VILANO BEACH, Fla. — The Magic Beach Motel in Vilano Beach is open for customers. According to an online search, it is booked for all of July.

Monday, the St. Johns County Cultural Resources Review Board met to determine the motel’s future.  The meeting was moved into a larger room in order to hold all the people interested to watch and speak.

The motel’s owner, Tejal Patel, is asking for permission to demolish the motel from 1951.  He has said the property he bought for $3.8 million three years ago has constant maintenance issues.  His representative told the board Monday that the motel lost $1.7 million in the last year.  

Rick Johnston – a developer — wants to buy the property and build condos on it. It’s next door to his Colonia condo project in Vilano Beach. 

Most of the people at the meeting did not want the motel – deemed a culturally significant resource by the county – demolished.

After much debate, the board voted the motel owner and developer did not present enough information about the possibilities or alternatives for the building. That decision means a stop to the demolition request, at least for now.   Essentially, it’s a win for those who want the motel to stand.

Cathy Aissen lives in Vilano Beach. She told First Coast News, “I was very happy with that decision. I just want something in Vilano of what it was.”

Vivian Browning has been the unofficial mayor of Vilano and a realtor. She supported the motel owner’s rights to sell and to have it knocked down for something new. She said 20-years ago Vilano was considered blighted and buildings were torn down to make way for things such as a much-desired grocery store.

“Nobody made a big deal,” she said. 

Browning added, “I don’t know. It seems to me that people have grabbed on to this Magic Beach because they don’t want anything there.”

The motel owner and developer did not want to comment after the board’s vote.

They can appeal the board’s decisions. County officials say if the motel owner appeals, then the decision about the Magic Beach Motel demolition will go to the St. Johns County Commission.