VIDEO: Cocoa Beach Glass Bank Demolition Underway
By Space Coast Daily // January 18, 2015
LANDMARK Glass Bank was built in 1961
ABOVE VIDEO: Lakeland-based Crusader Demolition has begun to demolish Cocoa Beach’s landmark, “The Glass Bank” building.
The Glass Bank was built in 1961 as a First Federal Savings and Loan. It was said at the time that the structure gave the city’s skyline a “modern look.”
The building was nicknamed “The Glass Bank” because the original structure’s exterior was entirely glass windows.
At that time, the top floor was occupied by “Ramon’s Rainbow Room,” a restaurant and nightclub which played host to national politicians, astronauts and Hollywood stars – and was known for its great food and atmosphere.
SERIOUS DISREPAIR AFTER 2004 HURRICANES
Longtime Cocoa Beach resident Frank Wolfe built a two-story penthouse on top of the original structure and lived there until his death in February 2014.
The building’s last tenants were Huntington Bank on the first floor, an Atlantic Nautilus fitness center on the upper floors and Wolfe who had built the penthouse atop of the building.
After falling into serious disrepair as a result of Hurricane Frances in 2004, the businesses on the bottom were forced to move out, but Wolfe remained.
A legal battle ensued between Wolfe and the Glass Bank Condominium Association, which oversaw the rest of the building and wanted it torn down.
Despite the fact that the bottom half of the building was in disrepair, Wolfe’s penthouse was in immaculate condition.
The City of Cocoa Beach became concerned with the lower floor’s broken windows, leaky roofing, mold and asbestos.
