Belleview Biltmore Hotel Update Wednesday September 21, 2005
 

Dear Biltmore Supporters, News Media and Others,

Matters are changing rapidly minute by minute with the status of the Biltmore Hotel so to keep abreast of all the current information click  "Today's Alert" on my web site www.SaveTheBiltmore.com. I keep the current newspaper articles posted on there.

This was just in today's St. Petersburg Times this morning so I want to share with you the new information since my Biltmore Update just very late last night!!

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/09/21/Northpinellas/DeBartolo_backs_off__.shtml

DeBartolo backs off, won't buy Biltmore
A Belleair commissioner said the company was reacting to public opposition. But the prospect of demolition still haunts the landmark.
By LORRI HELFAND, Times Staff Writer
Published September 21, 2005

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BELLEAIR - DeBartolo Development has withdrawn its bid to buy the Belleview Biltmore Resort & Spa, the company that manages the hotel properties confirmed Tuesday.

"The DeBartolo deal has expired and we are in negotiations with Rory (Hiller) and various others," said Urdang & Associates' chief investment officer, Vincent Sanfilippo.

While DeBartolo's withdrawal may spell a temporary reprieve for the 108-year-old hotel, the landmark still faces the prospect of being torn down.

"At this point in time, we intend to pursue a demolition permit," Sanfilippo said.

Urdang filed an application to raze the entire hotel in April and submitted additional application materials this month.

Sanfilippo previously told the town's historic preservation board that the property was an "under-performing asset" and a demolition permit would maximize development possibilities for potential buyers.

Hiller and his team, the Hiller Group, have made a $40-million offer on the Biltmore and plan to preserve both the hotel and its 136-acre golf course.

Town Commissioner Gary Katica said DeBartolo reacted to the public opposition to its plan.

DeBartolo presented its vision to save just part of the Biltmore and build 367 homes on the hotel's golf course at a town meeting last Thursday, the day before its contract expired.

"The simple explanation is that the people of Belleair spoke in a public forum, and they're no dummies, the DeBartolo group," Katica said.

DeBartolo Development's president, Ed Kobel, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Town Manager Steve Cottrell would not comment on the status of Urdang's application for a demolition permit, but two commissioners, Katica and Bonnie Ruggles, said Tuesday that Cottrell told them that Urdang's application was still incomplete.

Sanfilippo would not specify which parties, besides Hiller, are negotiating with his Pennsylvania-based pension-fund management company. He added that he did not know what the various parties' intentions for the resort were.

"We are in various stages of negotiations with various parties," Sanfilippo said. "Some are further along than others."

A letter faxed to Town Hall in July reveals that at least one other company, Marcus Hotels, is interested in the purchasing and preserving the Biltmore. J. David Merritt, senior vice president of development for Marcus Hotels & Resorts, wrote Scott Urdang, president of Urdang & Associates, to tell him that Marcus would like to discuss the project further if the proposed buyer is "unable to perform."

Meanwhile, the town is looking into adopting a historic preservation ordinance that could better protect structures like the Biltmore. The first reading of the ordinance is scheduled for Oct. 4.
 

BELLEAIR REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING---TONIGHT!!
September 21, 2005, Wednesday
Time: 7:30 PM
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida 33756-1034
Topic of Discussion - The topic of saving the Belleview Biltmore may be brought up by anyone.
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!!     We need your support, please attend!   Also please voice your opinion that you wish the entire Belleview Biltmore Hotel is 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.
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.adp?country=US&addtohistory=&formtype=address&searchtype=address&cat=&address=901%20Ponce%20De%20Leon%20Blvd&city=Belleair&state=FL&zipcode=33756%2d1034&searchtab=home
 

YARD SIGNS:
http://www.savethebiltmore.com/BelleviewBiltmoreYardSign.htm
Help us spread the word across Florida and pick up a save the Biltmore yard sign. And pick one up for your neighbor too!  We only ask for a $10 donation to pay for the cost of the sign.
 

FREE FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY WITH EVERY $25 DONATION!
To help save the Biltmore and spread the word and continue the fight to preserve the outside and inside of the Biltmore historically, donate just $25 and receive a FREE signed 8 by 10 inch fine art nature or still life photograph. You can donate right online now!  Donate $50 and receive two free 8 by 10 inch fine art prints.  $75 and receive three 8 by 10 inch fine art prints. If you would like your FREE signed, fine art print matted and framed, just donate $55. I am donating 100% of the proceeds from my collection of fine art photography to our nonprofit Save the Biltmore fund.  See http://www.savethebiltmore.com/BelleviewBiltmoreFREEphoto.htm for beautiful fine art photographs from which to choose from!
 

REMINDER! SAVE THE BILTMORE MEETING THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 AT 6:30 P.M.!
We are holding a Save the Biltmore meeting this coming Sunday at 6:30 p.m. in Clearwater.  We will be discussing fund raising ideas and how to gather ideas to STOP CONDO/HOTEL development in the Biltmore!  Please note this meeting is only for people who are AGAINST putting condo/hotel units in the Biltmore north and south wings!  Our nonprofit group Save the Biltmore Preservationists is working towards preserving not only the outside of the Biltmore but also the inside guest rooms so they are historically correct!  Email Me for location of meeting and directions.

If you want to join our group, come to our Sunday meeting and help us.  We will work to find ways to ensure that the magnificent "White Queen of the Gulf" maintains its Victorian charm and appeal both inside and out, not only for today but for 100 years from now.

Sincerely,
 

Diane Hein

President, Save the Biltmore Preservationists
A Nonprofit Organization

www.SaveTheBiltmore.com

Dear Biltmore Supporters, News Media and Others:
 

SAVE THE BILTMORE MEETING THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 AT 6:30 P.M.!
We are holding a Save the Biltmore meeting this coming Sunday at 6:30 p.m. in Clearwater.  We will be discussing fund raising ideas and how to gather ideas to STOP CONDO/HOTEL development in the Biltmore!  Please note this meeting is only for people who are AGAINST putting condo/hotel units in the Biltmore north and south wings!  Our nonprofit group Save the Biltmore Preservationists is working towards preserving not only the outside of the Biltmore but also the inside guest rooms so they are historically correct!  Email Me for location of meeting and directions.
 

DEBARTOLO DEVELOPMENT HAS BACKED OFF FROM BUYING THE BILTMORE!
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/09/20/Northpinellas/Biltmore_deal_near_co.shtml
Biltmore deal near collapse, rival group says
By LORRI HELFAND, Times Staff Writer
Published September 20, 2005
"DeBartolo is abandoning a plan to buy and redevelop the historic resort property, says a rival bidder's leader. Rory Hiller, a local real estate consultant recruited by a group that wants to save the hotel, said he was contacted Friday by Pennsylvania-based Urdang & Associates, which manages the hotel property for owner Belleview Biltmore Resort Ltd. Urdang's chief investment officer, Vincent Sanfilippo, told him DeBartolo Development had decided to walk away from the deal, Hiller said. The group wants to preserve the entire hotel, converting rooms in the older, east-west portion into 83 high-end resort units, and rooms in the north and south wings into 425 condo-hotel units. Those units would be sold to individual owners and rented for part of the year as hotel rooms."

READERS:  We here at Save the Biltmore Preservationists are pleased that DeBartolo has backed off because their most recent plan was to demolish the north and south wings as of their presentation to Belleair last week. They backed off due to public pressure and lack of support by the town officials for their plans. My www.SaveTheBiltmore.com web site has worked tirelessly to stop the total demolition of the Biltmore since April of this year, 2005.  I actually put up this web site in December, 2004, when I first heard the Biltmore was to be demolished.  I want to thank Biltmore supporters and Belleair citizens who attended town meetings and or wrote letters to help save the Biltmore over the past few months.  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.

Our group is for historical PRESERVATION OF THE BILTMORE BOTH INSIDE AND OUT! The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables/Miami, Florida is run as a successful hotel which has been extensively preserved through the efforts of a strong preservation ordinance giving many decisions to their historic preservation board. The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida does NOT have high-end condo/hotel units in their historic hotel!!!  We need a strong preservation ordinance in Belleair like they have in Coral Gables/Miami for their historic Biltmore Hotel.  The historic Victorian Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island is run successfully with NO condo/hotel units!  The Victorian Hotel del Coronado Hotel in San Diego is successfully run with NO condo/hotel units!

Speak out at 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.
 

BELLEAIR REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING
September 21, 2005, Wednesday
Time: 7:30 PM
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida 33756-1034
The topic of saving the Belleview Biltmore may be brought up by anyone. Voice your opinion that the Belleair historical preservation board needs to have more power in making decisions on the preservation of the Biltmore! http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adpsearchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=901+Ponce+de
 

PINELLAS COUNTY HISTORIC TASK FORCE MEETING:
The Pinellas County Historic Task force was recently formed because of the Biltmore needing to be saved.    The article about their first meeting was printed September 2, 2005 in TBN Weekly.

"County board gears up to protect Pinellas history

The Historic Preservation Task Force hopes to require developers to consider the historical significance of any buildings they want to raze.
By LESTER R. DAILEY

PINELLAS COUNTY – The county’s new Historic Preservation Task Force met for the first time on Aug. 24 in Clearwater."
To read the full article by TBN Weekly click:   http://www.tbnweekly.com/content_articles/090205_pco-03.txt

 PHOTO AND ARTICLE OF THIS www.SavetheBiltmore.com WEB SITE'S EFFORTS!
See photo of this web site's efforts to save the Biltmore in TBN Weekly at: http://www.tbnweekly.com/content_articles/090805_bee-03.txt
Article By CHARY SOUTHMAYD, editor of the Belleair Bee
"David Swoap, who recently moved to the area, joins Alice Walters, a Clearwater resident since 1959, as she takes her Save the Biltmore message to visitors at Largo’s Taylor Park. For more information on how to get involved with Save the Biltmore Preservationists, visit www.SaveTheBiltmore.com"
 

COUNTY COMMISSIONER RONNIE DUNCAN'S EMAIL TO ME:
I wrote Pinellas County Commissioner Ronnie Duncan an email in August.  I had hoped the new Pinellas County Task Force which Mr. Duncan helped create would write a letter to Belleair town officials to endorse passing a preservation ordinance in Belleair being that the Task Force was created in response to the possible demolition of the Biltmore.  See full St. Petersburg Times editorial on the creation of this Task Force.

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/863526511.html?MAC=91f43d5b754debb5a18faf1f8bd17405&did=863526511&FMT=FT&FMTS=FT&date=Jul+6%2C+2005&author=&%20pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&printformat=&desc=A+step+toward+historic+preservation+Series%3A+EDITORIALS

This is Commissioner Duncan's reply to meAugust 10th:

"Thanks Diane for your response.  As I mentioned in my earlier email, the first meeting of this Task Force is to occur later in the month.  The agenda for this first Task Force meeting is focused on our mission, which is advisory to the Board of County Commissioners.

