BRADENTON — The City Council voted Wednesday to 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.
Councilman Gene Gallo said the building has been deteriorating for years.
“We’re dealing with a significant case of property rights,” Gallo said. “The gentlemen bought it with the intent to build offices, and they have their rights.”
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 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.
In May, Little and Kallins asked the council to reverse the review board’s decision, 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.
Several people asked the council not to grant the demolition permit, saying they wanted a chance to raise money to purchase the building.
Gary Crawford said he has worked over the past months to find a foundation that could raise the $4 million needed to purchase and renovate the unique structure, but needed more time.
Others at the public hearing said the city should try to save the building because it was a house of worship.
Howard Fitzgerald, who sits in front of the former church and seminary most days offering to pray with anyone who stops, said the Lord told him his mission was to save the building.
“It’s not about the building,” Fitzgerald said, “it’s about bringing the churches together.”
Councilman Bemis Smith said he was saddened to cast a vote for the demolition requests because he believes in historical preservation.
But the community had plenty of time to come together and find a way to save the building, Smith said.
“I have not received any calls from people who have historical anchors in this community,” he said. “There has to be a community commitment.”
Barnebey said she remembers Little calling her when he purchased the building to invite her to tour the inside and his excitement about renovations.
“He said, ‘We’re going to do great things there,’” she said.
Little then found that the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements made it too expensive to update the building, Barnebey said.
Will Robertson, the attorney representing Little and Kallins, said Wednesday his 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 want to tear down the building, but there were no viable buyers coming forward.
“We do not take any real joy in this,” Little said. “Nobody’s happy.”
He said foundations that were contacted as possible buyers were not able to help because of the economy.
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