://www.sptimes.com/2005/05/19/Columns/Bandwagon_better_late.shtml
It is also posted to this web site at: http://www.savethebiltmore.com/BelleviewBiltmoreNewspapersAndPublications.htm
BELLEAIR FINANCE BOARD MEETING
September 14, 2005, Wednesday
Time: 4:00 PM
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida
Topic of Discussion -
The topic of saving the Belleview Biltmore may be brought up by anyone.
It is very important
to attend and speak to the commissioners and Mayor that the preservation
ordinance needs passed by the town of Belleair as soon as possible!
This web site supports
the purchase of the Biltmore by Marcus Hotels and Resorts and or a philanthropic
trust fund who will save the hotel, preserve it and restore it fully, keeping
the guest rooms historically accurate.
NOTE: This web
site is totally AGAINST any or
all demolition of the Biltmore and totally AGAINST any condo or condo/hotel
development by other developers as has been reported in the news media!!
We need your support,
please attend!
Please voice your opinion that you wish the entire
Belleview Biltmore Hotel be saved: the east, west, north and south wings
INCLUDING all hotel guest rooms.
This will preserve the historical relevancy of the
hotel and its beauty.
This is very important for everyone to do this at
this meeting!
Map: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adpsearchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=901+Ponce+de
BELLEAIR PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING
URGENT!! BELLEAIR
TOWN - SPECIAL MEETING - PRESERVATION ATTORNEY NANCY STROUD
September 7, 2005 Wednesday
Time: 5:30 PM
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida
Topic of Discussion -
Preservation attorney, Nancy Stroud, will be presenting her FIRST draft
of the Preservation Ordinance she is writing.
We URGENTLY need your
support that the town of Belleair will continue to push forward with a
STRONG preservation ordinance.
PLEASE ATTEND!
Please voice your opinion that you wish the entire
Belleview Biltmore Hotel be saved: the east, west, north and south wings
INCLUDING the hotel guest rooms AND that you want a STRONG Preservation
Ordinance to be written and passed!
This will preserve the historical relevancy of the
hotel and its beauty.
This is very important for everyone to do this at
this meeting!
Map:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adpsearchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=901+Ponce+de
BELLEAIR - Town leaders will soon consider a historic
preservation ordinance that could provide stronger protections for landmarks
such as the Belleview Biltmore. The ordinance would put teeth into
the town's current preservation policy, which chiefly educates and advises
property owners who are considering changes to historic properties.
The new ordinance could do more than that. If passed, it could give
the town the authority to prevent destruction of historic properties such
as the hotel. Town Attorney Nancy Stroud, who is drafting the historic
preservation ordinance, said the Biltmore's owner would have to comply
with the new policy. That has prompted an attorney for the owner to threaten
legal action and accuse the town of changing the rules in midstream. The
existing rules protect the Biltmore, Stroud said, but she added that it
would be better protected with an ordinance that has the details and procedures
for preservation outlined. For complete article click: http://www.sptimes.com/2005/08/27/Northpinellas/Bellair_to_consider_p.shtml
Click here for location of
this Belleair town meeting, Wednesday, September 7 at 5:30 p.m. with attorney
Nancy Stroud who is writing the first draft of the Preservation Ordinance.
PLEASE ATTEND! An extremely important meeting!
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/09/07/Northpinellas/Developer_vacillates_.shtml
BELLEAIR - Town leaders will soon consider a historic
preservation ordinance that could provide stronger protections for landmarks
such as the Belleview Biltmore. The ordinance would put teeth into
the town's current preservation policy, which chiefly educates and advises
property owners who are considering changes to historic properties.
The new ordinance could do more than that. If passed, it could give
the town the authority to prevent destruction of historic properties such
as the hotel. Town Attorney Nancy Stroud, who
is drafting the historic preservation ordinance, said the Biltmore's owner
would have to comply with the new policy. That has prompted an attorney
for the owner to threaten legal action and accuse the town of changing
the rules in midstream. The existing rules protect the Biltmore, Stroud
said, but she added that it would be better protected with an ordinance
that has the details and procedures for preservation outlined. For complete
article click: http://www.sptimes.com/2005/08/27/Northpinellas/Bellair_to_consider_p.shtml
Click here for location of
this Belleair town meeting, Wednesday, September 7 at 5:30 p.m. with attorney
Nancy Stroud who is writing the first draft of the Preservation Ordinance.
