City of Coral Gables

File #: 19-8597    Version: 1 Name: CIPGondalaBldgGrant
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
File created: 4/10/2019 In control: City Commission
On agenda: 5/14/2019 Final action: 5/14/2019
Enactment date: 5/14/2019 Enactment #: 2019-120
Title: A Resolution authorizing $500,000 in the FY 2019-2020 budget to be used for a matching grant application to the Florida Department of State Division of Historical Resources for the restoration and rehabilitation of the “Gondola Building” located on the Biltmore Golf Course at 1200 Anastasia Avenue.
Attachments: 1. Signed Resolution 2019-120, 2. Special Category Gondola Building 2019 CoverMemo, 3. Special Category Gondola Building 2019 Draft Reso-final, 4. Gondola Building PowerPoint, 5. Verbartim Transcript - CCMtg May 14 2019 - Agenda Item I-2 - Resolution authorizing $500,000 in the FY 2019-2020 budget for matching grant

Title

A Resolution authorizing $500,000 in the FY 2019-2020 budget to be used for a matching grant application to the Florida Department of State Division of Historical Resources for the restoration and rehabilitation of the “Gondola Building” located on the Biltmore Golf Course at 1200 Anastasia Avenue.

 

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The Gondola Building is an original accessory historical structure of the Biltmore Hotel Complex built in 1925.  The original design of the hotel and its accessory structures is attributed to Leonard Shultze and S. Fullerton Weaver.  The hotel complex was conceived in a Mediterranean Revival style modeled after a central vertical element inspired by the Giralda Tower in Seville, Spain.  The Biltmore’s Giralda Tower was Coral Gables’ prominent landmark that could be seen for miles around and was the tallest structure in Florida from 1926-1928 symbolizing the peak of the Coral Gables Boom era.  The Gondola Building is part of the National Historic Landmark and is considered significant as such.  The Gondola Building is located adjacent to the original hole #3.  It is sited to the south of the Biltmore Hotel and was strategically placed to provide a launching area and service for the facility’s 15-25 gondolas that were imported from Italy along with their gondoliers.  The building is in dire need of immediate restoration in order to prevent further deterioration and to preserve this architectural gem. The building is included in Dade Heritage Trust’s 2019 Endangered Dozen list.

 

Staff is requesting $500,000 in the FY 2019-2020 to be used for a matching grant application to the Florida Department of State Division of Historical Resources for the restoration and rehabilitation of the “Gondola Building” located on the Biltmore Golf Course.