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two more years. That pushes the expiration date to Oct. 16, 2015. "That is the last and final extension they are able to get," said Schneider on May 13. "We're concerned about the sudden demoli- tion of the building," Kauffman told her. "Do they have that right?" "Yes," replied Schneider. "But they have not applied for a demolition permit. And they have not gone to the Historic Preservation Board to ask for approval of a demolition permit." Kauffman and other downtown residents are antsy because the "everything must go" sale cleared the interior of the building. The city letter granting the final extension says the owners must apply for a building permit "no later than ninety (90) days prior to the expiration date." That date is now 16 months away. But permitting takes time. Schneider esti- mated it could take a month or two for staff to evaluate the plans for an 18-story high- rise structure. And before those plans could be drawn up, the fate of the existing historic structure would need to be examined by the Historic Preservation Board. Getting on that agenda and satisfying the board's require- ments could take another couple of months. The DeMarcay Hotel structure stands at 27 S. Palm Ave. in downtown Sarasota. Photo by Ebyabe via Wikimedia Commons Sarasota News Leader May 16, 2014 Page 46