PLEASE ATTEND! An extremely important meeting!
BELLEAIR TOWN COMMISSION - SPECIAL MEETING
August 23, 2005 Tuesday
Time: 5:30 PM
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida
Topic of Discussion -
Pertaining to utilities but we always need volunteers to speak and promote
saving the Biltmore!
We URGENTLY need your
support that the town of Belleair will continue to push forward with the
preservation ordinance.
PLEASE ATTEND!
Please voice your opinion that you wish the entire
Belleview Biltmore Hotel be saved: the east, west, north and south wings
INCLUDING the hotel guest rooms.
This will preserve the historical relevancy of the
hotel and its beauty.
This is very important for everyone to do this at
this meeting!
Map:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adpsearchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=901+Ponce+de
BELLEAIR REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING
BELLEAIR PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING
BELLEAIR FINANCE BOARD MEETING
August 10 2005, Wednesday
Time: 4:00 PM
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida
Topic of Discussion -
The topic of saving the Belleview Biltmore may be brought up by anyone.
It is very important
to attend and speak to the commissioners and Mayor that the preservation
ordinance needs to be written by preservation attorney Nancy Stroud and
passed by the town of Belleair as soon as possible!
We need your support,
please attend!
Please voice your opinion that you wish the entire
Belleview Biltmore Hotel be saved: the east, west, north and south wings
INCLUDING all hotel guest rooms.
This will preserve the historical relevancy of the
hotel and its beauty.
This is very important for everyone to do this at
this meeting!
Map: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adpsearchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=901+Ponce+de
BELLEAIR TOWN COMMISSION - SPECIAL MEETING AND WORK
SESSION
August 2, 2005 Tuesday
Time: 5:30 PM
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida
Topic of Discussion -
Belleair preservation attorney Nancy Stroud will be making a presentation
and report to the town council.
We URGENTLY need your
support that the town of Belleair will continue to push forward with the
preservation ordinance.
PLEASE ATTEND!
Please voice your opinion that you wish the entire
Belleview Biltmore Hotel be saved: the east, west, north and south wings
INCLUDING the hotel guest rooms.
This will preserve the historical relevancy of the
hotel and its beauty.
This is very important for everyone to do this at
this meeting!
Map:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adpsearchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=901+Ponce+de
BELLEAIR REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING
Belleair Town Commission – Special Meeting and Work
Session
July 5, 2005 Tuesday
Time: 5:30 PM
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida
Topic of Discussion -
The topic of saving the Belleview Biltmore may be brought up by anyone.
We need your support,
please attend!
Please voice your opinion that you wish the entire
Belleview Biltmore Hotel be saved: the east, west, north and south wings
INCLUDING the hotel guest rooms.
This will preserve the historical relevancy of the
hotel and its beauty.
This is very important for everyone to do this at
this meeting!
Map:
http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?addr=910+ponce+de+leon&csz=belleair+florida&country=us&new=1&name=&qty=
BELLEAIR REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING
BELLEAIR FINANCE BOARD MEETING
June 15, 2005, Wednesday
Time: 4:00 PM
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida
Topic of Discussion -
The topic of saving the Belleview Biltmore may be brought up by anyone.
We need your support,
please attend!
Please voice your opinion that you wish the entire
Belleview Biltmore Hotel be saved: the east, west, north and south wings.
This will preserve the historical relevancy of the
hotel and its beauty.
This is very important for everyone to do this at
this meeting!
Map:
http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?addr=910+ponce+de+leon&csz=belleair+florida&country=us&new=1&name=&qty=
BELLEAIR HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING
BELLEAIR PLANNING
AND ZONING BOARD MEETING
TAMPA TRIBUNE ARTICLE,
THURSDAY MAY 26:
Biltmore Granted Hurricane
Reprieve By Carlos Moncada, Published: May 26, 2005 "Belleair - Demolition
of the Belleview Biltmore Resort & Spa won't happen before December
- if it happens at all. In a letter to the town, a Tampa attorney
for the resort's owner said there is no intent to conduct demolition activities
during the hurricane season, which runs until Nov. 30." To read full
article: http://tampatrib.com/floridametronews/MGB7ETKC69E.html
Check your retirement
and financial institutions where you have money and see of Urdang is managing
your funds. If so, then write to these groups to pull your funds
and place them in organizations that support preservation.