"I am not sure of how far we will get into our mission or agenda during this meeting.

"This Task Force serves as an advisory group to the Board of County Commissioners.  They can make recommendations to the Board for their consideration.  The Task Force's purpose is not to take positions on any projects at this point in time.

"Thank you for your continued interest in this Property."   Ronnie Duncan
rduncan@pinellascounty.org
 

A THANK YOU TO WUSF FOR THEIR INTERVIEW WITH US:
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wusf/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=815766 Radio interview from our public broadcasting station: Steve Newborn from WUSF with our Save the Biltmore Preservationist vice president, Ed Jameson. September 7, 2005
 

BILTMORE MEMORIES AND PHOTOS WANTED!
Biltmore supporter Renee Burrell is asking for people for their Biltmore wedding or reception photos, personal memories of the Biltmore, snapshots, stories etc. to put together a story for us. Please send your information and photos to Email Me, and I will transfer them to Renee. And a special thank you to Renee who has been helping us so much as of late!
 

SAVE THE BILTMORE SUPPORT ALL THE WAY FROM FRANCE!
Here is an email I posted to the Message Board, it is direct from Vinca, France! And I thank them for writing us and for their support.
"My wife and I have stayed at this amazing hotel several times. Our European friends are always awed and delighted that such a magnificent building in the USA is still in use and still delightful. We all love the restaurants, decor and gentility of this unique part of Floridian history. What does Jeb Bush (or Carl Hiaassen) think about the plans to destroy this piece of American history? Would he allow the demolition of the Art Deco parts of Miami? Will the French Quarter of New Orleans become a part of history. The Biltmore is in the same league."  Richard Hamill, Vinca, France
 

FREE FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY WITH EVERY $25 DONATION!
To help save the Biltmore and spread the word and continue the fight to preserve the inside of the Biltmore historically, donate just $25 and receive a FREE signed 8 by 10 inch fine art nature or still life photograph. You can donate right online now!  Donate $50 and receive two free 8 by 10 inch fine art prints.  $75 and receive three 8 by 10 inch fine art prints. If you would like your FREE signed, fine art print matted and framed, just donate $55. I am donating 100% of the proceeds from my fine art photography to our nonprofit Save the Biltmore fund.  See http://www.savethebiltmore.com/BelleviewBiltmoreFREEphoto.htm for beautiful fine art photographs from which to choose from!
 

CLOSING THOUGHTS:
I opened my web site, www.SaveTheBiltmore.com back in December, 2004 when I first heard that DeBartolo wanted to demolish the Biltmore. It has been a long haul to say the least to fight to save the Biltmore!  And yes the demolition has been stopped, and all four wings of the Biltmore have been saved!!  I take great pleasure in this and great pleasure that my Save the Biltmore web site was instrumental right from the very start in saving the Biltmore by getting people together to win the battle!And I thank the St. Petersburg Times for mentioning my web site back in April that started this ball rolling. And I thank my nonprofit directors, Ed Jameson, Doug Mann and Barbara Arnold for all their wonderful work and support since we formed Save the Biltmore Preservationists. But we need more help to preserve the Biltmore's historical authenticity in the future since Rory Hiller has plans to put condo/hotel units in the north and south wings which our Save the Biltmore nonprofit group is adamantly against!

If you want to join our group, come to our Sunday meeting and help us.  We will work to find ways to ensure that the magnificent "White Queen of the Gulf" maintains its Victorian charm and appeal both inside and out, not only for today but for 100 years from now.

Sincerely,
 

Diane Hein

President, Save the Biltmore Preservationists
A Nonprofit Organization

www.SaveTheBiltmore.com
 
 

BELLEVIEW BILTMORE HOTEL UPDATE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2005

Dear Belleview Biltmore Supporters, News Media and Others,
 

URGENT NOTICE:  BELLEAIR MEETING NEXT WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7!!!  PLEASE ATTEND!

BELLEAIR - SPECIAL MEETING - PRESERVATION ATTORNEY NANCY STROUD ATTENDING
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 draft of the Preservation Ordinance that will help save the Biltmore forever.
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.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=901+Ponce+de+Leon+Blvd&city=Belleair&state=Fl&zipcode=
 
 

GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER? !
"After months of speculation, DeBartolo Development representatives will make a presentation to the Town Commission on Wednesday, Sept. 7, on what they have in mind for the Belleview Biltmore Resort and Spa.  Cottrell said Peek told him the DeBartolo group will “present an overview of their vision for the Belleview Biltmore hotel and other properties.” Cottrell added that Peek “implied that all of the hotel is not salvageable, but some of it may be. “I got a call a week or so ago from Skipper Peek with DeBartolo,” said Town Manager Steve Cottrell. “He wanted to set up a time to meeting behind closed doors with the commissioners. I told him you can’t do that in the state of Florida.”
Chary Southmayd, Editor of the Belleair Bee  To read the full article click:  http://www.tbnweekly.com/content_articles/090105_bee-03.txt

"After 10 months of public silence, DeBartolo Development is poised to reveal its vision for the Belleview Biltmore for the first time next week.  While DeBartolo has said little, many have feared the company plans to raze the resort, especially since the company's previous partners had announced plans last year to do just that. So far, the few clues that have emerged about DeBartolo's intentions hint at the possibility of hundreds of townhomes and a town center on the bluff or the golf course.  Neither Peek nor Kobel returned calls regarding their plans for the hotel. There's mixed evidence about whether DeBartolo wants to spare elements of the Biltmore."
Lorri Helfand, reporter for the St. Petersburg Times    To read the full article click:  http://www.sptimes.com/2005/08/31/Northpinellas/Developer_to_reveal_p.shtml
 

REPEAT: URGENT!
It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT for everyone in the community to attend next week's meeting in Belleair, Wednesday, September 7 at 5:30 p.m. and voice your opinion to the Town Council and Mayor Mariani that you want a STRONG Preservation Ordinance passed to save the Biltmore FOREVER.

FOR THOSE WHO CAN NOT ATTEND BELLEAIR TOWN MEETINGS:
If for any reason you can not attend town meetings 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 a STRONG preservation ordinance be passed NEXT WEDNESDAY, September 7 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 a STRONG preservation ordinance passed 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. If you have written an email to Town Officials, NOW IS THE TIME TO SEND ANOTHER ONE!  Through my www.SaveTheBiltmore.com web site, we have found two preservation-minded buyers who are interested in preserving the Biltmore, a philanthropic investment trust fund and Marcus Hotels and Resorts.   Help us help save the Biltmore!

SAMPLE ONE-MINUTE EMAIL
Here is a sample ONE-MINUTE email you can simply copy and send to the town of Belleair 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 and real hotel to ensure its historical relevancy and beauty in Belleair.  We urge you to have a STRONG preservation ordinance passed Wednesday, September 7 in order that this magnificent hotel in your town is saved forever.  This Victorian hotel is an American and architectural 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.  A STRONG preservation ordinance will ensure that the beautiful Belleview Biltmore Hotel will stay as a true hotel in the future.  By saving ALL 400-guest rooms and ALL the wings, the hotel will increase in value as time passes.  As a result, the Biltmore will stand as one of the greatest TRUE Victorian hotels in the WORLD that Belleair took the time to save in its entirety!   Then and only then will Belleair and America continue to enjoy the hotel's Victorian history and heritage 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
   Micah Maxwell (Assistant to the Town Manager) Finance

Feel free to send me a copy of your email to the town of Belleair at email me.
Diane Hein.  I always enjoy knowing our supporters better.
 

SIGN WAVERS NEEDED!
We need sign wavers this coming Saturday morning, September 3, on Clearwater Beach area to help save the Biltmore!  If you are interested in participating, email me.  Our Save the Biltmore Preservationist Director, Barbara Arnold, will be heading up the sign waving.  Tom Merrifield has offered to fly a WWW.SAVETHEBILTMORE.COM banner over Clearwater Beach this coming Saturday morning so we all thank him for his generous offer!

FLORIDA COLLECTIBLES AND VINTAGE MEMORABILIA SHOW
Sunday, October 30, 2005 from 10:00 am to 6:00 PM in the Tiffany Ballroom, Belleview Biltmore Hotel. Sponsored by Hula Hula Productions Inc., and Biltmore supporter, Annette Vedsegaard-Ross.  Mark your calendar to attend this fun event at the Biltmore!
 

BILTMORE MEMORIES AND PHOTOS WANTED!
Biltmore supporter Renee Burrell is asking for people for their Biltmore wedding or reception photos,  personal memories of the Biltmore, snapshots, stories etc. to put together a story for us.  Please send your information and photos to Email and I will transfer them to Renee.
 

CLOSING THOUGHTS
Next Wednesday September 7: an absolutely CRITICAL day for the future of the historic Belleview Biltmore Hotel.  What path lies ahead for the "White Queen of the Gulf?"   She still rises high in Belleair.  She was critical to the history and development of Pinellas County.  She helped us in World War II.  She is beloved by people all over the country who have written me.  400 citizens in Belleair signed petitions to stop condo development there.  And yet she is still not secure!

SECURE the Biltmore's future.  Attend next week's meeting, speak up and out...SAVE HER FOREVER!

Sincerely,
 

Diane Hein

President, Save the Biltmore Preservationists, Inc.
A nonprofit organization

www.SaveTheBiltmore.com

Email Me

Belleview Biltmore Hotel Update, Wednesday, August 17, 2005  

Dear Belleview Biltmore Hotel Supporters, News Media and Others, 

GREAT NEWS!! WE HAVE TWO PRESERVATION MINDED BUYERS FOR THE BILTMORE!

I recently posted this information on my save the Biltmore web site:  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.  

BELLEAIR BEE ARTICLE AUGUST 3, 2005Town 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  FOR THOSE WHO CAN NOT ATTEND BELLEAIR TOWN

MEETINGS:
If for any reason you can not attend town meetings 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 a STRONG 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 ONE-MINUTE EMAIL
Here is a sample ONE-MINUTE email you can simply copy and send to the town of Belleair 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 and architectural 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.  A STRONG preservation ordinance will ensure that the beautiful Belleview Biltmore Hotel will stay as a true hotel in the future.  By saving ALL 400 guest rooms and ALL the wings, the hotel will increase in value as time passes.  As a result, the Biltmore will stand as one of the greatest TRUE Victorian hotels in the WORLD that Belleair took the time to save in its entirety!   Then and only then will Belleair and America continue to enjoy the hotel's Victorian history and heritage for my generation and generations to come.  Your future town leaders will look back on you with pride. 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
   Micah Maxwell (Assistant to the Town Manager) Finance Feel free to send me a copy of your email to the town of Belleair at Email me.Diane Hein, President, Save the Biltmore Preservationists, Inc.  I always enjoy knowing our supporters better.  
 

