Demolition permit for Bradenton Revival Temple approved

BRADENTON — The City Council voted todayto allow the demolition of the architecturally distinctive Bradenton Revival Temple in downtown Bradenton.

In a 4-1 vote, with Councilwoman Marianne Barnebey voting in the minority, the council reversed the May 2008 decision of the Architectural Review board to deny the demolition permit.

The owners of the building, local attorneys Milton Little and Scott Kallins, purchased the 76-year-old building in 2001 with hopes of renovating it into law offices for their firm.

The cost to renovate the 6,063-square-foot building at 725 Manatee Ave. W. into usable office space was estimated at about $1.5 million, compared to $909,400 to construct a new building of the same size, according to a report from the Fawley Bryant Architects firm.

Little and Kallins asked the council to reverse the review board’s decision in May, but a majority of the council voted to delay a decision, giving several people protesting the possible demolition a chance to find money to purchase the building.

Will Robertson, the attorney representing Little and Kallins, said todayhis clients have done everything possible to help find a buyer.

But the delays have been a financial burden to Little and Kallins, Robertson said.

After the meeting, Little said he and Kallins did not what to tear down the building, but no viable buyers had come forward.

“We do not take any real joy in this,” Little said. “Nobody’s happy.”

He said foundations who were contacted were not able to help because of the economy.