Write them IMMEDIATELY to SAVE THE BILTMORE! See sample
letter above. Their address is below in addition to being listed
above in the mass mailing addresses listed above.
Honeywell's Corporate Offices
David Cote CEO
101 Columbia Road
Morristown, NJ 07962
Telephone: 973-45-2000
Honeywell - Board Members, other board affiliations are listed right of their names. With the exception of Mr. Berthune, correspondence should be sent the CEO and Board members at
Honeywell's Corporate
Offices
101 Columbia Road
Morristown, NJ 07962
Telephone: 973-45-2000
Honeywell Board Members
Gordon M. Bethune
CEO Continental Airlines,
Inc
Continental Airlines
1600 Smith Street
Houston, TX 77002
Jaime Chico Pardo - Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Telefonos de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (TELMEX)
Lord Clive Hollick - Chief Executive of United Business Media plc.
James J. Howard - Chairman Emeritus of Xcel Energy Inc, Director Ecolab, Inc. and Walgreen
Bruce Karatz - Chairman
of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of KB Home; Director,
Edison International
and Avery Dennison Corporation.
Russell E. Palmer - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Palmer Group, Director of The May Department Stores Company, Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc.
Ivan G. Seidenberg
- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Verizon Communications Inc.
Director of Verizon Communications
Inc., Viacom Inc. and Wyeth
Bradley T. Sheares - President, U.S. Human Health of Merck & Co., Inc.
Eric K. Shinseki - General United States Army (Ret.)
John R. Stafford
- Consultant; Retired Chairman of the Board of Wyeth
Director of J.P. Morgan
Chase & Co. and Verizon Communications Inc.
Michael W. Wright
- Retired Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Board
of SUPERVALU INC., Director of Canadian Pacific Railway Company, Cargill,
Inc., S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. and Wells Fargo & Company.
Thanks to all of you who have
contacted Friends of the Belleview Biltmore for a
'Save the Biltmore' red yard sign. We apologize for
the delay of the availability
of the signs, as our first run was snapped up, and
we had to wait 2 weeks for the
2nd run to be complete.
Please make every effort you can to display as many
yard signs in as many locations as you can.
While there has been some favorable news regarding
the
demolition permit and future of the Biltmore, the
Belleview Biltmore is still in
major jeopardy. We must press on.
The signs are FREE, but Friends of the Belleview Biltmore,
kindly requests a
$10 donation when you pick them up so that we have
the funds to crank more of these signs out.
Let's have a "sea of red" save the Belleview Biltmore
signs across Pinellas County!
Also, please take moment to thank the volunteers who
have offered to use
their offices as distribution points when you pick
up the signs. See distribution
locations below. Signs are available NOW!
Sincerely,
Jeff Francis
FRIENDS OF THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE
BELLEAIR TOWN MEETING
June 7, Tuesday
Time: 5:30 P.M.
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida
Topic of Discussion -
The topic of saving the Belleview Biltmore may be brought up by anyone.
We need your support.
Please voice your opinion that you wish the entire
Belleview Biltmore Hotel be saved: the east, west, north and south wings.
This will preserve the historical relevancy of the
hotel and its beauty.
This is very important for everyone to do this at
this meeting!
Map:
http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?addr=910+ponce+de+leon&csz=belleair+florida&country=us&new=1&name=&qty=
We need help in marketing and sales of this T-shirt so email me if you would like to stock these T-shirts in your place of business or to sell to friends or family. I will put you in contact with the man heading up marketing and sales. This is a great fund raising opportunity to save the Belleview Biltmore for teenagers, children and adults so help us now to buy one or to sell them!
You may purchase a Biltmore T-shirt with a credit card or with PayPal. Any purchase is secure with PayPal. $15.00 each + $3.90 shipping. All funds are deposited in the non profit organization: Friends of the Belleview Biltmore Fund. NO money is ever collected at this web site.
We always need VOLUNTEERS for working behind the scenes and some people for picketing on street corners. Email if interested. We will provide all signs and give you further details on the dates and locations. While we will provide yard signs free, feel free to donate $10 for each yard sign to help cover expenses. Thank you!