YARD SIGNS:http://www.savethebiltmore.com/BelleviewBiltmoreYardSign.htm
Help us spread the word across Florida and pick up a save the Biltmore yard sign. And pick one up for your neighbor too!  We only ask for a $10 donation to pay for the cost of the sign.  
 

MESSAGE FROM "ACROSS THE POND!"
Here is an email from Biltmore supporter David Radford from as they say "across the pond" in England where PRESERVATION IS KING! "I didn't realize that the Belleview Biltmore was the oldest used wooden structure!  If that was in England, it would be a listed building and no one would be able to touch it.  Any building of any historical value over here gets a graded listing as to how important is.  For example if something is a grade 2 listed building - you may as well forget it!  We even put preservation orders on trees!  The National Trust owns half of England!!!  All the major historical houses are owned by the National Trust, and they own hundreds and hundreds of square mile of gardens and forest and national conservation land.  If National Trust owns a piece of land, the chances of you getting building permission on it are remote!  Even local councils have areas they call "Green Belt" and if you own some green belt land then you can't do anything with it apart from farm or keep it as pasture land."  David Radford As a side note, the former King of England, (the Duke of Windsor) and England's Prime Minister Lady Margaret Thatcher have stayed at the Biltmore! So let's take a lesson from our mother country: 

LET'S SAVE THE BILTMORE WITH A STRONG PRESERVATION ORDINANCE IN BELLEAIR!  SPEECHES TO THE TOWN COUNCIL TO SAVE THE BILTMORE!

A special thank you to Ed Jameson, Doug Mann, Barbara A. Walters who are on my new team and nonprofit organization, Save the Biltmore Preservationists, Inc., who gave speeches at the town council meetings this month.  I and they support saving all four wings and ALL 400 guest rooms of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel.  Another thank you to Jeff Hannie who also gave a speech last night and previously to support saving the four wings and guest rooms.  
 

RADIO INTERVIEWS TO SAVE THE BILTMORE!
I want to sincerely thank Jack Harris http://www.970wfla.com/jackharris.html and Tedd Webb http://www.teddwebb.com/ both from 970 A.M. WFLA radio, Tampa Bay area for their interview with our Secretary/Treasurer of Save the Biltmore Preservationists, Inc., Doug Mann last week August 11.   

I also want to thank Doug Guetzloe, from The Guetzloe Report www.guetzloe.com WAMT AM 1190, and Ax the Tax www.axthetax.org Orlando, Florida, for interviewing Doug Mann this morning August 17.  To hear this interview with Doug Gutzeloe click: http://mbox.savethebiltmore.com/download_attachment.php/DOUG+INTERVIEW-GUETZLOE+REPORT.mp3?msguid=4495&partbody=2&partprop=2&fname=DOUG+INTERVIEW-GUETZLOE+REPORT.mp3&folder=Inbox  It's wonderful to get support across the airways to save the Biltmore!  If your radio station, TV, newspaper or magazine wants to interview us, please contact me at email me.

BILTMORE BUSINESS SUPPORT WEB PAGE:

I have started a separate web page to thank business supporters for their help in saving the Biltmore.  If you help us save the Biltmore, either via the news media, flyers, posters, letters to the town council or interviews, I will be more than happy to let the public know of your Biltmore support on this page:http://www.savethebiltmore.com/BelleviewBiltmoreBusinessSupporters.htm  

CLOSING THOUGHTS
What lies ahead for the Biltmore?  This magnificent Victorian hotel is now 108 years young.  An "aging" lady who has a youthful spirit. She STILL continues to attract tourists from all over America BECAUSE of her age!  This great "White Queen of the Gulf" still rises high on the bluffs of the lovely town of Belleair, Florida with her commanding presence.  Her future lies in having a STRONG PRESERVATION ORDINANCE.  Belleair leaders literally hold the life of this precious lady in their hands. We hope they follow Great Britain's outstanding example of preserving historical buildings. 

Sincerely,   
Diane Hein President, Save the Biltmore Preservationists, Inc.   

(A nonprofit organization) www.SaveTheBiltmore.com

Dear Belleview Biltmore Hotel Supporters, News Media and Others, 

Enclosed is the calendar of Belleair town meetings for the month of August 2005. Please note that there is a special workshop meeting THIS COMING TUESDAY, August 2 at 5:30 p.m.  Belleair preservation attorney Nancy Stroud will be making a presentation and report to the town council. Be sure to attend this meeting to continue encouraging the town of Belleair officials to have Ms. Stroud write a STRONG PRESERVATION ORDINANCE as soon as possible to ensure that the Biltmore is saved forever.  We need a strong preservation ordinance that will save the hotel guest rooms so that the Biltmore will continue as a true hotel! 

BELLEAIR CALENDAR TOWN MEETINGS, AUGUST, 2005: 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 writing a STRONG preservation ordinance.
PLEASE ATTEND!  BRING ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!
Please speak at the meeting and 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 PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING
August 8, 2005, Monday
Time: 5:30 P.M.
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida
Topic of Discussion - The topic of saving the Biltmore Hotel in its entirety may be brought up by anyone. Speak up! 
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 Biltmore Hotel in its entirety may be brought up by anyone. Speak up! 
BELLEAIR REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING
August 16, 2005, Tuesday
Time: 7:30 PM
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida 33756-1034
Topic of Discussion - The topic of saving the Biltmore Hotel in its entirety may be brought up by anyone. Speak up! 
TOWN OF BELLEAIR WEB SITE FOR CALENDAR AND AGENDAS:
The Town of Belleair has a web site with a calendar of their meetings:  http://belleair.govoffice.com/  Then click at bottom of their web page under:  "Calendars" and then after this "Town Meetings."   If you want to find out the agenda and what topics are to be discussed at the town meetings click "Agenda and Minutes."   If any of the links are broken in this email, just go to www.SaveTheBiltmore.com and click on "Calendar." FOR THOSE WHO CAN NOT ATTEND BELLEAIR MEETINGS:
If for any reason you can not attend this Tuesday's special workship meeting or this month's town meetings 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 including ALL hotel rooms!  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 Tuesday 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.  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, eupmeyer@ix.netcom.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
   Ernst Upmeyer, 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@savethebiltmore.com.  I always enjoy knowing our supporters better.  I want to thank anyone who emailed the Belleair public officials a letter a few weeks ago.  And thank you to those sending me a carbon copy of your emails.  I appreciate your time, efforts and enthusiasm. NOTE:   PLEASE keep sending in your ONE-MINUTE EMAIL to get this preservation ordinance written and approved as soon as possible!   This is SO important!  
YARD SIGNS
Yard signs to save the Biltmore are still available! Spread the word through our community! Locations are given at the web site: http://savethebiltmore.com/BelleviewBiltmoreYardSign.htm  
CLOSING THOUGHTS
In 1984 Eric Eisemann was instrumental in saving the Crater Lake Lodge in Oregon from demolition.  He said he had received over 4,00 postcards and letters in support of saving this beautiful lodge!  "In a 1991 HPLO (Historic Preservation League of Oregon) newsletter, Eric Eisemann wrote: "We must never lose sight of the fact that it is the private citizen who is at the heart of good historic preservation."  http://www.aracnet.com/~histgaz/hgv5n2.htm To all my dedicated Belleview Biltmore supporters, 1.  YOU are the private citizens who will save and preserve the Biltmore by your outpouring of ONE-MINUTE EMAIL letters or attendance at the Belleair meetings to get a preservation ordinance written immediately. 2.  YOU are the private citizens who turned out on May 3 when some 400 people voiced their opinion in that long five-hour meeting that you wanted the Biltmore saved! 3.  YOU are the private citizens who signed some 400 petitions to STOP condo development and to save the Biltmore in its entirety. 4.  YOU are the private citizens who wrote hundreds of letters to public officials and to the National Trust. 5.  YOU are the private citizens who can do public good.  
Sincerely,  Diane Hein, Lead Preservationist www.SaveTheBiltmore.com
 

Belleview Biltmore Hotel Update Sunday July 17, 2005 Dear Belleview Biltmore Supporters, News Media and Others,
 

BELLEAIR REGULAR COMMISSION TOWN MEETING
July 19, 2005, Tuesday
Time: 7:30 PM
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida 33756-1034
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 immediately by preservation attorney, Nancy Stroud, and passed by the town of Belleair as soon as possible!   We need your support there even if you do not wish to speak.  It is of the utmost URGENCY that this ordinance be passed to ensure that the Biltmore is preserved.   Also please voice your opinion that you wish the entire Belleview Biltmore Hotel is saved: the east, west, north and south wings including the original hotel rooms!  We do NOT want hotel/condo rooms in there!
This will preserve the historical relevancy of this Victorian hotel and its beauty.
PLEASE COME AND BRING YOUR FRIENDS!
Map: http://wwwmapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=901+Ponce+de+Leon+Blvd&city=Belleair&state=Fl&zipcode=
 

FOR THOSE WHO CAN NOT ATTEND BELLEAIR 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 Tuesday or write your own.
Dear Mayor Mariani and Belleair Commissioners: The Belleview Biltmore Hotel must be preserved in its entirety, and we urge you to have the preservation ordinance written and passed as soon as possible in order that this magnificent hotel in your town be 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 this preservation ordinance be written IMMEDIATELY and approved by you so that the Biltmore's future is secure for my generation and generations to come. Thank you.
The Town of Belleair email addresses for your ONE-MINUTE EMAIL campaign are:

   gemarianijr@cs.com, fowlerarch@aol.com, gmkatica@highstream.net, eupmeyer@ix.netcom.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
   Ernst Upmeyer, 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.
I always enjoy knowing our supporters better.
 

A SPEECH GIVEN TO BELLEAIR COMMISSIONERS AND THE BELLEAIR MAYOR:
This speech was given to the Town of Belleair Commissioners' Meeting June 21, 2005 by Belleview Biltmore supporter, Jeff Hannie, so I want to thank him for his time and his excellent thoughts. "I am a Certified Public Accountant and a lover of history.  I know business, balance sheets, and bottom lines.  But as a person, I know there are things that you cannot put a dollar value upon:     The love between a man and a woman     The joy of seeing a baby smile     The magnificence of the Grand Canyon     The beauty of a sun coast sunset As a lover of history, I know you cannot exist without a past.  From knowing your name, from getting home from this meeting, from knowing how to act in life's situations; all are based on past experiences.  Past experiences make up history, and history plays a role in everyone's present. In the Belleview Biltmore, you have a gem, a true treasure.  It should not be lost.  It needs to be saved in its entirety, as a hotel and golf resort.  It does not need to have its limbs cut off, or to be turned into some type of a condo/unit hotel hybrid.  It needs to be restored to its historical grandeur.  It needs to be managed well and marketed wisely.  I had been to the hotel in the past, but I never stayed overnight until this month.  I am glad I did.  To drink in the history was wonderful.  That present experience for me, the past experience for thousands, should also be available as a future experience for generations to come. Although I have ideas, I don't know the exact mix of support from public, private, foundation, grants or other sources to make this a reality.  But I do implore this commission to do all it can to make it happen with enough people with enough will, wonderful things can be accomplished. I would like to add a little postscript.  I walked on the porch of the Palm Cottage.  That glorious house is in such disrepair also calls for  restoration.  It could be put to any number of productive uses. I want to thank you very much for the opportunity to speak.  If I were retired, my new nonpaying full time job would be to work to save the Belleview Biltmore in its entirety. Again, thank you very much."
 

