Most Endangered - Update
AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE FLORIDA TRUST’S MOST ENDANGERED HISTORIC PLACES
Avery Smith House, Miami Beach (listed 2007) - In January, the owners of this historic property informed the City of Miami Beach that they would restore the house. They put up a $400,000 performance bond that will be forfeited to the Miami Design Preservation League if restoration work isn’t completed within 2 years.
Camp Pinchot, Eglin Air Force Base, Fort Walton Beach (listed 2007) - Earlier this year, the United States Air Force distributed a draft Programmatic Agreement addressing any potential adverse effects to the Camp Pinchot district. The proposal is for four of the ten historic houses in the district to be transferred to the developer for maintenance, and then transferred back to the Air Force for inclusion in their maintenance plan. The other six houses will continue to be maintained by the Air Force. Several historic homes and a pre-historic archaeological site on Base are also being addressed in this Agreement.
Historic Cigar Factories of Tampa (listed 2007) - The threat to the city’s preservation ordinance regarding the addition of an “owners consent” clause was fought down. There is still a potential threat to the cigar factories that are located outside of the City’s preservation ordinance, so these buildings should continue to be watched.
The Belleview Biltmore Hotel, Belleair (listed 2007) – Legg Mason Real Estate Investment Company purchased hotel in June 2007 and has begin restoration of the hotel. R.J. Heisenbottle Architects, a preservation architecture firm in Coral Gables, has been hired to work on the restoration of the hotel.
Florida’s Historic Antebellum Roads, Statewide (listed 2007) – No change has been made to the threat from future development of the areas that these roads are located in. The Most Endangered nomination has resulted in several email information requests regarding the history and location of these roads.
NationsBank Park Plaza (Kiley Garden), Tampa (listed 2006) – Plans for the demolition of the current art museum will begin shortly. There is a proposal to re-create Kiley Gardens as part of the new Curtis Hixon Park. Both Park and Museum are scheduled to be completed in Fall 2009.
Old City Waterworks, Tallahassee (listed 2006) - Through State and City funding, the exterior of the Old City Waterworks has been restored and is receiving a Statewide Preservation Award this year. A use for the building is still to be determined.
Miami Women’s Club, Miami (listed 2005) – SAVED! The Women’s Club is working on preliminary restoration plans and funding to do a complete restoration.
Pensacola Naval Air Station Historic District, Pensacola (listed 2005) – Unfortunately, there has been no change to the Navy’s decision to demolish 33 historic structures within the Nationally-Landmarked Naval Air Station.
Sheraton Bal Harbour Hotel, Miami Beach (listed 2005) – After careful review and analysis by the Miami Design Preservation League, it was discovered that there had been so many past renovations that all traces of Lapidus’ interior designs had been destroyed. MDPL appeared before the County Historic Preservation Board and stated that it was not opposed to the demolition. Lapidus’ original drawings were located and archived and an appropriate exhibit of the original Americana was located in the new lobby. Demolition of the building occurred in June of 2006.