Donor List
Bernie Powell
Jeff Francis
Lois Tomsic
Laura Mann
Irma Wehle
Barbara A. Myrick
There is a picketing campaign going on so you can join that or help with it. Email Me for further info. If some or all want to wear Victorian costumes in the era of the original Biltmore this would be most welcome. Maybe someone could wear the famous "ghost" of the Biltmore costume! The costumes can be easy to make. A basic long skirt and frilly or ruffled blouse for women with a fancy hat. For men, white trousers, white shirt, straw hat. Research "Victorian costumes" on the internet for more ideas and photos of costumes. If any of your teenage children would like to help, that would be great fun for them and much help to save the Biltmore. These ideas have been suggested by two of the Friends of the Biltmore from the mailing list. We need people to either participate in the picketeting, make posters, and video the event. Our first peaceful picket was at the Town of Belleair Workshop Meeting. Tuesday, May 3, 2005 at 5:30. 901 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Belleair, Florida
PETITIONS NEEDED
We need to make
a visual impact and are asking Supporters and Friends of the Biltmore to
send a letter of support to:
Citizens to Save the Biltmore
c/o Steve Johnson
1717 Indian Rocks Road
Belleair, Florida 33756
It just simply needs to say
"Do NOT allow the Belleview Biltmore be demolished."
1. Signature
2. Print name,
3. Indicate if you are a Belleair resident or
not
DONATIONS:
"Bill$ for the Belleview" Please send a check for donations for newspaper
ads, legal fees etc to:
Friends of the Belleview Biltmore
Save the Belleview Campaign
c/o Rae Claire Johnson
1717 Indian Rocks Road
Belleair, FL 33756
Your financial support is needed to fan the fire.
Donations are tax deductible. Even a dollar will help! If the funds
exceed expenditures the balance will be donated to another preservation
activity. While we will provide the yard signs free, feel free to
donate $5 towards the cost of one yard sign. Click for donor
list. You may make a donation with a credit card OR you may use PayPal.
Please note that ANY donation is secure with PayPal. All donations are
deposited in the Friends of the Belleview Biltmore fund. NO money
is ever collected at this web site.
Here is a copy of the poetry
from the Hellocard greeting card I sent out in 2004 to help bring awareness to
stop the demolition.
The Biltmore poetry below is inside the Hellocard shown above
Save The Historic Belleview Biltmore! By Diane Hein, President of Save the Biltmore Preservationists and owner of this web site
The Belleview Biltmore, you're
an aging lady with a rich, youthful past
What can we do to save you, to help you
forever stand fast.
It has been said that your
business expenses are much too high
Now sadly developers would destroy you
without one cry.
I and the community will rally
round your cherished walls
To save you and to preserve your heritage
and honored halls.
Thought for the Day by Diane Hein
We are not just saving a hotel,
we are saving history.
Smile for the Day by Diane Hein
I don't want to go before my time and neither should the Biltmore! :)
To purchase a package of six Save the Biltmore Hellocards (greeting cards) for $13.50 click here: Greeting Cards
To purchase a package of six Save the Biltmore booksmarks for $5.70, click here. Bookmarks
BELLEVIEW BILTMORE T-SHIRT
The absolutely beautiful Belleview
Biltmore T-shirt is now available for sale to anyone for an online
purchase or by check! Belleview Biltmore T-Shirt. More info
is there on the artist who designed this T-shirt plus there is the street
address if you want to pay by check. We need help in
marketing and sales of this T-shirt so
email
me, Diane Hein, if you would like to stock these T-shirts in your place
of business or to sell to friends or family. I will put you in contact
with the man heading up marketing and sales. This is a great fund
raising opportunity to save the Belleview Biltmore for teenagers, children
and adults so help us now to buy one or to sell them! The T
shirt has the Belleview Biltmore Hotel on the front, with the words "Save
The Belleview Biltmore" also on the front and "Built 1897" underneath this,
and on the back of the T-shirt are the words:
www.SaveTheBiltmore.com
for people to contact us. Only $15.00 for one T-shirt plus $3.90
shipping. Currently not for sale.
See our new T-shirt design at our
Gift Shop
I was researching the saving of the Albert Whitted Airport, Pinellas County, after Jeff Francis mentioned it to me a few days ago in an email. The Albert Whitted Airport was on the chopping block just a few years ago in 2003 to be replaced by condos. The online article said that ORGANIZATIONS were the key to getting lots of participation in saving the airport. So if you belong to ANY organization such as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, PTA, sports groups, civic organization, political parties, churches, fraternities, sororities etc, contact Email to set up getting flyers for your organization to distribute and to help with volunteering etc.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We urgently need volunteers for helping us distribute
Save The Belleview Biltmore yard signs in Belleair and North Pinellas.
