Preservation Task Force sees Biltmore plans
By HARLAN WEIKLE
Article published on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008
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| Rendering courtesy of RICHARD HEISENBOTTLE |
| Plans for the Magnolia Cottage and two other cottages on the Biltmore property are envisioned as luxury bed and breakfast additions to the resort. |
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BELLEAIR – Architect Richard Heisenbottle presented plans for the restoration of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel to the county’s Preservation Task Force on Jan. 9.
Heisenbottle, who is spearheading the design project, had previously made a similar public presentation to the gathering of Belleair residents and town officials. During last Thursday’s meeting, some new details of the proposed restoration were revealed.
Using a slide presentation, Heisenbottle detailed the major components of the restoration project, which is estimated to cost $100 million. Notably, some of the most dramatic changes to the historic resort will be the ones that aren’t seen: service tunnels, loading docks and underground parking for nearly 700 cars, which will open space surrounding the resort to new use such as event lawns for receptions, outdoor weddings or simple romantic strolls through Victorian gardens.
Two levels of underground parking will be 20 feet below a sod- and shrub-covered expanse of lawn dotted by containerized trees. The entire structure will be covered with a foot of soil and a drainage system. Like “Alice in Wonderland, cars will disappear down a rabbit hole; a bit of, “Disney magic” as Heisenbottle called it.
Another “Disneyesque” aspect of the project will include lots of tunnels, which the architect says is a necessary component of any world class resort. Service tunnels will lead from the new two-story central prep kitchen to smaller kitchens serving the several dining venues envisioned for the project. Out-of-sight, out-of-mind, these tunnels, some of which already exist, will rise by elevator directly into the smaller kitchens.
“Thus ensuring that no guest will ever be confronted by a food cart,” Heisenbottle said.
Likewise, the exterior service areas, which now wrap unceremoniously around the perimeter of the hotel, are to be replaced by a single, modern service area replete with loading docks and mechanical facilities, all of which will be hidden behind 6-to-8 foot landscaped garden walls.
The ballrooms, too, will receive special treatment. The Tiffany and Candlelight ballrooms will be restored to their original grace and the Starlight Ballroom will have its original window walls revealed; walls, which are now covered by interior secondary walls.
A new architecturally sensitive hotel annex will add additional rooms needed to accommodate conventions, and a new one story spa will rise over underground parking space. Facing the west side of the hotel this structure almost “residential” in character Heisenbottle said, “will not interfere with anyone’s view,” referring to the neighboring condominium buildings bordering the site.
Lastly, the architect revealed their intentions to restore the three cottages on the property – the Magnolia, Palm and Sunset. The three cottages are envisioned as small, luxury bed and breakfast additions to the resort. These three cottages, which are not part of the historic registration, will be restored with all the same attention to detail and historical reference as the main resort. In fact, Heisenbottle said the Biltmore’s new owners would consider applying for the historic registration of these cottages as the project developed.
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Article published on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008
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