SPREAD THE WORD!
Be sure to pick up a Save the Belleview Biltmore yard sign to spread the word!  A $10 donation is requested.  For a photo of the yard sign and locations to pick them up click:
http://www.savethebiltmore.com/BelleviewBiltmoreYardSign.htm
 

EDITORIAL FROM THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/06/20/Northpinellas/Closing_clubhouse_wil.shtml
Biltmore's loss would drain history, elegance from area My husband and I had the pleasure of staying for a weekend in the Belleview Biltmore and we were both enthralled with the history and beauty of this historic site. The people in the Tampa Bay area should be up in arms over its proposed demolition. A visit to Europe would certainly bring home the importance of leaving such structures in place. Many people live in homes that were built in the 1700s and wouldn't think of destroying them. I don't have to mention the number of palaces, cathedrals and other significant historical sites that are visited by millions each year throughout Europe. Having physical ties to our past is important in defining our future. The Biltmore is priceless in its importance to your area, and in fact to this country. I ask that each business and every civic organization band together to aid those who are attempting to halt the destruction of this incredible structure. If you have never seen the Belleview Biltmore, you will not understand what you will lose. Please take a drive to this site and sign on for a tour. Visit the museum. Have lunch in the gorgeous dining room or on the spacious porch by the pool. You will be changed forever. If the destruction of this historic site is not stopped, you will lose a wonderful part of your local color and elegance. -- Barbara and Richard Heastings, Washington, PA [Last modified June 20, 2005, 01:35:17]  

CLOSING THOUGHTS
The Biltmore needs more hope to live.  YOU can give this hope.  Attend the town meeting this Tuesday and/or write your ONE-MINUTE EMAIL to Belleair.  Tell them that the preservation ordinance MUST be written and passed immediately for a hopeful future for the Biltmore. Hope in America is one backbone to our greatness.  The preservation ordinance will bring the needed hope to the Belleview Biltmore Hotel to ensure its greatness in history!

Sincerely,

Diane Hein, Preservationist www.SaveTheBiltmore.com

Belleview Biltmore Update June 30, Thursday, 2005

Dear Belleview Biltmore Supporters, News Media and Others,
 

LETTER FROM USAAF 1943 RECRUIT BILL SWIFT
Biltmore supporter and photographer, Darren Osgood, has taken some beautiful black and white photos of the Biltmore, ( http://www.pbase.com/oz/belleview_biltmore ) As a result of his photos, Darren recently received an email from USAAF recruit Bill Swift.  Mr. Swift was one of the men who stayed at the Belleview Biltmore Hotel during World War II in 1943 for basic training when the hotel was opened up to our troops, some 3,000 of them!  All the guest room furniture and doors were removed at that time, and the military moved into the Biltmore.  Mr. Swift's photo at the time of his stay at the Biltmore is available on the link below.  What an exciting and wonderful letter from Mr. Swift. You can just feel American history as you read it. It is a fairly long letter but here is part of it and you can click on the link below to read the rest of it.   Please read it in full, I was very touched and moved by his letter and hope you are too.

"I had vivid and fond memories of the Belleview Biltmore. Clean quarters, good food, and a well-organized facility...I thought I was in heaven.  It retained some of the vestiges of a great hotel. I was assigned to KP duty one time at the Biltmore and was really impressed with the size of the kitchen and the dining room.  I was assigned to a job unloading cars from the rail line, which ran under the kitchen/dining area.  Eating in the mess hall was done by shifts since there were so many men to be served.  Training movies were about as dull as you can imagine with titles like "Care and Service of the M-29 Mattress Cover."

What a priceless letter Mr. Swift, and we thank you so much for writing it!  I hope everyone reads it in full at: http://www.pbase.com/oz/image/45116839/original
 

LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE, "REMODELING" vs RENOVATION
I have received many wonderful letters from so many people around the country who have stayed at the Biltmore.  Many have written me with questions about what is happening with the Biltmore legally.  Fortunately the town of Belleair has written a Comprehensive Plan in which it says that one goal is for the Biltmore Hotel to be "preserved."  This is a very important word and while this word and others must be interpreted legally, note that solid ground for preservation is in mind for the Biltmore.  To read Sam Casella's work who was instrumental in getting the demolition stopped http://www.savethebiltmore.com/Sam_Casella's_Letters.htm

I just want to repeat part of one of my Updates:

According to www.Dictionary.com this is the definition of PRESERVATION
To maintain in safety from injury, peril, or harm; protect
To keep in perfect or unaltered condition; maintain unchanged.
To keep or maintain intact
To prepare for future use
To prevent from decaying or spoiling
To keep or protect

In regards to preserving the Biltmore, this means preserving all four wings, protecting, taking care of them, renovating them, keeping them for future use and for future generations.  Preserving history!

There is a group of people who I used to work with that I split away from on June 6. This group wants to destroy, to demolish the beautiful Victorian guest rooms of the north and south wings of the Biltmore.  They call themselves preservationists, and yet they want to destroy these lovely rooms.    Here is Mr. Hiller's complete email back to my supporters:

    "This notice is be sent to those of you that have sent emails conserving the Biltmore. It is with great pleasure that I report to you with a update concerning the recent reports on the domo of the south wing and possible the north wing.  As of this date we have meet with our contractors and they have said that the south wing and the north wing can be REMODELED without demo.  Thank you for your patient. We have always looked for a way that would please all. Regards, Rory Hiller"

If you note, Mr. Rory Hiller, the developer who wants to buy the Biltmore, used the word "REMODEL" which simply means he will DESTROY the beautiful Victorian hotel rooms in the south and north wings and replace with over 200 non historical condo/hotel rooms!

WUSFT 89.7 Radio News June 15, 2005 quoted Hiller was quoted as saying: "Yesterday, we came to what we thought was a pretty good agreement on saving the entire north wing. I'm NOT going to tell you that's what's going to happen, but we're going to try to go. It's going to take a total gutting of the interior, and leaving the exterior standing."

This is NOT preservation!!  His goal of putting in condo/hotel rooms is DEMOLITION!

Here are some articles that discuss the hiring of a new town of Belleair preservation attorney in regards to preserving the Biltmore legally.

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/844111481.html?MAC=22fcdf51384bcd078d286b9cd3c99213&did=844111481&FMT=FT&FMTS=FT&date=May+24%2C+2005&author=LORRI+HELFAND&printformat=&desc=Razing+of+Biltmore+still+in+question

Razing of Biltmore still in question; [STATE Edition]
LORRI HELFAND. St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla.: May 24, 2005. pg. 1

"Officials said destroying the Belleview Biltmore could be at odds with the comprehensive plan, which specifically mentions the hotel's historic, scenic and commercial value at least a dozen times.

About a week ago, town officials re-examined town rules and came to a new conclusion that the demolition application was part of a major development plan, which required a site plan and extensive official and public scrutiny.

That process could take months, Cottrell said. And town rules may prohibit demolition of the landmark altogether, he added.

http://tbnweekly.com/pubs/belleair_bee/view_051805_bee-01.php May 18, 2005

No dice on demolition – for now By CHARY SOUTHMAYD

"Then later that day, the Town Commission hired a South Florida attorney who specializes in historic preservation issues, and has a winning track record, to handle the town’s Biltmore-related matters.

Meantime, Fort Lauderdale-based attorney Nancy Stroud has come on board.

Stroud, a member of the 42-attorney firm of Weiss, Serota, Helfman, Pastoriza and Guedes, addressed the commission during a special meeting Friday. Members  of the law firm provide legal counsel to a dozen local governments in the southeast part of the state.

“I specialize in land use, including historic preservation, environmental law and related issues,” said Stroud.

She told the commissioners that she could not recall a single case similar to that of the Belleview Biltmore that her firm has lost.

“We have a good track record and I am happy to brag about it,” said Stroud."
 

A THANK YOU
Thank you to Adrian Wyllie of http://www.tampabaystart.com/ for linking to and for allowing me to use his Biltmore photo on www.SaveTheBiltmore.com. To see the revolving photo click: http://www.savethebiltmore.com/EmailMe.htm
 

SPEECH TO TOWN OF BELLEAIR COMMISSIONERS JUNE 21, 2005
The speech below was given to the Town of Belleair Commissioners' Meeting June 21, 2005 by one of our Biltmore supporters who wants to save all four wings and all the lovely inside guest rooms.  Please note I am quoting only part of it due to space constrictions, but the full speech is on:

http://www.savethebiltmore.com/BiltmoreMessageBoard.htm   Third one down from the top of that page.

Dear Council Members,

I want to thank the town council and everyone else for all their efforts in trying to save the Biltmore.

(PETITIONS)

Over 400 people in the town of Belleair signed two petitions sponsored by the Friends of the Belleview Biltmore in May of 2005. These were never submitted to my knowledge to the town of Belleair for a vote but are still in the possession of the Friends of the Belleview Biltmore. (readers, please note, this group is led by the woman, Rae Claire Johnson, who I, Diane Hein, BROKE AWAY from on June 5, 2005) These petitions if passed either by a vote or the town council would guarantee the preservation of the north and south wings of the Belleair Biltmore Hotel by changing the zoning laws. It will also stop condo/hotel development.

It is very important to remember that 400 people in Belleair wanted to SAVE these two historically significant wings of this beautiful Victorian hotel. They signed petitions to ensure that this would be pursued. Yet the Friends of the Belleview Biltmore continued to push towards destroying these two wings with developers while they were continuing to have people sign what appears now to be worthless petitions. This makes absolutely no sense.

(DEMOLITION PERMIT)

Some claim that the Biltmore will be beyond repair if a seller is not found quickly.

Historic property owners often attempt to use what is referred to as 'Demolition by Neglect' to circumvent historic preservation.

The National Trust has an extremely important preservation document, which will ensure preservation of the Biltmore while a buyer is found. Here is the document that will help prevent the current owner from pursing "Demolition by Neglect."