Email
if interested. We will provide all yard signs, but we need
people to be available to distribute them at their place of business during
regular office hours. Sometime this week
via this web site OR one of my Belleview Biltmore Updates, we will give
you a location where to pick up the yard signs. To receive
this information, via email sign up for Mailing
List...Friends and Supporters
Flyer with both meetings announced Print out and pass around.
May 17, Tuesday
Belleair Town Meeting
Time: 7:30 P.M.
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida
Topic of Discussion -
Demolition Permit
We need your support
T-Shirts and Yard Signs
Available
Map:
http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?addr=910+ponce+de+leon&csz=belleair+florida&country=us&new=1&name=&qty=
Belleair Historical Preservation Meeting URGENT!!!
RESCHEDULED NOW!!
Tuesday, May 17, 3:00 p.m.
901 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
Belleair, Florida
Map: http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?addr=901+ponce+de+leon&csz=belleair+florida&country=us&new=1&name=&qty=
Flyer with both meetings announced Print out and pass around.
This absolutely wonderful headline is in the St. Petersburg Times, Saturday May 14, 2005. "Hopes rise that Biltmore can be saved." "Belleair's town manager says the plan to demolish the historic hotel runs counter to basic town rules. Town officials now believe they can derail a plan to level the Belleview Biltmore Resort & Spa because the request is incomplete and inconsistent with the town's fundamental rules. "Now that the permit can be rejected, the town can move to the next issue: How do we develop a stronger set of protections for our historic and scenic resources?" said Sam Casella, a professional planner who has fought the redevelopment, raising many of the arguments made in the memo by the town manager." By Aaron Sharockman and Lori Helfand. For full article: http://www.sptimes.com/2005/05/14/Northpinellas/Hopes_rise_that_Biltm.shtml
Demolition Reprieve: Sam Casella's letters and documents
St. Petersburg Times Article, May 11, 2005. This article in the St. Petersburg Times by Lorri Helfand was very uplifting as time is more on our side to save the Biltmore. The headline was "Asbestos may slow hotel razing." Subheading: "Nobody knows how much of the hazardous material is in the resort. But its removal is complicated." To read her complete article: http://www.sptimes.com/2005/05/11/Northpinellas/Asbestos_may_slow_raz.shtml But urgency is always there to save the Biltmore, so help us by passing out flyers. You may print this flyer out from your computer and either take it to a printer and have dozens made or print them out and hand to friends, family, office workers, post in windows, stores etc.
"SAVE THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE"
YARD SIGNS ARE IN!
Come one, come all to
pick them up and start a "red sea" of Save The Belleview Biltmore red yard
signs across Pinellas County!
When: May 15, Sunday afternoon
4-7 p.m.
3150 71st Street North
St. Petersburg, Florida
Map: http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?addr=3150+71st+Street+North&csz=St.+Petersburg%2C+Florida&country=us&new=1&name=&qty=
The location to pick up the yard signs is off Tyrone Blvd across from Tyrone Square Mall in St. Petersburg. Some volunteers will be working here on Biltmore related things also. The yard signs are FREE, but we do ask for $10 donation to cover costs which will allow us to keep producing them. The location to pick up the yard signs is Jeff Francis's office. Next week, a more expanded distribution system will be in place, where Belleair and north county residents can get their signs without having to travel to St. Petersburg.
Detailed directions: The north side of the Tyrone Overpass (use small frontage road near Hooters Restaurant, go through two stop signs, and straight into gate). There are four vacant acres with two large blue buildings onsite. The signs are located at the small block house near the gate. It is a large site.
May 13 and 14, Weekend (cancelled
but planning on rescheduling this)
PJ Party at the Belleview Biltmore Hotel
25 Belleview Boulevard
Belleair, Florida
We have an exciting and fun fund raising event this
weekend at the Belleview Biltmore Hotel, called the "PJ Party at the Belleview."
