"In 1983, an attorney named Frank Wolfe purchased the top of the building. He then added a windowless penthouse, and converted it into a brutalist style by reinforcing the corners of the building with concrete
In the ensuing decades, damage to the lower floors would be sustained by hurricanes, especially Hurricane Frances. The Glass Bank Condominium Association (GBCA), which owned the entire building sans the penthouse, wanted to restore the building to its original form. Frank Wolfe refused, and as the stalemate dragged on, the city began fining the co-owners $200 a day. In 2013, the GBCA sued Frank Wolfe for money owed to the city and to the condominium for repairs. In response, Frank Wolfe countersued.
To break the legal stalemate, the city urged the GBCA and Wolfe to agree to demolition, in exchange for waiving fines. The GBCA agreed, but Wolfe did not; asking the city to buy the penthouse instead if they wanted it to be torn down. The city refused to purchase it, and moved to demolish the structure regardless of his wishes. In January 2014, the city sought and obtained approval for demolition, which shut down power and water to the penthouse floors. On February 4th, 2014, the GBCA prevailed in its lawsuit against Wolfe, with the court ruling in their favor. The next day, Wolfe’s appeal of the approval was rejected. That afternoon, Wolfe shot and killed himself in front of the Glass Bank."
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"In 1983, an attorney named Frank Wolfe purchased the top of the building. He then added a windowless penthouse, and converted it into a brutalist style by reinforcing the corners of the building with concrete
In the ensuing decades, damage to the lower floors would be sustained by hurricanes, especially Hurricane Frances. The Glass Bank Condominium Association (GBCA), which owned the entire building sans the penthouse, wanted to restore the building to its original form. Frank Wolfe refused, and as the stalemate dragged on, the city began fining the co-owners $200 a day. In 2013, the GBCA sued Frank Wolfe for money owed to the city and to the condominium for repairs. In response, Frank Wolfe countersued.
To break the legal stalemate, the city urged the GBCA and Wolfe to agree to demolition, in exchange for waiving fines. The GBCA agreed, but Wolfe did not; asking the city to buy the penthouse instead if they wanted it to be torn down. The city refused to purchase it, and moved to demolish the structure regardless of his wishes. In January 2014, the city sought and obtained approval for demolition, which shut down power and water to the penthouse floors. On February 4th, 2014, the GBCA prevailed in its lawsuit against Wolfe, with the court ruling in their favor. The next day, Wolfe’s appeal of the approval was rejected. That afternoon, Wolfe shot and killed himself in front of the Glass Bank."