Town preservation ordinances can be reviewed and drafted to insure that the historic structures such as the Biltmore are properly maintained. Ordinances and strong enforcement are used by other preservation groups to stop property owners from attempting 'Demolition by Neglect'.  To view this document click:

http://forum.nationaltrust.org/pdf/demobyneglect.pdf#search='demolition%20by%20neglect%20national%20trust'

(HOTEL ROOMS VS CONDO/HOTEL ROOMS)

I walked up and down two miles of east, west, north and south wing Biltmore corridors. Thomas Edison, Babe Ruth, Henry Ford, the Studebakers, the DuPonts, the former King of England, (the Duke of Windsor) the Vanderbilts, and Joe DeMaggio and others from history also strolled these same corridors in all of these wings.

Both inside and outside you see consistent moldings, wainscot and sculpted exterior components which tell you the Biltmore was meant to be preserved in its entirety. Saving all wings and saving the original hotel rooms are vital to preserve both Belleair's and Pinellas county's history.

If we take out the insides of the north and south wings, and replace with hotel/condo units, we will only have an empty facade of the original hotel!

The Biltmore hotel will only be a shell of what it used to be!

If developers gut the north and south wings, and put in condo/hotel rooms, they are destroying the Victorian beauty of the hotel. The master comprehensive plan is to PRESERVE a historic hotel, which includes the hotel rooms they way they are today, and NOT condo/hotel units!

If the insides are gutted and redeveloped into condo/hotel units, then the hotel would be still have its old wrapper around it but the insides will be a phony facade,

If there are hotel/condo units built, the Biltmore will then be a fake!

Its new title will be the world's largest continually occupied fake Victorian hotel!

We must save all the original hotel rooms for the Biltmore to be a true Victorian hotel!

Remember this: the man who wishes to buy the Biltmore is the SAME man who is tearing down Clearwater's landmark hotel, the Clearwater Beach Hotel and putting in condominiums in its place with only a small hotel.

We are losing Florida tourist dollars and our reputation as a great place for fun in the sun because of this man's destructive plans for Clearwater Beach and destructive plans for the Biltmore.  The current plan of this developer is a destructive plan and just another way to sell condominiums!

Condo hotels are just hotel/condos with room service!

DISADVANTAGES OF HOTEL CONDO UNITS

Here are the disadvantages of hotel/condo units as reported in an article in the newspaper, U.S.A. Today.  September 21, 2004 by Joel Greene.

1. Numbers are increasing, but not many condo hotels are convenient to business travel destinations.
2. The unit may lose value over time.
3. Hotels typically limit the time the owner may use them.
4. Financing is usually slightly costlier than for a primary residence. Lenders view them
as a greater risk.
5. You may need to give notice that you'll be staying in the hotel.
6. You may not be able to use the room if it has been reserved by another guest.
7. You are likely to pay fees for housekeeping and other services.
8. There may be a monthly condo fee.
9. Income from guests staying in your unit may be cut when travel declines.
10. You may wish to buy insurance to protect against liability claims and some type of damage or loss.

It was reported in the St. Petersburg Times on Monday, June 20, that by August 1, THREE boat marinas will be torn down because of developers putting in condominiums in Pinellas County. Hundreds of boats are being displaced as condominium developers are buying out marinas in Clearwater. We are losing our access to water now because of condo development. We must put a stop to all this over development with condominiums in our county and in Belleair.

Would they gut the insides of both White House wings and put in a shopping mall and then call that restoration! ?  No that is destruction, that is NOT preservation!

Thank you,

Ed  (last name withheld upon request)
 

SPREAD THE WORD!
Be sure to pick up a Save the Belleview Biltmore yard sign to spread the word!  A $10 donation is requested.  For photo of yard sign and locations to pick them up.
http://www.savethebiltmore.com/BelleviewBiltmoreYardSign.htm
 

SARASOTA'S HERALD TRIBUNE ARTICLE
Here are some paragraphs of their recent article  "Goodbye to the historic Biltmore?" in which two architects were quoted in wanting to preserve the Biltmore.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050620/NEWS/506200373

A development group proposes to raze the hotel and build condos

By TOM ARTHUR   June 20, 2005
The building's possible demise is being watched by architects and historians across the state.

"It certainly is a building well worth preserving," said Sarasota architect Carl Abbott, who first heard of the Belleview Biltmore while studying architecture at Yale. "It's clearly a building of its period and type; it has a wonderfully planned layout." Also:

"It's an extremely important building," said Linda Stevenson, a Bradenton architect who serves on a regional historical preservation board. "At what point do we say, 'There are some things that belong to the community?'"
 

CLOSING THOUGHTS
1.  Two Florida architects realize the relevance and importance of preserving the beautiful Belleview Biltmore Hotel.
2.  400 people in Belleair signed petitions that they want to save the Biltmore.  And NOT build condos!
3.  One of the goals of the Comprehensive Plan of the town of Belleair is "the preservation of the  Belleview Biltmore Resort Hotel." (Page Comp. Plan - 1, dated 2/16/4.
4.  The Florida Trust preservation organization www.floridatrust.org recommends that the Belleview Biltmore Hotel be preserved.
5.  The National Trust organization, www.nationaltrust.org recommends that the Belleview Biltmore Hotel be preserved.
6.  The town of Belleair voted against the demolition permit of the Biltmore.
7.  The town of Belleair historical preservation board recommends that the Biltmore be preserved.
8.  The St. Petersburg Museum of History wrote this web site to preserve the Biltmore.
9.  The St. Petersburg Preservation Inc. wrote this web site to preserve the Biltmore.
10.  And hundreds of people all over the country have written me in support of preserving the Biltmore.

The message is crystal clear:  Preserve the magnificent Victorian Belleview Biltmore Hotel...forever.

Sincerely,
 

Diane Hein, Preservationist

www.SaveTheBiltmore.com

 June 20, 2005

Dear Belleview Biltmore Supporters, News Media and Others,

Tomorrow is the town of Belleair commissioner's meeting at 7:30 p.m.  PLEASE ATTEND and voice your opinion to save ALL four wings of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel and to be sure ALL hotel rooms remain as REAL hotel rooms...we must stop condo/hotel development at the Biltmore!

Be sure to read this Update all the way to the end as I discuss further my breaking away from the other preservation group who I used to work with.  Many of you understandably have had questions regarding my split with this group, and there is more information below in this regard.
 

BELLEAIR REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING
June 21, 2005, Tuesday
Time: 7:30 PM
901 Ponce de Leon
Belleair, Florida 33756-1034
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://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=901+Ponce+de+Leon+Blvd&city=Belleair&state=Fl&zipcode=
For specific directions from your home or office to the meeting, simply click www.mapquest.com.  Then click "Directions" and type in your home or office address under "Starting Address" and then under "Ending Address" type in 901 Ponce de Leon, Belleair, Florida 33756.   Then just click "Get Directions" and detailed instructions to the town meeting will show which you can print out.
 

SPEAK UP!
I am repeating some information from my Biltmore Update from last week: You may speak at the meeting simply by voicing your opinion ad lib or feel free to write or type down your thoughts, even just an eighth to a quarter page is fine like below and then simply read them.  Be sure to speak slowly or read your message S L O W L Y:  Include one or more of these points:

1.   You want all four wings saved to preserve the authenticity of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel.

2.   You want the entire hotel saved to make sure  1. It remains the largest continually occupied wooden structure in the world  and 2.  It remains the largest wooden structure in Florida.  (By the way I just learned that because the Biltmore is so large, it has two miles of corridors according to the book "Irresistible Overnights" by Bob Rafferty and Loys Reynolds who  recommended the Belleview Biltmore as a great place to visit and stay.  Wonderful information!)

3.   You hope that everyone has patience in order to find one or more investors who are truly preservation minded who want to save this hotel in its entirety.

4.    You want the entire The Belleair Belleview Biltmore hotel to remain standing if the hotel is to stand in history forever.

5.   After the four wings are saved, the Biltmore needs to be restored by caring people to bring it back to its glory days. Then the Biltmore must be extensively promoted and advertised throughout the country and the world to draw in tourists.  (From what I have seen in tourist books, or maybe I should say what I have not seen in tourist books, the Biltmore rarely has been promoted by its current owners!  No wonder why it has been neglected)
 

FOR THOSE WHO CAN NOT ATTEND BELLEAIR MEETINGS:
If for any reason you can not attend this month's town meetings, just send your ONE MINUTE EMAIL to the town council and Mayor of Belleair and include any or all of those five points listed above.  This way they will know where you stand!  Anyone may send an email to Belleair: Biltmore friends, public officials, preservation organizations and the news media to save  all four historical wings of this hotel!  Of course even if you attend the meetings, feel free to email Belleair your opinion!

Belleair email addresses are:

gemarianijr@cs.com, fowlerarch@aol.com, gmkatica@highstream.net, bruggles@tampabay.rr.com eupmeyer@ix.netcom.com, tmanager@tampabay.rr.com, mimaxwel@tampabay.rr.com,

George Mariani, Mayor of Belleair
Stephen Fowler, Belleair Commissioner
Gary Katica, Belleair Commissioner
Bonnie Ruggles, Belleair Commissioner
Ernst Upmeyer, 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
 

EDITORIAL ABOUT THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF CONDO HOTELS:
Below is an editorial from a reader who discusses the NEGATIVE aspects about having hotel condos.  This is just ONE of the reasons why we MUST stop condo/hotel development at the Biltmore!!  Remember that approximately 400 citizens in Belleair have signed petitions to stop condo development at the Biltmore.  This is powerful proof that the community of Belleair wants to STOP condo development on the Biltmore property!

If you are one of those people who have signed the petitions to stop condo development at the Biltmore, I would love to hear from you!  Send me a copy at Email me.

Assessments are a big minus for hotel condos.  St. Petersburg Times, June 16, 2005

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/854821281.html?MAC=ce1dc6c299ec3a41db03686293018cab&did=854821281&FMT=FT&FMTS=FT&date=Jun+16%2C+2005&author=&printformat=&desc=What%27s+the+big+problem+here%3F+Time+the+lights+Series%3A+LETTERS

Re: Hotel-to-condo change will be tougher, story, June 3.

One distinct disadvantage of buying a unit in a hotel where the plan is to convert a portion of the rooms into condos would be the huge assessments involved. Frankly speaking, I would not want to live in a building that is partly occupied by vacationers. My reason is damage control, or maybe I should say damage un-control.

Most people view their home as their sanctuary and try to keep damage down to a minimum. Assessments are plentiful enough in condominium living, with keeping a building up to code, replacing old equipment, and necessary repairs so that the condo retains a good market value.

With this in mind, no one wants to live in an environment where people do not share a common interest of preserving the building. Vacationers are usually here for a good time and are not always willing to treat a hotel as though it were their home, especially those with young children. Accidents are bound to happen that sometimes may not be discovered until the hotel guests have gone home. Guess who gets stuck with the bill?