It starts Friday, May 13, and it includes a two night hotel stay at the
beautiful Victorian Belleview Biltmore. The event includes
a meet and greet Friday night, hors d’oeuvres, Saturday night dinner buffet,
historic tour, entertainment, sepia photos, nationally syndicated cartoonist,
pool, tennis, caricatures, antique car show, a champagne brunch and on
Sunday an optional ice cream social and optional golf package. Bring the
family! Also there will be a cocktail party Friday night 6:30 p.m.
till 8:30 p.m. at the East Gate Cottage. Anyone can attend
the cocktail party for free! What better way to help your children
learn about volunteering and community support? It's going
to be fun - something for everyone. For the delicious menu, complete details
of the event or if you have any questions, email the contact on the PJ
page, click PJ party. Sorry
we are unable to answer any questions about the event at this web page.
May 13, Friday
Meet & Greet Social Lawn Party
Save the Biltmore!
6:30 - 8:30 PM
East Gate Cottage
(This is the Victorian
House just inside the Belleview Guard house, you will see it set up to
the right of the house in the side
yard.)
Use the hotel's parking
to the left of the driveway
295 Belleview Blvd
Belleair, FL 33756
Wine & Hors d'oeuvres
*Donation Station
*T-Shirt Sales
*Yard Signs
*Petition Drive
Map: http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?addr=295+Belleview+Blvd&csz=belleair+fl&country=us&new=1&name=&qty=
EVERYONE is welcome to
attend! Come join us to socialize with other Friends of the Belleview
Biltmore and to share your ideas with how to save your hotel. Belleair
Resident, Mr Timothy Dennis was gracious enough to allow us to use his
property to gather together for this social.
Belleair Special Town Meeting URGENT!!!
PLEASE ATTEND!!
Friday, May 13, 3:00 p.m.
901 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
Belleair, Florida
Agenda: Hiring of new attorney
It is imperative that we get people there to assure
they do not hire a TEW recommended attorney. Sam Casello has compiled
a list of well respected individuals in the area of land use and planning.
These are people who are neutral with no ties to our community.It is obvious
that this meeting is being schedule to dissuade attendance. We can
not let that happen. Please make every effort to attend.
May 13 and 14, Weekend
PJ Party at the Belleview Biltmore Hotel
25 Belleview Boulevard
Belleair, Florida
We have an exciting and fun fund raising event this
weekend at the Belleview Biltmore Hotel, called the "PJ Party at the Belleview."
It starts Friday, May 13, and it includes a two night hotel stay at the
beautiful Victorian Belleview Biltmore. The event includes
a meet and greet Friday night, hors d’oeuvres, Saturday night dinner buffet,
historic tour, entertainment, sepia photos, nationally syndicated cartoonist,
pool, tennis, caricatures, antique car show, a champagne brunch and on
Sunday an optional ice cream social and optional golf package. Bring the
family! Also there will be a cocktail party Friday night 6:30 p.m.
till 8:30 p.m. at the East Gate Cottage. Anyone can attend
the cocktail party for free! What better way to help your children
learn about volunteering and community support? It's going
to be fun - something for everyone. For the delicious menu, complete details
of the event or if you have any questions, email the contact on the PJ
page, click PJ party. Sorry
we are unable to answer any questions about the event at this web page.
1. Results of Tuesday
night's Town Meeting, May 3, 2005 (some 300-400 people attended!
Thank you Biltmore supporters!)
1. Attorney Joel Tew has resigned his position as Belleair town attorney.
2. The extension of the demolition for permit did not pass.
Commissioner Gary Katica motioned
to pass a 30-day extension, Commission Bonnie Ruggles (who by the way sits
as the Commission Adviser to the Belleair Historic Preservation Board)
seconded the motion, however, when the vote was taken (3 yes, 2 no)
Yeas-Katica, Fowler, Upmeyer. Nays Mayor Mariani and Commissioner
Ruggles.
They needed a super majority of 4/1 but only had 3/2.
However
later Bonnie Ruggles changed her vote from nay to yea.
3. The Town Manager, Steve Cottrell was not fired, however, MANY
believe he should submit his
resignation today. The citizens of Belleair do not believe he has
their best interest at heart. His
address
is below if you wish to contact him in this or any regard.
