Belleair Beach Meeting Scheduled To Discuss Undergrounding

There will be a meeting at 5:30 pm on January 23 at the Belleair Beach community center to discuss the undergrounding of utilities. Representatives from Progress Energy, Brighthouse, and Verizon will be available to answer questions.

Belleair Beach Offers Free Tennis Lessons

Free introductory tennis lessons are being offered in Belleair Beach. Classes are offered on Monday, April 11, at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m., and Tuesday, May 10, at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Call Jim Rudolph at 458-6727 for more information.

Belleview Biltmore Plans Still Unknown

The Belleview Biltmore was purchased months ago, but there's still no indication of what will become of the property. The new owners aren't rushing to sell or develop the property, and anything is possible - including saving the historic hotel. They are currently analyzing the costs of maintaining the hotel long term while looking for a development partner or buyer. Current plans involve marketing all of the hotel's properties as a package to potential buyers or developers, including the golf club and the Cabana Club on Sand Key.

Questions arose though, after internet real estate listings were found that listed the hotel, golf club and Cabana Club separately. This listings were posted on commercial real estate webiste Loopnet, by Florida Growth Realty. They listed Betsey Lurie as the contact person, and the listings said they were verified on January 11th 2011. The current owner says they know nothing about the listings and do not have immediate plans to sell the properties. The listings have since been changed, removing Florida Growth Realty as broker, and list Betsey Lurie as the broker. As of March 12, her real estate license in inactive.

After some digging, it appears this is not the first time Florida Growth Realty has been involved in questionable property ads. The St Pete Times ran a story last year about the Seminole Mall that referenced a false property advertisement. According to Robert Lurie, broker for Florida Growth Realty, his secretary accidentally posted the property listing on the internet. Other internet complaints were found as well.

Meanwhile, residents are breathing easier for the time being. Some Sand Key residents opposed the previous owner's plan for a beachfront hotel on the Biltmore's Cabana Club property. The current owners do not have any plans to develop the property for now. And there is a glimmer of hope for Belleair residents who fought for preservation of the Belleview Biltmore. The new owners have met with a historic property developer.

Bellair Market On The Mall Opens This Week

Belleair's "Market On The Mall" will open Friday, Jan. 28, at Hunter Park, at the corner of The Mall and Indian Rocks Road. The market will be open on the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month from 9 am - 2 pm.

Market products will include farm fresh produce, gourmet foods, assorted cheeses, coffees and teas, herbs, spices, baked goods, hand-made jewelry, crafts, flowers, plants, eco-friendly products, and gifts.

Belleview Biltmore Sold To Miami Investors

After months of rumors, it's official- the Belleview Biltmore is now owned by new investors. The investment group consists of brothers Raphael and Daniel Ades, and another partner. The group purchased the mortgage on the property for $8 million, and now control the hotel, as well as the golf course and Cabana Club in Sand Key.

According to Raphael Ades, they will focus first on paying bills and keeping the golf course in operation and later decide what to do with the hotel. Legg Mason (now Latitude Management Real Estate Investors) mortgaged the property for $26.8 million with intentions to restore the hotel.

The future of the property is still unclear. In October, Ades said his group was primarily interested in the golf course and had plans to upgrade the 136-acre golf course. In November, Senior Care Group said it was negotiating with the investors to possibly restore the Biltmore and convert it into an assisted living facility. Ades has recently said they may separate the properties or find another party interested the properties as a whole.