My advice to anyone looking to buy a condo within a hotel is "Buyer beware."

JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater
 

THANK YOU'S
I want to thank the many people who sent me carbon copies of their emails to Rory Hiller to ask him to stop buying the Biltmore to put in his condo/hotels thereby destroying parts of the Biltmore.  Also I want to thank anyone who sent him an email but who did not carbon copy me.  Your efforts are GREATLY appreciated!   I urge others to write a ONE MINUTE EMAIL to Mr. Rory Hiller AS SOON AS POSSIBLE at 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!  Send me a carbon copy if you wish at Email me. If Mr. Rory Hiller has sent you any emails in response to your ONE MINUTE EMAIL, feel free to forward them to me. Thank you.
 

FAILURE TO DISCLOSE INFORMATION BY RAE CLAIRE JOHNSON TO THE ORLANDO SENTINEL
In May, Wes Smith, reporter for the Orlando Sentinel interviewed Mrs. Rae Claire Johnson about her efforts to save the Belleview Biltmore Hotel.  The interview eventually became a MAJOR newspaper article, on May 16, 2005 including photos of her and also the Belleview Biltmore Hotel.  I read the Orlando Sentinel's article, at that time, and I realized that Mrs. Johnson NEVER once discussed with Mr. Smith about her group's plan to tear off ANY of the Biltmore wings and put in condo/hotel rooms!!  Important facts left out!  I wrote Mr. Smith to verify that she never discussed this ultimate plan with him.  Mr. Smith confirmed to me that Mrs. Johnson NEVER once brought up this MOST IMPORTANT fact about her plans with developer, Rory Hiller, to tear down any Biltmore hotel wings.  This was appalling to me that Mrs. Johnson NEVER brought up this important fact to Mr. Smith, that is, about tearing off one or more of the historical Biltmore wings!

One of the quotes in that Orlando Sentinel article from Rae Claire Johnson is this:

    "People come here for the scenic beauty and architectural history," said Johnson, who is leading preservation efforts. "Tearing it [the hotel] down would be like building condos around Yosemite Park."  Rae Claire Johnson

When I read this article in May, I was highly concerned that Mrs. Johnson had completely FAILED to reveal to Wes Smith in a major newspaper story that her plans with developers were to build condo/hotels AROUND the beautiful Biltmore hotel !!!  According to Mrs. Johnson it was NOT okay to build condos around Yosemite Park, but it was "okay" to build condos around our beautiful Biltmore!?  It is because of this Orlando Sentinel article, that I started realizing there were serious trust issues between Mrs. Johnson, myself and the public.  It helped contribute to my breaking away from her and her group on June 6, 2005 when the developer names were ultimately revealed in the St. Petersburg Times article on June 4th.  It was then that I knew for sure that Mrs. Johnson still had plans with developers to tear down Biltmore wings and build condo/hotels as replacements for them.

 BELLEAIR BEE ARTICLE
In the Belleair Bee article by Lester R. Dailey, back in May 2005, www.TBNweekly.com,  here are some quotes:

    "Johnson has previously spoken of an anonymous corporate benefactor willing to lend her group $40 million to buy and refurbish the Biltmore. But on Sunday, she revealed more details. The benefactor, she said, is a developer willing to take repayment half in cash, hopefully from historic preservation grants, and half in development rights to the Biltmore property. "There may have to be some building,” she conceded. “But it would be as little as possible.” When an audience member asked if the east and west wings of the hotel would be saved under her plan, she admitted that she didn’t know how much of the structure could be rescued. "The building is in very good condition,” Johnson said. “There is nothing wrong with the foundation or structure. The only problems are cosmetic.”

My question to you readers is this:  If the Biltmore is in such good condition and  "there is nothing wrong with the foundation or structure" according to Mrs. Johnson, why does Rory Hiller want to tear down the historical south wing!?  And Mrs. Johnson's quote that there will be there will as " little as possible" building by a developer is ridiculous because her plan is to chop off one full Biltmore south wing and gut the north wing!   The current plans as of last week of Mrs. Johnson's and Rory Hiller are to tear down a historical south wing of this magnificent hotel, to gut the north wing and then to put in hotel/condo rooms in both.  Their plan is a MAJOR development plan in my opinion!  Let's all understand what THEY want to do.  Their plan is to destroy, slice and dice up the Biltmore, thus ruining its historical relevancy and its future as a REAL hotel.

www.SaveTheBiltmore.com supports saving ALL four wings and saving all hotel rooms as real hotel rooms.
 

CLOSING THOUGHTS:
I hope this clarifies some issues to my Belleview Biltmore supporters, preservation organizations, public officials and the news media of my decision to break away from Mrs. Johnson and to pursue saving all four wings of this Victorian beauty.  And saving all hotel rooms as REAL hotel rooms.   When all four wings are saved, and all guest rooms are saved, this magnificent historical hotel may continue to be a REAL hotel.  Some 500 hotel rooms have been lost on Clearwater Beach to condo/hotel development and or pure condominium development.  This is most unfortunate for Clearwater Beach, in my opinion, and unfortunate to our great Florida tourist industry.  However, on the PLUS side is the fact that now tourists will need to find other hotel rooms!  This is VERY good news for the Belleview Biltmore Hotel and VERY good news for Pinellas County.   Currently there are 243 rooms available at the Belleview.  However, there is the potential of approximately 400 guest rooms at the Biltmore once they are completely refurbished after we save all four wings.  Then at that time, tourists from around the world may continue to stay at the Biltmore once all the 400 real hotel rooms are preserved and restored.

We must continue to work to save all four wings of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel which is an American treasure, a real hotel and an important part of the history of Pinellas County.

Sincerely,
 

Diane Hein

www.SaveTheBiltmore.com

Email Me

Dear Belleview Biltmore Supporters, News Media and Others,
 

I just posted this to Today's Alert on my Biltmore web site, www.SaveTheBiltmore.com, so feel free to write to Rory Hiller, email address below, as soon as possible and send this email to as many people you know!

Thank you so much for your support :)

URGENT!!  EMAIL POTENTIAL BUYERS OF THE BILTMORE
For new readers, I, Diane Hein, owner of this web site, www.SaveTheBiltmore.com, support saving all four wings of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel.  It was reported in the St. Petersburg Times in the past and other newspapers and also this week, that Rory Hiller, Clearwater resident and real estate developer wants to tear down the south wing and replace it and the north wing with condo/hotel units thus DESTROYING the historical relevancy and beauty of Belleiar and Pinellas County's Victorian hotel!  The Belleview Biltmore must be saved in its entirety!

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.  It is my knowledge they will be meeting this coming Monday, June 20th.  I urge you to write Mr. Rory Hiller AS SOON AS POSSIBLE at 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!

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 at 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 www.SaveTheBiltmore.com.    Just be sure to write him!

Let's save all four wings of the beautiful Victorian Belleview Biltmore Resort and Spa so it may continue to be a real hotel!

Sincerely,
 

Diane Hein

www.SaveTheBiltmore.com

Email Me

Belleview Biltmore Update June 14, 2005 Tuesday
 

Dear Belleview Biltmore Friends, News Media and Others,

There are three meetings left in Belleair this month, two are tomorrow, Wednesday, June 15.  ANYONE may speak at the meetings to voice your support to save ALL four wings of the beautiful Belleview Biltmore Hotel!  The preservation board meeting is tomorrow, Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. This meeting would be especially important for you to voice your opinion.   Another VERY important meeting is next week, June 21, the Belleair town commission meeting at 7:30 p.m.  Everyone who loves the Biltmore should attend that 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
June 15, 2005, Wednesday
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 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 REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING
June 21, 2005, Tuesday
Time: 7:30 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.
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=
 

SPEAK UP!
I am repeating some information from my Biltmore Update from Sunday: You may speak at the meeting simply by voicing your opinion ad lib or write or type down your thoughts, even just an eighth to a quarter page is fine like below and then simply read them.  Be sure to read your message S L O W L Y:  Include one or more of these points:

1.   You want all four wings saved to preserve the authenticity of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel.

2.   You want the entire hotel saved to make sure  1. It remains the largest continually occupied wooden structure in the world  and 2.  It remains the largest wooden structure in Florida.  (By the way I just learned that because the Biltmore is so large, it has two miles of corridors according to the book "Irresistible Overnights" by Bob Rafferty and Loys Reynolds who  recommended the Belleview Biltmore as a great place to visit and stay.  Wonderful information!)

3.   You hope that everyone has patience in order to find one or more investors who are truly preservation minded who want to save this hotel in its entirety.

4.    You want the entire The Belleair Belleview Biltmore hotel to remain standing if the hotel is to stand in history forever.

5.   After the four wings are saved, the Biltmore needs to be restored by caring people to bring it back to its glory days. Then the Biltmore must be extensively promoted and advertised throughout the country and the world to draw in tourists.  (From what I have seen in tourist books, or maybe I should say what I have not seen in tourist books, the Biltmore rarely has been promoted by its current owners!  No wonder why it has been neglected)
 

FOR THOSE WHO CAN NOT ATTEND BELLEAIR MEETINGS:
If for any reason you can not attend this month's town meetings, just send your ONE MINUTE EMAIL to the town council and Mayor of Belleair and include any or all of those five points listed above.  This way they will know where you stand!  Anyone may send an email to Belleair: Biltmore friends, public officials, preservation organizations and the news media to save  all four historical wings of this hotel!  Of course even if you attend the meetings, feel free to email Belleair your opinion!

Belleair email addresses are:

gemarianijr@cs.com, fowlerarch@aol.com, gmkatica@highstream.net, eupmeyer@ix.netcom.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
Ernst Upmeyer, 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
 

TWO CORRECTIONS TO MY LAST UPDATE
1.  A few people who have stayed at the Biltmore Hotel in Arizona have written me that this old hotel has some new wings added to it. This information was not revealed in the TV program I saw.
2.  John Hildreth is Director of the Southern Office of the National Trust.
 

LETTER FROM BILTMORE SUPPORTER:
This is a letter I have posted to the Message Board on the Biltmore web site from supporter Doug Mann, who has written many many letters to Belleair commissioners and the other names suggested on the Biltmore web site. I thank him very much for all his support and in wanting to save the entire building.  Feel free to write me also of your support to save all four Biltmore wings, and give me permission to post them to the Message Board with your name.

"Now that there seems to be a delay in issuing a demolition permit, it is time for those involved to assemble a group of buyers that will renovate the Belleview in it's entirety, not just a couple of wings.  The renovation and proper marketing, could make this a very profitable venture, as is the Vinoy and the Don.  Under NO circumstance should even ONE square inch be destroyed.  Do no allow this to happen.  We need our history and heritage to survive forever.  Enough of developers sacrificing our heritage and history for the sake of the almighty dollar alone."  Doug Mann
 

BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOS OF THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE HOTEL
I received an email from a new Biltmore supporter: Darren Osgood.  He recently took some incredibly beautiful black and white photos of the Biltmore.  Here is the link so be sure to view them.     http://www.pbase.com/oz/belleview_biltmore  And be sure to view the charming vintage photo of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel at www.SaveTheBiltmore.com which I just posted this week.
 

