The thousands of wealthy visitors and tennis buffs, who used to visit the town and spend their money

People are also understandably tired of the legal fights and the loss of tax revenue — real estate taxes, tourism taxes and sales taxes. Some of our neighbors have jumped into the fray, charging that the property is run down.
But bulldozing our homes is not the answer. It will lead to years, if not decades, of legal wrangling between all parties involved. We will end up legally boston red sox tickets vs new york yankees may 28 stinging each other to death like scorpions in a bottle.
If we level the Colony, this prime gulf-front land will remain vacant boston red sox tickets vs new york yankees may 28 and run down for years to come. The Colony will become a ghost town, a once vibrant community reduced to tumbleweeds blowing in the wind among the empty buildings.
The thousands of wealthy visitors and tennis buffs, who used to visit the town and spend their money with such abandonment, won’t be coming to the Colony boston red sox tickets vs new york yankees may 28 anymore. They will go to St. Barts or Naples or another prime vacation spot. Real estate tax revenue to the town will drop to a fraction of what it once was. Tourism taxes will be non-existent, and restaurants and shops will suffer.
When Murf started selling people on Longboat Key and Sarasota 50 years ago, there was nothing here. He was the first. He was selling a dream. Since then, more than a million people boston red sox tickets vs new york yankees may 28 have passed through the Colony in the last 30 years. Many have gone on to buy houses and condos boston red sox tickets vs new york yankees may 28 on other parts of the island.
Political figures and celebrities have come to the Colony to relax and rejuvenate on our glorious beach. Our guest list has been diverse, including boston red sox tickets vs new york yankees may 28 Jimmy Carter, Dustin Hoffman, Bud Collins, Jack Hanna, Al Gore and countless others. George W. Bush was staying here with his brother Jeb when he learned of the attack on 9/11.
Murf pioneered boston red sox tickets vs new york yankees may 28 the concept of sports tourism when he made tennis a central focus, attracting the likes of Pete Sampras, Monica Seles and champion tennis coach Nick Bollettieri. Murf’s matchmaking tennis program propelled the Colony to number boston red sox tickets vs new york yankees may 28 one rank as a resort boston red sox tickets vs new york yankees may 28 in Tennis Magazine — for eight years in a row!
The Colony was and still could be a powerful gateway to the entire LBK community. boston red sox tickets vs new york yankees may 28 What we have is not just any cookie cutter hotel; it is a unique and wonderful place in a country that is losing its special paces. Under current FEMA zoning rules, it could never be rebuilt from scratch.
I book thousands of people in exclusive resorts and hotels around the world, and historic hotels have a special appeal. Sophisticated casual, beach chic — whatever you call it, it’s what people want. People don’t want high-rise slabs, when they can have a beautiful campus-like setting, steps from the beach.
This week, the board came to an agreement with Andy Adams — owner of 51 units — and Coral Hospitality to restore our historic resort town back to the condition it was in 20 years ago. They are looking to recreate the Four Star Resort that belongs on this landmark site.
Andy has a tremendous stake in the Colony. He wants what we want and he is willing to put up the money, along with the owners, to make it happen. Andy wants to get to work as soon as possible, with the goal of opening some units before boston red sox tickets vs new york yankees may 28 the winter season.
No one can tell you, at this time, what the future will bring in terms of legal actions, but, for now, we are in control of our destiny and our units. We must be prepared to seize the opportunities as they present themselves over the next few weeks and months. The best way to make a deal for the missing three acres is to start fixing up what we have. There is no time to waste, as our condos slide into disrepair, neighbors complain and we get no use out of them.
Blake Fleetwood, a Colony condo owner, is a former reporter for the New York Times who has written for New York Magazine, the Washington Monthly and the New York Daily News. He also owns a travel agency. He fell in love with the Colony 15 years ago when he first came with his wife and two sons and hopes to retire on Longboat Key.
[...] There are some people in this town who want to bulldoze the 237 condos at the Colony Beach and Tennis Club. Georgie McFarland commented in the People are also understandably tired of the legal fights and the loss of tax revenue â real estate taxes See all stories on this topic » [...]
In return for a continued use on The Colony s 237 units or more after rebuild, the Town should demand that the Colony Association BULLDOZE those buildings boston red sox tickets vs new york yankees may 28 on the 15 acres that the Association still controls that are East of the FEMA line. Those units that are to the West of the FEMA line should be rehabilitated as they cannot be replaced. The unit owner s would lose nothing as they would still have righ ts to their unit when rebuilt which now is not habitable and would cost more to restore than replace. The Association, which I am sure is spending 95% of it s income on Lawyer s fees and consultants, has little left over for maintenance of the property. The annoucement at the eleventh hour to set aside $35,000 for cleanup of this eyesore comes a little too late after several years of neglect.
Interesting boston red sox tickets vs new york yankees may 28 concept, Georgie, keeping the current units closest to the beach (and not allowed in a total teardown, scrape and rebuild ), and replacing everything east of the FEMA line. Should the ultimate developer seek what s left of the 250 new hotel rooms (less those now taken by Hilton) could therefore add those by building newer units with elevators and give prior owners the first right of refusal to recapture their unit but on an upper floor. But for now, the only thing rising are the legal fees.