Fate of Belleview Biltmore could be determined by Thanksgiving
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Sep 4, 2014

A St. Petersburg developer who wants to raze the Belleview Biltmore and build a mixed-use project in its place should know before Thanksgiving if he can proceed with those plans.

JMC Communities CEO Mike Cheezem has proposed to demolish the hotel, which was built in 1896 and closed in 2009. In its place, he would develop a mixed-use concept that would include 132 luxury condominiums in four mid-rise buildings, 28 townhouses and a 33-room boutique hotel with meeting space and a restaurant. Construction costs are estimated at more than $100 million.

Cheezem applied for a demolition permit for the hotel and filed applications to rezone the property in late July. The issue is now scheduled to come before the following Belleair boards:

Ed Armstrong, Cheezem's land-use attorney, said the developer would start construction as soon as possible if the plans are approved.

Opponents to the demolition have formed Friends of the Belleview Biltmore Inc., which has filed two separate lawsuits related to the demolition and the town's approval process of the development. One of those cases was dismissed by a Pinnellas County Circuit Court panel in early August.

"History tells us this is a very emotional and polarizing issue with a great deal of public interest,” Armstrong said. "And I doubt that that's changed.”

Ashley Gurbal Kritzer is a reporter for the Tampa Bay Business Journal.