CLOSING THOUGHTS:
Since tomorrow is the preservation board meeting in Belleair at 5:30 p.m., we need to discuss the word:  PRESERVATION!

According to www.Dictionary.com this is the definition of preservation:
To maintain in safety from injury, peril, or harm; protect
To keep in perfect or unaltered condition; maintain unchanged.
To keep or maintain intact
To prepare for future use
To prevent from decaying or spoiling
To keep or protect

In regards to preserving the Biltmore, this means preserving all four wings, protecting, taking care of them, renovating them, keeping them for future use and for future generations.  Preserving history!

There is a group of people who I used to work with that I split away from on June 6. This group wants to destroy, to demolish and to tear off the historically significant two wings of the Biltmore.  They call themselves preservationists, and yet they want to chop off the north and south wings!

This is NOT preservation!!  Their goal is destruction!

The woman heading up this organization wrote me once she only contacted two dozen developers to try to preserve the Belleview Biltmore!  Out of the entire United States, she only contacted two dozen developers to save this magnificant hotel!  We MUST work harder!

We must preserve the Biltmore to enable its history to stand in tact of being the largest continually occupied structure in the world, the largest wooden structure in Florida, a historical landmark in Belleair. People must come to the rescue of this beautiful hotel.

Sam Casella worked very hard to show that the comprehensive plan indicated that the Belleview Biltmore must be preserved:  http://www.savethebiltmore.com/Analysis_May_12_2005.htm
Comprehensive Plan Goals, Objectives, and Policies
"Future Land Use Goal 1: Ensure that the park-like, residential/family character of the Town of Belleair is maintained and protected while supporting the continued economic viability of local resorts and the preservation of the Belleview Biltmore Resort Hotel." (Page Comp. Plan - 1, dated 2/16/99)

There have been concerns about the termites and the Biltmore's wood concerning its preservation.  Mike Harris, is on the preservation committee in Belleair.   He was quoted in the Orlando Sentinel on May 16 that he does NOT believe the termite talk.  He said and I quote "that wood is so old it's petrified.  A termite couldn't eat it."  He recognizes the fact that the Biltmore STILL can be preserved even though it is made of wood!  By the way, this wood is heart of pine which hardens with age.

So speak up tomorrow and talk about preservation with the preservation board of Belleair!

Sincerely,
 

Diane Hein, A True Preservationist

www.SaveTheBiltmore.com

Belleview Biltmore Update, June 12, 2005 Sunday
 

Dear Biltmore Friends, News Media and others,

BELLEAIR MEETINGS:
There are two meetings this week in the town of Belleair which I urge you to attend.  The first is tomorrow, Monday, June 13.   It is at 5:30 p.m., so if you are employed, arrange to get off early from work and speak up to save the entire Belleview Biltmore Hotel.   The second meeting is Wednesday, June 15 also at 5:30, and you may speak up there too.   Address and map link below.
 

PETITION SIGNATURES IN BELLEAIR
Over 400 people in the town of Belleair have already signed petitions back in May, that if voted upon or approved by the town council of Belleair would help secure that the entire building would be saved.  This is a strong indicator that the citizens of Belleair want to save the entire hotel!!!    Where are these petitions by the way?  Are they secure and in a safe place?   I have no idea any more.  So feel free to ask at tomorrow's meeting.
 

NATIONAL TRUST  www.NationalTrust.org
The National Trust recently put the Biltmore on its list of 11 most endangered places in America.   It recognizes the importance of this lovely Victorian hotel.  It is such a great honor for them to place the Biltmore on this list since the 2005 deadline was in January 2005, and they were able to still include the Belleview Biltmore on their endangered list. We sincerely thank them!  Richard Moe is President of National Trust and John Hildreth is CEO of Historic Hotels of America, which is associated with the National Trust.  A recent Belleair Bee newspaper article, June 8, quoted Mary Ruffin Hanbury, program officer of the National Trust's trust’s Atlanta office. “We had more hits on the feedback section of our Web site related to the Belleview Biltmore than just about any other threatened site I can recall,” she said.  She said that public interest in a property is “a real big part” of why it is on the list.  This is powerful information for preservationists who want to save ALL FOUR wings of the Belleview Biltmore because when the public wrote, they thought the entire hotel was to be saved by my Save the Biltmore web site.  I want to thank all Biltmore Friends and supporters who wrote National Trust through my web site www.SaveTheBiltmore.com.  I can not thank you enough!
 

VOICE YOUR OPINION TOMORROW AND WEDNESDAY!
We need your voice heard at these town meetings.  Anyone may speak at these meetings, and I urge you to speak your opinion no matter where you live that all four wings of this magnificant hotel must be saved and preserved forever.  Or as the saying goes if you don't...forever hold your peace!  Voice your opinion at the town council meeting tomorrow that you too want to see history saved. That you want the Belleview Biltmore saved in its entirely.

Keep the momentum going by reading a short or long letter at the town council meeting tomorrow night. Your voice DOES count.  Just remember this!   If you want to know what to say to the town council tomorrow or Wednesday, you can refer to the next few paragraphs. Use some or all of those 5 points or add your own.

Write or type down your thoughts, even just an eighth to a quarter page is fine like below.  Then simply read them:  If you do not have public speaking experience, just take a few deep breaths before approaching the microphone, as deep breathing will relax you, and then read your letter...S L O W L Y.

Include one or more of these points:

1.   You want all four wings saved to preserve the authenticity of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel.

2.   You want the entire hotel saved to make sure  1. It remains the largest continually occupied wooden structure in the world and 2.  It remains the largest wooden structure in Florida.  (By the way I just learned that because the Biltmore is so large, it has two miles of corridors according to the book "Irresistible Overnights" by Bob Rafferty and Loys Reynolds who recommended the Belleview Biltmore as a great place to visit and stay.  Wonderful information!)

3.   You hope that everyone has patience in order to find one or more investors who are truly preservation minded who want to save this hotel in its entirety.

4.    You want the entire The Belleair Belleview Biltmore hotel to remain standing if the hotel is to stand in history forever.

5.   After the four wings are saved, the Biltmore needs to be restored by caring people to bring it back to its glory days. Then the Biltmore must be extensively promoted and advertised throughout the country and the world to draw in tourists.  (From what I have seen in tourist books, or maybe I should say what I have not seen in tourist books, the Biltmore rarely has been promoted by its current owners!  No wonder why it has been neglected)
 

FOR THOSE WHO CAN NOT ATTEND BELLEAIR MEETINGS:
If for any reason you can not attend this month's town meetings, just send your ONE MINUTE EMAIL to the town council and Mayor of Belleair and include any or all of those five points listed above.  This way they will know where you stand!  Anyone may send an email to Belleair: Biltmore friends, public officials, preservation organizations and the news media to save all four historical wings of this hotel!  Of course even if you attend the meetings, feel free to email Belleair your opinion!

Belleair email addresses are:

gemarianijr@cs.com, fowlerarch@aol.com, gmkatica@highstream.net, eupmeyer@ix.netcom.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
Ernst Upmeyer, 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
 

JUNE CALENDAR OF BELLEAIR TOWN MEETINGS :
ANYONE may speak at any meetings to save the entire structure!

BELLEAIR PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING
June 13, 2005, Monday
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 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 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
June 15, 2005, Wednesday
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 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 REGULAR COMMISSON MEETING
June 21, 2005, Tuesday
Time: 7:30 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.
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=
 

TOWN OF BELLEAIR WEB SITE FOR CALENDAR AND AGENDAS:
The Town of Belleair has a web site with a calendar of their meetings:  http://belleair.govoffice.com/  Then click at bottom of their web page under:  "Calendars" and then after this "Town Meetings."   If you want to find out the agenda and what topics are to be discussed at the town meetings click "Agenda and Minutes."   If any of the links are broken in this email, just go to www.SaveTheBiltmore.com and click on "Calendar."
 

YARD SIGNS
Yard signs to save the Biltmore are still available!  Locations are given at web site: http://savethebiltmore.com/BelleviewBiltmoreYardSign.htm
 

BILTMORE HOTEL, PHOENIX, ARIZONA
I recently saw a TV program about an older magnificent hotel, the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona.  Their web site states:  "The only existing hotel in the world with a Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced design, The Arizona Biltmore has been an Arizona landmark since its opening on Feb. 23, 1929 when it was crowned "The Jewel of the Desert." The resort's design was inspired by consulting architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who collaborated with former student Albert Chase McArthur."  Interesting that theirs is the jewel of the desert and the Belleview Biltmore is the Queen of the Gulf.  Let's keep that title!
 

OTHER OLDER HOTELS SAVED AND PRESERVE:
In the past few weeks in my Belleview Biltmore Updates, I have already mentioned over six large hotels, some from the Victorian era like our Belleview Biltmore, that have been saved and preserved. We must do the same. They succeeded, we must succeed.  The ones which have escaped  the wrecking ball are the Del Coronado in California, the Wes Baden in Indiana, the Royal Hawaiian in Hawaii, Wentworth by the Sea in New Hampshire, the Biltmore Hotel in Miami and the Don Cesar, the Casa Monica, the Vinoy and the Lakeside Inn, the last five hotels all saved in Florida. If you know more that were saved, please write me at www.SaveTheBiltmore.com.  They were saved through a combination of preservation organizations or someone bought them with preservation in mind.  They are true inspirational stories for potential preservation buyers!
 

NEW PHOTO OF THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE HOTEL
I have posted a vintage photo of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel, of the south entrance, when it still had beautiful shutters, and there was lovely greenery and flowers gracing this magnificent entrance. Be sure to look at it to see the hotel in its historical setting.
 

CLOSING THOUGHTS
The new trend in TV is reality shows.  So let's discuss reality.  The reality is that another
group wants to destroy two historically significant wings of this magnificent hotel.  The reality is they only want to save the core of the hotel.  The reality is that once its history is lost, it will be gone forever. The reality is that the developer said it would cost $12 million to build new condo/hotel units and $36 million to restore the north and south wings.  The reality is that these developers will stand to make millions of dollars because they are more interested in the money than they are saving instead of saving history.  That's realism people.

Which would you rather have...  Fake silk flowers or fresh cut flowers?  A fake reproduction of antique furniture or real furniture that is truly valuable?  A fake copycat painting or a real painting by a well-known artist?  Fake cubic zirconium or a real diamond?  Fake plastic knives and forks or real silver?  Fake wings on the Belleview Biltmore Hotel or all four real wings?

