Key Club Islandside presentation continues

Longboat Key Club and Resort officials continued their Islandside renovation and expansion presentation to the Town Commission Monday, sending General Manager Michael Welly to the stand to explain how important this project is for the island as a whole.

“We are simply looking ahead to prepare for the future of our members and this island,” Welly said. “This project will return Longboat Key to its position as a premier luxury and resort community.”

Welly told the commission and approximately 100 people in attendance at Temple Beth Israel that the project would attract year-round consumers, support town businesses all year long and be a complement to amenities in Sarasota and St. Armands Circle.

Loeb Partners Realty President and chief operating officer Michael Brody also testified that close to $24 million has been reinvested back into the Key Club in the last five years to make upgrades and prepare for the Islandside project.

The Islandside project calls for constructing a new Rees Jones-designed golf course; a new clubhouse; a 196-room, five-star hotel with an additional 34 units to be used for luxury residences; a new meeting center; two villa townhomes with a total of 10 units; two condominium buildings with 66 units each; a new wellness center with enhanced spa-and-fitness facilities; and other recreational amenities for club members and guests.

The commission is charged with making the ultimate decision on the project and the issues the club still has with some of the conditions proposed, which includes figuring out a way to guarantee the five-star hotel will be built.

The commission will meet again 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, at Temple Beth Israel to begin the presentation by Islandside Property Owners Coalition attorneys. The coalition opposes the project as proposed.  

For more information on the first two days of hearings, pick up a copy of the Thursday, Jan. 14 Longboat Observer and check for updates on www.yourobserver.com.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].