Town urged to preserve ‘historic’ Colony
MELISSA REID
Associate Publisher
mreid@lbknews.com
A specialist in history and preservation of mid-century modern architecture is urging the Town to save the Colony Resort as a jewel of Longboat’s past and a desirable destination for the future.
Author Caroline Zaleski wrote to the Town Commission this week that she had read “with some distress about the possible tear down of the buildings at the Colony Beach and Tennis Club.”
She further wrote that the Colony is an historic building and that it should be retro-fitted for the benefit of the ownership and larger community.
“The Colony is a rare surviving example of mid-twentieth century low-rise building complex with a shared landscape and community amenities. I would think it is one of your town’s ‘jewels in the crown,’ so to speak, and appropriately retro fitted, it will bring the town a highest and best use and a reason to make Longboat Key a place to visit,” wrote Zaleski.
Zaleski urged commissioners to use tools within the regulatory process to preserve the Colony.
“It would be an outrage to tear down and cut these historic buildings out of Longboat Key’s livable history and sense of place,” wrote Zaleski.
The reference to the Colony as historical dovetails with the Association of Unit Owner’s recent declaration that it intends to renovate the resort rather than scrape and build anew. The argument for those who want to renovate has been to preserve units seaward of the erosion control line as well as to be able to renovate at grade as opposed to elevating due to FEMA regulations.
Those who favor a scrape and build approach say the units are too far gone, the layout and materials are antiquated and the cost will ultimately be higher to retro-fit the existing units to code. It has been a matter of debate and legal review as to whether a renovation will require a 75 percent vote of the unit owners.
Back when Murf was 70, I said to him that there were many problems with the buildings and the best thing to do would be to take two buldings out at a time and rebuild them with all the new pemanent building supplies and get it done. My steps into the unit were so deteriated that I was sure some one would catch a shoe and fall and break a leg. The hallway would be so soft under the rug that I thought someone might fall through.The woodpecker was drilling huge holes as did one here to my house last year. So her i had them take it down to the two by fours and new insulation and siding that does not need any care for 50 years. Thatis what should have been done to the Colony. it would have been done and all the owners would still be there enjoying it. Instead The Colony is falling apart on its own and many owners have sold as I have and miss it greatly. So I hope thatonce again it will be up and working in the same type of style and will get to go down and rent. My kids and grand kids loved it when we were all there for family reunions
Barbara Mitchell