Benedict guest house demolished for Aria project

Contractors demolished a guest house on the Villa Am Meer property in preparation for the planned 16-unit Aria condominium at 2251 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Developer Jay Tallman’s Ascentia Group LLC is currently renovating the 5,000-square-foot main home on the property, also known as the Benedict Estate, and will use it first as a sales office and later as a community clubhouse.

The site’s old rusty iron gates, complete with the image of a lion on them, will be preserved and attached to a future privacy wall that will sit off of Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Sales for the project opened Jan. 22, after the Longboat Key Planning & Zoning Board approved it. Since then, at least 10 units have been reserved.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].