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Formerly known as Willis Apartments[5].

The Villa Torino is currently being used as an annual rental apartment building within close walking distance to the Fort Lauderdale beach. Built in 1959, the property has been recently renovated into four 1 BR/1BA apartments and 1 studio with a private rear courtyard area. The property has been beautifully maintained with upscale finishes throughout. Rental rates are $875.00 to $1,100 per month for the 1 BR/1BA units and $750 per month for the studio unit. The property can also be used as a seasonal rental or as a boutique hotel/motel operation.[3]


The Historic Preservation Board ruled 8-to-1 that the property known as Villa Torino be protected, but a quaint single family home from 1936 awaiting a hearing was demolished before that could happen. Esposito was shocked when city commissioners ignored the board’s recommendation and unanimously rejected historic preservation status last July. Soon after, Esposito and Erika Klee, another neighbor, sued the city and petitioned to have the commission's judgment reviewed. They hoped to save Villa Torino and another 1938 building designed by architect Courtney Stewart (who also designed the Coca-Cola bottling plant on Andrews Avenue) from suffering a similar fate.[4]

References

  1. Sun Sentinel: Preservationists lose with demolition of Fort Lauderdale beach building
  2. Apartments.com entry
  3. Loop.net entry
  4. New Times: Fort Lauderdale Beach Residents Race to Save Historic Buildings From Demolition
  5. Votes Denying Designation as a Landmark
  6. New Times: Miami Developers Demolish Historic Fort Lauderdale Beach Building
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