STEVE REID Editor & Publisher sreid@lbknews.com Yet another hurdle has been cleared by Unicorp President Chuck Whittall on Longboat Key. Whittall plans to build a 166 room St. Regis Hotel and 78 condominiums on the 17.3-acres that what once home to the Colony Beach and Tennis Resort. On Friday, Whittall bought all of the interests owned by […]

One unit owner filed a Writ or Certiorari saying that Unicorp did not have standing and Town did not follow its own rules. Judge is allowing Writ to be amended and refiled.

The Town has a month to respond. Plan to redevelop Colony at stake.

From the mid-rise Klauber ran the operation like a benevolent dictator with his Sperry Topsiders, snug white shorts and shirts that even a Fauvist on LSD could not envision.

“If you cut it down more, we will not have a St. Regis on Longboat Key. I have no more pounds of flesh to give you,” said Whittall. The Commission then voted 6-1 to approve his plan.

We are right now the land of two divine spectacles: The Town Commission election and the approval of the St. Regis Hotel and Residences. This past week was especially exciting since at long last a new vision was approved to replace the morbid and moribund Colony Beach & Tennis Resort.

It was contentious. It was harrowing. But after two days of deliberations, Unicorp’s application to build a St. Regis Hotel and Residences received a 5-2 vote of approval for the first of two readings by the Longboat Key Town Commission last week.

The proposal to build a St. Regis Hotel and residences on the former Colony Beach and Tennis Resort site hits the Town Commission on Monday.

“This is the opportunity to bring one of the finest brands on the planet to our community,” said Katie Moulton.

Without an epidural and with numerous suitors claiming ownership rights to the offspring, Unicorp President Chuck Whittall, his attorneys and the members of the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Board came together this past week and consummated the first signs of new life at the decrepit 17.6-acre site.