The Times

Gables Residents Recall Glories Of The Doomed Antilla Hotel

By LARRY LEDWELL The destruction of the old Antilla Hotel at 1111 Ponce de Leon Blvd. marks the end of a fabulous bygone era, and the end of another famous Coral Gables landmark. The old hotel holds many fond memories for thousands of people in the area. Some of these people were asked to comment on the Antilla's destruction. Francis Cervoni, owner of My Brother's Place, a restaurant at 1210 Ponce de Leon Blvd., exclaimed, "It's a landmark. I hate to see the thing come down." The hotel was built during the land boom in 1925. George Merrick reportedly sold from the patio more than $1 million worth of Florida real estate. "I've been here a long time, and I saw it going up," said Ronald Beaton of 1225 Alhambra Circle. "I have no objection to them tearing it down if they put something better in its place." Many Changes The hotel has seen many changes in its lifetime. In 1956 Arthur Vining Davis bought the property and spent a large sum remodeling. The building has been proposed as a home for the elderly and for a new Coral Gables Public Library. Both of these proposals were rejected. In 1957, 72 coeds from the University of Miami were quartered there because of lack of dormitory space on campus. Mrs. C. Clyde Atkins of 2040 Country Club Prado said, "It's an old landmark, and I hate to see it go. We do have to make room for progress. In the 20's there were some beautiful occasions there. During the "roaring 20's" the hotel became famous as a gathering place for notable personalities of the day including William Jennings Bryan. Rudy Vallee and his orchestra played many dance tunes there. Joe Astoria and his orchestra also performed on many occasions. Office Building "If they are going to tear the old hotel down, a nice modern office building could replace it," said Mrs. William Cox of 5737 Riviera Dr. "Coral Gables needs a library badly, but closer to the center of town," she continued. "The old Antilla is certainly far from being a beautiful structure." In 1927 George Merrick was decorated by King Alphonse of Spain, through the Spanish Ambassador in Washington, for his Coral Gables Spanish architectural expression. The King remarked that the Antilla Hotel was one of the most beautiful pieces of Spanish architecture he had ever seen. "I just like old landmarks," said Mrs. Raymond C. Buckner of 1536 Mercado Ave. "I hate to see them destroyed." "It is a landmark," said Mrs. William H. Linnemeier of 1206 Pizzarro St., "just like the old entrance to Coral Gables, but that was torn down, too. I've had many a good time there," she said, "but it has outlived its time. We need a good hotel." In recent months, the vacant hotel has been ransacked many times. Police found evidence of attempted arson after one search failed to turn up the guilty party. But despite all attempts to put the old Antilla Hotel to some profitable use, the landmark is coming down.

THE END IS NEAR for a historic Coral Gables landmark, the Antilla Hotel pictured here just before destruction began. Workmen, such as this one are destroying the building. The hotel once was alive with activity as tourists and dignitaries lounged in the lobby or soaked up sun on the patio.

In Coral Gables Look Before You Leap, When Buying Or Building

By MAURICE LABELLE Figuring on buying, building or renting property in Coral Gables? Better look before you leap. Your best bet is to consult the Zoning Code to see what uses are permitted on the property in question. If you find the going rough with the Code, see the Coral Gables Building and Zoning Department. Even a change in the facade of a commercial building has to be approved, for instance. Present Plan And before you go out and spend a lot of money on plans, present a preliminary plan to the Board of Architects. Plans must be presented by Tuesday for the Board, which meets at 3 p.m. Whatever you do, don't put in your foundation or effect any alterations before you have been issued a permit. Tearing down construction can prove very costly and delaying. If your plans call for something which cannot be approved directly by the Building and Zoning Department, they will have to be considered by the Zoning Board. That Board meets the second and fourth Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the City Commission Room. Applications to the Zoning Board must be filed with the secretary 10 days before the meeting. Face Front All plans must call for the building to face the front of the lot. If your plans fail to get the approval of the Zoning Board, you may appeal to the City Commission, which may or may not reverse the Board. A word of caution. If you build on a permit which violates any city ordinance or regulation, the permit is not valid. So make certain that the permit is valid — and there's only one way to do that, and that's to make certain you have followed all the requirements.

SHADOWS FALL on the Spanish-tiled floor of the lounge in the Antilla Hotel while a workman, resting for a moment, lights up a cigar. And as the sun sweeps past the screen and the massive doors to cast a pattern of shadows on the floor, the Antilla stands as a shadow of its former self. Because of this, its future is one of men swinging pick axes and smashing crane shovels at the historic landmark, bringing to the ground a hotel that was once a glamorous landmark.

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Bids To Be Awarded On University Drive By Next Week

Bids on improvement of University Drive, between Ponce de Leon Blvd. and LeJeune Rd., are scheduled to be let next week. The estimated $30,000-plus project will tie in with the improvement and widening of LeJeune Rd., scheduled to get underway today (Thursday). A two-block long stretch of the heavily travelled street is to be widened and repaved. The project was approved months ago by the Coral Gables City Commission. Complications resulted in tying up with the LeJeune Rd. program.

Thursday, January 12, 1961 THE TIMES Coral Gables, Fla. Page 17