Contractors ripped off a few dilapidated wooden balconies mainly as a symbolic gesture for the crowd of reporters and interested onlookers. On Tuesday, Unicorp did consolidate final ownership of the outstanding commercial interests at the Colony.

The Town has found 25 of 26 Colony structures in imminent danger to the public as well as close to structural collapse.

The demolition is to make way for a new waterfront restaurant by the owners, the Columbia Restaurant Group.

Fire Marshal Lou Gagliardi provided testimony of termite and water damaged walls and support beams, delaminating roofs, collapsing structures and mold so prevalent that firefighters have a standing order to not enter Colony structures.

  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.