I vote for real.

Sincerely,

Diane Hein

www.SaveTheBiltmore.com    Be sure now to view the new photo on this web page, and then write your ONE MINUTE EMAIL to the town of Belleair and attend this week's meetings!

Dear Belleview Biltmore Friends, News Media and Others,

I have a MAJOR announcement in this Belleview Biltmore Update so be sure to read it!
 

BELLEAIR TOWN MEETING PLEASE ATTEND!
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 who attends 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=
 

NATIONAL TRUST PLACES THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE ON ITS 11 MOST ENDANGERED LIST
Great news!  The National Trust included the Belleview Biltmore in a list it released Thursday, June 2, 2005 of America's 11 most endangered historic places.   The National Trust has helped save many historical buildings through its efforts in bringing national awareness to historic places.  The Belleview Biltmore already has been placed on the Florida Trust's 11 most endangered historic places as a result of the save the Biltmore web site with so many people writing to this preservation organization and raising Florida State awareness per my ONE MINUTE EMAIL campaign.  To read the full story "Historic hotel added to endangered list Belleview Biltmore supporters hope a national list will give them traction against demolition plans. By Lorri Helfand, Times Staff Writer Published June 3, 2005 http://sptimes.com/2005/06/03/Tampabay/Historic_hotel_added_.shtml
 

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.
 

LETTERS FROM SAM CASELLA AND PINELLAS COUNTY COMMISSIONER KAREN SEEL:
Email from Sam Casella to the Biltmore 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 JOHN MORRONI AND SAM CASELLA
Email from Biltmore Supporter 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."  Individual Pinellas County Commissioner email addresses are on the main web page:  www.SaveTheBiltmore.com  Here are all of them if you wish to send your ONE MINUTE EMAIL to them and ask them to continue to support saving the Belleview Biltmore. rduncan@pinellascounty.org, charris@pinellascounty.org, slatvala@pinellascounty.org, jmorroni@pinellascounty.org, kseel@pinellascounty.org, rstewart@pinellascounty.org, ktwelch@pinellascounty.org
 

WENTWORTH BY THE SEA
This beautiful historic hotel in New Hampshire was saved from the wrecking ball.  To view it click: http://www.wentworth.com.  It is a member of the National Trust organization, the same organization that just listed the Belleview Biltmore on its America's 11 most endangered historic places.
 

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE NEWS MEDIA AND SUPPORTERS OF THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE:  Please read this announcement carefully which I sent to the news media as a separate press release:  There is my Closing Thoughts after this major announcement.

June 6, 2005

For Immediate Release

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" to save the Belleview Biltmore Hotel. However, I will continue to try to stop the demolition and to save the Biltmore, its 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.

Rae Claire Johnson officially started this nonprofit organization Friends of the Belleview Biltmore herself sometime in late April 2005. I have NEVER been an official member of Rae Claire Johnson's nonprofit organization the "Friends of the Belleview Biltmore," and I was NEVER asked to be on her board of directors. Plus I do not want to be on that board, as her mission does not agree with mine. Her group is to tear down the north and south wings and replace them with condo hotel units, and my mission has been to save the entire Belleview Biltmore Hotel since December 2004.

My independent web site, www.SaveTheBiltmore.com has only been cooperating with Rae Claire Johnson and a small group of others to stop the immediate demolition of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel. Rae Claire Johnson and many others had written to me April 12, 2005 after an article in the St. Petersburg Times by Aaron Sharockman and Lorri Helfand in which the name of my web site was printed. I started working with Rae Claire Johnson and also with Laurie Adams, Julie Kleckner and Jeff Francis to stop the immediate demolition of the Belleview Biltmore, which we have succeeded in doing so far especially with the help of Sam Casella. That was our immediate concern and main mission at that time.

In my independent web site, www.SaveTheBiltmore.com (under General Information on the main page, second paragraph) and in one or more of my Belleview Biltmore Updates, and in emails exchanged with Rae Claire Johnson, I have written and expressed my disapproval of tearing down the north and south Biltmore wings. Mrs. Johnson never mentioned to me the name of the developer she has been associated with, that is, Rory Hiller who wishes to tear down the north and south wings and replace them with hotel condo units in their place. I had hoped that Mrs. Johnson would pursue efforts in saving the entire structure, but she has not even though she mentioned that saving the entire structure was an option. I only learned the developer's name, Rory Hiller, this past Saturday when an article in the St. Petersburg Times revealed it at a press conference that Rae Claire Johnson had with him at the Belleview Biltmore, Friday, June 3, 2005.

I am against putting condo hotel units in place of the north and south wings. In order to preserve the historical relevancy and the title "world's largest continually occupied wooden structure," we need to save the entire Belleview Biltmore building to preserve its Victorian size, look and elegance. There are already large high-rise condominiums to one side of the Belleview Biltmore, constructed some 30 years ago. These unfortunately now block the once beautiful view to the Gulf from the Belleview Biltmore. Our county is being overdeveloped with condominiums, we are losing our wonderful tourist industry as a result, and I do not want our county being called "Condo County" instead of Pinellas County as this will adversely affect the Biltmore tourist trade. Adding more condo hotel units around the core of the hotel will only further ruin the tourist trade to the Belleview Biltmore and Pinellas County.

I also only learned through Saturday's St. Petersburg Times article on June 4 that Rory Hiller had plans to sell the Belleview Biltmore back to Rae Claire Johnson's group, the Friends of the Belleview Biltmore in about five years. Rae Claire Johnson NEVER told me about this plan.

Here is the link to the Saturday's newspaper article in the St. Petersburg Times about Rory Hiller for those news media who have not seen it: http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/849294581.html?MAC=2105bc036d31f3fff7ba22093e3b4160&did=849294581&FMT=FT&FMTS=FT&date=Jun+4%2C+2005&author=LORRI+HELFAND&printformat=&desc=Consultant+shapes+deal+to+save+Biltmore+hotel

Because I still want to save the Biltmore, I will be keeping my www.SavetheBiltmore.com web site up and running. I will continue to work with anyone who wishes to save the Biltmore with all of its four wings, thus preserving its historical relevancy and beauty.

It has been through my web site, www.SaveTheBiltmore.com that people have been writing HUNDREDS of letters to various organizations and public officials. In fact, Kathleen Kauffman, Executive Director of the Florida Trust, wrote me that she herself has received hundreds of emails from concerned citizens, and this is a result of her email address being on my web site www.SaveTheBiltmore.com. As a result she placed the Belleview Biltmore as one of the 11 most endangered historical places in Florida. The hundreds of letters she and other organizations and officials received were a result of the Biltmore web site with my ONE MINUTE EMAIL campaign that I personally started back in April 2005.

Will Michaels, Executive Director, of the St. Petersburg Museum of History wrote me to ask that his name be removed from the ONE MINUTE EMAIL campaign on my Biltmore web site because he had been receiving so many emails from people wanting to save the Biltmore! The interest in saving the Belleview Biltmore is very broad ranged, and I have received over 9,000 hits on my Biltmore web site as of today!

Also the National Trust received so many emails from people directed from my Biltmore web site in my ONE MINUTE EMAIL campaign, that they put the Belleview Biltmore just recently on their list of 11 most endangered historical places in America, June 2, 2005. The deadline for this list was in January 2005 which had already past. However, because so many people wrote the National Trust, directed from my Biltmore web site, they included the Belleview Biltmore on their 2005 endangered list!

I have posted this press release on my web site at so you can verify its authenticity, and that it is from me. http://www.savethebiltmore.com/BelleviewBiltmorePressRelease_June_2005.html

A final note: my request to the news media is to ask you to differentiate my Save the Biltmore web site from the Friends of the Belleview Biltmore group in your publications, articles, radio or TV coverage from now on should this topic come up.

Thank you.

Sincerely,    Diane Hein at www.SaveTheBiltmore.com
 

CLOSING THOUGHTS
According to the National Trust, www.nationaltrust.org, in order for the Belleview Biltmore to be saved, it needs a buyer with an interest in preservation.  Talk to your friends, family, co-workers, employers, employees, write emails, letters, make phone calls to hotel owners, organizations, celebrities, the leaders in your community to start the ball rolling to find a person or group who would like to save the Belleview Biltmore.  This magnificent hotel has many possibilities, a grand tourist destination with a historical Victorian theme.  Tourists more than ever are interested in going to historical destinations so this is a great reason to buy the hotel!  The problem with the Belleview Biltmore is that it has not been advertised properly, and new owners can do great things!   When you call or write letters, be sure to mention this web site www.SaveTheBiltmore.com, so people have a contact address.

Many other hotels have escaped the wrecking ball like the Del Coronado in California, the Wes Baden in Indiana, the Royal Hawaiian in Hawaii, Wentworth by the Sea in New Hampshire, and the Don Cesar, the Casa Monica, the Vinoy and the Lakeside Inn, the last four hotels all saved in Florida.  They all were saved through a combination of preservation organizations or someone bought them with preservation in mind.  They are true inspirational stories for potential buyers!

You CAN make the difference in saving the Belleview Biltmore Hotel.

Sincerely,
 
 

Diane Hein at www.SaveTheBiltmore.com
 

Dear Friends of the Belleview Biltmore, News Media and Others,This is a quick Update to announce:  FRIENDS OF THE BELLEVIEW BILTMORE YARD SIGN DISTRIBUTION CENTERS ARE IN!!! Please note that there is an enclosed photo of the yard sign in this email. Here are locations and times available: Indian Shores (closest to Belleair) Office of Robert M. Burrell, Attorney
19455 Gulf Blvd. Suite 9
Indian Shores, FL 33785
9 a.m. to 12 noon  or 1-5 p.m.  Monday through Friday.  Seminole Area Keller Williams Gulf Coast (Realty Office)
13800 Park Blvd.
Seminole
Contact: Lokey
Hours:  M-F 8-5
St. Petersburg, Central Keller Williams Gulf Coast (Realty Office)
5999 Central Avenue
St. Petersburg
Contact: Melanie
Hours - M-F 8:30 - 5:30
North St. Petersburg Keller Williams Gulf Coast (Realty Office)
6400 4th Street North
Contact: Amy
Hours - M-F 8:30 - 5:30
West St. Petersburg FELIXONE Headquarters (Large Blue Warehouses on North side of Tyrone
Overpass, across from Tyrone Mall)
3150 71st Street North (go west on Tyrone Frontage Road
that runs by Hooters and Sound Advice through two stop signs and into gate,
office on right.
See Paula M-F 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. through June 10.
 

LETTER FROM JEFF FRANCIS:   Dear Friends of the Belleview Biltmore:   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.
Also, please take moment to thank the volunteers who have offered to use
their offices as distribution points when you pick up the signs. Signs are available NOW!

Sincerely,Jeff Francis YARD SIGN