In a recent revelation, officials in Coral Gables have disclosed that unauthorized modifications were made to the Biltmore Hotel. According to the Miami Herald, the hotel's ground-floor revamp, which tampered with historical design elements, was executed without the city’s permission or the necessary permits.

It was during a special visit that Mayor Vince Lago, along with city officials, toured the hotel to ascertain the extent of the unapproved changes. "I went to a walkthrough this morning. I went along with another commissioner and the city manger and several other members of the historic preservation, and that's currently being reviewed," Mayor Lago told CBS News. The city, which is in the midst of a 90-year lease with the hotel, has now demanded the hotel rectify the violations and apply for the overdue permits.

Seaway Hotels Corp., the operator of the Biltmore Hotel, is facing scrutiny for allegedly performing unapproved painting, electrical, and plumbing work. The city has issued a stop-work notice at the hotel’s valet entrance. Tom Prescott, Seaway's president, stated that he plans to cooperate fully and has already started applying for the necessary permits.

Community reactions have been mixed, with one regular guest telling CBS News, "The Gables is pretty tough. I'm surprised that they got to do the renovations under the nose of Coral Gables." Commissioner Ariel Fernandez expressed additional concerns after finding painters working without permits, stating, "We actually stumbled into a room where people were actually painting without a permit. So it's brought about more concerns for me." In response, a special City Commission meeting has been scheduled for next week to discuss the necessary actions.

The Biltmore Hotel has 45 days to comply with regulations. Seaway Hotels Corp. has not provided extensive public comments; they have assured that they are in ongoing talks with city officials to address the situation, according to a statement to CBS News.