Steve Cottrell, Belleair Town Manager
Phone: (727) 588-3769 ext. 310
Fax: (727) 588-3778
Email:
tmanager@tampabay.rr.com
Other
Town of Belleair contacts:
George
Mariani, Mayor of Belleair where the Biltmore Hotel is located.
gemarianijr@cs.com
Stephen Fowler, Belleair Commissioner
fowlerarch@aol.com
Gary Katica, Belleair Commissioner
gmkatica@highstream.net
Bonnie Ruggles, Belleair Commissioner
bruggles@tampabay.rr.com
Ernst Upmeyer, Belleair Commissioner
eupmeyer@ix.netcom.com
4.
The Urdang group (owners of the Biltmore) will press on and attend Thursday's
meeting with the
Belleair
Historic Preservation Board scheduled at Town Hall for 4PM.
5.
Our Biltmore attorney, Ken Weiss, is pursing more legal actions and looking
into comprehensive planning
attorneys
to help us.
Honeywell...Large Stockholder:
The St. Petersburg Times reported that Honeywell, Inc., (one office located here in Clearwater) is one of the larger shareholders in the Biltmore, said in a statement that decisions are made by the Pennsylvania Company. Their contact information to write them to help save the Biltmore however is: http://www.honeywellaerospace.com/contactus.htm
Honeywell's Corporate Offices
David Cote CEO
101 Columbia Road
Morristown, NJ 07962
Telephone: 973-45-2000
Honeywell - Board Members, other board affiliations are listed right of their names. With the exception of Mr. Berthune, correspondence should be sent the CEO and Board members at
Honeywell's Corporate
Offices
101 Columbia Road
Morristown, NJ 07962
Telephone: 973-45-2000
Honeywell Board Members
Gordon M. Bethune
CEO Continental Airlines,
Inc
Continental Airlines
1600 Smith Street
Houston, TX 77002
Per information in the St. Petersburg Times newspaper, Saturday, April 30, 2005, regarding behind the scenes proceedings unknown to all of us until today, PLEASE contact Charlie Crist, Florida Attorney General and request that his office look into the relationship between DeBartolo Development, Belleair Mayor George Mariani, Belleair Attorney, Joel Tew, and Town Manager, Steve Cottrell and their actions and relationship including other business holdings and relationships.
Read full St. Petersburg Times article.
Charlie Crist
Office of Attorney General
The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
Phone (850) 414-3300
FAX (850) 410-1630
Toll Free 1 (866) 966-7226
To file a complaint go to the web site: http://www.myfloridalegal.com/ConsumerComplaint.pdf
Preservation attorney Nancy Stroud who was hired by Belleair has said that this review is NOT necessary and that the commissioners have the power to deny this redevelopment/demolition permit. And yet there is going to be an extensive review on this redevelopment/demolition permit! ???
Readers please note that Rory Hiller's plan who wants to buy the Biltmore (he contributed to destroying our landmark Clearwater Beach Hotel! Click to see before and after photos of this once beautiful hotel) wants to put in condo/hotel units which this web site is AGAINST because of his extensive REMODELING plan! We want to save the Biltmore as a real hotel with all its historical AUTHENTICITY and Victorian charm with preservation inside the guest rooms. There are THREE Victorian hotels which are run successfully as a real hotel WITHOUT such modern condo/hotel units. The del Coronado in San Diego, California. The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables/Miami, Florida. The Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island, Michigan. The Driskill in Austin, Texas.
After the newspaper mentioned this web site on April 12, Rae Claire Johnson, who had contacts with developers to buy the Belleview Biltmore for $40 million with "preferential development rights" emailed this web site. We then began to work together. Also at that time other concerned citizens contacted this web site. Eventually a core group of hard-working people formed with Rae Claire Johnson and myself, Diane Hein, and these now also include Jeff Frances, Laurie Adams and Julie Kleckner. We all work in conjunction with this web site to help save the Belleview Biltmore. There are other volunteers who also help us. Rae Claire Johnson had started a group called Friends of the Belleview Biltmore. I am not part of this group having broken away from her on June 6, 2005 in order to try to save all four wings of the hotel, as we differed in opinion in how to save the hotel.
Please note that many of the views expressed on this web site are still my own, and one of them is to save the ENTIRE Biltmore Hotel as one unit. Rae Claire Johnson's group of developers have discussed in recent newspaper articles that they only want to save the core of the Biltmore, meaning the older parts. That is, they would save the east and west wings and destroy the newer wings, the north and south wings and build condominiums around the remaining core of the Biltmore. I will keep you updated if the developers change their mind on this. (Update: As of June 4, 2005, the developers with their names were revealed who want to destroy the north and south wings and replace with condo/hotel units which resulted in my breaking away from this group to save the entire hotel.)
