Meanwhile, Longboat erodes. Our patience erodes. And meanwhile we die. Die of boredom or die literally. And the still living find other pursuits that happen more decisively like watching the trees bend toward the sun in the backyard.

Court battles, appeals and eventually consolidation mark the future of the waterfront property that has lay dormant for five years.

Although 2014 saw no resolution to the myriad of complex legal battles that would allow the Colony Beach and Tennis Resort to redevelop, there was progress on several fronts. On July 14, 2014, several critical assets, namely 2.3 acres that comprise the tennis courts and recreational amenities, were acquired by Colony Lender in agreement with [...]

‘I would love to see the Colony scraped clean; I would settle for that. Bare land would be enough to make my Christmas wish for sure.’

The Town Attorney’s office compiled a complete overview of all of the ongoing Colony litigation, bankruptcy and foreclosure proceedings. The Town Attorney said it is difficult to speculate on what will happen next or when all of the litigation will be resolved as the various parties in these actions have clearly diverging objectives and litigation strategies.

You don’t need any more condominiums on Longboat Key. That doesn’t do one thing for our Key. It needs a tennis resort on the beach that is great for families and visitors. Ninety percent of the people who built houses on Longboat Key either stayed at the Colony or Key Club. We’ll get nice stores on this island eventually when it grows up.

“I do not know where we are going here – we sound like the Colony. We say we have a consulting agreement with the University of Florida, but to what end? I am not sure what the processes are, and what steps or of the timeline for those steps. I think we need to make this a tighter strategy with stricter timelines.”

Colony Lender filed suit against each and every Colony Resort unit owner to collect more than $5 million it says is owed for back rent and interest on the recreational facilities it owns.

“I have learned that the Colony was the genesis of what Longboat Key is today. I take my hat off to Murf for being a pioneer. Now we want to do something new and special.”

Longboat Key Commissioners asked Town Manager Dave Bullock what the process and procedure is for any re-occupancy of the resort.