On June 6, 2005 after I split away from Mrs. Johnson, I started up another preservation effort. Our new nonprofit organization is called Save the Biltmore Preservationists, Inc. I, Diane Hein, am president, Edward Jameson, vice president, Doug Mann, director and Barbara Walters, director.
WE HAVE TWO BUYERS FOR THE BILTMORE!
Through the efforts of this web site www.SaveTheBiltmore.com
and our new nonprofit organization of five people,
Save the Biltmore Preservationists, Inc., we have
found TWO preservation-minded buyers for the Belleview Biltmore Hotel.
One buyer is a hotel, Marcus Hotels and Resorts, and the other is an investment
trust fund with philanthropic money available to purchase the Biltmore.
Marcus Hotels and Resorts have purchased other historic hotels and have
successfully marketed and restored them. This is GREAT news for the
Biltmore and the public that we have found these two buyers! We hope
that discussions with the current Biltmore hotel owner, Urdang and Associates
will prove fruitful in a successful purchase with them and one of these
preservation-minded buyers. We always welcome more ideas on how to
find preservation-minded buyers for the Biltmore. Email
me, Diane Hein, Lead Preservationist, if you have any!
If you would prefer to give a donation by check, make it payable to our nonprofit organization:
Save the Biltmore Preservationists and send it to:
Save the Biltmore Preservationists, Inc.
Diane Hein, President
30617 U.S. Highway 19 North
# 420
Palm Harbor, Florida 34684-4410
Welcome to our Save the Biltmore online store below! Here you will find a variety of items including T shirts, tote bags, artwork, fine art photography, Save the Biltmore greeting cards (Hellocards), bookmarks all of which will help us continue to Save the Biltmore. PLEASE NOTE! You may pay online via credit card OR via PayPal after you click the "Add to Cart" button. Either way your payment is completely secure whether you use credit card or Paypal. When you go to pay and see this line: "If you do not currently have a PayPal account," then simply click that button, and you may then pay with your credit card.
Save the Biltmore Hotel T-shirt
The cost of the T-shirt is only $15 plus $4.95 for mailer and shipping.
You may pay online via credit card or PayPal after you click the "Add to Cart" button.
Wear it proudly to your friends and family that you are helping to save the Biltmore!
This beautifully designed rendition of the Belleview
Biltmore Hotel, Belleair, Florida was designed by St. Petersburg artist,
Betsy Schott, so we sincerely thank her for helping us save the Biltmore.
She also designed the T-shirt for the "Save the Vinoy Hotel", in
St. Petersburg in the early 80's. Betsy has been studying Yoga for
many years and teaches at the Yoga Energy Center in downtown St. Pete,
also at Gold's Gym, and The Vinoy Hotel. She also is an artist who
paints in oils and acrylics and also paints murals, does faux finishing,
and specializes in painting walls for children's rooms. Betsy has
lived in St. Petersburg for over 45 years. She definitely supports
saving historical buildings and the environment. Please
note that the actual size of the art work on the T shirt you purchase is:
10" x 7.5". In order to protect the artist's work from copycats,
I have purposely decreased the size of the photo.
The web site name "www.SaveTheBiltmore.com" is on the back of the T-shirt.
Save the Biltmore Hotel Tote bag
The
cost of the tote bag is only $15 plus $4.95 for mailer and shipping.
You may pay online via credit card or PayPal after you click the "Add to Cart" button. This beautiful canvas tote bag is perfect for carrying books, papers, gifts, letters etc. The width is 14 inches and the height is 14.5 inches.
Show it off proudly to your friends and family that you are helping to save the Biltmore!
A new silver plate bowl with a
clear glass liner from Neiman Marcus with
all over pierced design and bright cut
decoration. The base is 4" and the
top diameter is 10" A beautiful item
to own or to give as a gift.
Fill it with flowers or fruit or
champagne punch for any festive occasion.
It comes in original box and packing
Donor: Robert Burrell, Esq.
Indian Shores, FL
Price: $30.
ekobel@debartolodevelopment.com,
ghenni@debartolodevelopment.com,
dsharpe@debartolodevelopment.com,
